Whether seeking contemporary Modern Australian dishes that are as stunning on the plate as the palate, or fusion dining taking your culinary adventure to the next level – there are Chef-hatted venues out there ready to take you around the globe.
From a Broadbeach venue inspired by the raw, natural and ever-changing beauty of the coastline to sumptuous elegance in Hawthorn, here are five award-winning restaurants where the menu always excites and delivers:
Sumptuous Fine Dining
Experience sumptuous elegance when dining at the award-winning Lenzerheide restaurant on Belair Road in Hawthorn. Established in 1989, enjoy the very best in fine dining Adelaide has to offer; only ten minutes from the city centre, this innovatively restored former historical residence exudes an atmosphere of harmony and warmth.
Start a memorable night with ham terrine, shallot emulsion, mustard seed, apple and celery leaf; moving onto main dishes such as venison backstrap, kohlrabi, blackberry and juniper jus, or beef tenderloin, cauliflower, bone marrow crust and bordelaise sauce.
Sophisticated Dining with Water Views
Located on the banks of Lake Daylesford with exquisite water views from any vantage point, the Boathouse Restaurant on Leggatt Street offers a sophisticated dining venue for lunch and dinner. Take in stunning vistas from a warm and cosy indoor dining area for Winter catch-ups, or soak up the sun on the outdoor deck and seating area during warmer months; expect year-round comfort with stylish food and professional service as you enjoy a glass of wine with family and friends.
Dive in to catch entrées of Sydney rock oysters with lime watermelon granita and cucumber apple pearls, paired with a glass of Taittinger; before mesmerising mains of juniper braised pork belly, fennel, apple, chutney and lingon berry sauce.
Feast for the Senses
A feast for the senses awaits at the end of a narrow laneway, tucked in between two heritage-listed sandstone buildings, at Shaffa on Albion Street in Surry Hills. This inviting Middle Eastern restaurant and bar is inspired by the fragrant, lively markets of Tel Aviv; step into a moody vibe of exposed brick, velvet banquettes and an open kitchen offering a glimpse of Chefs in action.
Embark on your culinary adventure with octopus, crispy potatoes, sujuk, pimenton, crushed tomatoes, preserved lemon, coriander and almond pistou; follow on with grilled beef sirloin with a herb and Panko crust, tomato and shallot salad and chermoula.
Innovative Izakaya Dining
Experience the hustle and bustle of innovative izakaya dining at Yamagen in Surfers Paradise. Nestled in the QT Hotel on Staghorn Avenue, this vibrant restaurant blends old-school Japanese tradition with new school Chef invention to dazzle guests with style and speed as robata grill dishes appear before their eyes.
Bold red colours and Oriental touches create a buzzing vibe as cooking becomes performance art, with plates like dry-aged duck breast, beetroot purée, witlof, sansho and orange; make sure to leave room for the indulgent zen garden dessert, perfectly paired with the Hibiki Blossom Harmony whisky.
Where Elements Collide
Made for memories, Kost on Oracle Boulevard in Broadbeach delivers an iconic fusion of dining, drinking, design, fire and music. Inspired by the raw, natural and ever-changing beauty of the coastline - a meeting place of earth, sea and sky – this Gold Coast dining destination is where the elements collide in an immersive, sensory experience like no other.
Snack on fish fingers, smoked salmon roe and tartar sauce, or an hibachi-grilled lamb skewer, green zhjoug, eggplant and za’atar; then delve into char-grilled octopus, almond tarator and nduja dressing, or a pork tomahawk with grilled peaches, ginger wine and sesame.
