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 (2676)

$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

Jase

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing food and service as always. The ONLY downside was my fault for booking an outside table so early was it was a bit warm. I think if dining before 7pm during summer look at an indoor table.

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

Donovans

4.8

4.8 (1700)

$101 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

Anne

Dined 5 days ago

Great venue, good was great, good size portions, lovely view of the beach and sunset.

Elio's Osteria

4.8

4.8 (1658)

$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

Blake

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing Italian food with the family owned ambience, definitely worth a try 🥰

Frogmore Creek Cellar Door & Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1383)

$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

Robert

Dined 1 day ago

Stunning lunch in a stunning location. Food exceeded expectations. We were well guided through the menu by our waiter ( I believe his name was Dan ?) , who led us to flavours we would not normally pursue. It was well worth it Highly recommended.

Glasshouse

4.7

4.7 (1646)

$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

Grant

Dined 3 days ago

Always a lovely dining experience. Everything is always beautifully done and the service is excellent.

Locale Restaurant and Bar Noosa

4.7

4.7 (2283)

$40 and under

Italian

Noosaville / 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.

Drawing heavily on Italian tradition, Locale Noosa offers a seasonally changing menu using the best in local produce and premium imported ingredients. Surrounded by lush gardens, Locale Noosa sits in a protected corner of Hastings Street just a few steps from the golden sands of Noosa Main Beach. Our seasonal menu features handmade pasta, traditional italian antipasti and desserts alongside an impressive selection of wines, beers and cocktails.

Top review

Paloma

Dined 3 days ago

Really nice place, service & menu proposed. Table 10 is fantastic : you look overall the dining room and enjoy the flow of the service. The wine list is unbelievable and cocktails are divine. Food : 10/10 on the sharing dish “lamb” we added some sides ( potatoes and caprese salad) which was perfect. We will definitely have to try the reminder dishes we couldn’t try ! Well done to the team : service was excellent our maître D was fantastic.

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Experience

Sunday Long Lunch

Experience

Mother's day Long Lunch

Experience

Father's day Long Lunch

Mamasan Kitchen and Bar

4.7

4.7 (2411)

$41 to $100

Asian

Broadbeach

About the restaurant

Welcome to Mamasan Kitchen & Bar, a modern Asian share-style dining restaurant located in the heart of Broadbeach. Our culinary team is dedicated to bringing you a unique and unforgettable dining experience that fuses the bold flavours of Asia with a modern twist.

We believe that food is meant to be shared and enjoyed with friends and family, with our menu being curated around this concept. The menu features a diverse array of dishes bursting with full flavors, using the best quality ingredients meticulously sourced from the finest producers.

We take pride in our extensive and award-winning wine and sake selection complementing our vibrant modern Asian menu. Our beverage experts have carefully selected each bottle to enhance your dining experience and elevate your taste buds to new heights. Our Drinks List also features a large selection of premium spirits including a selection of rare Japanese Whiskies and Asian inspired cocktails.

Top review

John

Dined 3 days ago

This was our first visit to Masaman and were very pleased. The greeting was immediate and we were escorted to our table promptly where the menu was explained to us. As it was Valentine's Day, special options were available. Our waiter was excellent with our drink and food order taken and served in a timely manner. The food was very tasty and was certainly of a generous nature. We have no hesitation in recommending Masaman and are looking forward to going for a return visit.

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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

Kathleen

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience, food was delicious and friendly staff - we will go back again.

Meze Mazi - Adelaide

4.6

4.6 (1118)

$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

Stuart

Dined 5 days ago

Consistently excellent Greek restaurant. Good value and service. Generous serves of great food - what more do you want?

Park Street Pasta & Wine

4.5

4.5 (820)

$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

Tania

Dined 2 days ago

Outstanding, as usual, have been a few times when my son lived in Melbourne. Never disappoints

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Rickys River Bar and Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3267)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Noosaville / 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

vickij

Dined on 1 Feb 2025

Exceptional food and service as usual, The whole experience was amazing

Sails Noosa

4.7

4.7 (3376)

$101 and over

Modern Australian

Noosaville / 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

KarenVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Amazing experience and first class food. Service was exceptional. Looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend

The Carlton Wine Room

4.8

4.8 (826)

$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

Biio

Dined 6 days ago

Hannah and Travis were super helpful throughout the night. Food was off the charts.

The European

4.7

4.7 (1304)

$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

Greg

Dined 1 day ago

Very enjoyable evening Good food Good value Gggggg

The Woodhouse Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (2703)

$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

Charles

Dined 2 days ago

Food was excellent as was the service staff were attentive and helpful, I would recommend that you try this excellent restaurant,. I've been there a number of times and never been disappointed.

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Popular dish

Sher Wagyu scotch fillet 9

Popular dish

OConnor Beef scotch fillet 3

Popular dish

Vanilla bean crème brûlée

Tinamba Hotel

4.7

4.7 (1212)

$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

Anika

Dined 1 day ago

Highly recommend Tinamba Hotel. It ticks lol the boxes- classy venue, amazing food and outstanding service. We are so lucky to have this establishment at our doorsteps and need to ensure that we support it so that it can remain for many years to come.

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