Bar Rochford
First Floor, 65 London Circuit
Canberra, ACT
Bar Rochford is a hidden gem. It really is hidden away and it really is so good. A narrow doorway from street level reveals a similarity narrow staircase that leads to this lovely bar and restaurant. Their chefs hat that they have is well earned too - as we enjoyably discovered.
Spotting this dish on a neighboring table made it attractive. The recommendation of the people at the other table sealed the deal. The Kingfish ceviche came served with grapefruit kosho and pickled lychee. It was a fresh and vibrant dish to look at and to eat. The flavours worked so well together too.
The very unique beef tongue with anchovy mayo caught our eyes on the menu as well. There are certainly some unusual offerings here and we were intrigued with this one. The meatiness of the tongue was perfectly paired with the slight saltiness of the mayo. These were only bite sized but we would have eagerly had more.
With the word bar in your name you expect a good drinks list - and you get it here too. It’s a global wine list too with options from some great regions. Mlady had a 2019 Gran Cerdo Tempranillo from Rioja in Spain - a region we already have plans to visit in the future. Sir had a non vintage Marcoux “Raisin de Loup” Grenache Syrah from the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape region in France. It’s a region we have already visited to sip and buy some wines and one that brings fond memories. Both drops here were very tasty.
When there’s an interesting duck dish on the menu then it’s quite likely it’ll also be on our table too. This visit was no exception. The duck breast with macadami, rosella and quandong was another great combination of ingredients that worked so well together.
Stuffed zucchini flowers are another great invention. These ones were filled with haloumi and came served on a bed of tangy tzatziki. A dusting of dukkah on the plate added extra zest and texture to this tasty dish.
The menu here is divided into sections. There is the snacks part first, followed by vegetables, pasta, meat and fish and finally dessert and cheese. As you’d expect there are plenty of drinks options on offer too.
Bar Rochford is a place that is well and truly worth visiting. It has great food and drinks, friendly efficient service and it’s a pleasant room too. It’s somewhere we’ll gladly return to as well.