Max Walker (not that one) didn’t set out to run a restaurant. The MoVida Aqui and LP’s alum is passionate about wine, and sought to share his love for lo-fi drops with the good people of Canberra via a sparse, warehouse-chic bar in residential Campbell. He didn’t even have a chef when he opened five years ago.

So it’s all the more impressive to find that the Paranormal Wines of today is a purveyor of such fine food: creative, skilful plates that work perfectly with a similarly considered wine selection of locals and imports.

Pair beef tartare and miso “tonnato” sauce with a chilled Macedon Ranges red blend, or try braised leeks with sorrel, shaved mushrooms and blue cheese sabayon with a juicy Loire gamay. And get the famed fried potatoes – fluffy within, crunchy without – with anything you like. Both menu and wine list here are ever changing, making Paranormal a no-brainer for repeat custom.

Best for: Take your pick from takeaways, perching at the bar or settling in for a long night with friends.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.