J and I happened to be in Tuggeranong on a Saturday afternoon and decided to have lunch at one of the eateries near the Hyperdome. Walking past the main restaurant strip on Anketell Street, we spotted Ace High Eatery & Bar which offered burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and beer. That sounded good so we went inside to have a better look at the menu. There were 15 burgers available in regular or small sizes, aka Penn and Teller sizes, such as the hangover burger, breakfast burger, pizza burger and other specials. Gluten free buns were an extra $1. Hot dogs came in a choice of kransky, chorizo or frankfurt in 5 styles. There were a few appetisers such as mozzarella sticks and buffalo wings. I thought prices were decent by Canberra standards – milkshakes from $4-5, sides starting from $2.50, small burgers from $8.50, and hot dogs from $9.50. A schooner of the beer of the month – a Pact Beer Co brown ale was $6.
I was eager to try a Nutella milkshake ($5) and was very happy with my choice. A deliciously smooth milkshake that immediately gave me that Nutella hit, and there was even a small smear of pure Nutella on the side. I liked that it was just a regular milkshake and that there was nothing over the top about it. And for $5 it was great value.
I was starving so I ordered the regular (Penn-sized) Ace High Burger ($14.50) with beef, bacon, cheese, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tangy mayo and BBQ sauce. The burger was massive and I realised I should have just ordered the small (Teller-sized) especially since I ordered some chili fries on the side! I had no complaints about the burger – fat juicy patty, lots of bacon, fresh ingredients and not too much sauce. A very simple beef burger that I didn’t end up finishing as it was too big. I will definitely get the smaller size next time.
I thought the chilli fries ($6) were simply fries with some spicy chilli seasoning on top, but J told me as it was an American joint, they would be more substantial than that – more like a chilli con carne. That just made the lunch even better. The chilli fries were covered in a wonderful beef mince cooked in a tomato stew and topped with mozzarella. The mince mixture tasted just like bolognaise sauce and as it was still warm, it assisted in melting the cheese. I could have just eaten a bowl of this for lunch! There was no spiciness so I’m sure kids would like it too. Kind of like nachos with potato fries instead of corn chips. Very tasty.
J ordered the chicken tropical burger ($11.50 for a small Teller-sized) with chicken breast, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pineapple, aioli and Ace High sauce. He was very impressed with the massive bulk of the chicken breast he received – pretty much a whole chicken breast in that burger! His side of plain chips was an extra $2.50.
The fit out inside had a focus on a deck of cards with playing card table numbers and the four suits displayed around the venue. There were plenty of TV screens for those wanting to watch the latest sports game.
J and I both enjoyed our meals. It’s not often that I like every single component – the burger, side and drink. The portions were generous and the food was down-to-earth and not over the top. Service was very friendly and it wasn’t a long wait for our meals to arrive. I might have to get the Vego burger next time where they put a hash brown in the burger! If you love your meat, you can try the Ace Higher Burger which doubles the beef, bacon and cheese of the Ace High burger. The kids menu offers a beef burger, hot dog or chicken nuggets all served with chips for your little ones.
Ace High Eatery & Bar is at 191 Anketell Street in Greenway, Tuggeranong. Open all week except Tuesday for lunch and dinner.
Foodgasm 8.5/10
Value for money 9/10
Service 10/10
FPJ score 27.5/30
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