On Monday evening at The Star in Sydney the cream rose to the top of Aussie dining.
The winners of Australia's Top Restaurants awards hosted by The Australian Financial Review were revealed, with Attica in Melbourne taking out the top spot.
“Ben Shewry has built Attica into a unique and personal experience that celebrates all that Australian dining excellence is about. With its passion for just-picked and wild plants, an intuitive use of native produce, and exceptionally warm, sincere service, it deserves every accolade and award it wins -- especially this one," said Co-Director of the Awards Terry Durack in a statement.
Now in its second year, the AFR-hosted awards remain the only national restaurant awards program of its kind decided solely by peer voting. While the full list of 500 restaurants is compiled by an Australia-wide panel of Good Food Guide editors, reviewers and industry experts, the Top 100 is decided by the chefs and restaurateurs themselves.
The top 10 were almost all in NSW. Counting down, they were:
10. Franklin, Hobart
9. Automata, Sydney
8. Rockpool Est. 1989, Sydney
7. Bennelong, Sydney
6. Sixpenny, Sydney
5. Ester, Sydney
4. Quay, Sydney
3. Sepia, Sydney
2. Brae, Victoria
1. Attica, Melbourne
Sepia also took home the award for the best service, while Dan Hunter from Brae was named 2016 Chef of the Year.