Sydney’s Pier Restaurant named Australian Restaurant of the Year

Greg Doyle’s Sydney restaurant Pier, was named Restaurant of the Year at the prestigious Australian  Gourmet Traveller 2008 Restaurant Guide Awards, held last night at the newly opened Nobu Restaurant at Crown in Melbourne and attended by a “who’s who” of the restaurant industry including  international celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. 

Pier chef and owner Greg Doyle and his team emerged victorious in a field of 400 establishments reviewed in the Australian Gourmet Traveller 2008 Restaurant Guide.   Australian Gourmet Traveller described the restaurant as “sublime”.

“It’s been 16 years since the restaurant opened, and far from slowing, it seems as if Pier is picking up speed… it is the best place in Australia to eat seafood but it is more than a seafood restaurant.”  “The total package of food, wine, setting, sweets and service as seamless as anything in Australia.”

The Australian Gourmet Traveller 2008 Restaurant Guide Awards in association with Electrolux set the  benchmark for quality food, drink and dining and are the only national restaurant awards in Australia.

They are announced each year in conjunction with the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide.  Anthea Loucas, editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller, said: “It’s been such an exciting year in food.”  “I’d like  to congratulate all the winners, especially the team at our Restaurant of the Year, Pier.”  “The meals we enjoyed at this stunning harbourside restaurant were quite simply flawless.”

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland dominated the 9 main awards with the winners announced including:

** Best New Talent – Ben Shewry, Attica, Melbourne

** Maître d’ of the Year – Mallory Wall, Café Di Stasio, Melbourne

** Wine List of the Year – Ten Minutes by Tractor, Victoria

** Bar of the Year – Der Raum, Melbourne

** Sommelier of the Year – Simon Curkovic, Catalina, Sydney

** Regional Restaurant of the Year – Nu Nu, Palm Cove

** Best New Restaurant – Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne

** Outstanding Contribution to the Industry – Phillip Searle, Vulcans, NSW

Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide three-star ratings finalists were also revealed distinguishing these establishments as the finest dining experiences in Australia. 

The three-stars are: 

Victoria – Melbourne 

** Vue de Monde

New South Wales – Sydney

** Bécasse

** Buon Ricordo

** Claude’s

** Est.

** Guillaume at Bennelong

** Marque

** Pier

** Quay

** Rockpool

** Tetsuya’s

Also announced last night and appearing in the 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide was the Top 10 by region. 

These are the restaurants Australian Gourmet Traveller reviewers rated best in each state and region at a glance, from those awarded stars to those next most highly ranked.

ACT

1. Artespresso 

2. Ottoman Cuisine

3. The Ginger Room 

4. Aubergine 

5. The Chairman & Yip 

6. Courgette

7. Anise 

8. Alto

9. Mezzalira

10. Pulp Kitchen 

NSW – Sydney

1. Pier

2. Tetsuya’s

3. Rockpool

4. Guillaume at Bennelong

5. Quay

6. Est.

7. Bécasse

8. Claude’s

9. Marque

10. Buon Ricordo  

QLD – Brisbane 

1. E’cco

2. Montrachet

3. Restaurant Two

4. Urbane

5. Isis Brasserie

6. Gianni

7. Baguette

8. Restaurant Manx

9. Bespoke

10. Two Small Rooms  

VIC – Melbourne

1. Vue de Monde

2. Rockpool Bar & Grill 

3. Circa, the Prince

4. Jacques Reymond

5. Three, One, Two

6. The Botanical

7. Stokehouse

8. Pearl

9. Grossi Florentino

10. Ezard

WA – Perth

1. Star Anise

2. Eminem

3. Balthazar

4. Jackson’s

5. The Loose Box

6. Fraser’s

7. Must Winebar

8. Duendé

9. Harvest

10. Lamonts

Tasmania 

1. Lebrina

2. Marque IV

3. Stillwater 

4. The Terrace 

5. Mud Bar & Restaurant

6. Meadowbank Estate 

7. Luck’s

8. Fee & Me

9. Angasi

10. Daniel Alps at Strathlynn

The prestigious annual Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide offers critiques of leading restaurants, bistros, cafés and bars in Australia.

The 2008 edition, produced in association with Electrolux, features reviews of the country’s top 400 restaurants and special awards including the coveted Restaurant of the Year and will be on sale on Monday the 20th September.

The Australian Gourmet Traveller 2008 Restaurant Guide is proudly supported by official partner Electrolux. The company is thrilled to champion one of Australia’s premier industries.

The Australian Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide is available with the October issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller, on sale Monday 20th September.

Report by The Mole