Restaurant Reviews

Forget what you know about gallery restaurants. Brisbane's GOMA is a cut above the rest.

With chandeliers, meticulously ironed linen, charming service and menus that riff on grand Roman ristorante, Grossi Florentino is one of the foundations of Melbourne's dining scene.

Featuring a mysterious six-course dégustation menu that's the best thing to happen to Geelong since the Cats won the flag in 2011.

Behind a monochrome shopfront is Kazuki's, an oasis of minimalist, mustard-carpeted calm, where Japanese and European flavours are fused brilliantly.

Lake House provides many applause-worthy moments and deserves every ovation.

Victor Liong's new-style Chinese food takes its cues from the lilting elegance of Cantonese, but heads off in its own unique direction.

Set in an ultra contemporary yet cosy glass "box" on Pyrmont Bay, LuMi is unlike anything else in Sydney.

The Japanese notion of "ichigyo zammai" – doing one thing excessively well – is on vivid display at this backstreet Richmond sushi temple.

After nine years, Merivale's answer to Cantonese cuisine is still a CBD favourite.

Nomad has never been an intimate venue, but the food is deeply familiar and personal.

Since grabbing attention in 2013 with their low-waste farm-to-table concept, O.My has only gone bigger and better.

Sink into a booth under trailing plants while easy, breezy, super-smart staff bring a succession of pretty plates.

New riverfront lodgings means Otto is an even more alluring prospect for diners keen to push the boat out.

Always bustling, but rarely raucous, this bright, buzzing place hasn't faltered for a second since opening in 2013.

Don't let the café-esque aesthetic fool you. Propeller is an operation of substance.

The elegantly refreshed Provenance has never shone brighter, promising diners a riot of colour, slow food and ceramics.

Post-lockdown, Peter Gilmore is back, and he's unveiled a new signature tasting menu that's as ingenious as ever.

A space that channels Tokyo's jumble of cheap grills and thrills, with a dash of Korea and kitsch.

A Launceston restaurant that only gets better with age.

From a softly glowing shopfront on the fringe of the CBD, Templo serves Hobart's best Italian food.

Refreshingly modern takes on traditional dishes, Turkish wine, pretty cocktails and well-versed staff shine through at Tulum. Clever delicious.

A punchy pan-Asian party in sunny Scandi-esque surrounds, with a Savage Garden soundtrack.

This Canberra restaurant is soaring: confident, playful and polished.

Come for the tasting menu, stay for the snacks.

A Gold Coast diner that deftly balances the old-school and the on-trend.

The aroma of fried curry leaves, mustard seed and cardamom lures diners to O Tama Carey's hot-to-trot Sri Lankan eatery.

It would be easy for this Byron mainstay to rely purely on its good looks, but chef Jason Saxby brings genuine substance to the table.

Khanh Nguyen, Melbourne's latest chef hero, deftly mixes a grab-bag of Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese traditions with native ingredients to deliver something shockingly new.

A pub, a French floral name, a modern Japanese menu. It just works.

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.