LOCATIONNorth Quarter in Civic.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAA staple in the Canberra dining scene, Sammy’s Kitchen has no shortage of revellers passing through its doors every night of the week. Despite moving to a newer and much larger premises in 2007, people are still forced to line the footpaths in the hope of grabbing a table for a taste of the now-renowned Chinese/Malaysian cuisine. Surprisingly, amidst all the noise and movement from the high turnaround on tables, Sammy’s is actually a relaxed and very casual place to spend an evening. While enjoying a bottle of wine (either BYO or from the adequate in-house selection), good conversation and delicious food, you quickly forget about the chaos that surrounds you. There’s only joy and celebration to be had at a place like this.
Although quite daunting in size, the menu has a range of highlights. To get started, the vegetarian spring rolls are cooked to perfection, never oily and are served with a plum sauce that matches sweet and sour flavours flawlessly. Of course the Chinese dishes are favourites here, but for mains you can’t go past the Malaysian style laksas which mix effortlessly with a whole range of curries and stir-fries. Vegetables are plentiful in the majority of dishes, with mushrooms, capsicum and Asian greens adding colour to your plate. A great night out awaits at Sammy’s Kitchen, although don’t expect to get too intimate. Grab a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, some good friends and let the good times flow!
Nick Hadland, March 2010