Australia’s number-one restaurant revealed

Sydney restaurant Momofuku Seiobo has beaten a very competitive field to be named the number-one restaurant in Australia by Gourmet Traveller.

Launching the country’s only national restaurant guide last night at an awards ceremony at Alpha restaurant in Sydney, the magazine’s editors singled the restaurant out for its peerless innovation and the quality of its service, despite the fact that in many ways it’s completely unlike traditional fine-dining restaurants. Momofuku Seiobo (pronounced “moh-moh-FOO-KOO SAY-oboe”) has neither tablecloths nor views, takes bookings online only and yet it has quickly become one of the most sought-after places to eat in Australia.

Beyond the Restaurant of the Year category, the winners of the awards came from all over the country. Sam Ward, the 24-year-old chef of Perth’s revolutionary Mexican El Público was named Best New Talent, and Tasmania’s The Stackings broke Victoria’s stranglehold to win Regional Restaurant of the Year. New Sydney’s Monopole scored with Wine List of the Year and Mr Wong picked up New Restaurant of the Year, while the Maîtres d’ of the Year were Andrew Buchanan and Drew Patten from Brisbane’s Urbane.

The rest of the night belonged to Victoria. George Biron, the founder of regional Victorian cooking school and restaurant Sunnybrae, was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality, while Melbourne’s Bar Di Stasio was named Bar of the Year, and Campbell Burton of the Builders Arms is the new Sommelier of the Year. In the peer-voted Chef of the Year award, meanwhile, Andrew McConnell, of Melbourne’s Cutler & Co and Cumulus Inc., took out top honours.

“Looking over the list of winners here, I think the future of hospitality in Australia is looking really awesome,” says GT chief restaurant critic, Pat Nourse. “The level of talent all around the country is really impressive, and I think that’s a big win for Australians who like to eat out.”

“I think having a dining scene that can support something as ambitious and idiosyncratic as Momofuku Seiobo says a lot about how informed and adventurous we are as diners in Australia,” says GT editor, Anthea Loucas. “Our food and drink scene is vibrant, diverse and exciting, and it’s a great pleasure for us to be able to celebrate it through these awards, our restaurant guide and in every issue of Gourmet Traveller.”

All winners will be published in the September issue of Gourmet Traveller, on newsstands with the new edition of the Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide, presented by Vittoria Coffee, Tanqueray and supporting sponsors Citizen, Domo and Smeg, on Thursday 22 August.

The full list of winners follows.

Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards winners

Restaurant of the Year
Momofuku Seiobo, Sydney

Chef of the Year
Andrew McConnell, Cutler & Co., Melbourne

Outstanding contribution to Hospitality
George Biron, Sunnybrae, Birregurra, Vic

New Restaurant of the Year
Mr Wong, Sydney

Wine List of the Year
Monopole, Sydney

Sommelier of the Year
Campbell Burton, Builders Arms, Melbourne

Maîtres D’ of the Year
Andrew Buchanan and Drew Patten, Urbane, Brisbane

Best New Talent
Sam Ward, El Pύblico, Perth

Regional Restaurant of the Year
The Stackings, Woodbridge, Tas

Bar of the Year
Bar Di Stasio, Melbourne

Three-Star Winners
Vue de Monde, Melbourne
Cutler & Co., Melbourne
Attica, Melbourne
Est., Sydney
Rockpool, Sydney
Sepia, Sydney
Marque, Sydney
Quay, Sydney
Momofuku Seiobo, Sydney

Source: Gourmet Traveller, 21 August 2013