Pialligo Estate

Restaurant Review: A Truly Exceptional Experience I recently dined at [Restaurant Name], and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff who made us feel well-cared for without being intrusive. The unique cutlery added a special touch, showcasing the restaurant's attention to detail and creativity. The venue itself is stunning, with breathtaking views that make it perfect for any occasion. The ambiance alone is worth a visit, but the food takes it to the next level. Each dish was a delightful surprise, pushing the boundaries of what you'd expect from a standard menu. The flavour combinations were spot-on, each bite offering a smooth and balanced experience that ticked all the boxes. The wine selection was extensive and exceeded our expectations, offering a wide variety of choices to complement the meal perfectly. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just enjoy a good glass, you’ll find something to love here. In short, this restaurant offers a top-tier dining experience, from the setting to the service, food, and wine. Highly recommended!

Sadly, I said 'half a dozen Sydney Rocks please' and the waiters had no idea what I was talking about. Unfortunately our experience was not enjoyable, and there are better restaurants to enjoy a meal in this city for this price point. No spoon for my oyster dressing, we wanted to try the Pialligo wine but had the replacement instead. No sides are provided with the mains at all and none were suggested or remembered by the wait staff. Kudos to the kitchen for a delicious meal but we could hear the fray from where we were sitting which didn't work for the ambience. It did the job, but wasn't a nice treat.

Exceptional! From the moment you’re greeted at the door, the experience exudes five-star quality. It’s amazing to have such a high-caliber dining experience so close to home—no need to travel interstate. The portion sizes were generous, and the pricing was spot on. We felt genuinely cared for throughout our visit, and I can’t stop raving about this wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

A must place to visit for all Canberrans! We had lunch there on Sunday afternoon and we loved every bit of our experience there. Customer service, food, decor, cleanliness everything. Everything was top notch. Only regret I have is my husband didn’t book a window side corner table 🙄 the outside view was very nice from there and it would have been a perfect date! But something for next time I guess ☺️Dessert felt like home, I recommend trying the orange sorbet (I think no 2 on the menu). The new owner is very nice and efficient. I recommend everyone to visit this place and spend some good time with friends and family.

We really wanted to like this place. We got married here years ago and were looking forward to a return for a nice dinner. The waitstaff were exceptionally friendly and warm however, they forgot to tell us that the things we ordered were unavailable that day. Once this was cleared up, the only remaining available items were not pregnancy friendly barring the ($60!!) steak or a vegetable entree. After mixing up our order with the table next to ours - where the waitstaff blamed each other readily for the mistake - I was provided a single piece of rare steak (despite outlining that I was pregnant and wanted it done well) with no sides, sauce or dressing. It would have been useful if the staff had raised with us that this obscene price tag did not include anything other than a thin piece of steak. It was mediocre at best and we simply wanted to leave at this point so did not wait around for dessert. My husband found the veal to be okay, but again, without any sides or accompaniments was frustrating. Again, We would have ordered sides if we were told by the staff. Husband did rave about the ceviche and the zucchini flowers were nice, but all soured by the disappointing overall experience. While I note the restaurant did discount my meal on request, I would much rather have enjoyed my experience. I want to love this place but fine dining in Canberra sets a much higher standard and I wouldn’t want to risk my money again.

I was delighted to hear Pialligo Estate, and The Pavilion Restaurant, had once again opened their doors under new management. The restaurant has undergone a few small changes to its decor but it is still bright, airy and has plenty of seating. I booked in for lunch and had an excellent meal and the service was impeccable. Roy and Anthony were engaging and were able to answer my menu queries - they even made some suggestions which were well received. I had a few of the starters as samplers. The Sydney rock oyster with finger lime mignonette was fresh and tart and the burst of lime from the finger lime jewels was refreshing. The scallop with tangerine vinegar and burnt orange was well balanced and the scallop itself was generous in size and meaty. The citrus notes were subtle enough not to overpower the delicate scallop flesh. On Anthony's suggestion I tried the sourdough with lemon myrtle butter. Now I should point out I am a fan of lemon myrtle and my next comment is not swayed by this fact in any way, I LOVED IT! I wish they sild the butter it was a perfect accompaniment. I then ordered the kangaroo striploin with cashews and pepperberry mayo. The kangaroo was cooked perfectly and the cashews were shaved on top like truffle. The cashew gave a hint of woodiness to the meat and the pepperberry mayo was a nice touch. You have to use the .mayo sparingly or it will smoother the flavour of the kangaroo. I sampled one of the cocktails, a vodka, Elderflower and Prosecco spritzer which I found refreshing with a hint of sweetness. For dessert I couldn't go past the Nostalgic hundreds and thousands with sweet butter anglaise. Memories of fairy bread as a child came to mind and this dessert is a play on this. I was delighted when the head chef delivered the dessert to my table. She explained that the 100s & 1000s are hand rolled from coloured icing and set atop a buttercream covered vanilla sponge surrounded by a warm anglaise. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was sweet but not sickly and I was disappointed when my empty spoon signalled it was finished. I will now return with friends to sample more of the menu. I'd encouraged you to make a booking and see for yourself.

I really wanted to like this place. We had a Christmas lunch here. We waited 30min after ordering for entrées. 1.5 hours after ordering for the mains. The prawn spaghetti was very strong. The risotto was watery. The food wasn’t worth the wait and we weren’t willing to wait longer for dessert. We also had to ask for our lukewarm water to be refilled multiple times. The staff were very nice but very clearly focused on a function rather than the main restaurant. The venue is beautiful. I just wish the food/service lived up to my pretty standard expectations of a fine dining restaurant.

Booked a table online and the booking was confirmed by the event manager come to find out on the day there was no booking for the birthday lunch. Fortunately, Paolo was very reactive and quickly set a table for the guest of 17 we had in the private room. Apart from the horrible communication skills from the event manager the venue is very nice and the food was exceptional. Thank you Paolo for being our server

Amazing food, quick service, kind staff and lovely views and atmosphere Great for kids, great presentstion

The good is great but the bad makes it sad! Amazing location and incredible smells from the kitchen as we arrived. Unfortunately, there is an air of don't care here. Salads were delicious but small portions. Lamb was a little dry and the cous cous it was served with was inedibly hard/chewy texture - odd. The service left a lot to be desired - I was basically through my lunch by the time my glass of wine came and it wasn't that busy. In fact everyone waited a long time for drinks. The bread item really needs to be upgraded - a few thin slices of mediocre grainy bread. One more note, can someone learn how to mix a Campari soda please?

Awesome experience on the outskirts of Canberra - great food and service. My local friends took me here for Sunday lunch and from the moment you walk in, you know it's a winner. Large open dining area with plenty of windows and a crackling fire place that dominates the dining room. The menu is divided up to 2 experiences, ala carte 3 course meal or degustation. We opted for the 3 course option for $95 which is decent value given the quality and venue. The wine menu is quite diverse as well and there is a sommelier to help you choose. On top of your 3 course selection, I recommend you order the charcuterie plate. Great value and a good selection of quality smoked meats. Each course was nicely presented and everything met and exceeded expectations. The duck course was memorable - it was one of the best cooked duck dishes I've had in quite some time.

Very vegan friendly and great setting, terrific service. Extensive wine and beer list. Very accommodating for diets and preferences.

Trip advisor ranked it number one so I gave it a try. You feel like you're in the country (and its near the river) yet you're still in Canberra. A charming stone building with an open fire and views of the estate. All the olives, wine and even the truffles are grown in their own garden. Everything was great, especially the service. The pheasant was a bit dry but they served me late without a booking so extra points for that!

Exceptional. Service was spot on, the food was great in both presentation and taste and the surroundings were lovely. I imagine it would get a bit loud with a full house due to the slate floors (wasn't full when we were in and was still loud). Aside form that, this really is a gem - you'll need a car to get out to it as it's a bit of a hike from Canberra CBD.

I had lunch at Pialligo Estate today and I must say I had some doubts about going as there were quite a lot of poor reviews about the service in the reviews I read. As it was a birthday lunch and the choice of the birthday girl, 7 of us arrived at midday and were seated at a table in the centre of the newly roofed area. Spectacular view and aromas as others have said, but the service was friendly, attentive and we were well looked after. Water and drinks poured throughout the three and a half hours. The food was really delicious and something to tempt all the tastes of the group. We shared the meals so as to get the maximum taste sensations. The 3 vegetable dishes and 1 salad we shared was a great addition to the beef cheeks and mahi mahi. The size of the portions was very generous. The staff came out with a fabulous birthday cake and made a special effort for the birthday girl. The only slight disturbance to our full enjoyment came from a very large table of young guns who became quite loud, and even musical, as they were well lubricated on festive drinks. It was only towards the end of our very long lunch and we were not rushed at any time to leave. I am very pleased I got the chance to once again enjoy Pialligo as I have done in their previous Farmhouse, out door Pavilions and the very spacious renovation which I first enjoyed in February. I think the renovations have only got better and the see through kitchen on the way in is a great insight to the culinary magic. Well done everyone. We had a great lunch and will be back.

Fantastic food. Amazing wine selection. Would have received 5 stars however prices did soar a little eye. Very good staff, beautiful environment

This is my bessssst favourite restaurant in my life. No one can beat it. If you enjoy natural, fresh food. Come here you can forget everything to enjoy your meal. It is amazing. Beautiful place I never seen and delicious food. I will come here for the restaurant from Sydney again and again in my future that I live in Australia