Victoria’s top restaurants announced

Victoria's Chocolate Garden

Thirty-seven Victorian restaurants made it into The Australian Financial Review’s Australia’s Top Restaurants presented by Qantas and Coffee at a glamorous awards event held at Crown Melbourne on the evening on May 18th 2015.  

The State shined at the awards Gala coming out with five Melbourne restaurants in the top 10: #2 Ben Shewry’s Attica; #4 Dan Hunter’s Brae; #5 Andrew McConnell’s Cutler & Co and #7 Cumulus Inc. and #6 Shannon Bennett’s Vue de monde. Regional restaurants that made the list include #30 Lake House in Daylesford, #62 Provenance Restaurant in Victoria’s High Country and #94 Ten Minutes by Tractor in Mornington Pe ninsula.

Australia’s first industry-voted awards were held in Crown’s stunning pool area, with guests literally walking on water whilst tasting produce, dishes and wine from around Australia – including the all Victorian cheese selection.  

A stunning chocolate sculpture (see main image) by Melbourne’s Cacoa Chocolates  proved to be a highlight on the night, Victoria’s Chocolate Garden showcased some of the native ingredients, flora and flavours found around Victoria. In full technicolor, the exquisite display was made entirely of chocolate.

Many of Melbourne’s eating ‘institutions’ made it into the top 100 showing that chef’s still love the old favourites.  Entries include #11 Flower Drum, #20 Café di Stasio, #40 France Soir and #70 Grossi Florentino.

While relative new-comers include #18 The Town Mouse, #22 Saint Crispin, #24 Supernormal, #28 Lee Ho Fook,  and #69 Tonka.

Comfort food is also clearly a priority when it comes to chef eating habits with #79 Belle’s Hot Chicken and the perennially popular #41 Chin Chin also on the list.

Restaurants in the top 500 were offered an opportunity to provide an exclusive eating experience as part of their inclusion. Diners can book one of 35 offers around Melbourne and/or Victoria from May 19 – May 31.