Hopefully most of your questions are answered here. However, if they aren’t, feel free to send us and email and we would be happy to help
Food / Menu
We have chosen to offer a tasting menu and do not offer a la carte.
Click on the menu options for sample menus and pricing. This is subject to change.
All guests must dine on the same type of menu (Pilot Menu, Lunch Set, Extended Menu) however we cater to individual dietary restrictions by providing alternate dishes for the guests that require them, not for the entire reservation.
Most dietary requests can be catered for on the Pilot Menu and Lunch Set, just leave a note in the last page of the booking process.
It is important to note that guests that require a no seafood option will have a vegetarian substitute.
On the Extended Menu we can cater to:
pescatarian, nut allergy, gluten free/coeliac, lactose free, pregnant, no seafood/allergy and vegetarian.
We may not always be able to arrange alternate dishes for dietary requirements if they are noted on the day and not when making the reservation.
For private events we are happy to work on a bespoke menu for an added cost.
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1 snack / 2 courses / 1 dessert
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4 snacks / 3 courses / 2 desserts / A little something to take home
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5 snacks / 4 courses / 2 desserts / A little something to take home
Beverages
Everything we serve is Australian grown and made.
When making a reservation there is the option to note if you would like a pairing, however this is not set and you are welcome to change the type of pairing or opt to order drinks throughout your experience on the day if you wish.
You do not have to do a pairing. The price is dependant on what menu you are booked in for, and is a seperate cost to the tasting menu.
Our pairings are a curated selection of beverages, (not just wine) to accompany the tasting menu.
Thoughtful and interesting we suggest you give these a try, but we like to note that they are more on the experimental side than a traditional pairing as we like to explore the weird and wonderful.
We have attached our beverage and cellar list for you to peruse.
We try to update this online as much as we can but it may not always be up to date. If you see something you like or you would like a current menu send us an email as we are always happy to put bottles aside for your reservation.
BYO is accepted for all services.
On Thursday evenings we encourage BYO as all corkage sales go towards a chosen organisation for the month.
From Friday - Sunday we encourage you to drink from our all Australian list because of this corkage on these days is priced at $60 per bottle.
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Unique and seasonal house made ferments, teas, tinctures, tonics and sodas by Tom Opie. Featuring native Australian ingredients, local produce and ingredients that would otherwise be considered waste.
$60 Lunch Pairing
$75 Pilot Pairing
$90 Extended Pairing -
Curated by Kane Nelson this is an adventurous representation of the exciting world of Australian wine, apera, beer, and other beverages.
Nothing boring here and certainly not a traditional wine pairing.
$100 Lunch Pairing
$130 Pilot Pairing
$150 Extended Pairing -
A selection of our favourites from the ‘In House’ and ‘Home Grown Pairing’.
This is for those that wish for a lower abv, are driving or simply just want to try it all.
Lunch Pairing $90
Pilot Pairing $105
Extended Pairing $125 -
Our beverage list is a thoughtful selection of wines, cocktails, beer, and non alcholic imaginations.
See our current list
Over the years we’ve kept a few bottles aside. Some are rare, some are unique, some are funky and some are special drops from friends we wanted to save and share. If you want us to keep one aside for your visit reach out and we keep it safe for you.
Pilot Cellar List
Young Ones
School aged children are welcome at Pilot but are required to dine on a set menu.
We do not offer a children's menu but I'd be happy to arrange a shorter menu set menu for children up to 14 years old. Children 14+ are welcome to dine on our Pilot Menu.
Options available are:
Two courses for $60
Three courses for $90
Three courses + snacks for $120
We require a minimum spend of $160pp for any reservations on a Saturday evening. This can include drinks for the other guests at the table.
For all other services there is no minimum spend
(Thursday, Friday, Sunday Dinner and Saturday, Sunday Lunch)
We are happy to liaise with you on the menu we can offer.
Due to the small size of our restaurant we will not always have the space to accommodate prams, high chairs and space for young children. We kindly ask guests to reach out prior to making a reservation so we can make sure everyone is looked after and comfortable.
Dining Time
Over the years we have adjusted our booking and dining times in accordance with our service capability and demand. If you cannot find the dining time you would like please reach out to us and we will see what we can do to accomodate.
We currently take reservations for dinner service at 6pm, 6:15pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm and 8:30pm and lunch service from 12pm - 2:30pm.
We ask that reservations booked on the Pilot Menu between 6pm - 6:15pm and 2pm - 2:30pm, and Lunch Set and Extended Menu from 2pm - 2:30pm vacate their table within two hours of the booking time.
All guests that pre booked on the Extended Menu from 6pm or Pilot Menu from 7pm for are welcome to stay for as long as they like.
During busy periods if guests are more than 15 minutes late we may need to start the meal or courses may be cut in order to keep to the timing of the venue and other guests and services. We will try our best to accomodate and may ask you to move outdoors to finish if there is the option to do so.
In the case that we do not need to re-sit your table we may extend the dining time, so if you have an engagement afterwards let us know and we will make sure you make it.
Estimated dining times are below.
Lunch Set: 1.5-2 hours.
Pilot Menu: 2 hours
Extended Menu: 2.5 - 3 hours.
Cancellation
When making a reservation please read the booking and cancellation terms and conditions. We are a small venue so late cancellations and reductions in booking size at late notice make it harder for us to operate a sustainable business for ourselves and our guests.
Credit card details are required to secure a reservation. No charge will be made prior, however a $160 per person cancellation fee may apply for late cancellation within 48hrs from the booking, reduction in diner numbers and no shows.
If a cancellation is made outside of 48hrs there will be no charge.
The cancellation period for groups of 6 and over ranges from 72 hours - 1 week depending on the group size.
If you are unable to attend at late notice please reach out and we will see what we can do. We appreciate your understanding.
Pre / Post
As we are a small venue and do not have a waiting area indoors we ask guests not arrive early for their booking during the colder months.
If you find yourself in Ainslie earlier than expected there are few options available.
That Other Place:
When the weather is warm we welcome pre and post drinks in our courtyard bar That Other Place. Seating is limited so we suggest reaching out prior to reserve a table, you are also welcome to try your luck walking in.
Edgars Inn:
If you like pubs you’ll like this. Situated on the corner of the Ainslie shops.
Wakefield’s Bar and Wine:
If you were after a more moody setting inside this wine and cocktail bar is located above us and entry is through the double wooden doors on the left just passed our front door.
Looking for a drink afterward? Canberra has some great venues depending on what you are in the mood for.
Bar Rochford:
Our favourite place for a drink, the best cocktails wine lists in Canberra, if not Australia.
Mollys:
If you like jazz, whiskey, and dive bars you will like this.
Squeaky Clean:
If you want to go back in time and re-live the house party life. They have Coors on tap, big buck hunter and a pool table.