Plaka Restaurant at Mawson Closed.

It has re-opened in Dickson. Went their last night. Great food and staff.

Has now reopened in Dickson in place of the infamous Copa

I hope you paid for that ad.

Plaka was pretty good and will be missed – but at least there’s another old favourite right nearby (in the same centre in fact!). I went to the Mawson centre to get some dinner and found Plaka closed, but I saw’s Con’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant – so went to have a look. It is fantastic! I had not been there in 20 years. It has been upgraded since my last visit – but they still serve the same delicious food and have a fully stocked bar with all the old favourites! I had fresh lobster , whilst my friends had the seafood platter for two — which is one of the most nicely presented and delicious seafood degustation meals I have encountered in the whole of Australia! It was surprising since Canberra is inland — I dont’ know where they source their fresh seafood from… but it is great! They have also added a lot of non-fish dishes since I was there last… I will be back there soon to try their steak and tornados! I suggest you all try Con’s too – if you liked Plaka – you’ll love Con’s Steak and Seafood!

Okwhatever said :

Man I hope they keep that ’70s decor, talk about a step back in time.

If you miss that vintage ambience, you can always try the Charcoal – neither the decor, the menu nor the patrons have changed since the 70s. (The food is really good, though!).

SnapperJack said :

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

Good recall.

I have a feeling the owners dont realise what a following they have, lets hope they get informed of this thread. Last meal I had there (anniversary) was sensational.

The pizza hut I remember well, as a kid of course there were the usual urban myths about glass found in pizzas etc. but I do have fond memories of it as well (my taste buds as a kid were obviously malformed).

SnapperJack said :

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

My bad, it is still Launceston St.

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

Wow, I remember my family having dinner there back in March 81 when we stayed at the Ambassdor Hotel across the road. It was one of the first restaurants we would have eaten at, in Canberra, having arrived from Interstate at the time.

Okwhatever said :

Man I hope they keep that ’70s decor, talk about a step back in time.

Me too – it was part of the charm. Definitely a Canberra institution.