332 Manhattan is newish on Canberra’s café circuit and like an increasing number of dining establishments in the capital, it’s sourcing fresh and local produce, as much as possible.

And so it should. That’s what wonderful food is created from.

We popped by Manhattan on a weekend to have a latish lunch, having checked on the website that all would be cool and also calling to ensure the kitchen would be open.

When we settled in, just five minutes past the time we said we would arrive, a person behind the counter informed us the café was closing in a short bit. I indicated that I had checked the website for times and had called. She said the website must be wrong… that they were shutting the doors.

We ordered quickly, although our race to the finish line was slightly problematic because the dish my friend initially selected ended up not being available so we had to check the menu once more.

In the end it was a brekkie burger for my dear friend, which was great. It’s one of those “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” burgers, which you really have to treat yourself to every once in a while. Bacon, lettuce, avocado, caramelised onions, cheese and fried egg all stuffed in a bun (she said no to the tomato – she’s simply not a fan). It was great value at $14.

I opted for a lamb house-made pie, which was delicious. The pastry was light and flaky, the filling generous and big on taste and the side salad a nice balance and super fresh. What I really got stuck into (and my friend did, too) were the yummy roasted potatoes. Another dish offering great value, at $15.

332 Manhattan has a great line-up of sandwiches which you can eat in or take away. Also on offer at lunch is a soft-shell crab salad ($19), a grilled haloumi salad (with maple glazed pumpkin – yum; $15), burgers ($17 to $19) and a prawn san choy bau ($19).

The fitout at 332 Manhattan is warm and comforting and there’s a large outdoor dining area.

However, in the end we felt rushed. It was disconcerting trying to enjoy our meals while chairs were being stacked on tables around us. When the big mop bucket was wheeled past us we downed the last few bites and left, knowing we simply weren’t welcome any longer.

332 Manhattan, Unit 332, 240 Bunda Street, Civic. Call 6248 8771.