I believe we all have our favorites – I know I do – and this shows in the list of the top restaurants in Victoria from Gourmet Traveller. You can check out the full list here
A big congratulations to Dan Hunter and team at The Royal Mail Hotel who were awarded best regional restaurant.
Otherwise there was a massive shake-up in the list for Victoria with a handful of completely new restaurants and a couple of promotions. This means a few have dropped off the list: who dropped out? Three, One, Two closed and moved to become Cutler & Co. The Botanical from no.21. The Courthouse from no.98, Gills Diner from 100. Interlude (40) closed. Becco (71), Esposito (75), The Grand (77) and Longrain (94).
Do you reckon they got it right?
Rank 2010 Name rank 2009
4. Vue de Monde, Vic (4)
No surprises. Maybe it has the edge over JR because it is more fashionable and because of Shannon Bennett’s youth.
12. Jacques Reymond, Vic (13)
No suprises. Vue de Monde and JR always jostle for top position.
14. Cutler & Co., Vic NEW
Outstanding food, plate licking deserts and a pretty decent bar.
15. Attica, Vic (16)
As I’ve said before, Attica is underrated as the mainstream critics can’t get their head around the simple dining room which hasn’t had a $10m fitout. The money is going on the food, staff and cooking technology.
17. Rockpool Bar & Grill, Vic (15)
Fair enough. And still I rate the burger here.
18. Pearl, Vic (25)
Always been a big fan of Pearl. All the kitchen is now induction cooking. Does a great steak tartare, red duck curry and the cran nights onfull moon are worth it. Nice to see it rising.
19. Royal Mail Hotel, Vic (24)
The flavours are very delicate here, perhaps more suited to the palate of a 20 something Asian girl rather than a jaded old critic. Great accomodation, one of the best wine lists you’ll find in Australia and food that is not only innovative and technically excellent but a true work of art.
20. MoMo, Vic NEW
I’m eating there Thursday.By all accounts, as expected superb food from Greg Malouf, although expensive. I’m not sure if I’m going to be impressed by the hundreds – or is it thousands? – of Swarovski crystals. Diamonds would impress me. But not cut glass.
28. Café Di Stasio, Vic (30)
I like it but Di Stasio polarizes people. Probably not top ten material but definately top 20. Did anyone look at the food from Church St Enoteca or The Grand Hotel?
29. Bistro Guillaume, Vic
Big Surprise. I wouldn’t have it as top ten material especially based on the cost of wine and value for money.
30. Provenance, Vic
Outstanding food in Beechworth. Worth the detour, a 4 hour detour to eat here – and stay the night is some very posh and expensive rooms.
31. Grossi Florentino, Vic (39)
Probably fair although I found it a bit weird on Masterchef that the judges gave Guy Grossi 7/10 for his signature dish.
32. Circa, the Prince, Vic (38)
Closed for refurbishment, new kitchen and dining area and reopening with a vegetable garden on the roof of the hotel. Ranking probably irreleventbased on this.
33. Ezard, Vic (26)
Lunch today. Still excellent with that whole Asian fusion thing done so well. Certainly should score higher than Bistro Guillaume, grossi and Cafe Di Stasio.
39. Flower Drum, Vic (31)
Slipped and probably here for its (very) old fashioned service rather than the food or the eleganceof the name tags that the waiters wear.
44. Lake House, Vic (28)
Gutsy call. I wouldn’t like to answer the phone when Alla Wolf Tasker calls up.
54. Merrijig Inn, Vic
No idea. But I hear good things.
56. Verge, Vic (37)
Tires and try hard – trying to recruit elements of FerranAdria. It is so wrong and I hated it. Pretentious clientelle. Read my post here.
57. Cumulus Inc., Vic NEW
The only drawback is that you can’t make bookings. Greatcasual venue to eatany time of day from breakfast ’til late. Andrew McConnell’s 2nd tier restaurant.
65. MoVida, Vic (63)
Probably the people’s choice.
68. The Press Club, Vic (74)
Yep. But packed post Masterchef.
70. Coda, Vic NEW
Still hearing mixed reports. Early days to be elevated this high.
73. Stokehouse, Vic (35)
Big fall, probably too far. Best view on the bay.
74. The Tea Rooms at Yarck, Vic -
Haven’t eaten there for years.
76. Embrasse, Vic NEW
Really good, looks beautiful but some sous vide cooking may confound expectations. See my review.
79. Bar Lourinhã, Vic (93)
Almost as good as Movida. No bookings but I’ve never had to wait too long for a table.
84. Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons, Vic (66)
Good in parts.
89. Stefano’s, Vic (61)
Surprised about the slide.
93. Comme Kitchen, Vic (79)
Completely new team so probably different – it’s French now – to when reviewed.
96. Melbourne Wine Room, Vic -
Nice to see this back in the Top 100. My local and areal fave.
100. Taxi Dining Room, Vic (87)
Surprised. I would have thought top 50.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Am I the only one who thinks Lake House is overrated? I must be. I went there during Easter weekend a couple of years ago and was forced set menu. It was horrid. Everything was overly salted – especially the little puree bits of here and there. I think I’m sticking to the Farmers Arms next time.
Hooray, a nice big list of places for me to try when I’m in town for the AUSTRALIAN OPEN! WOO! (sorry, just got our tickets yesterday and we’re TERRIBLY excited about going).
Only one I’ve been to is Cumulus Inc, and it was a great food experience. Also, lovely toilets! Need more toilet talk in restaurant reviews, say I.
Looks pretty right to me, though I agree with you about Verge, and it would be nicer to see Cumulus place a little higher.
But “20 year old Asian girls” WTF dude?
Conor,
Hope you enjoy yourself.
Baron,
The best plate you will find -and this is taught in wine making courses would be in a female aged about 20ish. I mention Asian girls because most food bloggers are while food writers and critics are male and invariably over 30 to middle-aged.
Therefore, food blogging is populated by more sensitive, better plates than food reviewing and writing and are arguably a better reviewers of delicate rather than full on old fashioned French flavours.
I’m with you on Cumulus and I just wonder WTF is going onat Verge and the people reviewing it.
I work in wine, Ed, and the consensus is that though younger people physiologically have better equipment for tasting, it’s the palate memory bank and ability to express oneself that sets the old dogs (in the wine world, at least) apart; the basic registering of the information is a crucial but small part of the package.
And why young Asian women and not Italian or Moroccan or French or Mexican?
BAron, Like I said I only said Asian as they are the highest population in food blogging and eat out most but equally it could be any young woman. true about the memory bank but what happens when that palate fades? Can a wine tasters or restaurant critics palate go past it?
i know that one month off from just drinking dramatically improves my nose and palate – to the point I don’t even have to pick up a wine glass to analyze a wine.
Kat, when I reviewed it for Gourmet Traveller some years back I gave it a lower score than was published in the guide. The service is very good but I was on a crappy little table. But I haven’t eaten there recently
I’m really surprised about taxi. I went along not long ago and thought it was fab. a shame to see it all the way down at 100.
Sadly Ed, only one (very worthy mind you) tassie restaurant made the cut.
I agree with your thoughts on Church St Enoteca. For it to not even make the guide at all is an injustice to the great food they produce. Strange days.
I went to Verge last Friday for lunch and thought it was fine. Barely a foam in sight. Nor any food reviewers frothing at the mouth.
Maria,Yes Michael lambie does terrific food.
Steve, taswhere?
MArty, it’s about fashionable chefs.
Ken, you were lucky. I’d make a return visitto checkthis out but may be lynched.
Australian Gourmet what? Anthea and Pat who? Never heard of them… What would they know?
Asian – no, female – no, under 30 – no, still I enjoy Dan’s cooking.
I used to get upset by the weird scoring/judging. Too old now. Just go to places that I enjoy and get good food and service.
Too often I have seen restaurant critics fawning over owners, socialising with them and ingratiating themselves. I do all three too, but don’t make money out of presenting my opinions as independent and definitive.
Thermomixer,
Exactly, who? They have a very narrow view of Melbourne and dining. Interesting to compare with The Age results last night.