After an hour’s walk, dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON is rewarded with the “perfect place to perch” at Yerrabi Pond.

Grocery bills, interest rates and Christmas – just around the corner – are taking dining out off the table for many. For others, heading out for a meal is now only reserved for special occasions.

However, an option is to head to a café that prides itself on quality ingredients, freshly baked goods, friendly service and price points that work. And if you land at a café with a special view, better still. 

That takes us to Caffé al Lago, Yerrabi Pond, Gungahlin.

Open for just under six months, this super comforting café was the perfect place to perch after an hour walk around the water saying hello to swans, cygnets and ducks.

Specialising in scrumptious Italian sandwiches, Caffé al Lago is serious about ingredients. It bakes its bread daily – both schiacciata and focaccia panini – and sources quality goodies to stuff inside each sandwich, at breakfast and lunch. 

The menu is compact but both our sandwiches, served on thin slices of bread baked with wonderful herbs on top, scored big. 

Caffé al Lago’s Diavolo ($18.90) was bursting with ingredients and flavour. Slices of thick, spicy, hot salami were stuffed inside the flatbread, as were artichokes, salty olives, smoky provolone cheese, fresh basil pesto and extra virgin olive oil. 

The Pistachio Mortadelle ($18.90) was jam-packed with rich and flavourful meat, combined with basil pesto, arugula, stracciatella cheese (lots of it!) and crunchy pistachios. 

I wouldn’t hesitate to order the La Speciale sandwich because I’m passionate about prosciutto ($19.90). 

Caffé al Lago offers a breakfast sandwich ($16.90) which would be a great start to the day with eggs, roasted bell pepper sauce, marinated goat cheese and fresh tomato. Or enjoy a cuppa with a buttery croissant. Although we didn’t, you can add extra ingredients for $3 or $5. 

We shared each sandwich so we could try both types. My friend did well to finish off both halves. Caffé al Lago was happy to provide a paper bag for me to cart my half-Diavolo home.

We also shared sweets, including a tangy lemon tart ($6.90) and a not-too-sweet-but-sweet-enough Biscoff cheesecake ($7.90). It was super creamy and on a lovely biscuit base.

We also shared a Royal Dubai pistachio chocolate bar ($10.90), also made daily on site. It was beautifully decorated and had a filling that was crispy, nutty and decadent. Recipes for this treat vary but most feature a Middle Eastern shredded string pastry. 

The ONA coffee was good (both hot and iced) and Caffé al Lago offers a range of teas, milkshakes and other cold drinks.

The glass display at the front on our visit also displayed an impressive line-up of carrot cake ($7.90), baked ricotta ($7.90), caramel walnut tart ($6.90), and gluten-free chocolate brownie ($6.50).