After helping raise my family in Tuggeranong for close to a generation, life events meant I needed to find a new place of lodgings.
So when I was first confirmed as having been the successful candidate for a new rental property in the Molonglo Valley (no mean feat here in Canberra btw)*, I was eager to show my daughter where I’d be living as well as the surrounding area and facilities.
Our first trip to view the new apartment also involved a visit to the local shops at Coombs.
Firstly, I was thrilled to see that these shops had an 80/20 café. I was totally stressed about how good the coffee there was going to be. To my great relief and like pretty much all of the 80/20 cafes around town, the coffee at the Coombs 80/20 is really good.
Also of worthy note on my first visit to the Coombs shops was a new dining venue, at that point under construction, calling itself T-Bone.
To know that there’d be a new “pub” within easy walking distance of my new home filled me somewhat with a sense of joy.
And so, for a short number of weeks I keenly awaited the venue’s opening.
And before I knew it, there it was in all its glory. T-Bone Cafe at the Coombs shops.
On my first visit (one of many I have under my belt now), I found the atmosphere was welcoming, as were the staff and . So good!
In conversations with the new owners (who are really great people just quietly), it turned out getting the venue up and running had taken quite a bit of effort.
I thank the foodie gods that they kept up their ambition!!
Ansh – Manager of T-Bone and Bishup – Head chef and owner of T-Bone
Since I’ve started visiting T-Bone, the patronage seems to have increased significantly with a steady flow of local regulars such as myself.
In fact, when I dropped in recently on a Friday night, the venue seemed to be at full capacity, including patrons in some of the outside areas on a fairly cool autumn night! Ansh – the manager of T-Bone also said that their Mother’s Day bookings, both for lunch and dinner were extremely strong which is brilliant for a new venue.
What I didn’t realise is that the owners had also had the foresight to include live music of a Friday evening. That then pretty much seals the deal for me as a regular option for me at the end of the working week.
Good food. Great drink selections. Friendly staff and live music with the personal benefit of being within walking distance of my home.
What could be better?
The prices are probably at what most venue rating systems would indicate as $$, so not budget dining necessarily, but still a very family friendly venue. There’s even a foosball table to keep the kids (and some adults!!) entertained during food and drink breaks.
The meals and snacks I’ve tasted so far have all been high quality, fresh offerings and certainly the other dishes I’ve seen coming out from the kitchen all look pretty tasty. The signature T-Bone offering looks amazing and it’s well and truly on the bucket list for a future visit.
The drinks menu includes a decent range of wines and beers, with a number of local options including Bentspoke Crankshaft on tap, as well as my go to Riesling from Nick O’Leary.
On top of that, there are some wicked looking cocktails which the owners had mentioned on a number of occasions.
Fair enough. I had a Cosmos on a recent and it was very great!
This is a solid venue in a new and increasingly vibrant region of Canberra, and the keen entrepreneurs who’ve risked so much to get this place up and running should be both congratulated and supported.
It seems this venue is well on track to establishing itself as classic casual dining option right in the centre of the Molonglo Valley.
Bravo to the owners / managers at T-Bone on what you’ve achieved thus far – and cheers to your future success which seems very much assured.
* A big thank you to my then property manager at LJ Hooker Gungahlin for her help securing my new home.
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Tuff Times 