5 Chef-hatted Venues Where the Food is as Pretty on the Plate as the Palate

We all eat with our eyes long before the fork reaches our mouths…when dishes arrive at the table looking as pretty on the plate as you know they will be on the palate, you have come to the right place.

Here are five Chef Hat-awarded destinations from Adelaide to Port Douglas, where a memorable meal and sensational dining experience are guaranteed:

Longplay Bistro on Pirie Street in Adelaide’s CBD is the summation of the things we enjoy – a casual, sometimes rowdy environment in which to eat good bistro food, drink great wine and listen to records with friends and family, Embrace the sense of being at a friend’s house for a dinner party – a friend who happens to be a great Chef, has a thoughtfully curated collection of records and a deep cellar – as you peruse a carefully executed menu of grazing plates and larger offerings.

 

Kick things off with Port Lincoln sardines, beurre noisette, radish and pickled onion, or venison tartare and house crisps; then slice your knife intro perfectly cooked dry-aged rib eye with jus, bearnaise sauce and sides of shoestring fries and cos lettuce with sourdough crumb.

Set on a secluded private estate in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Horderns Restaurant nestles in the Milton Park Country House Hotel, a grand mansion built at the turn of the 19th Century. Rich fabrics, high back chairs and soft lighting give a distinctive feel of great French restaurants, enchanting diners with an elegant vibe while parted drapes look out to manicured gardens and textured walls provide a warm depth to ambient dining.

 

Begin with choices like seared scallops, green mango, papaya, citrus and mixed herb salad and nam jim dressing; before memorable mains of ricotta, kale and spinach gnudi with tomato pomodoro, stracciatella, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. 

For authentic Indian cuisine in Terrey Hills, take to award-winning Urban Tadka on Mona Vale Road. Enveloping diners in warm tones of red and black and submerged ambient mood lighting, this relaxed restaurant sets the tone for smart casual dining.

 

Specialising in North Indian, tandoori and Mughlai fare, Urban Tadka’s vast menu may include entrées such as flame-seared scallops, garlic and lychee infused drizzle; smoky, succulent and unforgettable murgh koyla tikka brings flame-grilled chicken to life with rich spices and a velvety yoghurt marinade for the main.

Osprey’s Restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere with stunning views of Coral Sea islands, reefs and mountain ranges from the exclusive Thala Beach Nature Reserve in Port Douglas. Perched on a private headland, this spectacular restaurant draws diners from near and far for an ultimate treetop dining experience, inviting guests to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner immersed in the beauty of nature.

 

Choose from a seasonal local menu and dine on plates like crab on brioche with iceberg lettuce, avocado and aioli; moving onto main choices such as banana leaf-wrapped barramundi, steamed coconut rice, pak choi, corn, yellow curry sauce and lime.

Inspired by family dinners and growing up in a diverse Asian family, Potluck on Glen Huntly Road in Caulfield starts in China but your plate could end up anywhere. Have a drink, eat, listen, dance on the tables, wink at your waiter, fall in love or fight over the last dumpling – it’s Potluck, however don’t bring a dish, this restaurant has got your back.

 

Get the party started with sesame prawn toast, Japanese slaw and roe, or prawn and pork wontons with sweet soy broth, spring onion and coriander; larger plates of mapo tofu – pork mince, garlic chives, shallots and spring onion – are sure to entice those with heartier appetites.