The dining scene in Canberra is dominated by two locations, Civic in the center of town, and Manuka to the South. In both locations, most restaurants are cluttered within a two block radius. There you can find food of all persuasion, from Italian to Chinese to modern Australian fare to Pan Asian food. For some reason, every modern or ethnic restaurant in Australia seems to have its own version of laksa, a Singaporean noodle soup. I doubt you can find so much laksa anywhere outside Singapore.
I have a number of recommendations for dining in Canberra. At the Oak Room in the Hyatt Hotel, you will find a huge wine list, impeccable service, and innovative modern Australian fare that manages to blend local meat and seafood with Asian flavors and European cooking technique. At Chairman Mao and Yip in Civic, the interesting Chinese menus of duck pancakes, lobster shiu mai, and steamed fish with kumquats are served on beautiful vessels amidst a décor of Maoist artifacts. Manuka has an amazing Turkish restaurant, whose name has for the moment escaped me, but I promise to find out. It serves the most amazing lamb and eggplant concoctions--the most satisfying of meals I have had since I visited Turkey.