The popular dining domes will remain at the Water’s Edge Restaurant over summer. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The dining domes at Canberra’s one-hatted Water’s Edge Restaurant were clearly a big hit over winter and, for the first time, patrons will also be able to dine under the stars during the summer months.
One of the restaurant owners and executive chef Avtar Singh said the domes overlooking Lake Burley Griffin were so popular with diners during the cooler months, they decided to extend the offering.
“We introduced the domes last year as a winter dining concept and they worked so well, we thought, why not keep them for summer,” he said.
During the warmer months, the air-conditioned domes will offer foodies a unique fine-dining experience as the sun sets over the lake and war memorial.
Avtar said the four clear domes offered a selection of dining options for couples or small groups.
The private and exclusive larger domes seating up to 14 guests are ideal for birthday dinners, family gatherings or Christmas parties.
Couples or smaller groups can book a table in one of the shared domes located in the middle of the International Flag Presentation on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
The alfresco option is an extension of the Water’s Edge Restaurant’s modern Australian indoor dining space, with a special three-course set menu offering a selection from Avtar’s new spring menu, including Stracciatella and Seasonal Tomato Tart and Hawkesbury Duck Breast.
The dishes can be paired with your choice of fine local and international wines.
The restaurant, awarded One Hat in the 2023 Australian Good Food Guide, also received the Reader’s Choice award for the third year running and is the only Canberra eatery to offer lakeside dining domes.
“This is a new experience on the water for Canberra,” Avtar said.
“People love the privacy of the domes and the fact they can dine outdoors in any weather – even if it’s raining.”
While the summer dining will be an opportunity to test the domes’ comfort control on those hot Canberra nights, Avtar said they would “see how it goes” and plan service times around customer feedback.
“We may not be serving lunch during the hot days because it will be too hot, but I think the evenings will be really great,” he said.
“We’re looking at having 8 pm sittings during December and January, and will cover the domes with a temperature control film to keep them cool.”
He said the restaurant had approval to operate the domes for another 12 months, with the option to renew until 2026, and he hoped they would become a permanent year-round fixture on the foreshore because “people love them”.
“People like to have somewhere they can meet friends, crack jokes and laugh out loud like they would at home – without worrying about disturbing other diners,” Avtar said.
“In the private domes there’s no-one sitting at the table next to you, so you can talk freely and enjoy yourself in comfort. They can close the curtain for completely intimate dinner if they want to.
“Our customers have said they would love us to be able to keep the domes here permanently.”
He said, while the fine dining menu and white linen tablecloths offered a formal experience, the domes could also provide a relaxed, convivial atmosphere with music and lights adding to the mood.
The dining dome three-course set menu is $120 per person in the private domes and $105 per person in the shared domes, with a choice of four dishes for each course. Customers also enjoy canapes on arrival and a free palate cleanser.
“If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a relaxed, intimate dinner with family or friends, with a very good menu and fabulous views, you must try our dining pods,” Avtar said.
For dining and event bookings and to see the new menu, check out the Water’s Edge website.
Original Article published by Katrina Condie on Riotact.
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