Star players
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
SA
ARKHÉ, ADELAIDE
Chef Jake Kellie is fuelled by fire and since his new baby Arkhé opened in November, he’s worked open flame magic in the Adelaide suburb of Norwood. A stellar team keeps the cogs turning (and devoted lunch and dinner regulars returning). From front of house to sommeliers and the bustling kitchen – the camaraderie is palpable. This restaurant exudes energy; best observed from a perch overlooking the kitchen. It is slick, beautifully designed, and edgy but the welcome is always as warm as the wood-burning oven and elevation grills.
In short: So hot right now.
VIC
DI STASIO CARLTON, MELBOURNE
Rinaldo Di Stasio and Mallory Wall’s Carlton outpost is a masterclass in how to do a restaurant right. A series of rooms exuberantly dominated with large-scale Reko Rennie art, a gravelled garden with an imported vintage Roman fountain, big-flavoured Italian food that runs the gamut from deliacte anchovies to fior di latte soft-serve, fried tripe to lobster pizza. Razor-sharp attention to detail, be it service or the correct temperature of the Martini, make every meal here feel like a party.
In short: Guaranteed good times.
NSW
LANA, SYDNEY
It’s been the year of the dining precinct but none does quite it as well as Circular Quay’s multi-level Hinchcliff House, where fine-diner Lana sits as the sparkling pink diamond in the historic wool store’s crown. She may not have received the same fanfare as other new openings but has proven a dark horse, thanks to her glamorous dining room, playful (yet whip-smart) service and a snack-heavy menu full of bold, unexpected flavours. Bonus points for offering one of the best value fine-dining menus in Sydney.
In short: Flirty and
