The 2026 Good Food Guide Awards were announced last night at The Timber Yard during a dazzling ceremony, recognising this year’s most outstanding people, players and venues in the state’s hospitality scene.
Flower Drum won Restaurant of the Year, the icing on the cake of this year’s 50th anniversary celebration for the Cantonese fine dining pioneer.
Thi Le, chef and co-owner of Anchovy (and MFWF Trailblazer), was named Chef of the Year, while fellow MFWF Trailblazer Tom Sarafian also scored a gong, with his game-changing Collingwood Middle Eastern restaurant, Zareh, taking out New Restaurant of the Year just two months since it opened. Red Hill destination diner Tedesca Osteria took out top honours in the Regional Restaurant of the Year category.
“This year’s mix of award winners includes some of the pillars of our restaurant scene,” said Guide co-editor Emma Breheny. “A 50-year-old institution that’s still just as relevant and beloved as when it opened, and a landmark chef who trained those who went on to be the tastemakers of the last 20 years.”
North Fitzroy Arms was awarded Pub of the Year following a celebrated reinvention 18 months ago, while on the other side of town, Frankston scored one of the big gongs with Commonfolk Coffee taking out Cafe of the Year.
The restaurants awarded three hats remain unchanged, with Brae, Amaru, Minamishima and Vue de Monde retaining their three-hat ranking.
Congratulations to the award winners – you’ll find the complete list of awardees below and the full list of places that scored hats at goodfood.com.au.
Restaurant of the Year – Flower Drum
Chef of the Year – Thi Le, Anchovy
New Restaurant of the Year – Zareh
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Tedesca Osteria
Service Excellence Award – Alex Casey, Brae
Smeg Young Chef of the Year – Viveik Vinoharan
Katie McCormack Young Service Talent Award – Georgia Limacher
Sommelier of the Year – Justin Howe, Harriot
By Rick Stephens