The Gourmet Traveller team has uncovered the best restaurants around the country to bring you the finalists for the 2022 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards in the October issue of Gourmet Traveller, on sale now.

 

Due to ongoing restrictions, The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Award winners will be announced via a virtual announcement on October 24, with the awards’ dinner at Melbourne’s Gimlet postponed until early 2022, when a who’s who of the industry will gather to celebrate winners and champion the strength and resilience of the hospitality industry.

 

“The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards have always been about celebrating the best in Australian dining and uncovering exciting new experiences for our readers to explore in the year ahead. It is testament to both the creativity and resilience of the industry that new venues have continued to open since March last year, offering new and exceptional experiences. Lockdowns may pause physical progress but, time has proven, they can spark even brighter, bolder plans,” says Gourmet Traveller editor, Joanna Hunkin.

 

Finalists have been announced in five hotly contested categories:  Best New Restaurant, Best Wine Bar, Best New Talent, Restaurant Personality of the Year and Best Destination Dining.

 

The coveted Restaurant of the Year award will be announced live on October 24, along with the peer-voted Chef of the Year, recognising a single chef for their contribution to Australian dining.

 

In addition to announcing the finalists, this month, Gourmet Traveller announces Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality recipient Amy Chanta. The chef and business woman was instrumental in shaping Sydney's Thai food scene, opening the first Chat Thai restaurant in 1989 on Liverpool Street in Darlinghurst. Gourmet Traveller’s October issue pays tribute to Amy who sadly passed away earlier this year. In tribute to Amy, the issue will showcase a selection of her signature recipes, as shared by her daughter Palisa Anderson.

 

The winners, along with Australia's Top 80 restaurants, will be profiled in a special Celebration Issue of Gourmet Traveller, on sale Monday 25 October.

 

And the Finalists are...

 

Best New Restaurant

·      A’Mare, NSW

·      Aru, VIC

·      Aurora, SA

·      Bianca, QLD

·      Corella Bar & Restaurant, ACT

·      Elska, QLD

·      Gimlet, VIC

·      Ho Jiak Town Hall, NSW

·      Porcine, NSW

·      Van Bone, TAS

 

Best Wine Bar

·      Monopole, NSW

·      Mummucc, WA

·      Public Wine Shop, VIC

·      Sonny, TAS

·      Snackman, QLD

 

Best New Talent

·      Jung Eun Chae – CHAE, VIC

·      Nathan Dunnell – Elska, QLD

·      Rosheen Kaul - Etta Dining, VIC

·      Daiki Shigeta – Fleet/Roco Ramen, NSW

 

Restaurant Personality of the Year

·      Federica Andrisani & Oskar Rossi - Fico, TAS

·      Cam Fairbairn - Café Paci, NSW

·      Hannah Green - Etta Dining, VIC

·      Carlo Grossi - Grossi Florentino, VIC

·      Nick Hildebrandt - Monopole, NSW

·      Jason Lui - Flower Drum, VIC

·      Tania di Nicolo - Mummucc, WA

·      Sharon Romeo - Fino, SA

·      Tyron Simon – Bianca, Agnes, Same Same, Honto, QLD

 

Best Destination Dining

·      Oaks Kitchen and Garden, QLD

·      Hentley Farm, SA

·      Millbrook, WA

·      Provenance, VIC

·      Underbar, VIC

·      Stillwater, TAS

Gourmet Traveller reviewers arrive at restaurants unannounced and pay their own way. Each restaurant is judged on its overall dining experience, including its food and drink offering, as well as ambience, service and setting.

 

The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards are presented by Levantine Hill, with support from Visit Victoria, Longines, Waterford, Sub Zero & Wolf and PorkStar.