For anyone travelling to Queensland, here's a guide to some of Brisbane's best inner-city restaurants and regional dining experiences. This week, Queensland's top restaurateurs, chefs and sommeliers were announced and celebrated at the brisbanetimes.com.au Good Food Guide Awards for 2013. Restaurants across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Cairns and Toowoomba were awarded with one or more hats, based on the quality of food and service.
Brisbane River
Looking for a special dinner, overlooking the Brisbane River? You won't be disappointed at Esquire, claiming the award for Restaurant of the Year for the second year in a row.
In fact, this uber cool spot was also the only Queensland restaurant to have achieved the desirable three-hat status. Run by chefs Ryan Squires and Ben Dilvin, Esquire serves an inventive degustation menu that is set off by polished service and a stylish decor.
Also in the CBD, Matt Moran's prestigious Aria on Eagle Street Pier won Wine List of the Year and was awarded a two-hat status, alongside Stokehouse at Southbank, Urbane on Mary Street and Ortiga on Brunswick Street.
In the buzzing new James Street precinct of Fortitude Valley, you'll find this year's Best New Restaurant, Gerard's Bistro, serving up Middle Eastern-inspired sociable share plates.
It's the venture of the Moubarak brothers, who have seriously good taste and a passion for business, following the launch of previous bars Laruche and Lychee Lounge.
Paddington locals were pleased to hear that Cabiria was recognised as having the Best Bar with Food and Kettle & Tin offered the Best Food Under $30, while Rhubarb Rhubarb in Wooloowin took out BYO Restaurant of the Year.
In Noosa, the much-loved Wasabi Restaurant and Bar won Regional Restaurant of the Year and the wine list at Sails took out the award of Regional Highly Commended.
Of the 45 restaurants that were lucky enough to have attained one or more hats, five metro restaurants lost their one hat from last year.
Check out the entire list in the brisbanetimes.com.au Good Food Guide 2013.
The book will be available in Queensland bookshops and on SMHshop.com.au soon.
See below for a list of the Good Food Guide Awards.
Vittoria Restaurant of the Year
Esquire, Brisbane
Plumm Wine Glasses Best New Restaurant
Gerard's Bistro, Fortitude Valley
Citibank Chef of the Year
Alejandro Cancino, Urbane, Brisbane
Regional Restaurant of the Year
Wasabi Restaurant and Bar, Noosa Sound
BYO Restaurant of the Year
Rhubarb Rhubarb, Wooloowin
Silver Service Award
Zahir Meher-Homji, Il Centro, Brisbane
Citibank Professional Excellence Award
Alison Alexander
Wine List of the Year
Aria, Brisbane
Regional Wine List of the Year
The Fishhouse, Burleigh Heads
Highly Commended
Il Centro, Brisbane
Regional Highly Commended
Sails, Noosa Heads
Pol Roger Sommelier of the Year
Alan Hunter, E'cco Bistro/ Bistro One Eleven, Brisbane
Best Bar with Food
Cabiria, Paddington
brisbanetimes.com.au Best Food Under $30
Kettle & Tin, Paddington
4BC Diners' Choice Award
Coast, Hervey Bay
Vittoria Legend Award
Francis and Marilyn Domenech
