Queensland's best awarded

Last night 39 winners were announced at the 2009 Restaurant & Catering Queensland HOSTPLUS State Awards for Excellence at a dinner at Hillstone St Lucia.

The supreme Restaurant of the Year title belongs to Philip Johnson’s Brisbane Restaurant E’cco Bistro. E’cco was also named Queensland’s Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant.


Michel Flores from Townsville was honoured for his contribution to the industry and presented with the 2009 Queensland Lifetime Achiever Award.

So who were the winners?
  • Brisbane’s Mons Ban Sabai Thai Garden Restaurant, Queensland’s Best BYO Restaurant and Best Thai Restaurant.
  • Best Seafood Restaurant with Lure Seafood Restaurant at The Coro (Milton), 
  • Best Pizza Restaurant with Sugo Mi (Bulimba), 
  • Best European Restaurant, C’est Bon (Woolloongabba), 
  • Best Coffee Shop/ Tea Room, High Societea (Clayfield), 
  • Best Café Restaurant, Boroughs Café Wine Bar ( Sandgate), 
  • Best Chinese Restaurant, Enjoy Inn (Fortitude Valley) 
  • Best Italian Restaurant , Bar Alto (New Farm) and 
  • Best Fine Dining Restaurant, Gianni’s Restaurant (CBD). 
  • Brisbane Restaurateur John Kilroy’s new Jellyfish Restaurant (CBD) picked up both Best New and Best Specialty Cuisine Restaurant while Cha Cha Char (CBD) regained its title as Queensland’s Best Steak Restaurant. 
On the Sunshine Coast

On the Gold Coast


Nu Nu Restaurant (Palm Cove) was awarded Queensland’s Best Breakfast Restaurant; The Beach House (Hamilton Island) was awarded Best Tourism Restaurant whilst Capers at the Beach Bar/Grill (Airlie Beach) won Best Professional Development under 100 Staff.

Best Restaurant in a Winery went to Sirromet Winery - Restaurant Lurleens.

The crowned winners from Queensland will now compete in the Restaurant & Catering Savour Australia National Awards for Excellence to be hosted in Canberra. The prestigious national awards evening will be held on the 19th of October and the winners will be announced at a presentation dinner at Parliament House.