At times, the best restaurants aren’t always the ones with flashy online profiles or Instagram followings. While family-run spots and hidden ramen bars may lack flashy social media pages, their food tells an unforgettable tale.
Indigenous chef Mark Olive serves bush pavlova and wild thyme hummus at Midden under the sails of Sydney Opera House.
Restaurant Botanic
At Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Restaurant Botanic is blurring the line between garden and plate with its menu that blends South East Asian flavours with ingredients gathered from its 51 acres. As a result, 28 exquisite flavour combinations can be found here including smoky crocodile broth featuring twig-skewered barbecued crocodile flavored with muntries and saltbush; an ice block made of fallen bunya bunya branches dusted with wattleseed miso; hand pleated dumplings and Vietnamese rice crepes designed specifically for sharing! Downstairs at Farm Cove Eatery you will find modern Australian brunch classics such as smashed avo on sourdough with broad beans and bush dukka or eggs Benedict decorated with blood plum hollandaise.
This building, originally a kiosk, has been transformed into a contemporary oasis where fine dining amenities meet natural beauty. Sydney design firm Five Foot One applied soothing hues of pigeon grey and whispers of pale terracotta to the rattan panelling, lime wash-finished oak flooring and levitating arrangement of eucalyptus branch pendant lights downstairs while Melbourne artist Jack Devereux created single-line portrait murals depicting surrounding greenery in an idyllic scene.
But the real magic happens in the kitchen. Chef Justin James, former executive chef at Vue de Monde with stints at Noma, Eleven Madison Park and Blue Hill at Stone Barns under his belt as well, has elevated the fine dining experience beyond lobster and crystal; offering dishes such as cured camel lardo or kangaroo tendon arancini with salted koji caramel anywhere else – truly unique experiences in fine dining.
Rick Shores
Rick Shores restaurant at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast boasts one of the finest ocean views. Designed to maximise this vista with bi-fold doors that make the waves seem as though they’re lapping right at your feet, its design extends throughout its menu where items such as their famous Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with buttery Brioche and Sriracha or Fresh Kingfish Sashimi and Oysters with Thai Vinaigrette Vinaigrette Vinaigrette or coal fired grill plates dishes such as Ssamjang chicken and West Australian Octopus with sweet mango and chilli sauces.
Rick Shores Restaurant was chosen by Baz Luhrmann to film his Elvis biopic, so its team will bring its coastal flavors to Carafe Wines this Friday for a one-off pop-up dinner event. Diners can expect its usual beach chic aesthetic – with chefs using charcoal cooking stations preparing dishes before offering fine wines to accompany each course.
OTTO Brisbane’s riverside dining experience is a must for visitors of Queensland, featuring both premium Australian and Italian wines paired with an inventive yet sophisticated menu curated by Chef Ben Shewry’s degustation to showcase Australia’s latest culinary trends – such as Quandongs or Emu liver!
Sounds of Silence
Experience Australia through food! Each course here is an aromatic feast made from ingredients harvested directly from their garden – such as native bunya bunya branches and finger limes – creating a meal that exalts Australia’s flavours with vibrant cuisine that blends fresh local ingredients with ancient traditions.
Longitude 131 Resort offers an essential dining experience when visiting Ayers Rock, offering traditional Australian meals like classic hot dishes, buffet breakfasts and traditional BBQ’s to visitors of Ayers Rock. Don’t miss it as it provides a wonderful place for travelers to share experiences together!
Experience Australia like never before at Brae Restaurant & Bar, where diners are served a menu designed around the six seasons of Noongar culture – giving each dish its distinct Western Australian taste!
Sounds of Silence provides an indulgent dining experience in one of Australia’s most breathtaking settings – Uluru. Enjoy a front-row seat to Uluru’s majestic sunset while feasting on gourmet hampers paired with Penfolds wines and Indigenous storytelling, Indigenous storytelling, and didgeridoo music – this once-in-a-lifetime experience will never be forgotten! Though slightly less extravagant than Sails in the Desert, Sounds of Silence still provides a memorable dining experience among one of nature’s finest backdrops.
Faro
Faro offers delectable culinary experiences unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in Australia. Nestled within Hobart’s subversive art museum in its triangular wing, this restaurant blurs the line between European tradition and Tasmania’s wild flavors – offering set menus featuring warm brioche, peppered steak, and Tasmanian black truffle – perfect for an indulgent dining experience.
The chef takes an innovative and whimsical approach to his food, encouraging diners to touch and interact with his creative plated creations. Additionally, he utilizes ingredients such as emu liver and quandong that cannot be found elsewhere, using organic flour milled exclusively by him so his dishes reflect Australian cuisine.
At this Brisbane eatery overlooking the River to Story Bridge, you can savor uniquely Australian fare while taking in stunning waterfront views. As a modern Italian restaurant that elevates classics with creative flare, you can choose between an a la carte lunch from Friday to Monday or a five-course dinner on Saturday evening – either option promises excellent dining experiences.
Bushwick spot Arrakis remains street-wise despite its upscale atmosphere. Named for a creative spelling of an heirloom grain, its unique formula revolves around a wood-burning oven where local seafood, boutique meats and seasonal produce are cooked; plus pasta as the supreme star dish! In the kitchen, chefs buy meat directly from fishermen and farmers they know well, honoring each animal by using every bit of it up!
