You'll have a tough time securing a hat. There seemed to be some change with the 2016 Age Good Food Guide Awards. Each restaurant was undoubtedly judged on its own merits, but the results showed that there were just as many "losers" as "winners." Two restaurants in Melbourne that have received two to three hats are Attica and Brae (technically not Melbourne but regional).
Can we draw the conclusion that Sydney, with its abundance of high-end restaurants, is the capital of fine dining in Australia, whereas Melbourne is the winner of the "mid-end" casual scene? The numbers seem to point in that direction. Who then holds the title of Australia's culinary capital? We are the type of people who like to sample everything; for us, the ideal combination would be to take the high end of Sydney and combine it with the mid-range of Melbourne. It's possible that Brisbane and Hobart have something to add to the conversation about how that trend is picking up steam.
When you read the guide from cover to cover, as we did over the course of a long lunch that lasted for four hours (which was rather fitting), you come to the realisation that many of the restaurants that were once awarded a hat no longer receive one. In point of fact, some of them have been showing a downward trend over the course of several years.
It's true that it can be challenging to find the right cap or hat. All the winners deserve praise, but special recognition should be given to Woodland House (which doubled its tally of hats), Lume (which won for the first time), Minamishima (which some people may have had trouble pronouncing after a few drinks), and the other recipients. Congratulations are in order for Attica and Brae, who have persevered in their three hats despite the fact that it is a long way to the top.
Furthermore, we appreciate the sections devoted to low-cost dining and cafes, for instance.
Congratulations to both Delhi Streets, a restaurant that we hold in very high regard, and Shandong Mama for contributing to the enhancement of our culinary scene. We have noticed a trend towards cafes offering healthier food options, such as more superfood bowls and fewer burgers.
It's possible to take a pro-con stance on a few different restaurants, but in general, we believe that the Good Food Guide has the landscape pretty much nailed down (whether anyone cares about our opinion). One thing that we are able to boast about is the fact that we have personally dined at more of the establishments featured in the Good Food Guide than the vast majority of people.
With a score of 14.5, Altair Restaurant in Warrandyte can confidently assert that it offers the finest dining in the eastern suburbs; in fact, they scored higher than a number of the well-known wineries that are located in the area.
When you are given a hat, it is obvious that you will need to continue to put in a lot of effort in order to keep it. One cannot assume that a restaurant will maintain its status as a hat for the foreseeable future because the evaluation of each restaurant is conducted on an annual basis using stringent criteria.
We believe that different restaurants will have "hat moments" at different times throughout the year, but what is required is a consistent level of quality throughout each and every day. Whatever the case may be, we are not reviewers; rather, we are opinionated bloggers. At least we are able to speak from experience because we go to hundreds of different restaurants each year.
Three Chef Hatted Restaurants In Melbourne
The year 2022 has not exactly been a banner one for eating out, so it is safe to say that we are all well overdue for a memorable meal. Receiving a "Chef Hat" designation is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a chef or a restaurant.
It indicates that your list of restaurants to visit is, more or less, complete and checked off. We are down to the final four months of the year. You can be sure that we are making the most of the situation.
So if you want food that comes with all the trimmings, you should give a tip of the cap to these incredible chef-hatted restaurants in Melbourne; which ones do you plan to book?
Attica
Every foodie should make an effort to dine at Ben Shrewdy's Attica, which has been consistently ranked among the top 50 restaurants in the world since the list's inception in 2010. The restaurant is known for its creative tasting menus that push the boundaries of what is possible in the kitchen. Each dish highlights local, underrated ingredients such as bunya nuts and murnong. Dining at Attica is a one-of-a-kind experience that is worth more than three hats due to its eclectic atmosphere, friendly service, and singularity.
74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea
Brae
Farm-to-plate dining at its finest, Brae has been recognised as the best restaurant in the country by Vittoria and has kept all three of its coveted chef hats. The ever-evolving menu at Brae is shaped not only by the fresh produce grown on the restaurant's farm, which spans an area of 30 acres and includes vegetable plots and an established grove of more than 100 trees, but also by the fresh produce grown by local producers and growers.
Staying in one of their six luxury guest suites that are also environmentally friendly is the best way to get the full experience. Unadulterated joy.
4285 Cape Otway Rd, Birregurra, Victoria
Vue de Monde
As its name suggests, Vue de Monde is a restaurant that consistently transports diners to new gastronomic heights. The restaurant is perched high above the city skyline. The restaurant that has been Shannon Bennett's mainstay for a long time continues to develop while maintaining its two hats by serving dishes that focus on creativity and sustainability.
While you take in the breathtaking views of the city from every angle, you shouldn't forget to order something from the signature chef's tasting menu.
Level 55, Rialto, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne
Laura
The most extensive sculpture collection in Australia can be found on the Mornington Peninsula's Pt. Leo Estate, which is also home to the two-hatted restaurant Laura. The dining experience at a gourmet hideaway is touted to be of the highest possible calibre and to take place in a splendidly private ambience.
Diners can choose between four, five, or six courses, and each dish takes them on a culinary journey through the region, accompanied by a wine list that is expertly paired with each course.
Point Leo Estate, Merricks, Victoria
Minamishima
Fine dining at its finest can be found at Minamishima, a restaurant that is unfussy, uncluttered, and precise. Expect carefully crafted nigiri to make an appearance on the menu, which is determined by the chef in accordance with the tenets of the omakase dining style and is influenced by the changing of the seasons.
Everything that is presented to the patrons, from the fresh, locally sourced produce to the meticulously arranged plates, has been carefully considered. You are in for a real treat no matter where you choose to eat at this restaurant—at the counter, sushi bar style, or in the dining room.
4 Lord Street, Richmond
Ten Minutes By Tractor
Those who have a deep appreciation for both food and wine absolutely must make the trip to By Tractor. The estate, which was given its name after the meeting point of three family-owned wineries on the Mornington Peninsula (each of which is ten minutes away by tractor), features some of the most authentic expressions of the varieties grown in the area and also features inspired dining.
The tasting menu created by Chef Adam Sanderson pays homage to the incredible local produce that is sourced from nearby farms, the kitchen garden, and ingredients that are foraged from all over the region.
1333 Mornington-Flinders Road, Main Ridge
IDES
This special occasion fine dining establishment is well-known for the startlingly creative modern Australian cuisine that it serves. The dinner menu, which costs $160 per person and only seats 36 people, is constantly changing with the seasons and features unusual ingredients and flavour combinations.
The gambles pay off, as each dish is a masterful marriage of flavour, technique, and artistic plating, all of which culminates in their signature "black box" dessert, which is a Melbourne dish that should be on everyone's "bucket list" to try at least once.
92 Smith Street, Collingwood
Gaea
When the person in charge of the kitchen has previous experience working at Attica and Vue de Monde, you know you're in for a challenging experience. Mo Zhou, a chef who was born in Henan and has a passion for innovative cuisine and regional ingredients, is the proprietor of this restaurant in Henan that only offers degustation.
Those who are not afraid of the novel will be delighted by his inventive flavour and textural combinations, with dishes that are guaranteed to have you deep in thought while you are sitting down to dinner.
1/166 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Amaru
In their pursuit of new flavours and textures, Clinton McIver and his kitchen staff aren't constrained by convention. The "Sensory" menu, at $220 per person, features a wide variety of creative dishes, such as aged cobia with dried strawberry, rhubarb, and green almonds and barbecued redfish with Mexican mole, warrigal greens, and rosella.
In the meantime, the interior design is not only cosy and sophisticated but also understated enough to let the restaurant's high-end cuisine take centre stage.
1121 High Street, Armadale
Cutler & Co
It is simple to make yourself at home for the evening at the sophisticated Cutler and Co., which boasts a setting that is both modern and industrial and is housed in a former factory. The menu consists of modern Australian dishes that are uncomplicated and in tune with the changing seasons. Both the food and the dining experience are meant to be of the highest possible calibre.
55/57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Wickens at the Royal Mail
A two-hatted paddock-to-plate sensory experience, Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel features an ever-changing menu that makes creative use of flavours sourced from locally grown and foraged ingredients.
Because the hotel relies heavily on produce that is harvested daily from the organic kitchen garden and because the hotel boasts a world-class wine list that features wines from the hotel's impressive 28,000 bottle wine cellar, you won't ever want to leave. Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel is destination dining at its finest, and it offers both a la carte and degustation menus.
98 Parker St, Dunkeld, Victoria
Flower Drum
Flower Drum, a Cantonese restaurant in Melbourne, has been around for 45 years and is so well-known that it has its own article on Wikipedia. The wait staff in this luxurious establishment treat their regulars (who include actors, musicians, and politicians) like old friends and know them by name. Delicately carved Peking duck, mud crab xiao long bao, and quail sang Choi bao are just a few of the restaurant's signature dishes that have remained popular through the years. Premium live seafood, which is both fresh and expensive, is also prepared to a world-class standard.
17 Market Lane, Melbourne
Ishizuka
The basement restaurant of renowned chef Tomotaka Ishizuka is a shining example of Kaiseki, the refined Japanese dining style that emphasises the use of only the freshest seasonal ingredients. Every one of the 16 guests is treated to an 11-course tasting menu that showcases the finest ingredients, meticulously prepared dishes, and exquisite plating.
The dishes, which vary from day to day depending on the produce that is available and are both intricate and understated, are a showcase of the Japanese ideal of perfection.
139 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Navi
One of the most exciting and forward-thinking restaurants in all of Melbourne can be found in the rapidly developing neighbourhood of Yarraville. Chef-owner Julian Hills has been able to exercise his creative muscles more freely as a result of the restaurant's degustation menu, which is served to a maximum of 25 guests per night. The results speak for themselves, as weekends are typically fully booked several months in advance.
Customers who aren't afraid to try new things will enjoy the restaurant's innovative cocktails and eclectic music (think wattleseed espresso martinis and toasted rice kombucha). Macarons filled with trout roe and black garlic, or blue cheesecake with tamarillos, are just two of the more out-there menu items.
83b Gamon Street, Yarraville
Grossi Florentino
You can tell that you're in for a memorable evening when the dining experience begins with a Champagne trolley for the toasting ceremony. And given the lavish atmosphere of Grossi Florentino, you can expect them to pull out all the stops.
The ornate ceiling is adorned with chandeliers, and the walls feature decorative murals of bygone eras as a decorative touch. The words "Italian romance" are practically written all over this. The food is exquisite, and they serve classic comfort dishes with a dash of decadence. This dining experience is unlike any other you've ever had.
80 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Atlas Dining
The Atlas is not your average dining establishment. The ambitious project headed by Chef Charlie Carrington updates its menu entirely every four months, resulting in the creation of a new degustation that honours the cuisine of a different nation. The end result is a well-considered and thrilling adventure that transports you all over the world without requiring you to leave Melbourne.
Israel, India, China, and Lebanon have all been included in earlier iterations of this project. Nevertheless, at the moment, they are bringing it home with an Australia-inspired set menu that highlights native ingredients as well as the wonderful diversity of our multicultural dining landscape.
133 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Tonka
In the heart of the Central Business District, tucked away on one of the city's most famous laneways, you'll find this CBD mainstay serving up fiery Indian cuisine that's been given a refined and modern spin. After you have finished devouring Tonka's gloriously saucy and succulent dishes, the opulent white tablecloths will no longer be in pristine condition.
Try the whole spatchcock or the Petuna ocean trout from one of the Tandoor ovens. Those who try the lamb curry with roasted coconut and black cardamom often end up ordering it again.
20 Duckboard Place, Melbourne
Coda
A real Melbourne institution that exudes class and style. It is generally agreed that Coda is one of the best restaurants in the city. Not only is this the place to be seen on a Friday night (or any other night for that matter) because it is always buzzing with its own special brand of energy, but you are also guaranteed to have an excellent meal while you are there. Believe us when we say that the yellowfin tuna is well worth the wait on its own.
141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
FAQs About Melbourne Restaurants
A three-hatted restaurant located in Melbourne’s central business district, Vue De Monde offers some of the city’s best dining. It’s an ultra-fine dining experience.
An overview of the Chef Hat system can be found below: 12-13 points: fine cuisine. An optional hat (similar to a Michelin star) could put your head on the ground for 14-15 minutes. Five hats at 19 points: A trip to Michelin stars at 18-19 points): three hats, worth a trip (similar to three Michelin stars)
There are no longer many restaurants in Melbourne; categorise them according to their size and region.
You can only find a ‘hat’ for chefs and restaurants when they’ve won prizes. Scores go towards ingredients, service, technique, value, and consistency in a restaurant. An eatery needs no more than 15 out of 20, taking these factors into account. There are a few places that offer two to three hats.
Each restaurant can be rated separately based on its cuisine. Chef Hats awards chefs who demonstrate continuous excellence in cooking.
Conclusion
There will no longer be any Age Good Food Guide Awards. It used to be that many more restaurants received a "hat," but now that number is much smaller. Which Australian city is considered the country's "culinary capital?" Sydney and Melbourne, with their combination of high-end and middle-range offerings, make for the perfect pair. If you want to show your appreciation for a chef or a restaurant, the "Chef Hat" is the highest award you can give them.
A full check mark there means you've eaten at every restaurant on your list. The Altair Restaurant in Warrandyte outperformed several renowned wineries, according to the survey. Attica, owned and operated by Ben Shrewdy, is routinely regarded as one of the world's top 50 restaurants. According to Vittoria, Brae is the best restaurant in the country, and it has maintained its three Michelin stars. Food at Vue de Monde is both inventive and environmentally conscious.
The Mornington Peninsula is home to three separate wineries owned by the same family, hence the name "By Tractor" (each of which is ten minutes away by tractor). Clinton McIver and his team of chefs don't follow the rules. If you're looking for fine dining in a special setting, look no further than Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel. The 45-year-old band Flower Drum is so well-known that it has its own article in the online encyclopaedia. One of Melbourne's most innovative and exciting eateries is Navi.
Each day's menu features dishes that are both elaborate and understated, as they are inspired by the day's freshest ingredients. Traditional comfort food with a touch of decadence can be found on the menu at Grossi Florentino. Each degustation celebrates the cuisine of a different country and is crafted by Chef Charlie Carrington once every four months. In previous versions of the project, we also included Israel, India, China, and Lebanon. They are currently serving an Australian-themed dinner menu.
Content Summary
- The 2016 Age Good Food Guide Awards seemed to represent a shift from previous years.
- Attica and Brae are both two- to three-hat restaurants in Melbourne (technically not Melbourne but regional).
- Can we conclude that Melbourne has the best "middle-of-the-road" casual scene, while Sydney is the country's fine-dining epicentre due to its many upscale eateries?
- Although there are some restaurants that can be argued for and against, we feel that the Good Food Guide has the landscape pretty much nailed down (whether anyone cares about our opinion).
- We can brag that we have eaten at more of the restaurants listed in the Good Food Guide than the vast majority of the general public.
- When someone gives you the proverbial "hat," it's pretty obvious that you'll have to keep putting in a lot of work to keep it.
- Eateries where the chef wears three hats Melbourne, Australia We are all overdue for a truly memorable meal, as 2021 has not been a particularly good year for dining out.
- The highest accolade that can be given to a chef or a restaurant is the "Chef Hat" designation.
- A full check mark there means you've eaten at every restaurant on your list.
- Attica, owned by Ben Shrewdy, has been one of the world's top 50 restaurants almost continuously since the list's inception in 2010.
- Having a meal at Attica is like nothing else, and the restaurant deserves more than three hats for its unique vibe, warm service, and originality.
- BraeBrae is a farm-to-table restaurant that has maintained its three Michelin stars since it was named the best in the country by Vittoria.
- Located at 4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra, Victoria, Birregurra Lookout Over the World Vue de Monde is a restaurant that truly lives up to its name by taking patrons on a gastronomic journey to new heights.
- Minamishima is an elegant restaurant that does not mess around with its food and instead focuses on serving each dish with pinpoint accuracy.
- The estate, named for the spot where three separate family wineries on the Mornington Peninsula (each ten minutes away by tractor) meet, is home to some of the region's finest examples of the varieties grown there and to a menu of inspired cuisine.
- This restaurant in Henan only serves degustation, and its proprietor is Mo Zhou, a chef who was born and raised in the province and who has a deep appreciation for both creative cooking and local ingredients.
- The trendy Cutler and Co. is located in a converted factory and features a sleek modern and industrial atmosphere, making it easy to settle in for the night.
- There are a variety of seasonal dishes that are simple to prepare and reflect the Australian way of life that are featured on the menu.
- The hotel's world-class wine list features wines from the hotel's impressive 28,000-bottle wine cellar, and the hotel's organic kitchen garden supplies much of the hotel's produce.
- Located in the luxurious Royal Mail Hotel, Wickens is a fine dining establishment that boasts both a la carte and degustation menus.
- An iconic Melbourne Cantonese eatery, Flower Drum has been serving patrons for 45 years and is so well-known that it has its own article on Wikipedia.
- The fresh and pricey live seafood served here is of the highest quality, as is the preparation.
- The Kaiseki cuisine served at the basement restaurant of renowned chef Tomotaka Ishizuka is a model of Japanese elegance and refinement.
- The dishes, which are both elaborate and restrained, reflect the Japanese ideal of perfection and change daily based on the availability of the day's produce.
- In the rapidly growing Yarraville neighbourhood, you'll find one of the most exciting and forward-thinking restaurants in all of Melbourne.
- The degustation menu, which is only offered to a maximum of 25 diners per night, has allowed chef and owner Julian Hills to more freely express his creative side.
- The results are evident, as weekends tend to be booked solid well in advance of arrival.
- The restaurant caters to daring diners by offering novel cocktails and a wide variety of musical genres (think wattleseed espresso martinis and toasted rice kombucha).
- When the evening begins with a Champagne trolley for the toasting ceremony, you know you're in for a special one.
- You can expect them to spare no expense, what with Grossi Florentino's opulent vibe.
- Delicious classic comfort dishes with a touch of decadence are served here.
- Every four months, the ambitious venture led by Chef Charlie Carrington creates a new degustation in tribute to the cuisine of a different country.
- In previous versions of the project, we also included Israel, India, China, and Lebanon.
- There is a consensus that Coda is one of the best restaurants in town.