Clare Falzon, Hentley Farm, Seppeltsfield, SA – “The place I get most excited to dine at is Muni (2/3 High Street; 08 7516 5958) in Willunga, SA. Every dish delivers beautiful and surprising flavours, with a Taiwanese influence from the two chefs. It’s my favourite place right now to have lunch solo with a book and a glass of wine. They’re doing something quite special and exciting.”

Massimo Mele, Peppina, Hobart, Tas – “One of the constant rotations on my Instagram is Nomad in Melbourne and Sydney’s Surry Hills. I just love Jacqui’s [Challinor] food and her style of cooking. The care and effort taken and the great produce is really present in this restaurant, from making their own charcuterie to the woodfired flatbreads and delicious meats cooked over the fire – it all gets me very excited. I’m especially keen to try the truffle and ham hock hash brown.”

Rodney Dunn, The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk, Tas – “Whenever I find myself in Hobart, the place I visit more than any other is Tom McHugo’s (87 Macquarie Street; 03 6231 4916). It’s a pub but so much more – these guys walk the talk when it comes to local ingredients. I love the menu section that begins with the line, ‘Vegetables (not always vegetarian)’. It’s generally a what’s-what of in-season vegetables from local farmers smartly paired with complementary flavours; think broccoli with curry butter or grilled wombok with leek sauce and pickled garlic buds. These delights sit neatly alongside the prerequisite chicken schnitty and steak, which are always good. Wash all this down with an exciting list of local beers and natty wines – little surprise that it’s such a hospo hangout.”

Jacqui Challinor, Nomad, Sydney, NSW, and Melbourne, Vic – “My favourite restaurant at the moment is Gimlet – I can’t go to Melbourne and not visit. Grab yourself a seat at the bar and order the tartare, which is prepared tableside. You won’t be sorry.”

Helly Raichura, Enter Via Laundry, Carlton North, Vic – "The hospitality is flawless, the décor is luxurious and the atmosphere is celebratory. I really enjoy sitting under those beautiful chandeliers on soft velvet seats, with a glass of wine or a cocktail and a delicious meal.”

Aleksis Kalnins, Matilda 159 Domain, South Yarra, Vic – “What I find special about it is the late-night suppers on Friday and Saturday so I can go after service. I celebrate the end of the week with a cocktail, six oysters, some charcuterie and a plate of cheese.”

Alex Ghaddab, Osteria Renata, Prahran, Vic – “The food, beverage and hospitality offerings are outstanding and like everyone says, yes, it does feel like a Manhattan staple. I absolutely cannot go past a Martini or two, oysters, gnocco fritto and the T-bone. Stunning.”

Craig Will, Stillwater, Launceston, Tas – “My favourite place to go is Timbre at Velo Wines, 15 minutes north of Launceston in the Tamar Valley. Matt Adams has created a restaurant with a focus on a circular economy of gathering local produce and creating a seasonal menu around it. Interesting ferments, infusions, smoke and woodfire ensure a tasty and different menu each time and a solid wine list and friendly staff make it a great place to spend a day.”

Kylie Kwong, Lucky Kwong, Eveleigh, NSW – “The name Paski Vineria Popolare  – ‘a small wine bar and restaurant for the people’ – says it all and Giorgio de Maria, Enrico Tomelleri and Mattia Dicati’s buzzing, eccentric, detail- and produce-driven little gem in Darlinghurst, Sydney, is just that. It has a cosy, casual vibe and rustic fit out, an extensive and idiosyncratic wine selection based on rich relationships with some of Italy’s most talented natural winemakers, and a delicious menu of handmade pastas, house charcuterie and seafood dishes. Paski oozes Italian warmth, generosity, conviviality and passion.”

Peter Gilmore, Quay and Bennelong, Sydney, NSW – “My current favourite is Ante Bar in Sydney’s Newtown. It’s a new space with cool Tokyo vibes and a great sake list. My favourite dish is the fermented shiitake pasta – major umami.”

Josh Niland, Saint Peter, Paddington, NSW – “What’s so special about Lucky
Kwong and what has always been so special about the food Kylie Kwong and her team cooks is that it’s truly unique and a mirror of where we are in the world. The food is outstanding and the level of hospitality is exceedingly special. I always order fried eggs with Lucky Kwong chilli sauce and the wonderfully comforting and nourishing yellowfin tuna pancakes. It’s an absolute favourite of mine, my wife, Julie, and our kids.”

Alex Wong, Lana, Sydney, NSW – “A long Sunday lunch at Ormeggio at The Spit in Mosman on Sydney’s lower North Shore is unbeatable when you want a slice of Italy. The use of premium Australian seafood sets the cuisine apart and when you combine that with outstanding service and an idyllic waterfront location, you really do feel like you’re dining at a Mediterranean beachside osteria. I try to get there a few times a year and every time I return it feels like a new experience as the chefs are constantly innovating but one of their classics – squid ink tagliolini with handpicked Queensland spanner crab – is always top of my list. If you’re there with a group, I recommend ordering all the housemade gelatos – they’re theatrical and thoroughly impressive.”

Orazio D’Elia, Da Orazio, Bondi, NSW – “I love going to Lucio Pizzeria in Sydney’s Darlinghurst and Zetland. Lucio [De Falco] is a long-time friend of mine from my hometown in Italy. Every time I taste his pizza it reminds me of home. The pizza fritta is the best; I always order it.”

Brent Savage, Bentley Group, Sydney, NSW – “My favourite local eatery is
Barzaari in Sydney’s Marrickville. The chef, Darryl Martin, is a great cook. He has his own unique approach to Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. Everything is made in house, the meats are woodfired or cooked over charcoal and the vegetarian offerings are fantastic, too. It’s a familyrun restaurant and you can feel it in the generosity of their hospitality.”

Joel Bickford, Shell House, Sydney, NSW – “It’s hard to go past Ester in Sydney’s Chippendale: it’s creative, relaxed and special. But, above all, it’s home to some of the tastiest food in the country. My go-to dishes are the potato bread, dry-aged pork rump and steamed hapuka – my dish of the year so far, for its stunning simplicity. Desserts also shine – I tried all four on my last visit.”

O Tama Carey, Lankan Filling Station, Darlinghurst, NSW – “Ester has been at the forefront of the Sydney dining scene for years now, with dishes and flavours that feel both new yet classic at the same time. The food is deeply satisfying, the flavours
delicate yet complex, plated in simple yet pretty ways. The oysters with horseradish emulsion are cooked in the wood fire until they just pop open – they’re a little warm, plump and perfect.”

Yen Trinh and Ben Devlin, Pipit, Pottsville, NSW – “In Brunswick Heads, northern NSW, Honour is a small bistro and wine bar run by a husband and wife team, chef Anna [Mortimer] and sommelier Aymeric [Albores]. Order the lemon-roasted spatchcock with almond sauce if you can; they’re also expanding their housemade retail side so stock up for home with tasty terrines and more."

Yen Trinh and Ben Devlin, Pipit, Pottsville, NSW – “At Robina on the Gold Coast, Eddy + Wolff has modern Vietnamese and Asian eats with great cocktails and an epic R’n’B soundtrack. Run by Vien and Thao [Nguyen], it’s the kind of place that feels like it should be in a big city laneway but is a great hidden gem in a suburban location. The banh xeo is super crisp and authentic and possibly the best we’ve had in any restaurant for a long time.”

Justin James, Restaurant Botanic, Adelaide, SA – “In May I had the privilege to eat and stay at Brae in Birregurra, Victoria, and the experience was on point – from the drive there to walking through the front door of the restaurant to leaving my accommodation the next day. The whole idea of it is inspiring: growing as much as you can, creating a total hospitality experience that lasts 18 hours. The food comes out beautifully plated and is absolutely delicious – you can taste the garden throughout the experience. Service is personal, swift and deft. I opted for a hybrid pairing and the non-alcoholic drinks were fantastic and went so well with the food. As for the room, I felt at home. They had my favourite record by The Strokes so I played that over a bottle of wine and snacks. Warm croissants were delivered in the morning before I hit the road back to Adelaide.”

Tim Hardy, Van Bone, Bream Creek, Tas – “My all-time favourite restaurant is Dan Hunter’s Brae. The excellence, hospitality and integrity that goes into every detail makes this humble farmhouse a truly magical dining experience. It’s an inspired place.”

Khanh Nguyen, Sunda and Aru, Melbourne, Vic – “My favourite place to eat now has been my favourite for a number of years: LuMi Dining in Pyrmont, Sydney. Chef and owner Federico Zanellato is a true inspiration; his cuisine – Italian with a strong influence of Japanese sensibilities, techniques and flavours – is a marriage I’ve always loved. My favourite has to be the snacks course, which is usually six to eight different bite-size dishes, all unique and inspiring in their own way. Top of the list is the gunkan – traditionally sushi rice wrapped in nori with a topping. Federico uses Italian stracciatella and tops it with sea urchin when in season. It’s genius.”

Andrew McConnell, Trader House group, Melbourne, Vic – “There’s something special about travelling to the countryside for lunch, particularly a wine region. Tedesca Osteria in Red Hill, Victoria, ticks so many boxes; delicious food, a great wine list and beautiful design. The menu is hyper-seasonal and always delivers what’s growing in the garden or what’s available from the local growers and fishermen. I love the set menu, which is Italian leaning and well-balanced. There’s usually a pasta dish, which is always perfect, and Brigitte’s [Hafner] desserts are a highlight.”

Hugh Allen, Vue de Monde, Melbourne, Vic – “O.My out in Beaconsfield, is run by two brothers who grow most of the food themselves and it offers everything: amazing food, wine and service.”

Andrew McConnell, Trader House group, Melbourne, Vic – “The food at Newtown’s
Cafe Paci in Sydney, is tasty, innovative and fun – with service to match. There are not many restaurants that are suitable for every occasion but this place is an exception. Whether I’m on a date with my partner or with a group of hospo friends, I always have a great time. Also, there’s cool bar seating if you just want to go for snacks and drinks.”

Oskar Rossi, Fico, Hobart, Tasmania – “The best meal I’ve had recently was in Sydney at Cafe Paci. I love the eclectic mix of cultures and inspiration in the menu. I’d go back for the ox tongue taco, duck torta salata or the carrot sorbet with licorice and yoghurt but everything on the menu is great, the service is excellent and the vibe is fun.”

Neil Perry, Margaret, Double Bay, NSW  – “Flower Drum in Melbourne is my favourite restaurant in the country. I eat the same thing every time – Neil Perry’s mud crab noodles. Years ago, I told them I felt like mud crab so they made it up with ginger and shallot and fine noodles. I talk about it so much that now people order it, even though it ’s not on the menu.”

Victor Liong, Lee Ho Fook, Melbourne, Vic – “Flower Drum is a very important restaurant in Australia’s dining scene; it’s refined, traditional and authentic – in the sense of delivering excellent Cantonese cuisine and staying true to its food philosophy – and it has been operating at the highest standard for almost 50 years. The Lui family’s service team, wine offering and cooking style show Australians that Chinese food is one of the great cuisines of the world. I bring friends from overseas, celebrate there with family and often go to learn and experience its magic. I’d like it to be around for my children to enjoy – it’s a very special place.”

Jessi Singh, Daughter in Law, Melbourne, Vic – “My current favourite restaurant in the world is Ciao, Mate! in Bangalow, NSW. This beautiful little Italian joint makes one of the best sourdough pizzas and chef Matt Stone personally sources local ingredients. He is so committed to supporting local farmers, local markets and native ingredients – particularly after the recent floods and lockdowns when these small operators need so much help to survive. Whenever I go I feel like I’m somewhere in Napoli; it’s a very cosy space and I sit at the bar to watch the action. Matt does daily special pasta or small plates but my all-time favourite is the margherita pizza. There’s also amazing Italian wine, like the beautiful natural orange wine Radikon Sivi from Oslavia.”

Brigitte Hafner, Osteria Tedesca, Red Hill, Vic – “The Tedesca team had
the pleasure of dining at Chauncy  last summer. We loved the generous hospitality and care, from the dining room to the wine list and menu. Chauncy is a beautiful country restaurant in Heathcote, Victoria, set in a historic building brought back to life in a sensitive and stylish way in partnership with Jasper Hill winery. The whole experience feels personal and special and the set menu is based on local produce carefully sourced and prepared with some serious classic French cooking chops. The wine list has all the local stars and benchmarks from far and wide. Overall, we couldn’t fault a thing that Tess [Murray] and Louis [Naepels] have achieved and I can’t wait for another visit.”

Clinton McIver, Amaru and Auterra Wine Bar, Armadale, Vic – “I love the food at Melbourne’s Osteria Ilaria and I generally just let them choose the dishes for me. The menu changes quite regularly so it’s always good to go back. The wine list is excellent, there are always a few special gems and it’s suitable for all budgets.”

Michael D’Adamo, Wildflower, Perth, WA – “At home, Mummucc’ in Wembley is my favourite place to eat. The no-fuss approach, bold flavours and delicious food are brought together so well by Matt McDonald, whether it’s something grilled on a skewer or a pasta dish. This is a classic casual spot with lots of locals, including myself, able to enjoy a good glass of wine and a few snacks.”

Melissa Palinkas, Young George and Ethos, Deli + Dining Room, East Fremantle, WA – “Across the road, Vincent is a casual wine bar and bistro serving French inspired food, like the amazing charcuterie board of jambon persillé, pâté en croûte, duck liver parfait and a pork rillettes that is honestly the best in Perth – besides my own, of course.”

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