Australian dining experiences fit for a royal

By MiNDFOOD

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after a visit to the University of Chichester Tech Park, in Chichester, Britain October 3, 2018. Heathcliff O'Malley/pool via Reuters - RC199A0EAB20
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after a visit to the University of Chichester Tech Park, in Chichester, Britain October 3, 2018. Heathcliff O'Malley/pool via Reuters - RC199A0EAB20

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may only be visiting the east coast on their tour Down Under – but no matter where you are in Australia, there are plenty of incredible restaurants where you can dine like a royal.

Here are some of our favourites:

Urbane, Brisbane

With a stellar reputation and three hats to its name, Urbane is consistently lauded as one of Australia’s premier restaurants – despite the fact it’s only open three nights a week. Offering tailored degustation-only menus that primarily use seasonal produce made or grown in Australia, Urbane serves up dishes that look stunning, taste delicious and won’t soon be forgotten. And with options for both omnivores and herbivores, you can trust that any vegetarians in your party will be well taken care of.

Quay, Sydney

If you like your meal with a view, you can’t beat Quay. Set right on the harbour, you can enjoy vibrant culinary delights with a sweeping backdrop of the bridge and Opera House. With an innovative focus on texture and harmony, chef Peter Gilmore has used the new degustation-only menu to showcase rare and unusual ingredients cooked with precision. And you can look forward to dessert – while the famed snow egg has been retired, the “white coral” that replaced it is every bit as good.

Minamishima, Melbourne

Save yourself the airfare to Tokyo, and just head down to Minamishima for extraordinary fine-dining Japanese cuisine. You have two options in this intimate restaurant: the sushi bar serves a procession of deftly sliced, shaped and torched nigiri, while the dining room serves a degustation of cooked courses that display traditional culinary techniques. Both are in the omakase style (meaning you leave the menu decisions to the chef) – but whichever you choose, Minamishima’s offering is a restrained and masterful study in how sushi should be made.  

Orana, Adelaide

Winner of Gourmet Traveller 2018 Restaurant of the Year, Orana serves modern Australian food with an emphasis on indigenous ingredients. Creative and considered, the tasting menus created by chef Jock Zonfrillo honour the produce’s relationship with the land, and change with the seasons so there is always something new on offer. With stand-out dishes on the current menu including Murray River cod with leek and eucalyptus; and kangaroo with smoked potato, feral plum and wattleseed; dining at Orana is truly unique.

Wildflower, Perth

For a sophisticated fine dining experience, few places in Perth will match Wildflower. As a strong advocate of local, sustainable produce, head chef Jed Gerrard’s menu features farmer and forager-driven dishes and revolves around the indigenous ethos of six seasons. Native and indigenous ingredients and cooking methods are also showcased to great effect, with mains like the wood-grilled lamb coming to the plate with saltbush and eucalyptus. The inventive flavour combinations pay off – and with their elegant and refined presentation, they can’t help but impress.

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