Canberra is sadly lacking in corner pubs. Head to the older capital cities (such as Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney), and it’s difficult to stand at a traffic light without hearing the excited tones of afternoon drinkers. Here, in our more modern city, things are very different.
That’s part of what makes Duxton at O’Connor shops such a treat. It’s not just a corner pub, but a great corner pub where the regulars assemble for a chat and a drink, and people from all over town converge to take advantage of the atmosphere and service.
A big part of the attraction is the food served in the friendly downstairs dining room. Decked out in distressed woods and dark tiles, it feels earthy and robust – just like a good pub should.
Duxton has always been loved for its pizzas, and the Salami variation is perfect for the cooler winter nights. Served with olives, capsicum, onion, olives, chilli and – of course – hot salami, this is a beautifully balanced pizza that brings the best Mediterranean flavours to the table.
Spice Rubbed Lamb Skewers are another great match for your beer or wine. At Duxton, there’s no danger in the lamb being overcooked and dry – rather the moist cubes of meat slide easily from the skewers prior to being dipped in the hummus and/or tahini. Scooping up the tabouli (mixed with quinoa!) and dips with the accompanying grilled flatbreads just adds to the fun of largely eating lwith your hands.
For a unique spin, Catch of the Day is cooked en papillotte (in a paper bag). It’s not quite what you might expect, but the effect is definitely impressive. By combining lemon, sliced potato and green beans into the bag, the moisture and flavour circulates through the delicate flesh of, on this occasion, the Deep Sea Bream. This is the perfect way to cook white fish, and brings forth all the delicious flavours without loosing any of its subtlety
Nachos are made to share. What’s great about Duxton’s take on the classic Mexican dish is a desire to keep the dish intact, rather than turning into a gloopy mess. This is done by serving the guacamole and sour cream in small bowls on the side of the dish, allowing the delicious mix of pulled pork, beans, corn and tomatoes to be easily scooped up with the toasted corn chips. Structured nachos! Hooray for that!
With lunch and dinner available seven days a week, there’s simply no excuse not to head down to Duxton and settle in for a feast of flavours from the ever-changing menu.
