2012 Award Winning Restaurants
It's a new year and we are proud to announce the Australian Good Food and Travel Guide Chef Hat award winners for 2012. A total of 517 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats this year with many of the best restaurant continuing to distinguished themselves. As always however, for some the past year proved to be too arduous resulting in shock closures and significant changes for others.
In spite of what was generally considerably a difficult year for restaurants, 2011 did provide a cause for some celebration with the introduction of some exciting new establishments that have definitely raised the bar.
As has been the case in previous years Sydney and Melbourne remain at the forefront of Australia's culinary hierarchy in 2012, but a noteworthy number of deserving restaurants have opened in Brisbane over the past twelve months. Adelaide and Perth too have no problem satisfying even the most fussy of connoisseurs, while other award winning restaurants can be readily found in Hobart, on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, in Canberra, and even Darwin. Naturally the cities attract a fine dining culture, but don't discount the regional areas if your focus is what’s on the plate. Some of the countries most highly awarded and commendable restaurants can be found throughout regional Australia, meriting a special journey.
- 104 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in QLD
- 133 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in NSW
- 11 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in ACT
- 117 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in VIC
- 25 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in TAS
- 58 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in SA
- 63 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in WA
- 6 restaurants were awarded Chef Hats in NT
AGFG Chef Hats have been awarded to discerning chefs since 1982 (See: Our History). These awards are the result of careful consideration and deliberation. Inspectors dine anonymously; their reviews and the votes of the dining public, who generously send in their comments, determine these results.
The Food Critic Debate
AGFG prides itself on the fairness and accuracy of its ratings. We are committed to awarding establishments for excellence based on what we believe to be a fair, balanced and accurate criteria. Notwithstanding we acknowledge that criticism is an insanely subjective thing. Food is a lot like art...everyone has an opinion and not everyone likes the same thing. What we consider to be exceptional you may consider average and just like that the food critic debate is born. That's why we have opened up our site to your comments and made the whole process a little more democratic. No, we won't always agree and who would expect we would? or should? But that being said a ‘well-thought-out' reader comment has proven to hold as much weight as one of our awards!