Auckland Restaurant The French Café has been named Cuisine magazine’s Restaurant of the Year 2016, for consistently offering a world-class menu, along with a flawless and superb dining experience.
The restaurant also took home the San Pellegrino Best Metropolitan Restaurant. Christchurch’s Pescatore was named runner-up in this category.
The restaurant is still at the top of its game according to judges and is setting the bar for the rest of the country.
Vittoria Coffee Chef of the Year went to the creative craftsman behind the menus at Auckland restaurant Sidart and its modern Indian sibling Cassia, Sid Sahrawat.
After quickly gaining a reputation for excellence in all aspects of the dining experience following its opening in April last year, Auckland’s Phil’s Kitchen was awarded Neat Meat Best New metropolitan Restaurant.
Hawke’s Bay wasn’t forgotten with two of its hot spots Pacifica and Bistronomy taking home awards.
Cuisine NZ Good Food Awards 2016 winners:
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2016: The French Café, Auckland
Vittoria Coffee Chef of the Year: Sid Sahrawat, Auckland
Runner-up: Michael Meredith, Auckland
Sanpellegrino Best Metropolitan Restaurant: The French Café, Auckland
Runner-up: Pescatore, Christchurch
Neat Meat Best New Metropolitan Restaurant: Phil’s Kitchen, Auckland
Runner-up: Field & Green, Wellington
Stuff.co.nz Best Regional Restaurant: Pacifica, Napier
Runner-up: Victoria Street Bistro, Hamilton
Neighbourly Best New Regional Restaurant: Bistronomy, Napier
Monteith’s Best Specialist Restaurant: Cocoro, Auckland
Runner-up: Cassia, Auckland
Kenwood Restaurant Personality of the Year: Sarah Bullock, The Larder, Wellington
Ōra King Salmon Innovation Award: Tom Hishon, Orphans Kitchen, Auckland
Whitestone Cheese Best Winery Restaurant: Pegasus Bay, North Canterbury
Runner-up: Amisfield, Queenstown
Negociants New Zealand Best Wine Experience: Apero, Auckland
Opawa Wine Best Drinks List: Charley Noble, Wellington
* 2016 Hat recipients
The score out of 20 is our assessment of the total restaurant experience. Up to nine points are given for food (flavour, technique, produce, balance), up to four points for service (knowledge, care, professionalism), four for wine and wine service (wine menu, staff knowledge, pricing), and up to three points for ambience (decor, lighting, buzz).
3 HATS
Cocoro, Auckland
Kazuya, Auckland
Merediths, Auckland
Roots, Lyttelton
Sidart, Auckland
The French Café, Auckland
The Grove, Auckland
2 HATS
Amisfield, Queenstown
Baduzzi, Auckland
Cassia, Auckland
Clooney, Auckland
Orphans Kitchen, Auckland
Pacifica, Napier
Pegasus Bay, North Canterbury
Pescatore, Christchurch
The Grill, Auckland
The Larder, Wellington
Victoria Street Bistro, Hamilton
1 HAT
Apero, Auckland
Bistro Gentil, Wanaka
Bistronomy, Napier
Black Estate, Waipara
Botswana Butchery, Queenstown
Bracken, Dunedin
Bracu, Auckland
Cazador, Auckland
Charley Noble, Wellington
Depot, Auckland
Elephant Hill, Hawke’s Bay
Field & Green, Wellington
Fishbone Bar & Grill, Queenstown
Gusto at the Grand, Auckland
Hippopotamus, Wellington
Ima, Auckland
Jano Bistro, Wellington
Logan Brown, Wellington
Masu, Auckland
Mister D, Napier
Ortega Fish Shack & Bar, Wellington
Palate, Hamilton
Phil’s Kitchen, Auckland
Ponsonby Road Bistro, Auckland
Rata, Queenstown
Soul Bar & Bistro, Auckland
Te Awa Winery Restaurant, Hastings
The Engine Room, Auckland
The Sugar Club, Auckland
WBC, Wellington
Whitebait, Wellington
