Sage Restaurant
Editorial
Softly-spoken types gather for meditation classes within the grounds of the tranquil Gorman House Arts Centre, a garden-flanked heritage cottage housing galleries, studios, performance spaces and a weekend craft market. The sense of calm extends into the adjoining Sage restaurant, with its trellis fences, paved courtyard and garden seats arranged under a tree festooned with fairy lights. Inside, Sage is cosy and intimate, dimly lit and furnished with gorgeous velour chairs and banquettes; a soundtrack of '30s jazz crooners keeps things cruising along.
Thomas Moore's cooking adds to the comforting aura of this place with dishes presented with effortless elegance. His modern Australian menu is built around exceptional fresh produce, and organic ingredients are used wherever possible. Entrées may include fried goats' cheese dumplings served with green olive salsa, tomato jelly and wild rocket dressing, or cornmeal-crumbed calamari with green pawpaw and pickled cucumber salad. accentuated earthy creations that take inspiration from the leafy surroundings show through the mains of dijon and herb-crusted Western Australian lamb presented on spinach, leek and Meredith fetta tartlet, or grain-fed beef with roasted garlic, crisp pancetta and a light mushroom and pink peppercorn jus. Do try and linger for dessert: Light and lovely accents resonate through the summer berry pudding with champagne jelly and wild blueberry compote, while subtly sweet characters float through the poppyseed angel food cake with toasted marshmallow and boysenberry ice-cream.
Sage's tranquil beauty blossoms from its garden surroundings through to the presentation in each dish of harmonious flavours.
Fiona Davies, November 2010
User Feedback
arlyn
November 19, 2009
we had a dinner at sage one night and a i would say, we didnt like the food that we had. their menu said the crisp skin duck but when i got my order it's half cook, so chewy.. our bill was $92.00 and we gave $100 and the man incharge didnt even bother to give our change, meaning it's forced tip which is inappropriate as i believe you only give tip if you are satisfied with the food. unfortunately, we're not.. and we will never go back to Sage Restaurant, ever..
Sammie
November 20, 2009
The food was overpriced i had the Riverina Lamb Wellington. The lamb was extremly dry. We also had a forced Tip but demanded our $18.00 dollars change. Will never ever ever eat here again. Staff are extremley Rude.
ken
November 21, 2009
all i can say is over priced under cooked the size of the main meal was smaller than an entree anywhere else a small bowl of chips $10:00 i will never return there again ; plus i was not given my change either ; sage maybe they should call it seige [ under seige]
Kevin R
May 11, 2010
My good wife and I were most disappointed. The food would have been eliminated from MasterChef.
Yolonda
June 04, 2010
I have to disagree with all of you I'm afraid! I have been to Sage quite a few times and have always been extremely impressed. The staff are really attentative and the food is consistently good. I had my birthday dinner there recently and it couldn't have been better. In terms of price, it's actually not much more than some other establishments around town, I would rather pay more there than go somewhere like milk and honey and have a 3 day old pasta drowned in oil and pay 30 dollars for it. And I hardly think comparing fine dining to amatuer home cooks on a reality TV show is justified...
Racquel
June 04, 2010
I can't believe this negativity!! My fiancee proposed to me at Sage and had pre organised with the staff to make it all special, quiet and romantic! He had steak and I had the duck, perfect! Best meal we have had out in ages, and the dessert was to die for!! We both had the chocolate fondant and I almost died! I would never go to a restaurant of this type and NOT leave a tip, it's just not the done thing. We loevd it and will be frequenting more often.
Amy
June 25, 2010
Agree with both of the above two comments - firstly, I would never go to a restaurant and not tip. That is just poor behaviour. Secondly, Masterchef? Seriously? I find that show encourages people who don't know much about fine dining to consider themselves experts on the matter. And finally, my opinion of the restaurant. I am from Melbourne, and on the flight to Canberra was flipping through the Qantas in-flight magazine, and saw that Sage was listed as one of Canberra’s best restaurants. I managed to get a table the next night, and was very impressed. The standout dishes was my husband’s entree the pork belly, with a beautiful masterstock caramel glaze, and my main dish, which was juicy duck breast with a crispy skin, on a red curry – divine.
Mary McKone
August 04, 2010
Used to go to SAGE a lot, NEVER AGAIN, under this management. Burnt bread, cold pasta - abuse from the kitchen and then management. Will NEVER go there again. Only go if you like being told off.
Pete A
February 05, 2011
I have been to Sage in the past and was very impressed. Tonight is our last time. Absolutely pathetic. Service non existent. An example of a fine restaurant turned rotten. Over crowded, No service. Seems to be a greedy owner trying to fit to many people in at once. I waited over 30 min to be seated and the staff did not even try to acknowledge me. Ruined our night. Never again.
Julie AF
February 26, 2011
Wow, were you at the same place we were? I don't understand! We ate at Sage last night and it was one of the best meals out we've had since we moved to Canberra! The service was superlative and the meals sensational. The pork belly is one of the best dishes I've ever had, the pippi's and salmon and snapper were great and the pineapple carpaccio really good fun. The bouillabaise was nothing to rave about but everything else was. I love that they take risks and we will be going back there, for sure. Loved it!
canberradiner
April 12, 2012
I am always blown away with the mouth watering dishes and the experience of dining at Sage. The dishes are always fresh, exciting and bursting with amazing taste fusions. Even dishes that I am sure I do not like in the past (I rarely enjoy pork belly or foie gras) have been exceptional. The interior is beautiful and even romantic and cozy on a cold rainy winters night which is so hard to find in Canberra. 10/10
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