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Finalists named for three top awards at The Age Good Food Guide

Seventeen individuals and venues vie for chef, service and restaurant of the year honours

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
The Age Good Food Guide has announced the finalists for its three marquee awards, with winners to be revealed at a ceremony on Monday, October 12. The awards celebrate excellence across Victoria's dining scene, covering chef of the year, service excellence and restaurant of the year.

The finalists for the Oceania Cruises Service Excellence Award, T2 Tea Restaurant of the Year and Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year were revealed by the Good Food Guide reviewers. In total, 17 individuals and venues have been recognised as finalists, reflecting what the reviewers describe as a healthy and diverse dining culture in Victoria.

The finalists span a wide range of styles and approaches, from venues that have been operating for decades to newer establishments pushing boundaries. The reviewers noted that the breadth of finalists "speaks volumes for the health of our dining culture in Victoria."

One finalist profiled is Ainslie Lubbock of Pt Leo Estate on the Mornington Peninsula, who is in contention for the Service Excellence Award. Lubbock manages service across a three-pronged venue that includes the two-hatted Laura restaurant, the Pt Leo Restaurant and the Wine Terrace. The reviewers highlighted her ability to create genuine connections with guests, including through an amari trolley and tickets to the estate's sculpture park.

The winners of all three awards will be announced at the Good Food Guide Awards ceremony on Monday, October 12. The Age will run a live blog of the event from 3pm.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The awards are a benchmark for Victoria's restaurant industry, influencing where diners choose to eat and how venues market themselves.
  • Recognition can boost a venue's profile and bookings, affecting business outcomes for finalists.
  • The diversity of finalists signals the health and innovation of Melbourne's dining scene, which is a major draw for tourism and local culture.

Background

The Age Good Food Guide is an annual publication that reviews and rates restaurants across Victoria. Its awards have been a fixture of Melbourne's hospitality calendar for decades, with categories that honour chefs, service staff and standout venues. The 2026 awards continue this tradition, with the shortlist drawn from the guide's reviews over the past year.

Key Perspectives

Diners: The finalists provide a curated list of restaurants and hospitality professionals worth visiting over the next year. Hospitality industry: The awards offer recognition that can help with staff retention, customer interest and industry reputation. Restaurants not shortlisted: The competition is intense; missing out does not necessarily reflect a decline in quality but highlights the depth of Victoria's dining scene.

What to Watch

  • The ceremony on Monday, October 12, where winners will be announced.
  • The Age's live blog and subsequent coverage, which will detail the winning venues and individuals.
  • How finalists leverage their nomination in marketing and media, potentially driving increased patronage.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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