The Elk & Pea - Canberra

This place is great. Interesting decor, friendly staff and good food (although quite meat-oriented, there are vegetarian options). The menu seems to change quite often and is quite different from standard brunch cafés so it's a nice addition to the Braddon brunch/lunch options. It's a bit pricey but worth it, and they've been willing to improvise items on request (including a white hot chocolate which is amazing!) Definitely recommended to anyone looking for something a bit different.

I've been to the Elk and Pea three times. It used to be great but it has gone downhill and is on the way out. The place has a nice buzzy ambiance and great decor. The menu is original and interesting. But the execution and the staff attitude is poor. This is what has changed - it used to be well run with friendly and engaged staff who had their mind on the job and knew what they were doing. Not any more. Food was late, service was chaotic and indifferent, orders were stuffed up and the place was freezing. We ordered three main courses for four people - one a sharing size main. After two of the people in our party had almost finished their mains, we were visited by a waitress asking how everything's going. I explained it wasn't going well as we were still waiting for our mains, and that much should have been obvious to her just by looking at the table. About 10 minutes later our order came out, but the wrong dish. We were offered a round of drinks and "a few" free deserts to compensate - but we didn't want those things. This is a typical slick restaurant tactic - rather than do the proper thing and not charge when they've stuffed up, they offer something which has a large margin for free, thinking you'll be thrilled. We weren't. Despite the fact that we were served the wrong meal, 20 minutes at least after the other dishes at the table, we were finally offered to pay half price for the dish. So $30 for the wrong meal, which wasn't good and was delivered so late when we were so hungry we had the choice of waiting another half an hour or eating it. We were also ****** freezing. We, and everyone at the tables around us were wearing all their overcoats and scarves. We pointed this out to management and they didn't make any comment but wouldn't turn up the heat - probably wanting to save money. Was asked for knee blanket but apparently they don't have any. The corn chips and dips were nice but the Empanadas were overcooked and excessively oily. So if you don't mind being charged for something you didn't order and only ate out of hunger while you're being kept in a freezer - then this is your place.

I've been to the Elk and Pea three times. It used to be great but it has gone downhill and is on the way out. The place has a nice buzzy ambiance and great decor. The menu is original and interesting. But the execution and the staff attitude is poor. This is what has changed - it used to be well run with friendly and engaged staff who had their mind on the job and knew what they were doing. Not any more. Food was late, service was chaotic and indifferent, orders were stuffed up and the place was freezing. We ordered three main courses for four people - one a sharing size main. After two of the people in our party had almost finished their mains, we were visited by a waitress asking how everything's going. I explained it wasn't going well as we were still waiting for our mains, and that much should have been obvious to her just by looking at the table. About 10 minutes later our order came out, but the wrong dish. We were offered a round of drinks and... read more

Got here on a busy Sunday and were seated towards the back part of the massive cafe. Ordered coffees straight away and perished the menu, picking the pancakes and the Big Vego. After we watched the Big Vego sit waiting at the kitchen for 10 minutes, we weren't all that surprised when it was brought to the table stone cold. The pancakes were tasty and probably were the reason for the delay. Coffees came to us 5 or so minutes after the meal, and then went straight past us to another table. Once corrected, my flat white was really good (strong, hot), but my partner's was cold. Seems like a great concept, but doesn't really deliver the goods. Would be willing to come back and try the breakfast buffet with friends though

One of the worst experiences I've ever had, the servers were friendly and we were seated quickly, however with an impressive and exciting menu the execution and taste was absolutely appalling. We were waiting 30mins for a chai latte which came after our food. The burger was stale, cold, burnt and extremely hard to swallow, the chips were as salty as Vegemite and freezing cold. For $20 this was a complete waste of my time and money. I would rather starve than eat here again.