Restaurant & Catering (R&CA) CEO Juliana Payne congratulated each of the National Award finalists on behalf of the Association.

“The National Awards for Excellence is one of the highlights of the year from the Association’s standpoint and we are delighted to recognise some of the country’s finest hospitality institutions as standard-bearers for our industry,” she said.

“These operators have already been awarded honours at a state and territory level so all of the nominated finalists can say that they are each at the very top of their field.

“We are tremendously lucky in Australia to have so many absolute gems in the hospitality sector and the reason for this is always, of course, the dedication and passion of the owners and their hard-working staff.”

Restaurant of the Year

ACT Les Bistronomes, Braddon

NSW Regional Circa 1876, Pokolbin

NSW Sydney Tetsuya’s, Sydney

QLD ARIA, Brisbane

SA Magill Estate Restaurant, Magill

VIC Taxi Kitchen, Melbourne

WA Rambla On Swan, South Perth

Fine Dining Restaurant

NSW Tetsuya's, Sydney

QLD ARIA, Brisbane

SA Magill Estate Restaurant, Magill

VIC Ezard, Melbourne

Café of the Year

ACT The Tea Lounge, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, A Park Hyatt Hotel, Yarralumla

NSW Regional Burrawang General Store, Burrawang

NSW Sydney Café Patina, Wahroonga

QLD Room with Roses, Brisbane

SA Café Alere, Bedford Park

VIC Spitfire Restaurant & Grill, Rosebud

WA Nic & Kolo, Applecross

Chef of the Year

ACT Damian Brabender, Otis Dining

NSW Joel Bickford, Aria

QLD Jake Nicolson, Blackbird Bar and Grill

SA Tom Jack, Mitolo Wines

VIC Dan Hunter, Brae

WA Jed Gerrard, State Buildings Wildflower

Caterer of the Year

ACT National Press Club of Australia, Barton

NSW - REGIONAL Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Lovedale

NSW – ICC Sydney, Sydney

QLD Gabbinbar Homestead, Middle Ridge

SA The National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide

VIC Atlantic Group, Docklands

WA Beaumonde Catering, Bassendean

Read the full list of finalists list here.