Six Reasons Why I Like Box Diner

When you dine out frequently, it’s comforting to find a spot you can call your own. Somewhere that looks great but is non-pretentious. Somewhere that welcomes you. Somewhere that serves delicious food that is reasonably priced so you can return time and again.

I’m not talking fine dining restaurants here. I’m talking about a great café that becomes your best friend.

One such café is in Canberra’s industrial, retail and office area, affectionately called Box Diner. There is a myth that industrial area eateries are only for those wearing fluros who want greasy, heart-attack-type food. This Fyshwick cafe shatters this myth. Here are six reasons why I love the place.

• First, I admire this Canberra café’s dedication to simple food, prepared with fresh produce and quality regional ingredients. Box Diner uses fresh herbs, local eggs from happy, free-range chooks, beef from Hereford cattle who thrive on tasty grass, and artisan breads from a nearby bakery made with little or no preservatives. This is food that is good for you. 

• Second, I respect that Box Diner will feed me all day. The café opens crack of dawn for breakfast and serve delicious food at lunch. But in-between, this Canberra cafe has an all-day menu and a line-up of sweets you can enjoy with a top-quality, barista-made coffee or relaxing cup of Adora tea. The all-day menu features light rice paper rolls (Thai omelette or chicken), Moorish pot pies, toasted baguettes (3” and 9”) and more.

• Third, I find Box Diner’s breakfast menu is well designed and diverse, with light options, sweet or savoury options and more fulsome options for those who need a super kick start to the day. I adore the spiced Turkish raisin toast with espresso creamed butter and when in the mood, I opt for a crepe - lemon and sugar, apple and cinnamon or hazelnut and chocolate. This Canberra café offers a vegetarian Herbivore, with open range eggs, avocado, fried haloumi, roast tomato, mushrooms and spinach, which makes me feel healthy. Although I’m never that hungry, I’ve watched workers loving every bite of the Big Box Breakfast.

• Fourth, I find Box Diner’s lunch menu, including its rotating blackboard and daily specials, has something for everyone. The salt and pepper squid with chilli citrus salad light is refreshing and the batter on the tempura fish and chips super light. When I crave a salad, I often select the champagne poached pear with blue cheese and walnuts. And I never tire of the café’s line-up of 11 types of burgers, which features the tangy peri peri, a flame grill lamb with blue cheese and the hearty Portobello mushroom.

• Fifth, I find Box Diner’s fit out comfy and non-pretentious. This Canberra café is very stylish with warm timbers a main feature. You can settle into booth seating or select a table for four if you want to dine indoors. With al fresco dining, Box Diner has weatherproof awnings with gas heaters to keep you warm in Canberra’s cooler months. 

• And last, but not least, I like Box Diner’s convenience. This Fyshwick café is close to the Parliamentary Triangle and to the shopping precincts in Manuka and Kingston. Essentially, it’s minutes from everywhere. And there’s lots of free parking. 

So there you have it. My six reasons for loving me dear friend, Box Diner.

Box Diner is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm. 65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick, ACT. (02) 6202 5555. Dine in or take-away. Take-home dishes available. Corporate catering available. BYO.

Six Tips for Saving Money When Dining Out

Dining out can be expensive when it’s a regular habit. Sometimes we have no choice but to go out for breakfast or lunch. It might be to celebrate a friend’s birthday, farewell a colleague or meet with a supplier or client.

So what to do if your budget is tight but you still have to dine out? Here are six tips for doing so without burning a big hole in your pocket, compliments of Box Diner, a Canberra café in the heart of Fyshwick, an industrial, retail and office area in the ACT.

First, be the one to suggest where to dine. Selecting a place like Box Diner will help because the menu is designed around various price points. While this Fyshwick cafe dishes up a Big Box Breakfast for $22.50, which has ‘the lot’, it also offers tasty options to start your day for as low as $6, such as spiced Turkish raisin toast with espresso creamed butter.

Second, plan ahead. A bit of planning can help you save. Bring something light from home to munch on before heading out to a café, like crackers and cheese or fruit. Then you can more reasonably priced item from the café’s menu. Box Diner, for example, has a 9” baguette for only $9 and a champagne poached pear salad with blue cheese, walnuts and baby spinach for $12.

Third, select a café that offers daily specials. Box Diner has $10 cheese burgers on Tuesdays, $10 pasta on Wednesdays, and $10 bacon and eggs at breakfast on Thursdays. And the Fyshwick café has 2 for 1 coffee Monday mornings.

Fourth, select a café that offers BYO, but be careful since some corkage charges are expensive and almost defeat the purpose. Box Diner’s BYO charge is only $2.50 per person.

Fifth, check out loyalty programs. With Box Diner’s coffee loyalty cards you will earn yourself a free hot drink. Buy seven and get one free. And this Canberra café also has a loyalty card for ‘food to go’.

Sixth, opt for something small. Box Diner offers small slices and pastries which means you can enjoy a sweet without spending a fortune - starting at $2.50 for something small but tasty.

In this day and age, eating out is hugely popular and at times we end up having to go to a café when we’d prefer not to for budget reasons. The good news is that applying these tips will help ease the pain and ensure you still have a great time while eating at a café

Box Diner, Canberra café in Fyshwick, ACT. Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm. 65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick, ACT. (02) 6202 5555. Dine in or take-away. Take-home dishes available. Corporate catering and party catering available. BYO.