Eat Out

top 10

Sweet potato gnocchi with mushrooms, sugar-snap peas and chive cream at Vege Rama in Brisbane.

Brisbane's best vegan and vegetarian eats

ANNE-LOUISE BROWN From rainbow salads to silky almond tofu, here are the city's best plant-based dishes.

sydney

The flaming chorizo is soaked in sherry.

Bibo Wine Bar

Myffy Rigby The chorizo is literally on fire, in the best possible way.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (29)

melbourne

The classic burger served at Burger Project in Melbourne.

Burger Project, Melbourne

Simone Egger Are Neil Perry's burgers better?

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (32)

sushi

Mixed sashimi: a highlight at Nom Japanese.

Nom Japanese

Myffy Rigby This tiny, warm Darlinghurst izakaya, hidden away on Riley Street, is full of good surprises.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (11)

seafood

Fish and chips at North Bondi Fish.

North Bondi Fish

Myffy Rigby Is this fancy seafood shack home to Sydney's best fish and chips?

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (63)

old-school italian

Wood-fired, rice-stuffed baby chicken at Mr Ottorino.
13.5/20

Mr Ottorino

Gemima Cody This endearingly daggy new Italian serves risotto inside a roast chook.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (5)

waffles with parmesan ice-cream?

Sweet potato waffle at Aucuba cafe in South Melbourne.

Aucuba

Matt Holden This Japan-meets-Finland newcomer's all-day menu is a sneaky one.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (12)

modern greek

Pick up a Chinese barbecue duck and make this warm weather favourite tonight.
14/20

Atalanta Bar and Greek

Natascha Mirosch Forget the old-school moussaka and bouzouki music at this Greek restaurant.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (2)

liquid nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is used in desserts to Harry potter effect at the Apo.
15.5/20

The Apo

Natascha Mirosch The Valley's new bar-eatery serves savoury eclairs and magical desserts.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (2)

indian

Chicken lollypops at 7 by the Lake Indian restaurant in Canberra.
12.5/20

7 By the Lake

Natasha Rudra This pleasant Indian restaurant serves tasty chicken 'lollipops'.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (8)

french

White chocolate mousse with sweet potato crisp and rhubarb at Les Bistronomes.
15/20

Les Bistronomes

Natasha Rudra A theatrical and cliche-free taste of the Left Bank in Braddon.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (9)

sydney

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05:  Scotch Egg with house made ketchup at Hunter Gatherer on May 5, 2016 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Christopher Pearce/Fairfax Media)

Hunter Gatherer

12/20

Terry Durack What's the latest venue by Bondi's Panama House and The Corner House like?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (47)

melbourne

Wood-fired, rice-stuffed baby chicken at Mr Ottorino.

Mr Ottorino

13.5/20

Gemima Cody This old-school new Italian serves risotto inside a roast chook.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (5)

canberra

Brudet (Dalmatian fish stew) with mussels and Moreton Bay bug at Maestral in Canberra.

Maestral

13.5/20

Natasha Rudra A super friendly family restaurant with a warm-hearted vibe.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (50)

outdoor-friendly

Oldskool Newskool salmon.

Cavalier Specialty Coffee

Lisa Visentin Cavalier Specialty Coffee serves some of the prettiest dishes to grace breakfast tables.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (34)

cafe

The vitello tonnato; eggplant parmigiana; and parmigiano reggiano and aged balsamic vinegar.

Ormeggio at The Spit

17/20

Terry Durack Here, you'll travel through Italy without leaving the north shore - and it's quite a trip.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (15)

bar

Assorted tacos at Ghostboy Cantina in Sydney.

Ghostboy Cantina

Myffy Rigby Get on down to this Mexican-Asian mash-up before the rest of Sydney does.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (19)

healthy cafe

The mungbean fritter at Uncommon cafe in Windsor, Melbourne.

Uncommon

Dani Valent This health-conscious cafe might change your mind about mung beans.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (6)

hot and new

Barramundi with chilli, Sichuan pepper and cumin.

Dainty Fish & Grill Co

Simone Egger Move over American barbecue. Hello lip-smacking Sichuan-style fish.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (5)

rising from the ashes

Go-to dish: Snapper and prawn ravioli.

Blue Tongue Wine Bar

13.5/20

Gemima Cody Is this Melbourne's unluckiest venue?

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (10)

celebrity chef

Verrine with guava sorbet, tropical fruit, whipped coconut cream and sugar 'glass'.

Billykart West End

14/20

Natascha Mirosch Ben O'Donoghue's second Billykart is a clever package.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (12)

pizzeria

Margherita pizza at Mister Paganini.

Mister Paganini

13.5/20

Natascha Mirosch Meet Mister Paganini, the new face of authentic pizza in South Bank.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (8)

negroni sorbet

Negroni sorbet and Campari at Darling & Co.

Darling & Co

14/20

Natascha Mirosch Paddington's new darling pitches somewhere between posh pub and bistro fare.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (3)

kitchen garden

Poached peaches and plums from the orchard, chantilly cream and barberries.

Garden Pavilions

14.5/20

Catriona Jackson This venue could well become a tourist icon.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (33)

caribbean

A selection of dishes at Betti Bravo's in Canberra.

Betti Bravo's

13/20

Natasha Rudra Betti Bravo's brings a splash of rum to Kingston.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (7)

chinese

Deep-fried oysters at Cinnabar.

Cinnabar

12/20

Kirsten Lawson Cinnabar feels like it's still finding its feet.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
reader ratings (17)

Chef profile

Sake Melbourne bar manager John Ross-Jones.

John Ross-Jones

A twist of the exotic and a splash of Japanese inspiration. Read more

Video

Top chefs reveal their favourite ingredients (Video Thumbnail) Click to play video

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Top chefs reveal their favourite ingredients

Nine top chefs tell us their favourite ingredient and what they make with it. (02:11)