“I could not have imagined this in my wildest dreams, yet here we are!” Chef DAVID REID is over the moon. The Belconnen cafe he runs with his daughter – Stella’s by the Lake – has just won a national award.  

Belconnen’s beloved dog-friendly café, Stella’s by the Lake, has been named Best Breakfast Restaurant in Australia at the Restaurant and Catering Association’s national Awards for Excellence. 

Stella’s also won a silver award for Café Dining.

“I could not have imagined this in my wildest dreams, yet here we are! It just goes to show that Canberra has some great food destinations,” says chef and co-owner David Reid. “Our team is fantastic, we couldn’t have won these awards without their hard work and dedication to our customers.”

The national recognition follows a remarkable year where Stella’s by the Lake, a father-and-daughter-owned cafe beside Lake Ginninderra, was named as a finalist in the Awards for Excellence for its fourth consecutive year and this time clinching the national and silver titles.

“Winning these awards, especially out of all of Australia, is an honour beyond words,” says Ashlinn. “We’re grateful for our community’s support and excited to bring even more special experiences to our guests and their furry companions!”

Stella’s by the Lake looks forward to celebrating this accomplishment with its loyal patrons and invites everyone to visit and experience the award winning offerings for themselves.

David and daughter Ashlinn Reid each bring their years of experience in hospitality. With David as chef and Ashlinn as manager, they provide a friendly and warm cafe experience where everyone is welcome – especially four-legged friends!

For David, whose career as a chef spans more than 30 years, opening Stella’s By The Lake with Ashlinn was a proud moment for him as both a father and a business owner. 

David started his career as an apprentice chef at the Hermitage Restaurant in Woden in the late ’80s, and worked at other restaurants such as the Hyatt’s Promenade Cafe, Maddison’s at the Vikings Club and the Queanbeyan Leagues Club. He also owned and ran the Metro Espresso Bar at Woden. David says he had an urge to own a cafe again and the opportunity presented itself to open Stella’s with Ashlinn in 2020. 

They say that they named the cafe in memory of a family pet – Stella the staffy – and they warmly welcome all dogs with outdoor seating, grass mats, treats and puppachinos. 

Stella’s by the Lake, Lake Ginninderra, open daily from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, offering a full brunch menu and treats for its four-legged visitors.