5 Chef-hatted Venues Delivering European Fare with Flair.

Hearty European fare is ideal for the cooler Autumn months as we crave soul and stomach-warming dishes to appease hunger cravings.

The dishes tend to be heavier on meats, flour and starches meaning they keep you full for longer – think bread, beef, lamb, noodles, butter and potatoes.

As we continue on our delicious Chef Hat drive around the country, here are five restaurants serving European fare with flair you need to try:

Sydneysiders experience gastronomical delights at Quoi Dining on Century Circuit in Baulkham Hills. Located in the rapidly expanding Bella Vista restaurant precinct overlooking Norwest Lake, Quoi is an elegant destination offering fine dining in moody surrounds, with golden-hued lighting and understated simplicity creating an intimate ambience.

 

From Joshua Mason’s menu of rare and beautiful ingredients where texture, flavour and harmony are paramount, delve into signature dry-aged duck breast, with plum, turnips, potato fondant, onion and red wine jus.

Treat yourself and loved ones to a fine dining experience north of Sydney Harbour Bridge and take to Annata restaurant and wine bar in Crows Nest, along Willoughby Road. Whether enjoying a cocktail at the bar, relaxing in the alfresco area, or dining in the chic restaurant ambience, you’ll be taken on a satisfying culinary journey of taste sensations from fresh seasonal menus.

 

Set the scene for a memorable meal with a starter of hiramasa kingfish pancetta, smoked almond, nectarine, black olive and chilli; followed by pure black Wagyu rump cap, pepper sauce and sides of shoestring fries, grilled broccolini and roasted sesame.

Using traditional techniques alongside a charcoal furnace to deliver distinct flavour profiles, The Wolf on Queen Street brings a unique dining experience to the heart of Brisbane’s CBD. A trend-setting interior design of banquette and table settings, geometric tiles, an eclectic mix of artwork and a well-stocked bar greets diners as they ponder a menu heavily influenced by French, Italian and Spanish cuisine.

 

Embark on your culinary journey with swordfish ceviche, citrus salad and tomatillo-tigers milk sorbet; then delve into the likes of venison backstrap with chilli-honey glaze, caramelised nectarines, date gel and gin jus.

Exquisite dining with classic hospitality flair is what you’ll find on the menu at Miss Amelie on Elgin Boulevard in Wodonga. This modern European restaurant nestles in the heritage Railway Station building, with rustic charm aplenty in the form of well-worn brick archways, a wall of greenery and intimate table settings, ideal for a family catch-up or romantic rendezvous.

 

Perhaps begin with seared scallops, corn spears, turmeric, tamarind, black rice, finger lime and pancetta; moving onto mains such as grass-fed eye fillet, celeriac, caramelised onion, poached pear and Bordelaise sauce.

Noosa Beach House Restaurant sits front and centre on the suave, coastal dining hub of Noosa Heads’ Hastings Street. With a fresh, beach holiday style fitting to the iconic strip, this smart-casual venue has already fast become the go-to for crowds, exuding stylish sophistication with wicker baskets overflowing with lush ferns and whitewashed tones in a lively bar area; while the restaurant features an open kitchen suited to ambient evenings.

Opt for chilled beers, cocktails and snacks, or pull up a chair and savour a feast inspired by the best of Noosa’s local produce and seasonal ingredients used to create dishes like market fish, tarragon, pepper berry, herbs and lemon, or Moreton Bay slipper lobster and roti.