Spring is a gorgeous time of year to wander among nurseries and grab a bit of lunch, says dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON. 

The Pialligo Bakesmith, is a special spot set in Pialligo itself, a semi-rural suburb not far from the Molonglo River. 

Part of The Commons on Beltana Road, The Pialligo Bakesmith is surrounded by trendy design and retail outlets, so make a day of it (note some shops only open Thursday to Sunday).

The Pialligo Bakesmith has an enormous amount of indoor and outdoor seating and four of us gathered among beautiful gardens, pondering the inviting menu. 

My chilli scrambled eggs were expertly cooked to form a rose shape, and they were garnished with dill fronds and pretty, pink, pickled radish ($26). Hickory smoked salmon made the dish all the more special and the eggs were created with just the right amount of grated parmesan and XO chilli – lots of bite but not overpowering. The eggs were silky and moist. 

Also beautifully presented was the hickory smoked salmon eggs benedict, with the two eggs set among smears of vibrant beetroot gel and coated with a luxurious lemon myrtle hollandaise ($26). Micro herbs danced on top. 

Also from the main menu, with hot options available until 2.30pm, was rustic ratatouille ($23). Traditional French vegetable stew sat on top of two disks of polenta. Dollops of smoked parmesan custard enriched the meal and the fresh garden herb salad with lemon vinaigrette cut through.

One of our party selected from the specials board and gave the Atlantic salmon on top of decadent macadamia nut butter a 10-out-of-10. When a dish looks that fabulous you know it will likely taste just as fabulous. Fresh, sliced cherry tomatoes and a piece of lemon were on the side, and fresh garden herb salad rounded matters out. 

It’s no surprise that desserts are king at The Pialligo Bakesmith, with rows and rows of sweets lovingly displayed, ranging from mini offerings to much more decadent-sized offerings. 

The round pecan tart hit the spot and wasn’t overly sweet ($9.50). The line-up of Danish pastries ($9) is impressive visually and swayed two of us to head that way. However, we were both surprised that the pastry was a bit tough, and I would have loved more punch to the lemon curd, even though it was custard style. One of our party found her lemon meringue tart soul satisfying ($9.50). 

Service was friendly but staff were remarkably slow in clearing our table and others around us, even once they were vacated. At one point we were the only table with diners remaining, with the rest of the room looking chaotic indeed.

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