For their second annual event, OpenTable has listed the 50 best restaurants in Australia. More than 1,600 restaurants had their hats in the ring and 126,000 verified OpenTable diners determined the outcome.
Australia’s capital cities took out the most spots on the list with Melbourne claiming 19 restaurants, Sydney with 16, Brisbane with 12 and Adelaide with 2. An interesting trend emerged from the chosen restaurants. Modern Australian cuisine trumped other offerings and is available at 34% of the 50 restaurants. It was closely followed by European at 32% then Asian at 16% with a miscellaneous collection of others at 18%. This distinctive Australian resurgence showcases guests desire for fresh, home grown and local produce on their plates.
Tim Domelow, Senior Business Development Manager, OpenTable, said: “The 2018 top 50 restaurants continues to demonstrate the rich culinary scene Australia has to offer, with diners spoilt for choice. This year’s top 50 has showcased a wide variety of restaurants that are being celebrated for their commitment to delivering an all-around quality dining experience; from impeccable service to mouth-watering and visually stunning dishes, combined with inviting atmosphere and impressive styling and design.”
Situated in both Sydney and Melbourne Mjølner features a contemporary interpretation of Viking feasts and celebrations paired with modern Australian cuisine. Created in Thor’s image the restaurant serves up fine feasting food and world-class beverages.
Adelaide’s Shobosho blends traditional yakitori with smoke, steam, fire with skill and texture to produce a careful selection of Japanese cuisine. The menu journeys from yakitori to noodles, dumplings, boa, robata grilled and spit-roasted meats. The menu changes daily bases on produce seasonality and availability.
Champion of garden dining is CHISWICK, Matt Moran’s ‘farm-to-table’ culinary experience. Many of the vegetables and herbs are cooked onsite in the garden just outside the restaurant’s windows, whilst the meat offerings hail from the Moran Family farm on the Central Tablelands. CHISWICK is located in the leafy Sydney suburb of Woollahra.
Right by the Melbourne’s iconic beach, St Kilda, sits Donovans. Billed as a little house on the beach they offer modern Australian cuisine. The restaurant feels cosy and homey and the food offers everything from classic beer-battered fish and chips to shark bay crab risotto to old-fashioned chicken pies.
Walter’s Steakhouse is set on the Brisbane River houses secret and specialised methods for their cooked steaks. They serve up classic dishes paired with traditional service.
To see the full list click here
