OHNO! — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

From the get go the atmosphere is amazing. Lovely, gentle waiters with beautiful smiles and relaxed professionalism. Shout out to Steph, who is stylish and friendly! The handwoven curtains, the cool ambiance that makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of Canberra for a moment into a classy restaurant. Delicious food for prices well below the quality you’re receiving.

I had the duck red curry with lychee, and let me tell you. This was the best duck red curry I’ve ever had. Delicate flavours, a constant shift of flavours interplaying smoothly as you eat. A gentle sweetness, a greeting of spice, no flavour overwhelms the dish but they all enhance the other in a way that makes it stand out without bombarding you. The gaminess of the duck, perfectly cooked - tender and falling off the bone, the burst of sweet lychee, the crispy skin that breaks without resistance and coats your tongue with a layer of melting fat that leaves your tongue watering. Finished with a taste of coriander, if you thought the complex flavour had shown you all it had.

The yuzu coconut sago dessert.. if I had words for the curry, they all fled my mind. The first five things I said to my friend were ‘damn!’ In different impressed intonations. I knew logically what was in it but the ingredients harmonised to be incomprehensible. You know how a little saltiness enhances the sweetness of sugar? This chef had soaked the melon in a gentle sourness, and used the natural delicate sweetness of the melon to create a fresh flavour without an overpowering sense. The yuzu was perfectly balanced and didn’t overshadow the dish at all. Every ingredient was meant to be there, and was layered in a way that introduced textures throughout the dish. No spoonful was boring, and it left you wanting more. I felt as if I had stumbled into a Michelin star restaurant on a Canberra street and it only cost me the equivalent of an Uber eats takeaway meal. The crunchy sweet meringue maintained it’s texture all the way through, speaking to the quality of the preparation- clearly it hadn’t been pre-made and left to soak. 10/10, cannot recommend...

Recently went to OhNo! in Manuka to celebrate the year’s end with a friend, and it turned out to be an experience that far exceeded our expectations, largely thanks to the exceptional service. Our server was the standout of our visit, enhancing our dining experience with superb drink and food recommendations, and her warm, personable approach.

As someone who’s not a fan of spicy food, I was initially cautious, given OhNo!’s reputation for packing a punch in their modern Asian cuisine. However, the flavors were well-balanced and enjoyable, although it’s worth noting for those who prefer milder tastes.

We started with Rock Oysters in Chin-su dressing and mandarin, which were a delightful beginning. Opting for the ‘feed me’ option, we were treated to an array of dishes. The Salmon Sashimi with white soy, green oil, and sea grapes was fresh and flavorful. The Tempura Eggplant and Sesame Prawn Donut were unique and delicious, although the Pork Wonton was a bit spicy for my taste.

The mains were an assortment of tastes and textures. The Twice Cooked Chicken and Taiwanese Fishing Dock Noodle were standout dishes, rich in flavor. The Pressed Watermelon Salad was a pleasant surprise, offering a fresh and unique combination. And of course, the Steamed Rice was a perfect accompaniment.

Dessert was a shared affair with the Pandan Cheesecake and Coconut & Lychee Panna Cotta, both of which were divine. Our drinks ranged from cocktails to mocktails, some sweet, others sour, and our server’s guidance in choosing them was invaluable.

OhNo! is a restaurant that certainly lives up to the hype, with food that’s as inventive as it is delicious. But it was the personal touch in service that truly set it apart, making it a must-visit spot in Canberra. A solid 4.5 stars, and I’m eagerly looking forward to...

Great potential, finding their feet and there is room for improvement.

Open entry we were greeted by a very enthusiastic hostess who showed us to the table and talked us through the menu. I was very excited to hear they had gluten free dumplings (if you’re celiac you’ll understand this excitement!) We browsed the menu after being told what they could/couldn’t accommodate in the dietaries and put in our order shortly after. A while after taking our order they came back to tell me they couldn’t do the gluten free dumplings after all (Devo!) and we changed our selections.

Then my $11 scallop came out and they said it wasn’t gluten free (what?!) why didn’t they tell us that when 1. They took our order and 2. They came back re the dumplings?!. My partner doesn’t eat scallops so it unfortunately went to waste.

Oysters and sashimi were delicious. The other meals were average.

Throughout the meal our water was topped but - not as we finished the glass, it felt it was with every sip- it became irritating to say the least and we felt our conversation was being interrupted constantly which made it hard to enjoy the night.

In my option it was overpriced for the food we received and I was Devo within the roller coaster of the dietaries which was disappointing. The service was good but there is lots of room for improvement. I won’t be going...