Attention Denman Prospect - you have a new local, thanks to the team behind Two Before Ten.
And no - it's not what you're thinking.
While the group are known for more than a dozen cafes across the city that all began with the urban farm in Aranda, the Two Before Ten Group is trying something new with a family-friendly gastro pub with nose-to-tail dining.
Denman Kitchen & Wine Bar, on Felstead Vista, has resulted from the group's focus on sustainable dining and community building for the past decade.
"As you can tell from most of our venues, we've generally opened in places where there was a need," Two Before Ten Group co-founder Chris Dennis says.
"Denman is still a developing suburb, and we wanted to give the community a family-friendly eatery and café open for breakfast to dinner and everything in between - a hub for the community that's open seven days a week."
The Denman Kitchen & Wine Bar takes the group's commitment to embracing all things local and sustainable to another level. The menu from UK-born chef Robin Rea and Canberra's James Miller embraces the nose-to-tail approach - using as much of the animal as possible - that not only is sustainable but is approachable and delicious for diners of all ages and tastes.
"Rather than just using all the prime cuts, we're using all the other parts of the animal," Dennis says.
"It's effectively zero waste."
The menu is "not just pub food" - although there are still the steak burger and schnitty offerings that Aussies have come to expect from their local gastro pubs.
But they're accompanied by dishes such as goat rendang curry with glutinous rice and fried cashews, miso red cabbage with sea-spiced eggplant and whipped tofu, and house-made gnocchi with wild mushrooms, sage, pecorino, truffle oil and lemon zest.
When it does come to the staples, Dennis said they were elevated, with Denman Kitchen & Wine Bar delivering dishes such as cheeseburgers, crispy southern fried chicken burgers, chicken schnitzels and "fat chips" served with harissa mayonnaise, with a difference.
Being a family venue, the littlies are also catered for with a kids menu including house-made chicken nuggets and fish fingers, and "Bolognese for Bambini".
For those looking for a deal, Sunday is "Family Day" where kids eat half price, while there are steak, burger and schnitty nights where $25 gets you a meal and a drink.
Drinks-wise, Two Before Ten coffee is offered alongside drops from more than 40 Canberra wineries and distilleries. On tap, there's a range of The Kingston Brewing Company beers brewed especially for Aranda and Denman.
"We want people to feel like they can drop in on the way home from work a few times a week because the food is approachable and affordable," Dennis says.
"Sometimes you walk into a pub and it's like being in a Western. Everyone turns around because you're not from around there.
"But Two Before Ten's ethos is all about being comfortable - being people's third place, away from home or work. I want people to feel like they belong."
The Denman Kitchen & Wine Bar is open Sunday to Wednesday from 12pm to 9pm and Thursday to Saturday from 12pm to 10pm.
