French cuisine enjoys enduring popularity in Australia thanks to its emphasis on quality ingredients, elegant techniques and rich culinary heritage.
Australians appreciate the balance of flavour, artistry and tradition found in French dishes - from flaky croissants and delicate pâtisserie to hearty classics like coq au vin and duck confit.
French dining also aligns with Australia’s love of fine food and wine, offering both casual bistro fare and luxurious degustation experiences. With an increasing number of French-trained Chefs and authentic venues across the country, French cuisine continues to inspire and delight Australian palates with its timeless sophistication and gastronomic flair.
As we celebrate Bastille Day today, here are five Chef-hatted French venues where perfection is always on the plate:
For a culinary journey with a distinctly French theme in Canberra, treat yourself and loved ones to a dining experience at Les Bistronomes located on Blamey Place in Campbell. Inside, this warm and upmarket venue is classically furnished in timeless style, with dark wood, an image of Mona Lisa on the wall along with the Eiffel Tower, as overhead chandeliers cast a soft glow to set a romantic mood for leisurely dining.
Opt to begin with classic French onion soup and Comté croutons gratinée, then delve into braised beef cheeks with mushrooms, speck, pickled onion, baby carrot and fennel panisse; or Moreton Bay bug soufflé with crustacean bisque, bug tail and herb salad.
Montrachet on King Street in Bowen Hills delights the palate with a seasonal French menu and an extensive French wine list in a bistro setting. This discerning Brisbane dining destination delivers a menu that encapsulates an evolution of French cuisine, offering innovative interpretations as well as French classics, served in elegant surroundings of white-clothed tables, blond wood and red leather banquette seating.
Chef Clement Chauvin teases taste buds with entrées such as double-baked crab soufflé and Comté cheese, finished with a light cream bisque; mains such as duck a l’orange always entice, served with pickled red cabbage and duck jus, or beef Wellington with red wine jus.
Sydneysiders experience gastronomical delights at Quoi Dining on Century Circuit in Baulkham Hills. Located in the rapidly expanding Bella Vista restaurant precinct overlooking Norwest Lake, Quoi is an elegant destination offering fine dining in moody surrounds, with golden-hued lighting and understated simplicity creating an intimate ambience.
From Joshua Mason’s menu of rare and beautiful ingredients where texture, flavour and harmony are paramount, delve into an entrée of kingfish ceviche with burnt orange, sauce vierge, radish and avocado. For the main, think aged duck, beetroot, duck sausage and seasonal fruit.
For a little slice of France in the heart of Daylesford, locals rendezvous at Bistro Terroir on Howe Street. This sophisticated neighbourhood bistro is the place to savour fine fare, paired with a carefully selected drinks menu, whether stopping by for a quick catch-up, an extended liaison or private indulgence.
Dark wooden floors and exposed brick create a warm, welcoming vibe as diners bask in abundant natural light at white-clothed tables and ponder starters of steak tartare with Sher Wagyu rump cap, confit yolk and pomme gaufrettes; before barramundi, scallop and squid ink mousse, fish fumet and courgettes.
Take a well-deserved hiatus after a busy day sightseeing in Sunshine Coast’s Maroochydore and head to Orleans Restaurant and Bar on Duporth Avenue. Recycled timber, mood lighting, pressed tin and exposed bricks come together to create a relaxed and modern dining environment, with a hint of old-world charm.
Drawing inspiration from the classics of New Orleans cuisine and finished with a modern French twist, a creative menu dishes up plates like confit duck leg, Parisienne gnocchi, mushrooms, carrots and red wine jus; or steak frites with bourbon and green peppercorn sauce, beans and French fries.
