Time Out Melbourne has announced the winners of its 2017 Food Awards, celebrating Melbourne’s best restaurants, cafés and chefs across 13 categories.
Italian restaurant Osteria Ilaria was named Restaurant of the Year during the event at Pontoon, St Kilda.
Osteria Ilaria beat off competition from nine other top Melbourne restaurants to take out the main prize. Andreas Papadakis from Tipo 00 also took out Chef of the Year.
“Osteria Ilaria is standing on the shoulders of the giant next door, Tipo 00, but it has its own personality and character,” says Time Out’s chief restaurant critic, Larissa Dubecki.
The award for Best New Restaurant went to Atlas, with Charlie Carrington regularly changing the menu to reflect the cuisine of a different nation (it’s currently showcasing Mexican cooking).
Middle Eastern venue Tulum in Balaclava was named Best Casual Dining Restaurant and Cutler & Co took out the award for Best Fine Dining Restaurant.
The award for Best Cheap Eat went to Collingwood vegan pizzeria Red Sparrow Pizza, while nearby café Terror Twilight won the Best Café award.
Time Out readers had the chance to vote in three People’s Choice Awards this year. People’s Choice: Best Restaurant (presented by Beer the Beautiful Truth) was taken out by gaucho steakhouse San Telmo.
Presented by Mastercard, People’s Choice: Best Bakery saw a victory by Spotswood purveyor of lamingtons, savoury tarts and apple pies, Candied Bakery, while it was arcade-game themed burger joint 8bit Melbourne CBD that claimed the high score in People’s Choice: Best Fast Food, also presented by Mastercard.
For the Hot Talent Award, top Melbourne chefs were invited to nominate up-and-comers who will be the culinary stars of tomorrow with their own restaurants. The chef selected as ‘most likely to’ was Charley Snadden-Wilson of Embla.
The Drinks Service Award acknowledges innovative beverage service that complements restaurant food offerings, and was won by The Recreation Bistro in Fitzroy North.
The Legend Award, given out each year to a restaurant or person who has made a lasting impact on Melbourne’s food scene, was awarded to 35-year old Chinatown stalwart, Supper Inn Chinese Restaurant.