Restaurant Reviews

For fans of new-wave French cuisine.

Perth is crushing hard on this fantasy of '60s Roman cool.

This Margaret River pioneer has found another gear of late.

Celebrating the immediacy of the land and sea, the entire Van Bone experience is uniquely Tasmanian.

Uncomplicated, unruffled, and very, very fun.

An extensive drinks offering and clockwork service equals a leisurely dining experience at this Japanese diner.

The shining jewel in Crown Sydney's dining portfolio, a'Mare promises a polished night out without the pretence.

This agrarian fantasy is manifested in the diminutive town of Gundaroo, where comforting dishes are constructed under the historic tin roof of the 1865 Royal Hotel.

Malaysian favourites, bold takes and neon lights – expect these and more at Junda Khoo's playground.

At Sáng, spicy, sweet and fermented flavours are combined with truckloads of texture and a refined touch, expanding the definition of Korean dining in Australia.

Slick service, killer cocktails and the best steak in Sydney – you'll find yourself back at The Gidley again and again.

Breezy Mediterranean plates and spectacular beachfront views, Una Más easily takes the crown for cool, casual dining in the harbour city.

Underlined by the laidback service and the single seating policy, Tedesca Osteria has a dinner at a friend's place vibe. With faultless attention to detail, it's a must.

With escape from reality at a premium, Gimlet's gorgeously renovated, high-ceilinged space is the perfect bolthole.

Open just two days a week, Underbar plays a great game of hard-to-get. The room is minimalist, the service warm, the encounter unforgettable.

The restaurant in Adelaide's tranquil Botanic Gardens has always been perfectly situated, and has now been injected with wild new life.

Aurora is more than just a fabulous newcomer to the Adelaide restaurant scene – it's also a registered charity. Eat well and do good in one sitting.

If you ever think the quirkiness will overwhelm, just trust the chef and know it'll all work out for the best.

Sure it's a scene, but this Fortitude Valley diner is also approachable.

An elegant take on progressive dining.

The elevator pitch might be elegant share-style street food, but expect more.

Surf, turf and a touch of glamour.

A hotel-restaurant-spa from a hospitality veteran, a Japanese-leaning fine diner and GT's Restaurant of the Year. These restaurants are worth the road trip.

At Amaru's fun new sibling, it's the snacks that steal the show. Words of advice? Come hungry.

A recent arrival in the nation's capital takes flight with a fun-forward blend of native ingredients and Oz nostalgia.

A changing of the kitchen guard takes a Perth CBD favourite in an unexpected but welcome new direction.

We go in search of the hottest new slices to be found across the country.

At Scott Pickett’s smooth new clubhouse expect old-school French flavours, reworked for the modern day.

With new-look dining rooms and some of Perth's best pizza, there's no denying the allure of this inner-city tavern. And you really, really should order the Il Capo.

With a broad menu, an all-star cast and Karen Martini overseeing the show, the all-day restaurant at ACMI is a drawcard.

Located 15 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, the restaurant lives up to the hype with impressive dishes to match its wine and views.

A modern Korean fine-diner offers twists on traditional dishes with finesse, with a rule-breaking bibimbap, red snapper hwe with karkalla, and Brussels sprouts kimchi.

A new waterfront home for the Italian fine-dining restaurant proves a winning combination in Brisbane. And how about that $70 pasta?

Kokis, hoppers and a thali you won't forget any time soon. This Sri Lankan-inspired bistro and bar is spicing things up in regional Victoria.

With a focus on top-quality produce, the sum is greater than its parts at this Burleigh gem.

It's always good to know Tipo 00 is there ready with a soul-warming plate of pasta.

An off-the-grid property powered by solar energy, organic certification, plus a farm and winery. Arimia walks the sustainability talk.

The room's design might channel a big-city American version of a Parisian bistro but the menu is quintessentially Melburnian. Come for the bistro classics and high-detail cocktails; stay for dessert.

Bee Satongun has won accolades for her Paste restaurants in Bankgok and Luang Prabang, and the Mittagong iteration is worth hitting the road for.

Backed by serial restaurateur Scott Pickett and manned by long-time head chef Arté Assavakavinvong, the Melbourne Thai restaurant has had a few tweaks, but it still hits the mark.

It hasn't been an easy ride for this Victorian fine-dining restaurant. But judging by the food, service and polished dining room, you wouldn't know it.

The Perth institution might have old-school ideals, but this polished dining room also has an eye on the now.

With Lee Ho Fook and Longrain alumni running the show, expect delights of the earthly and culinary kind.

Clever cooking, a pescatarian menu plus a refreshed dining room equals a Sydney diner that's less drab and more fab.

Truth be told, the clientele of the Highgate establishment spent longer pondering the drinks than the food. But with a new chef in the kitchen, guests might want to rethink their priorities.

If there's anywhere you want to trust with a "feed me" option, it's here.

With impeccable service, a mastery of Cantonese cooking and one of the greatest restaurant entrances in Australia, the Melbourne institution does all the classics without the stasis.

Chef Ben Williamson is heating up the city's dining scene once again, with flame- and smoke-kissed dishes that are innovative without being intimidating.

At this Red Hill spot it feels less restaurant, writes Michael Harden, and more like lunch at a friend's house, in the best way possible.

At Coogee Pavilion's highly anticipated new restaurant, Merivale has spared no expense. And so it seems, neither will diners, writes Karlie Verkerk.

The latest eatery on Carlton's main drag may not be Italian, but its fine service, bold chefs and a must-order potato dish tells a story of change, charm and new culinary directions.

They've moved up the road sans wood-fire oven, but that hasn't stopped the Sydney restaurant from serving good, honest food backed up with a commitment to sustainability.

From the folks behind Neighbourhood Wine comes a fine local bistro with wood-fired dishes that reference the chef's South African heritage, and a sweet and smoky pork chop that just won't quit.

Elektra’s pan-European approach is a shift in the right direction, writes Michael Harden. And let's talk about that potato snack.

XOPP, the next step for Sydney's Golden Century, strikes a balance between old and new, writes David Matthews.

Sure, Pasi Petänen can spin Pacojets with the best of them. But with his new, permanent home in Sydney's Inner West, the chef and serial pop-up artist shows he can still win at the basics.

It may be located in the Melbourne CBD, but French bistro Bar Margaux takes its inspiration from the city that never sleeps.

A talented chef, a less-is-more approach, and how about that chip butty. Sydney's the Old Fitzroy Hotel is essential pub dining.

Modern Chinese in Brisbane, a Sichuan empire in Melbourne and addictive Hunanese in Sydney. These are the best spots for a Chinese feed according to our 2020 Restaurant Guide.

Two top chefs in their prime present a culinary collaboration that could have serious staying power, writes David Matthews. And how about that tenshindon.

At Navi, Julian Hills’ creative focus is evident from produce to plate, writes Michael Harden.

Your cheat sheet to the best slices in the country.

Our favourite places to grab a bargain bite, according to our 2020 Restaurant Guide.

Brunch and a batch brew? Avocado toast and a flat white? These are the best cafés in the country right now according to our GT 2020 Restaurant Guide.

With our growing familiarity with wattleseed and finger limes, some would say that the quest to bring Australian ingredients into the national vocabulary is over. Over 22 courses at Orana, it’s clear that we’re just getting started.

There's plenty of eating and drinking to do in the Top End.

At this Melbourne restaurant, chef Michael Li plays with classic Chinese flavours for all-in good times.

A former Attica staffer with a cracking wine list, and a talented new chef churning out snacks that leave you wanting more. Neighbourhood bistro Etta is going from strength to strength.

We don’t usually buy the unlike-any-other-venue-in-Sydney speak. But Mary’s Underground is.

The Pilot crew have CVs that dot-point time spent at Momofuku Seiobo, Automata and Ester. The result? A restaurant for the here and now that elevates the expectations of what Canberra dining can be.

Tansy's has returned, this time in regional Victoria. It's all classics and class, and serving sardines so beautiful they could make a grown man cry. Time to set the GPS to Kyneton.

At Pipit, the newest destination restaurant in the Northern Rivers region, an ex-Noma chef and original Byron boy takes his cues from the coast and the community.

Two young chefs, two established venues, lots of excellent snacks. This is a tale of two wine bars – 10 William St, and Love, Tilly Devine – and their place in the city of lockouts.

Don't come to Di Stasio Città to count your pennies. Here, hedonism is creed, and indulgence is the name of the game.

Say ciao to these top-notch kitchens.

In a world of fast food fashion, Est bucks the trend, delivering good food and service that never go out of style.

Come for the stunning location, stay for the menu highlights – Sebastian brings seaside Basque charm to bayside Williamstown.

From beloved trattorias serving traditional fare to first-rate kitchens buzzing with creativity and experimentation.

Look no further, a genuinely good plate of fresh pasta is only a booking away.

Once battered, twice-fried? Or hand-cut and dry-filleted? Fish and chips may be humble, but getting it right is serious business. Here are 12 of the best versions from around the country, from no frills to extra fancy.

From food courts to fine-dining, regional specialities to dim sum, the array of Chinese on offer in Sydney just keeps getting better.

The long-awaited Italian sequel to Restaurant Hubert swings from groundbreaking to traditional, with fun at the top of the list of priorities.

A one-time Daylesford favourite, Kazuki’s is bringing small-town charm to Carlton with clever cooking and no shortage of technical prowess.

With Spritzes on tap, wood-fired pizza and a prime spot on the Yarra, Arbory Afloat is an Italo party not to be missed.

The food is Italian-ish, with swagger. Don Peppino’s godfathers write their own rules.

From wood-fired to dry-aged, salt-crusted to sharing-style, we've rounded up the definitive list of top steaks across the city so you'll never have to eat a bad one again.

Handmade and hand-crafted, Sáng by Mabasa expands the definition of Korean dining in Sydney.

Scott Pickett’s wood-fired foray south of the Yarra delivers casual elegance in spades.

French bistro cuisine, modern Australian fare or pan-Asian classics - there's a restaurant to cater to every palate in the nation's capital. Here are the crème de la crème, as featured in our 2019 Restaurant Guide.

Whether it's a late-night dive, a brew-pub or a cave à manger you fancy, Australia's new wave of watering holes has it covered. Time to pull on your drinking shoes.

REVIEW By day, in its café incarnation, Močan (they pronounce it ‘mochan’) pumps, locals lining up outside and packing onto outdoor seats. By night, it’s quieter, which gives you some elbow room to mix the egg yolk into your Crookwell steak tartare. Raw scallop is served as is with lightly charred chorizo, and Narooma oysters […]

Meet the new-in-town players making their mark on the Harbour City.

The best of the best on Australia's food scene, as featured in our 2019 Restaurant Guide.

REVIEW The latest venture from Scott Pickett (Estelle, ESP) is a luxe, superbly conceived local eatery. Diners experience the heat and smoke from the wood-fired kitchen at the entry as they make their way to the leather and timber-clad dining room. It’s a drum roll for what’s next – nearly every dish takes cues from […]

REVIEW Five years on, Eightysix continues to impose its disruptive and noisy self on Canberra’s dining scene. The youthful ebullience of floor staff hasn’t waned and it’s still difficult for walk-ins to get a seat. The menu – chalked up on a blackboard spanning the elongated space – has also proven a touch too resistant […]

REVIEW While the name evokes images of checked cloths and wax-encrusted Chianti bottles, Italian & Sons is a niftily modern affair. Pendant lamps cast a glow across a buzzy, sleek, timber-panelled space, and the wine list contrasts edgy naturals with the legends of Tuscany and Piedmont. The kitchen turns out classic pizze and pasta, but […]

REVIEW The setting for celebrations, dalliances and political manoeuvres, this Canberra stalwart has tradition woven into its fabric. The long space opening onto greenery and a water feature fosters serenity, no matter how busy the action on the floor, and the staff’s dignified, warm demeanour speaks of a justifiable pride. The noise is all in […]

Take a peek inside Sydney’s best watering holes, from underground spirit specialists to the spots with the best ocean views.

REVIEW A peaceful lakeside setting, a decorous welcome; this wedding conference- restaurant destination emanates Old World charm. But it’s in the hushed, spacious dining room with clinking cutlery and low voices that you get the big reveal: a bold menu and extensive wine list showcase the region’s best in a modern way. Cowra pork belly […]

REVIEW Fresh from a stint at Magill Estate Restaurant, chef Emma McCaskill’s first solo venture is with restaurateur-of-the-moment Simon Kardachi at a cosy eatery. The updated space and menu results in a refined bistro focused on regional food and wine. Brine-soaked sardine with chilli relish on a linseed cracker, topped with pickled shallot and dill, […]