Hentley Farm wins Restaurant of the Year in Advertiser 2013 Food Awards

Gifted young chef Lachlan Colwill weaves undeniable food magic in the kitchen of The Advertiser's Restaurant of the Year - Hentley Farm, in the Barossa Valley.

The award, sponsored by Vittoria Coffee, is given to the restaurant that pulls together great food with amazing service and atmosphere.

The cellar-door establishment occupies beautifully renovated old stables with picture windows set into history whispering stone walls, revealing snatches of Barossa views.

Chef Lachlan Colwill at Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield.

This restaurant offers no menu, but instead has a "discovery" of four or eight unseen courses, with or without matched wine, and many additional morsels in between.

You can expect a long, languishing, artistic, wine-friendly meal of small, perfectly formed proportions.

The young chef said winning was the greatest feeling. He has enjoyed "a lovely couple of years" at the new restaurant, "and things aren't slowing down" he said proudly.

A reflection of the season, and some local foodscape flourishes on every plate, embellished by the chef's quirky sense of art and adventure.

On the surface, simplicity reigns, belying the technical toil happening behind the scenes, in a clever celebration of restraint.

At meal's end, a commencement-like souvenir menu is presented to guests along with generous offers to take to the cellar door just a few steps across the lawn.

The menu will evolve to more local flavours as the Hentley gardens and orchards, and their haven for game birds, provides more for the local larder.

We name it Vittoria Restaurant of the Yearbecause it provides an adventure in a complete and memorable dining experience.

Click here to view all the winners in The Advertiser's 2013 Food Awards.

Source: The Australian, 28 October 2013