The winners of the 2019 Victoria and Tasmania Savour AustraliaTM Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence were announced last night at a gala dinner held at Crown Melbourne.

The winners across this year’s major categories included:

• CATERER OF YEAR – Encore, ST KILDA;
• CAFÉ OF THE YEAR – Pearl + Co, HOBART; and
• RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – Ezard, MELBOURNE

Mr Matteo Pignatelli was also announced as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievers Award for his contribution to the VIC restaurant industry.

Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) CEO Wes Lambert congratulated the hardworking individuals and businesses recognised as part of the Awards and praise their ongoing contribution to the VIC & TAS hospitality industry.

“On behalf of the Association, I’d like to congratulate all of tonight’s Award winners whose determination, dedication and commitment to their industry is on full display.

All of tonight’s Awards are well earned recognition for the exceptional service and culinary excellence displayed by a number of individuals and businesses across Victoria and Tasmania.

For many of the Awards, this has been over the past 12 months, however, for our Lifetime Achiever Awards, this has been over the course of years and decades.”

“As an organisation, we are extremely proud to recognise all the stellar contributions as part of our annual Awards for Excellence”, Wes said.

RESTAURANT AWARDS

• ASIAN RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by TheFork – A TripAdvisor Company
  WINNER – Gingerboy, MELBOURNE
• BEER CAFÉ/WINE BAR
  Sponsored by OneMusic
  WINNER – Neighbourhood Wine, FITZROY NORTH
• BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by H&L Australia
  WINNER – Reunion & Co, RICHMOND
• BURGER BAR
  Sponsored by OneMusic
  WINNER – Yo My Goodness, MORDIALLOC
• CAFÉ DINING
  Sponsored by Deputy
  WINNER – Pearl + Co, HOBART
• CHINESE RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Menulog
  WINNER – Lau’s Family Kitchen, ST KILDA
• COFFEE SHOP/TEA HOUSE
  Sponsored by Deputy
  WINNER – Proud Mary, COLLINGWOOD
• CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – FORMAL
  Sponsored by American Express
  WINNER – Ezard, MELBOURNE
• CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT – INFORMAL
  Sponsored by American Express
  WINNER – Carlton Wine Room, CARLTON
• FAMILY DINING RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Menulog
  WINNER – Beachcomber Café, ST KILDA
• FRENCH RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Fine Food Australia
  WINNER – Entrecote, SOUTH YARRA
• INDIAN/SUB-CONTINENT RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Menulog
  WINNER – Café Southall, ST KILDA
• ITALIAN RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by TheFork – A TripAdvisor Company
  WINNER – Bottega, MELBOURNE
• NEW RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by H&L Australia
  WINNER – Movida, LORNE
• PIZZA RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Sanpellegrino
  WINNER – 48 Hour Pizza & Gnocchi, SOUTH YARRA
• RESTAURANT IN A HOTEL/MOTEL/RESORT
  Sponsored by Malt Shovel
  WINNER – Dock 37 Bar & Kitchen – Pan Pacific Hotel, SOUTH WHARF
• RESTAURANT IN A PUB/CLUB/TAVERN
  Sponsored by Malt Shovel
  WINNER – The Espy Kitchen – Hotel Esplanade, ST KILDA
• RESTAURANT IN A WINERY
  Sponsored by DFK Benjamin King Money
  WINNER – Jack Rabbit Vineyard Restaurant, BELLARINE
• SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Entertainment Publications
  WINNER – Pastuso, MELBOURNE
• SPECIALTY RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by H&L Australia
  WINNER – Yagiz, SOUTH YARRA
• STEAK RESTAURANT – FORMAL
  Sponsored by Australian Training Products
  WINNER – San Telmo, MELBOURNE
• STEAK RESTAURANT – INFORMAL
  Sponsored by Australian Training Products
  WINNER – Angus & Bon, PRAHRAN
• THAI RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Entertainment Publications
  WINNER – Longrain, MELBOURNE
• TOURISM RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Malt Shovel
  WINNER – Jack Rabbit Vineyard Restaurant, BELLARINE
• VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT
  Sponsored by Prospa
  WINNER – Uncle, MELBOURNE

CATERING AWARDS

• CORPORATE CATERER
  Sponsored by American Express
  HONOURABLE MENTION – Sodexo – PwC Melbourne, SOUTHBANK
• EVENTS CATERER
  Sponsored by Sanpellegrino
  HONOURABLE MENTION – Ed Dixon Food Design, ABBOTSFORD
• FUNCTION/CONVENTION CENTRE CATERER
  Sponsored by Alsco
  WINNER – Encore, ST KILDA
• RESTAURANT CATERER
  Sponsored by Sanpellegrino
  WINNER – The Grand Dining Room & Bar, RICHMOND
• SITE/INDUSTRIAL CATERER
  Sponsored by Prospa
  WINNER – Spotless Group Alliance Catering – Emirates Lounge Melbourne International Airport, TULLAMARINE
• VENUE CATERER
  Sponsored by Deputy
  WINNER – Higher Mark – GMHBA Stadium, GEELONG
• WEDDING CATERER
  Sponsored by Alsco
  WINNER – Encore, ST KILDA HOSPITALITY AWARDS
• APPRENTICE CHEF OF THE YEAR
  Sponsored by Hostplus
  HONOURABLE MENTION – Elaya Carbone – SkyHigh Mount Dandenong
• CHEF OF THE YEAR
  Sponsored by Hostplus
  WINNER – Adam D’Sylva – Coda Bar & Restaurant
• PRODUCT SUPPLIER
  Sponsored by Restaurant & Catering
  WINNER – H&L Australia VIC
• CONSUMER VOTE AWARD
  Sponsored by Savour Australia
  VIC METRO WINNER – Chin Chin, MELBOURNE
  TAS WINNER – Mrs Jones, DEVONPORT
  VIC REGIONAL WINNER The Woodhouse Restaurant, BENDIGO

MAJOR AWARDS

• LIFETIME ACHIEVER
  WINNER – Matteo Pignatelli
• CATERER OF YEAR
  Sponsored by Malt Shovel
  WINNER – Encore, ST KILDA
• CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
  Sponsored by Alsco
  WINNER – Pearl + Co, HOBART
• RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
  Sponsored by Hostplus
  WINNER – Ezard, MELBOURNE