Wellington restaurant named top eatery

Wellington's Logan Brown has been named NZ's best restaurant by Cuisine magazine. Photo / Nick Servian

Wellington restaurant Logan Brown was named Supreme Winner at the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year awards last night.

The restaurant, owned by the hosts of the television show Hunger for the Wild Steve Logan and Al Brown, beat out 39 other finalists to take the top spot.

Melbourne-based food and wine writer Ralph Kyte-Powell, serving as guest international judge, said the Logan Brown dining experience "is so seamless, so 'big occasion' yet so welcoming, so expert yet so friendly".

"If I had to select an international flagship for New Zealand cuisine, Logan Brown would be hard to go past."

Other judges praised the Vivian St restaurant's atmosphere, menu, wine list and service.

Last year, Wellington's Matterhorn was named supreme winner, with Martin Bosley's, also in Wellington, winning the top award the year before.

Other awards were:

Best Smart Dining - Metropolitan: Logan Brown

Best Smart Dining - Metropolitan runner-up: Clooney, Auckland

Best Smart Dining - Regional: Bouterey's at 251, Richmond, Nelson

Best Smart Dining - Regional Runner-up: Pacifica, Napier

Best Casual Dining - Metropolitan: Soul Bar & Bistro, Auckland

Best Casual Dining - Metropolitan Runner-up: Saggio di Vino, Christchurch

Best Casual Dining - Regional: Hopgood's Restaurant & Bar, Nelson

Best Casual Dining - Regional Runner-up: Wendy Campbell's French Bistro, Martinborough

Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Molten, Mt Eden, Auckland

Best Winery Restaurant, First Equal: Terroir at Craggy Range, Hawke's Bay, and Pegasus Bay Winery Restaurant, Waipara

- NZPA