Tags
ACT, Australia, Braddon, canberra, dining with friends, Sage Dining Rooms, three course degustation
Ah…the good ole days of eating out!
This week I was working out how long its been since I have eaten out and the answer was ” it’s been a while”; not just for me of course but for everyone and I know how difficult it is for restaurant owners and staff – so I hope for their sake (and mine) that restaurants open soon. Then came some good news a couple of days ago that restaurants and pubs here in Canberra are opening with limited patronage…yay! Only ten people allowed inside to ensure adherence to social distancing but that’s fine as it allows me to go out and enjoy a meal with friends.
So…back to this post. Last October my friends Ray and Natalie invited me to Sage Dining Rooms located at Gorman House in Canberra for lunch to celebrate Nat’s birthday. Sage has an interesting history. The whole complex used to be accomodation for interstate public servants comprising small individual bedrooms with a series of lounges and a dining room. The hostel was decommissioned in the 1970s and the communal dining and living rooms were refurbished to create Sage. 
Sage is definitely one of Canberra’s best fine dining restaurants and has won many awards over the years. The wait staff are extremely well versed with the ingredients of every dish and as they are serving, they provide that information. The decor is lovely; fresh flowers on every table, linen tablecloths and napkins, cute chair and bench coverings and the place is spotlessly clean.
We ordered the three course degustation with mine being vegan to cater for my dietary requirements. There is also a five course degustation but I find it’s just too much food as the restaurant provides an amuse bouche with our first drinks (lovely glass of champagne) and then a complimentary small dish is also offered between each course – all delicious tiny mouth fulls but when you have five dishes and tiny bites between each you get very full very quickly!
All dishes are beautifully presented and food is absolutely delicious.
And desserts are fabulous too…
And then came a lovely surprise for Nat…
I am so looking forward to Sage Dining Rooms re-opening…
Sue's Fabulous Travels 
Just be patient, lockdown is not punishment, it is protection. Stay safe
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Sage is divine. I love the decor, the fairy lights on the tree and the presentation of the food. I hear that many restaurants will not open as it is not viable for them to only have 10 customers at a time. Lyn
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Hi Lyn. Yes I hear the same. Running a restaurant is very expensive so yes many won’t open for just ten customers.
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100% agree. I am glad I live here with these restrictions to keep us safe. That’s the most important thing isn’t it. Thank you.
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I really like dining at Sage. It’s one of my favourite places.
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Foood!!! Yeahhhhh!!!! Great photos, great food. M’lady and I have been ordering take out from our local restaurants once a week, purely to support them a bit, of course. (I think I should stop weighing. It’s hopeless.) Stay safe, be well.
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Thank you John. It’s great to hear you are supporting local restaurants. I have been doing the same. Got to do our little bit don’t we. You too stay safe please.
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Any idea when they will let touristas back in Australia? We have some major bucks sitting in tour company’s bank.
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I agree with you… the good old days of dining out. It is now level 2 in NZ and soon some restaurants will open.
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It looks gorgeous Sue, and so promising to learn that your restaurants are starting to,open. We normally eat out frequently even if it is just breakfast or brunch and I can easily recall that my last dining out experience was 16th March as that was the final day of our Cologne short break. Like you, I love eating out, not just for the food, but for the overall experience, change of scenery and meeting people. When I’m home, I frequently call into my favourite coffee shop and on days when I’m by myself, I look forward to the ambience and settle down with my cappuccino for a change and do a spot of writing. We’re never ones for takeaways as it’s all about going places for us, so it’s been all home cooking since the lockdown and surprisingly no M & S ready meals. I never realised it was so easy to bake a cake or scones, and homemade without additives tastes so much better so I’m going to continue with that and hopefully branch out to lemon drizzle and coffee cakes in the coming weeks. As yet my repertoire consists of Victoria sandwich and chocolate cakes. I should have been in Japan now but hopefully I’ll get there later in the year when it’s possible to travel again. Take care.
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The dishes look amazing Sue, especially the presentation of the dish served in the bowl filled with small pebbles. I know how much you love eating out, so with things gradually returning to ‘normal’ – whatever that will look like in the future – I look forward to reading about more of your meal experiences xxx
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Hi S. Thank you. Food really is lovely at Sage. Yes am def missing going out. I think I might go out next Sat night for dinner. Xx
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Great reply Marion. Ah sad you are not in Japan at the moment but as you say you will get there. I was talking to my friend in London about my visit. My flights are all paid but everything else is on hold. I will wait until closer to my departure date to see how things are. Great to hear you are cooking such lovely baked items. Love lemon drizzle. Let’s hope we can eat out again soon safely of course. Take care Marion.
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Yeah those were the days… I still remember my last meal at a restaurant and it feels like a different lifetime! I’m feeling terrible for the restaurant industry too 😦 Hope you get to enjoy a great time out with friends soon!
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This restaurant looks super fancy. You’ll be eating out soon enough, Sue! Stay strong!
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Looks familiar. I think I ate there years ago. Yes, it’s great that we’ve done so well as a country so far and things are looking up. It will be good to be able to eat out or just sit and have a coffee with cake again.
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My Australian friends me many restaurants and pubs have resumed business, is it the same in your hometown?
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Some Edward…but only ten people allowed in the restaurant at one time.
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Agree wholeheartedly!!
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You too Julia. My goodness you have so many places to eat where you live!!
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Anyway take care and stay healthy, Sue!
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Thank you very much. I will definitely take a look as I don’t know.
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I used to go to Sage, my favourite Canberra restaurant, regularly (every year and a half or so) and loved it until my last visit in 2015 which was nothing short of awful . Perhaps it is time to try again ?
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Well from my experience of recent times I would suggest another try. I have been about three times over last four years and have loved every visit. Do hope you have the same experience as I did if you go.
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