Beautifully restored Acton House, now known as New Acton, is the setting for Flint Dining Room & Bar, one of Canberra’s favourite new restaurants that manages to combine the rustic with the refined. This smart and sophisticated bistro is located in Canberra’s newest dining destination and is the latest venture of well known (to Sydney diners at least) Grant and Spencer Kells, formerly of Kells Kitchen. Communal tables, which run the length of the dining room, share the space with more intimate settings for four or less. White marble blends easily with dark hardwood floors, timber and masonry walls and ornate cornices on the high ceilings. The open kitchen allows the wood fired oven to send rustic and tempting smells drifting through the space, inviting mouths to water. Diners may choose to sit inside or in one of two outdoor spaces that dominate the beautifully restored exterior of this lovely old building. From the wood fired grill and oven, one can expect black Angus wagyu rib eye or Byron Bay Berkshire pork rib; or one of the interesting selection of pizzas such as pear and gorgonzola finished with fresh sage. From the pans come refined and interesting offerings that show this eatery does far more than steaks and pizzas. Starters may include a mosaic of rabbit and pork belly with roasted hazelnuts, red onion jam and brioche; mains may be wild barramundi with carrot and ginger sauce, red capsicum and spring onions; sweets are not fussy, but of a high quality. Blood orange cheesecake, for example, is perfect with chocolate sorbet. A serious wine list covers France and Germany alongside most regions in Australia, including some good locals.
Quick Facts
Address: New Acton Pavillion Unit 2, 15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra City
