Artespresso

Ph: (02) 6295 8055; 31 Giles St, Kingston 2604 www.artespresso.com.au

Artespresso, $$ +, ** for Ambience
Open Breakfast Sat-Sun 9am-noon Brunch Sat-Sun 12.30-2.30pm Lunch Tue-Fri noon2.30pm Dinner Tue-Sat 6-10pm; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $8.50 bottle; AE DC MC V EFT
Chef Michael Chatto (29-11-08) Owner Nikolas Gravias & Michael Chatto (29-11-08)

Mietta's Review
One of Canberra's best with excellent food from chef, Dean Sammut, served in a bright space with an open feeling. Part owner, Nikolas Gravias, imbues the place with a sort of public school bonhomie which is very infectious. There's a bit of everything with a good vibe - cafe by day, classy brasserie featuring a good wine list by night, local artists' works and a balcony for outdoor dining. The team moved from Atlantic a few years ago and have helped make Kingston Canberra's dining destination.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2009 "For all-day dining with panache, it's hard to go past this Kingston favourite, given added zip with Michael Chatto taking over as chef"

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 15/20, One Hat "The modern art adorning the walls of this simple, stylish eatery gets little attention. Truth is, it can't compete with dishes such as the eye-catching seafood pie with crisp golden pastry, delectable champagne cream and a generous filling of blue-eye, prawns and scallops"

Gourmet Traveller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide "With Dean Sammut's move to Fish and Wine (see Queensland), Artespresso has engaged the talents of Mick Chatto, an alumnus of Sydney's Pier and Fish Face restaurants, as chef. Some Pier favourites, such as salmon 'pastrami' and muscovado sugar-glazed pork belly, have crept onto the menu alongside the Artespresso pie and duck livers with polenta and pancetta"

Canberra Times Bryan Martin, 6-02-08 Score: 14/20 "A trusted and reliable Canberra restaurant, where new chef Mick Chatto is crafting a produce-driven menu focused on simple but well thought out flavour combinations"

Canberra Times Catriona Jackson, Eat Out, 7-11-07 Score: 15/20 "Artespresso is one of the best places to eat n Canberra, with a sophisticated modern Australian approach to food and service and an emphasis on fish and seafood."

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14.5/20 "If you've only had breakfast at Dean Sammut's approachable Kingston eatery, you might not know what a classy evening diner it is"

Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "Despite being housed in a cafe-like room with clunky acoustics, Artespresso has been a Canberra favourite since Dean Sammut took over in 2003"

Sydney Eats 2008 "Artespresso just seems to get better and better"

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2007 Score: 14/20 "There's something approachable and versatile about Artespresso. Friendly staff are highly competent, and while the space can be noisy, it's certainly alive and kicking. You could take your gran, kids or a business partner for a mean breakfast, or a great steak sandwich (ok, chargrilled fillet, blue cheese, and caramelised onion on a baguette) and dips at lunch, or dinner, although some gloss has faded."

Gourmet Traveller 2007 Restaurant Guide "Boy, can Dean Sammut cook. The restaurant is, as the name suggests, more upmarket cafe in look and feel, with bustling rather than attentive service, and plenty of noise. The wine list, even with the cellar list, may be dull, but the value of the bistro-style menu is very good."

SMH Good Food Guide 2006 Score 15/20 "Artespresso is the kind of place you could take anyone for an excellent dinner, lunch or breakfast - from elderly grandparents to foodie mates in town for the weekend. The menu is very impressive, mixing beautifully executed crowd-pleasers with more adventurous dishes."

Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide 2006 - Best cafes "Kingston gets another plus on the cafe front - sort of- with Artespresso (page 16) doing undoubtedly the best breakfast in the capital - albeit only on weekends."

SMH GFG 2005 score 15/20 One Hat "We'd be happy to stay in the apartment suites above Artespresso - if only to eat there every day. Sure, it's not the most amazing space in town, with a plain outlook and rough acoustics, but it's comfortable enough, and the staff are switched on."

The Age AGFG 2005 "TWO-THIRDS of the team that brought us Manuka's Atlantic are now wooing the faithful in nearby Kingston."

Sydney Cheap Eats 2005 "Same name, but for those who've been away, Artespresso is now run by award-winning chef Dean Sammut, partner Jo Taylor and Nick Gravias (all ex-Atlantic)."

Gourmet Restaurant Guide 2005 One Star "The casual bistro feel of Artespresso belies the seriousness of the food being served by chef/co-owner Dean Sammut." Also mention in Best Cafes.

SMH GFG 2004,Score 14/20,Consistently very good,'So Dean Summut,a one-time cook at Darley Street Thai,is now doing a lower-rent version of his refreshing Australian food at the iconic Artespresso site in Kingston.And it's a hip weekend breakfast spot.While the service can be meander,there's no doubting Sammut's talent.'

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant guide Australia 2004, 1 Black Star,'The restaurant's service and decor aren't quite at the same level as the food, but that's more a reflection of Sammut's (chef) virtuosity than anything seriously amiss on the floor.'

The Advertiser, David Sly, 27/3/02 "The casual comfortable interior style of Artespresso cafe gets taken outdoors."