The Q Dining — Modern Vietnamese / Semi-Fine Dining

Restaurant Website HerCanberraTripadvisor

At The Q Dining, Vietnamese culinary traditions are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, offering a semi-fine dining experience that merges boldness with refinement. Located in Canberra (in the former eightysix south site), The Q invites diners to explore the evolving story of Vietnamese cuisine.

Concept & Ambience

The Q Dining offers a moody, elegant setting designed to heighten the dining experience. A major visual anchor is an 8-metre hand-painted mural of Saigon's cityscape, which spans the length of the dining room and creates an immersive panoramic backdrop. The interior palette leans dark and textural — deep tones, refined finishes, and accent lighting that frames each table with visual drama. The space is laid out to balance social energy with individual comfort; an open kitchen invites glimpses of the craft in action.

Menu & Culinary Philosophy

Under the direction of Chef Andy Huynh (and partnership with Ben Pham), The Q Dining’s menu is designed around shared plates that showcase complexity, balance, and surprise. The menu includes elevated versions of familiar Vietnamese dishes (pho, grilled items, buns), but reworked with premium ingredients (Wagyu, lobster, octopus) and global techniques (e.g. reduction, sous-vide, refined sauces).
For example:

• Scallops Royale — Vietnamese pancake topped with scallops, pickles, rich soy, and caviar. HerCanberra
• Char-grilled Wagyu "Lá Lốt" wrapped in betel leaf, served with scallion truffle oil and peanut sauce.
• A signature "Q Pho" featuring a 48-hour beef broth, Wagyu brisket, ribs, smoked onion, herbs.

The dishes aim to balance richness, acidity, herbs, and textures, encouraging diners to go on a flavor journey across courses.

Beverage & Cocktail Culture

The cocktail program at The Q is a key differentiator — each creation is crafted to reflect the spirit of Vietnam while offering sophistication. For instance:

• Áo Dài: A graceful blend of Saigon Gin, lychee, grapefruit, and citrus—elegant, like Vietnam's iconic dress
• Crispy Banana: Think "Chuối Chiên" gone cocktail! Creamy banana meet almond, mango, lemon, for a nostalgic yet naughty tropical treat
• Good Morning Saigon: spiced rye whisky, star anise-infused coffee liqueur, Vietnamese black coffee

Additionally, the restaurant offers traditional Vietnamese egg coffee and a range of mocktails and non-alcoholic signature drinks. The wine list is curated to partner with the aromatic and textured nature of the dishes — lighter whites, high-acid rosés, and restrained reds are featured.

Positioning & Guest Experience

The Q Dining is not casual — it's intended to sit at the higher end of Vietnamese dining in Canberra. It bridges the gap between full fine dining and elevated casual. The space hosts both romantic dinners and social gatherings. Reviews (early and in-progress) describe it as "elevated Vietnamese with wine and cocktails flowing," offering both sophistication and approachability.