Yiaga had a ripper of a night at night of OpenTable’s inaugural Melbourne Restaurant Awards this week, with Hugh Allen’s CBD fine diner picking up the Restaurant Design Award and Opening of the Year.
The awards are in three sections, one section peer-voted, one section overseen by a panel of judges and another determined by a popular vote from diners themselves.
In the industry-voted section, the Impact Award went to Farmer’s Daughters, the Innovation Award to Serai and the Standout Service Award to Il Solito Posto. Among the diners’ picks, Attica took out Bucket List gong, Carlton Wine Room was named Neighbourhood Gem and the Marquis of Lorne won in the Bar & Pub of the Year category.
The night also saw OpenTable unveil its first Melbourne Icons list, an 18-restaurant shortlist that was decided by a panel of eight judges – food writer Dani Valent, photographer Kristoffer Paulsen, Food & Drink Victoria CEO Anthea Loucas Bosha, Pax Hospitality CEO Leon Kennedy, chef Rosheen Kaul, broadcaster Sofia Levin, Club Sup founder Sophie McIntyre and Measured Studio co-founder Thurman Wise.
This year’s icons are Yiaga, MoVida, The European, Serai, Kafeneion, Lee Ho Fook, Carlton Wine Room, Trattoria Emilia, Reed House, Vue de Monde, Yugen, Caterina’s, Ishizuka, Attica, Omnia, Amaru, Etta and Tulum.
Melbourne, said Drew Bowering, General Manager Australia at OpenTable, is home to some of the world’s most exciting hospitality venues. “Restaurants play an important role in how people experience a city and OpenTable Icons is an opportunity to recognise the restaurants helping shape Australia’s dining culture and setting the standard for hospitality experiences globally.”
Our congratulations to all the winners.