Rubicon Restaurant — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

I approached Rubicon with high expectations, having read glowing reviews and seen images showcasing what appeared to be a refined, ambient dining setting. Unfortunately, my experience was anything but that. What should have been a memorable occasion turned into a masterclass in how not to deliver fine dining.

From the outset, the service was inattentive and unwelcoming. Could only feel the negative glare coming from the guy who received us.

The service only deteriorated from there. A young waitress approached with no understanding of the menu or concept of degustation. When I asked for guidance, she was entirely unprepared—clearly not her fault, but a glaring indictment of management’s failure to properly train staff. After asking her to get someone, A second waiter did step in, offering marginally more clarity, but by then the tone had been set: disjointed, disorganised, and far below standard.

The ambiance? Entirely forgettable. The imagery you see online is highly misleading. I was placed in a corner devoid of any atmosphere or charm, with none of the lighting or presentation one would expect from a fine dining venue.

As for the food—it pains me to say it was utterly unimpressive. The blue eye cod was unpleasantly odorous and lacked even the most basic flavor balance. The menu overall was extremely limited, and the plating was minimal to the point of laziness. There was no creativity, no spark, no culinary identity. For the price point, it bordered on insulting.

In comparison, institutions such as The Boathouse and Les Bistronomes demonstrate what true culinary artistry and service look like. Rubicon, sadly, falls far below that bar. I’ve dined extensively across Canberra, and I can say without hesitation this was the most disappointing experience I’ve had.

Fine dining is not just about food—it’s about experience, detail, and hospitality. Rubicon failed on all counts. I will not be returning, and I would advise others seeking a true dining experience to...

Had a very special family dinner at Rubicon. Our family are long-time patrons of this restaurant. I have to say though, the food was very nice, but the service on Saturday (10 June 2023) left quite a bit to be desired. We constantly had to ask for drinks, and were often then somewhat rudely quizzed and begrudgingly served by the rather abrupt man who was “looking after” us. Some kind treatment of those amongst us who are elderly would’ve been nice. The food was, overall, up to standard. But the promised “special birthday desserts” were just one of the desserts with one candle, and the staff didn’t seem to know about that arrangement and had to be asked twice. One person got the wrong dessert, and was then given another one she hadn’t ordered. I was rudely told to move out of the way by one staff member, as other people were leaving as we were also preparing to leave. Overall, I found this whole experience disappointing and felt quite cross about how we were treated. On this occasion (a 90th birthday dinner for 14 people), you let us...

When you arrive at Rubicon, you slide back in time. It is a traditional fine dining spot.

The decor is probably nice for some and the quiet music is not out of place.

It's just not exciting.

We had 4 entrees, 4 mains and a bottle of wine. Alex who was pinned for knowing his wines. Did not disappoint. Astute and honest, he didn't waste our time by only recommending their most expensive wines.

One of our dishes was the soufle. A bit doughy described by one and in my opinion underwhelming.

The kingfish was fresh and flavourful.

The eye fillet was blue when ordered medium rare. I let them know in the most polite way and that I wasn't complaining.

Was told "he'd let them know"

But.. The wine was delicious. The service was good and the food was expensive.

I won't be back, only because it's just not for me anymore. My palette has moved on and I like to have fun when I eat. Not feel like I'm in a library.

Hats off to the staff for the service. The chefs for the...