Bar Rochford — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

The person who sat us down (we think she is the maître d but don’t want to accuse the wrong person) was very rude. no idea what ticked her off but she made us feel very unwelcome.

I’ve described our experience below for education / entertainment.

When we arrive, the place is pretty full, so this person says we can sit us at the bar and give us a drink while we wait for a table. Sounds great. Instead she leads us to a couple of chairs. She gives us menus. Ok maybe we misheard about the bar, but we’re happy to order a drink and wait whatever. She never returns to take our drink order. She doesn’t even acknowledge us for almost 20 minutes, even though it’s a small space and she literally just walks in circles around the bar. Meanwhile tables clear and people are getting seated.

We’re getting tired of being ignored, and we get up to leave. Unfortunately for all, she reappears and says she will lead us to our table. So we go. This place was recommended to us and we want to give it a go. She takes our drinks order but then we say we will have a look at the menu. I’m pretty sure at this point she says something sarcastically about it being the first time we were looking at the menu, though at the time I assumed I had misheard. If she did say this- then already that is incredibly rude. And also we hadn’t looked at the food menu because nobody had taken our drinks order while we were waiting and the whole time we weren’t sure if they’d simply forgotten about us.

Anyhow, we looked and the menu and promptly ordered food and it was fine. Some dishes were actually pretty good and the waitstaff other than her generally were fine.

We realised we hadn’t ordered enough and ordered one more dish - the waiter taking our order suggested we could always order more if needed. Anyhow why should I be apologising about ordering more food!?

We finish the dishes we order initially and then are waiting for our final dish, which is taking a bit of time. We’re not that fussed and we’re happy to wait. In fact we were eyeing more drinks and dessert. The person who sat us down then comes by. She doesn’t ask us if we want anymore drinks. In fact she suggests perhaps the kitchen forgot our order. There is the barest hint of an apology.

Turns out 30 seconds later she is wrong. the food arrives. She comes by to apologise again, but in this backhand way- she says she didn’t notice it because we only ordered one dish. Right so it’s our fault? She’s judging our decisions!?

By now I’m pretty convinced she’s been rude to us this whole time, and we’re pretty keen to go. In any event, she doesn’t bother asking us if we want drinks or anything else. We would have been good for a couple more drinks and dessert.

Did I mention we had a late sitting (after 8pm) and there were spare tables so it’s not like we were preventing them from getting more business.

I’d like to think this person was having a bad day. Or maybe we offended this person somehow. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced ruder service.

Other than this individual, the bar itself and food are fine- but they are quite popular and we did see a couple of other tables being rushed to leave (though done politely). I’d recommend not risking this place if it is busy, just in case you have a...

A lovely experience which was well worth the wait on a crowded Saturday night. The food was one of the best I've tasted in Canberra, with many ingredients sourced carefully and prepared very well. The dishes are simple, with not too may ingredients, very elegant. The waitstaff were pleasant and explained the dishes succinctly. Although the serving sizes are small, it was very satiating. The bar itself is very cosy and chill. Just a tip - book ahead because those cushy seats are way better than the bar stools we were seated on.

Food breakdown: Stracciatella with a mix of raisins and walnuts. Served on a side plate with a milk bun from some fancy bakery. The idea was that you gave the cheese strands, the toppings, the balsamic glaze and oil a bit of a stir, then used a bit of the torn up milk bun to scoop up the mix. It's a very unique dish. Some may say the golden raisins and milkiness reminds them of a breakfast dish, I thought it reminiscent of caprese salad without the tomatoes. Well whatever it was, it was inventive and it worked and I really loved it.

Lamb ribs. These were the most tender lamb ribs I've ever tasted. They were perfectly cooked with just a light dusting of salt, pepper and cumin and served with a mustard mayo. The waitress explained they are special lamb ribs supplied for restaurants, so not readily available to the public. This dish was so yum we ordered it a second time.

Duck breast with a persimmon slice. These were slices of tender duck breast, paired with pumpkin puree which was laced with coffee! I did not pick up on the secret ingredient, I thought it might again have a bit of cumin through it which gave it a distinctly brown colour.

Sticky date pudding with butterscotch and mascarpone. This was a very delicious dessert and a great way to end the meal. Just wow!

Edit: Food pics from my second...

A Heartfelt Farewell to Bar Rochford

• Feel free to skip out reasons for being there… but don’t skip the food review ! It was great!!

Bar Rochford has been a special place for us over the past four years, marking both the start and now the end of a significant chapter in our lives. Our journey with Rochford began when we first visited Canberra for ANU Open Day, helping our daughter decide whether this would be her future place of study.

After stepping into the bar for the first time, we knew—if nothing else—her university choice would give us the perfect excuse to keep coming back.

Fast forward to today, and she has just graduated, making this visit likely our last for some time.

• here is the food review bit :-

To the incredible staff and chefs at Bar Rochford, thank you for making our final night so memorable. While our past visits were often centered around many (many) expertly crafted cocktails—don’t judge!—this time, we opted for a full dining experience, and it was nothing short of exceptional. The food was simply outstanding, from the entrées to the mains. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the creativity behind the menu was evident in every bite.

Beyond the cuisine, what truly sets Rochford apart is its atmosphere—a warm, eclectic space where people from all walks of life come together over great drinks, food, and music. The cocktail craftsmanship remains unmatched, but now we can confidently say the food is just as extraordinary. Whoever is driving the vision behind this place, from the kitchen to the bar to the overall experience, deserves immense credit.

Bar Rochford is more than just a bar—it’s a Canberra institution. While our regular visits may be coming to an end, we’ll certainly be looking for an excuse to return in the future. Until then, thank you for...