TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, today announced the winners of its Travellers' Choice® awards for Restaurants.

This year, the awards recognise 10 Australian restaurants overall across the first-ever Everyday Dining category, classified by restaurants that provide great meals for any occasion, as well as the Fine Dining category.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for restaurants around the world, gathered over a 12-month period.

“It’s no secret that Australians love their food and this award celebrates the restaurants that consumers have rated as some of the best for their culinary experiences across the country,” said Janice Lee Fang, Communications Director for TripAdvisor in Asia Pacific. “Exceptional food, service and ambience are the hallmarks of our 2018 Travellers’ Choice restaurant winners and with the addition of a new ‘Everyday Dining’ award category, Australians can look forward to even wider list of great places to dine at for any occasion.”

2018’s Best Australian Restaurants

Top 10 Restaurants for Everyday Dining

1. Opera Bar – Sydney, New South Wales
   Situated right by the water’s edge, Opera Bar is famous for its panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, CBD and beautiful harbour. With a menu curated by renowned Chef Matt Moran, diners can watch chefs shuck fresh oysters at the Raw Bar, indulge in locally sourced cheeses and meats sliced to order in the Meet & Cheese Room, or simply choose a meal from their All-Day Menu. “This venue is a must-do, and naturally the place everybody would want to be for corporate lunches, Friday night drinks and weekend catch-ups,” noted a TripAdvisor diner.

2. Grill Steak Seafood Restaurant – Melbourne, Victoria
   Incorporating the best of Italian, Australian and other international cuisines, Grill Steak Seafood offers one of the most diverse and exciting menus on the iconic Hardware Lane in Melbourne CBD. “The steak was melt-in-the-mouth sensational,” one TripAdvisor diner reviewed, and on the seafood platter, another commented, “it was amazing, especially the oysters.”
    
3. Macchiato Wood Fire Pizza & Coffee Roastery – Sydney, New South Wales
   Offering a new take on the Italian staple, Macchiato serves delectable pizzas with slow-rise crusts, a variety of innovative gourmet toppings along with perennial favourites, well as fortifying and creamy coffee, top-quality wines and beers. “Highly recommend a trip to Macchiato. Looks and smells great… Tastes even better,” raved a TripAdvisor diner.
    
4. The Meat & Wine Co Circular Quay – Sydney, New South Wales
   Located in the lobby of the iconic InterContinental Sydney at Macquarie Street, The Meat & Wine Co is a contemporary steakhouse with an interior design incorporating subtle African influences of rustic wooden walls, arched windows and stone features. “These people are the steak experts. I have enjoyed good steak in many places, but this was of another level… the steaks were perfectly cooked, full of flavour and so tender,” a TripAdvisor diner praised.
    
5. George’s Paragon Seafood Restaurant Brisbane – Brisbane, Queensland
   Situated at the Eagle Street Pier along the Brisbane River, George’s Paragon is a Mediterranean-styled restaurant acclaimed for its Seafood Paragon platter for one, barramundi, baby octopus, and its half-price lunch and dinner (from 5:30pm to 6:30pm). “Great seafood that’s always in large quantities no matter what the order. There is a large variety to the menu, so vegetarians and meat lovers are also well catered for,” noted a TripAdvisor diner.
    
6. Chin Chin – Melbourne, Victoria
   More than just food, Chin Chin’s mission is to democratise dining by creating a social hub for guests. In addition to its highly raved Kingfish Sashimi, Caramelised Sticky Pork and Massaman Curry of Coconut Braised Beef, the restaurant also serves up a curated playlist by one of Australia’s most respected DJs, and exhibits artworks by established and emerging artists. “Had an enjoyable dinner here, loads of flavours, vibe and friendly service,” commented a TripAdvisor diner.
    
7. Prawn Star – Cairns, Queensland
   Located at the picturesque Cairns Marlin Marina, Prawn Star offers fresh, “no frills” seafood off the trawler, from prawns to mud crabs and even seafood towers. A TripAdvisor diner noted, “Wonderful ambience, feels like a lesser-known gem and a fantastic value for money. Best seafood I’ve had in ages in a great location.”
    
8. The Pantry Manly – Manly, New South Wales
   Enjoy the beautiful views of Manly Beach at The Pantry Manly, a European Brasserie style eatery with a menu offering of fresh, local and seasonal produce covering all meals in a day. Ranging from succulent meat dishes to freshly caught seafood, tapas and sharing plates, it is no wonder a TripAdvisor diner wrote, “The food itself is scrumptious with fresh ingredients and expertly prepared. A wonderful place to dine and read the paper on a Sunday morning, with a view designed to pamper.”
    
9. Alfresco Italian Restaurant – Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland
   Boasting “amore” as its key ingredient, Alfresco Italian Restaurant is family-owned and serves up Italian classics. “The food has that home cooked feel and the Maître D keeps the place buzzing with positive, feel good vibes!” a TripAdvisor diner remarked. To top it off, the restaurant is also known for its excellent seafood on the Gold Coast.
    
10. Blue Eye – Hobart, Tasmania
    Located on Hobart’s waterfront at the end of Salamanca Place, Blue Eye offers a great harbour view and specialises in fresh and tasty seafood, grilled and baked fish dishes, seafood platters, and fish and chips. “Amazing location, great seafood, great little set up in the restaurant. The menu offers quite a wide variety of dishes suitable for everyone,” a TripAdvisor diner reviewed.

Top 10 Restaurants for Fine Dining

1. Friends Restaurant – Perth, Western Australia
2. Muse Restaurant – Pokolbin, Cessnock, New South Wales
3. The Stunned Mullet – Port Macquarie, New South Wales
4. fermentAsian – Tanunda, Barossa Valley, South Australia
5. Circa 1876 Restaurant – Pokolbin, Cessnock, New South Wales
6. Bacchus – Brisbane, Queensland
7. Sails Beach Restaurant – Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
8. Pee Wee’s at the Point – Darwin, Top End, Northern Territory
9. Sono Japanese Restaurant – Brisbane, Queensland
10. Locale – Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

To view the full list of 2018 Travellers' Choice award-winning restaurants, including the top restaurants in the world, visit: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/TravellersChoice-Restaurants.