During the week, (Tuesday to Friday), Lanterne Rooms offers a $19 market lunch. There were three options when I dined there – kari daging (slow cooked beef in traditional Malaysian curry), kari ayam (chicken thigh cooked in coconut gravy), and lamb rendang. Each market lunch comes in a bento box with an entree, pickled vegetables, salad, and steamed rice.
I chose the beef curry which was absolutely divine. It was beautifully tender and only needed the touch of a fork to break apart. The curry itself was mildly spicy and I loved adding spoonfuls of rice straight into the curry to mop it all up. My hot entree consisted of three crunchy money bags. The simple salad was fresh and drizzled with a tart and zesty vinaigrette.
This was a delicious meal that filled me up but didn’t make me overly full. It was also a nice re-introduction to Lanterne Rooms which I hadn’t visited in years. $19 is still pretty expensive for a bento box, but that beef curry was worth it.
Service was excellent from being welcome as soon as I pushed on the front door, being shown to a table, being provided with water and menus, and the regular top ups of water throughout lunch, as well as the attentive service with other diners.
Lanterne Rooms
Blamey Place, Campbell Shops, Canberra, ACT
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday – 12.00 – 2.30pm; 6.00pm – 10.00pm
Saturday – 6.00 – 10.00pm
Foodgasm 9/10
Value for money 8/10
Service 9/10
FPJ score 26/30
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