Last night was the award ceremony for the Australian Financial Reviews Top 100 restaurants.
This award is a prestigious restaurant award voted for by restauranteurs and chefs around the country, a true reflection on where the people in our industry like to eat.
Out of 500 shorthlisted restaurants, Ben Shewry’s
Attica in Melbourne won the award for
Best Restaurant in Victoria and got the
Number 1 spot on the Top 100 Restaurants list. This is a great moment for Ben Shewry as he last year bought out his business partner of Attica and now has sole “custody” of this Melbourne hotspot.
Second on the 100 Top Restaurant List is regional gem
Brae in Birregurra, Victoria who’s owner and chef Dan Hunter also took home the
Top Chef Award. Despite the 1,5 hour drive out of Melbourne, this restaurant has been the talk of the town in most chef circles since it opened in 2013. A get away destination for any nature thirsty and food hungry gourmand.
But it wasn’t just chefs that got awarded and highlighted last night. There was a mutual buzz and recognition of how important the front of house team are and how good service is crucial for a great dining experience.
The award for
Top Service Team went to Sydney restaurant
Sepia, who also scored
Number 3 on the top 100 list. Sepia co-owner Vicki Wild said that good service starts from the welcome at the door and was about “reading the guests”.
The
People’s Choice Award went to
Akiba, a modern, eclectic Japanese street food diner in Canberra.
Hobart’s
Franklin was named Tasmania’s top restaurant; Adelaide’s
Africola topped the South Australian list, while Restaurant
Amuse was selected as Western Australia’s best.
Gerard’s Bistro in Brisbane won the Queensland category;
Monster Kitchen and Bar was voted the top restaurant in the ACT and Darwin’s
Little Miss Korea ranked highest of all Northern Territory venues.
View the full Top 100 Restaurant list
here