Top 50 restaurants in Australia 2019

by As rated by verified OpenTable diners

Updated 03 March 2020

The OpenTable top 50 restaurants in Australia 2019 consistently serve up creative dishes, unparalleled hospitality and one-of-a-kind dining experiences, whatever the dining occasion. This year's top 50 list was determined by analysing more than 173,000 reviews from more than 2,000 restaurants across Australia - all submitted by verified diners.

A Touch of Salt

4.8

4.8 (2563)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Townsville CBD

About the restaurant

Enjoy the breathtaking waterfront views, sparkling starry night skies, and refreshing breezes of our outdoor balcony, or opt for indoor air-conditioned seating to beat the heat (which can be a must in North Queensland!).

Our restaurant's name, A Touch of Salt, is a play on our family name, Brine. In 2005, we started as a family business, and our family-style approach of offering genuine hospitality and meals designed for conversation has always been the heart of A Touch of Salt. Over the years, we have perfected our restaurant to become one of the best casual fine-dining restaurants in the North.

We take pride in being appreciated by the locals of Townsville as well as travellers from all over Australia.

Top review

Peter

Dined 3 days ago

The food and service were excellent! Chefs even went to the trouble of writing “Happy Anniversary “ in chocolate onto our dessert plate. As the restaurant fills inside the noise level does rise significantly, but not enough to stop us going there. It is just too good!

Bar Woolloomooloo

0 (0)

$40 and under

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Woolloomooloo

About the restaurant

Casual bar-style bites paired with cocktails and Australian wine located inside Sydney's iconic Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo.

We welcome bookings for groups of 8 or more people. For groups less than 8, reservations are not required. We reserve a large portion of our tables available for walk in guests, so come on down and grab a table at your own leisure.

For larger group enquiries, please contact our team at events.sydney@ovolohotels.com

Circa 1876 at The Convent Hunter Valley

4.7

4.7 (1131)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Hunter Valley

About the restaurant

Please note for Wednesday & Thursday or any other dates when Circa 1876 is not available, Restaurant 88 may be open for booking. Click here to check availability and reserve your table at Restaurant 88 today. A short stroll down the tree-lined driveway is Circa 1876, the Hunter Valley's most iconic restaurant, located in an historic cottage on the picturesque grounds of Roscrea Estate. Circa 1876 showcases some great Hunter Valley wines in an award-winning wine list. Circa 1876 quite literally brings the ‘farm to fork’ ethos to life as guests overlook the organic kitchen garden that their food came from just beyond their plate.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 26 Apr 2024

Great service and a very nice medal with great ambience.

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Experience

Circa 1876 Group Lunch (30%-Prepaid Deposit)

Donovans

4.6

4.6 (1586)

$100 and over

Modern Australian

St Kilda

About the restaurant

Welcome to Donovans - our ‘house on the beach’ and home we love to share. Donovans is located on the St.Kilda beach front offering guests a memorable dining experience in Melbourne. With a bay side view, beautiful Mediterranean inspired food and the special relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, Donovans is where you will feel at home.

Donovans’ exciting menu has been developed our intimate knowledge of modern Mediterranean cooking. The menu is extensive with a modern mix of favourite dishes emphasising the best local produce. Donovans also offers an extensive wine list of Australian and imported wines and an eclectic mix of cocktails.

Top review

Jeff

Dined 4 days ago

First visit to Donovans this cntury and what a wonderful birthday meal the two of us had there. Food was great, ambience unequalled and the service unmatched: friendly, efficient and usnusually helpful. Highly recommended. We will be back in the summer to enjoy the beach views.

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Popular dish

Tiny fish and chips

Popular dish

Old-fashioned chicken pie

Popular dish

Bombe Alaska for two

Elio's Osteria

4.9

4.9 (1627)

$40 and under

Italian

Carindale

About the restaurant

Candle lit tables, chianti by the glass, crooners and generous old fashioned house made pizza, calzone, gelati, huge pastas and antipasto. Perfect for a family dinner, an intimate night for two, or a work get together. A south side institution since 1984.

Top review

Craig

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing food and ambience, wonderful staff and service, thanks for a fabulous night!

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Frogmore Creek Cellar Door & Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1319)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Enjoy a collection of dishes from the land, sea and garden; a tribute to the beautiful produce of Tasmania and the diversity of kitchens around the world.

Please note : A surcharge of 10% applies on Sundays and Public Holidays

Top review

Brendanvip

Dined 2 days ago

Great service Wonderful food Sublime wine choices Beautiful setting

Glasshouse

4.7

4.7 (1621)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Timbumburi

About the restaurant

Led by Head Chef Jarrod Smith, Glasshouse is proud to serve a variety of expertly prepared, locally sourced dishes, in a phenomenal venue.
Goonoo Goonoo Station is undoubtedly the New England regions finest destination for accommodation, dining, and events.

Please note:
At Glasshouse, we have seatings options for groups from 2 - 50 people.
If your desired time is does not show, unfortunately that time is not available.

Top review

Rebecca

Dined 3 days ago

I always choose The Glasshouse to celebrate special occasions, as the food, service and ambience are always impeccable and outstanding

Locale Restaurant and Bar Noosa

4.7

4.7 (2156)

$40 and under

Italian

Noosa Heads

About the restaurant

The decor is like a restaurant in NY, Melbourne or Europe and they have added detail with sophistication yet it appears simple and sleek lines with subtle lighting that gives a great atmosphere. There are different areas to sit from the bar to lounge, table seating or a small outdoor area.

Top review

Ian

Dined today

A beautiful meal fantastic staff beautiful restaurant and great value. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Our understanding is that the owners of this restaurant also own a restaurant that we did not so widely praise yesterday. Need to look at your management practices… However i do not want to dampen my praise for this fine establishment

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Experience

New Year's Eve - 2nd Sitting Dinner

Experience

NYE Dinner 1st Sitting

Experience

10 Years Anniversary LOCALE X IN NOOSA

Mamasan Kitchen and Bar

4.7

4.7 (2299)

$41 to $100

Asian

Broadbeach

About the restaurant

Mamasan Kitchen + Bar is a contemporary pan Asian restaurant with a menu that is designed to share, from cuisines including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian and Thai.

Mamasan Bar serves unique Asian inspired cocktails alongside a selection of premium local and international wines, spirits, tap beer + sake, all designed to compliment the modern Asian menu.

Featuring a unique modern decor and a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere, Mamasan incorporates spaces for all size gatherings including private dining at the 10 seat Banquet Table, outdoor seating on our enclosed Deck or drinks and small bites in the Bar area.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

Really enjoyable on every level. Location, food and service. Good vibe !

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Experience

Melbourne Cup 2024

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar Northcote

4.8

4.8 (408)

$41 to $100

African

Northcote

About the restaurant

The cuisine of culturally rich Ethiopia utilises a sophisticated array of spices to produce a diverse and flavorful taste. Meals are traditionally served on a communal platter for sharing with friends and family.

Come and discover the charm of Ethiopia and MESOB.

Top review

Rebecca

Dined on 23 Aug 2024

Staff were so friendly and food is super tasty. Highly recommend

Meze Mazi - Adelaide

4.7

4.7 (1078)

$40 and under

Greek

Prospect

About the restaurant

Andrew Papadakis moved to Australia in 2012 with the vision of sharing an authentic piece of Greece through the culture of food and family.

At Meze-Mazi, we’re all about authenticity. Our food is derived from old family recipes and our native Greek chefs craft each dish with the same love and passion that they do for their own families.

Top review

Kat

Dined on 24 Aug 2024

Our entre was served with main meal. 🧐 tables are very close to each other. Good food and service people try their best. Can’t helped feeling that I have been rushed through my meal.

Park Street Pasta & Wine

4.5

4.5 (809)

$41 to $100

Italian

South Melbourne

About the restaurant

Located in a historic corner building at 268 Park Street, Park Street Pasta & Wine is South Melbourne’s friendly neighbourhood pasta and wine bar from Italian Restaurateurs Luca Balbo & Lino Torre, combining their passion for food and experience in the hospitality industry.

Head chef Tommaso Bartoli whips up a creative menu that heavily draws on his Tuscan roots. Starting his career in the kitchens of Florence, he brings to Australia all the knowledge and passion for food that define with his personal style.

All our pasta is handmade in-house in the traditional ‘fatta a mano’ style. Our menu features inventive sharing plates, classic pasta dishes that nod to various parts of Italy, plus a few modern iterations, all reflective of seasonal quality produce. with a tidy selection of Italian, international and local wines to match.

We are located at 268 Park Street on the Corner of Park Street and Perrins St, just down from the iconic South Melbourne Town Hall.

Top review

Matthew

Dined on 16 Aug 2024

Amazing food and service - will definitely return!

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4.8

4.8 (4617)

$100 and over

Contemporary Asian

Burleigh Heads

About the restaurant

Pan-Asian flavours in one of the Gold Coast's most iconic locations. Focusing on fresh locally sourced produce with intention to share.

By Head Chef James Brady

Top review

Glenys

Dined 6 days ago

Food and service outstanding but restaurant a little noisey but can be overlooked because of everything being exceptional

Rickys River Bar and Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (3117)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Noosa Heads

About the restaurant

Set on the banks of the beautiful Noosa River, Rickys River Bar & Restaurant delivers a dining experience that encapsulates the Noosa lifestyle. Rickys offers a delicious menu featuring a wonderful selection of fresh seafood and the very best local produce. With sweeping views of the Noosa River, Rickys is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch, a sunset dinner or a relaxing cocktail in their River Bar.

Top review

Melissa

Dined 3 days ago

Fabulous service - friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Food was perfect. The Wagyu delicious. The blood orange margarita was great! Great wine list. My fave.

Sails Noosa

4.7

4.7 (3206)

$100 and over

Modern Australian

Noosa Heads

About the restaurant

Located overlooking Noosa Main Beach, Sails Restaurant offers sophisticated yet relaxed dining.

Executive Chef, Paul Leete, presents a creative fusion of modern Australian cuisine, while keeping a strong focus on fresh, seasonal produce.

Paul combines ingredients, sourced with integrity, to create clean, thoughtful and uncomplicated menus.

Sails Restaurant also features a multi award winning wine list showcasing more than 500 wines, with a focus on great Australian, New Zealand and French winemakers.

Open from 12pm daily for lunch and dinner.

Sails Restaurant is open for all Public Holidays through the Christmas and Easter periods.

When placing your reservation, please understand that requests for specific tables cannot be guaranteed. We appreciated that everyone who books with us wants to sit close to the beach front, therefore we allocate these tables according to how far in advance you book.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 7 days ago

A return visit to this delightful restaurant did not disappoint. Amazing food creatively thought out & presented along with a very extensive wine list. Our Canadian waiter was very attentive & took time to go through the menu with us highlighting his favourite dishes, this helped us with choices. Highly recommend anyone staying in Noosa not to leave until you have dined here.

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The Carlton Wine Room

4.8

4.8 (795)

$41 to $100

European

Carlton

About the restaurant

Carlton Wine Room is a neighbourhood restaurant offering a well-executed, fresh, seasonal food menu, and an ever changing, diverse wine list featuring the best of Italy, Australia and the rest of the World. We offer a bar space, an upstairs restaurant dining room and three unique spaces that are can be booked for private dining perfect for special events.

RESERVATIONS: are for a two hour sitting. We do not accept bookings for drinks and snacks, however we accept walk-ins for this if space permits. A surcharge of up to 1.2% applies to credit card transactions. A surcharge of 10% applies on Sundays and 15% on Public Holidays.

OUTSIDE SEATING: please note this is subject to the weather and we may not be able to move your reservation inside in the case of bad weather.

CANCELLATION: A $50 per person no show fee is charged for failing to attend your reservation. Contact us on 9347 2626 to make changes or cancel your reservation.

Top review

Nicole

Dined today

Love this restaurant. The food and service was incredible today. Thank you for having us!

The European

4.7

4.7 (1251)

$41 to $100

European

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, The European offers a welcoming ambience with warm, generous and knowledgeable hospitality - a beacon of Melbourne dining at its finest. Located on Spring Street near the Princess Theatre, we offer classic bistro fare with substance and character to perfectly complement our extensive collection of wines, old and new world, available to enjoy with your meal.

We also welcome you on a walk-in basis next door at The City Wine Shop any day of the week, where you may simply pop in for a seat at the bar or grab a spot outside overlooking Parliament House.

We take the best seasonal produce available, cooking simple, classic foods. Nose-to-tail offal dishes are centred within our menu, utilising every part of the animal products in our kitchen. Drawing on our own in-house butcher and farmhouse cheeses matured by our friends at Spring Street Cheese Cellar, there is always something new to try on the menu at The European and City Wine Shop.

Top review

Davidvip

Dined 5 days ago

Always a great experience at the European. Steak frites is a must. Great wine list. Good service too. Will be back

The Woodhouse Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2621)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

Bendigo

About the restaurant

Take it slow… Have a drink to start. Enjoy a cocktail, local wine or craft beer, Share a snack or two in our dedicated Bar.
Smell the delicious smokiness of Bendigo’s only dedicated steakhouse & grill, where we use local redgum on the grill; there’s nothing quite like the flavour of meat cooked over redgum. The natural smoky flavours and aromas created by this unique timber are something truly special. In the finest tradition of steakhouses, we use locally sourced meat and the very best in fresh, regional produce.

Showcasing 350 wines, including 28 by the glass, including some seriously interesting wines curated by our inhouse Sommelier. With local wines taking pride of place, including some intriguing European offerings, plus a supporting cast of spirits, beers and other beverages, including a decent alcohol-free selection. Cocktail drinkers will be impressed with our seasonally curated list.

Our menu is updated seasonally and available on our website.

Top review

Peter

Dined on 30 Aug 2024

Always a Joy with fine food and friendly attentive service.

Tinamba Hotel

4.7

4.7 (1188)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Tinamba

About the restaurant

Simon and Tania Johnson have owned Tinamba Hotel since October 2020 and feel honoured to be the custodians of the hotel’s proud heritage as they build upon a vision from previous owners, Brad Neilson, Damien Gannon, the Schoenmaeker and Whelan families.

Using the finest, locally grown fresh produce from local suppliers and working with the most talented chefs in the region is what the Johnsons believe sets Tinamba Hotel apart. The signature dishes deliver a truly memorable experience, served in a setting famously known as Gippsland’s favourite destination dining venue.

From the first-class dining experience within the dining room, lounge and conservatory, to the relaxed atmosphere in the Amba Bar and on the outdoor veranda, Simon, Tania and the Tinamba Hotel team provide the finest example of country hospitality for local and visiting customers alike.

Welcome to your Gippsland local. The award-winning Tinamba Hotel.

Top review

Helen

Dined 1 day ago

Delicious food and great service! Enjoyable experience!

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Experience

Chefs 6 Course Tasting Menu

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