Victoria’s Attica and Brae make the World’s Top 50

In a huge night for the Australian food scene, two Victorian restaurants have made the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

For the fifth year running, Melbourne’s Attica has been named Australasia’s best restaurant on the list.

Attica, in Ripponlea, was named number 32 in the world at the ceremony held at the Royal Exhibition Building last night in Carlton, marking only the second time the Oscars of food have been hosted outside of London.

Up one spot from last year, Attica made its debut on the list in 2013 when it ranked 21. Led by chef-owner Ben Shewry, the menu at Attica draws heavily on native ingredients, many of which are grown at the nearby Ripponlea Estate.

The win should come as especially joyous for the chef as it is the second year he has also been the owner of the restaurant.

Brae Restaurant, Victoria

Making its debut on the list, Dan Hunter’s four-year-old regional restaurant, Brae in Birregurra, was named number 44. Since hitting the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ longer 51-100 list two years ago, diners have been waiting for the ascension.

It’s the first time two Victorian restaurants have made the prestigious list, and with the awards taking place in Melbourne, both Hunter and Shewry welcomes in the celebrations on home turf.

New York’s Eleven Madison Park took the top spot, and second place went to last years number one, Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Italy, while El Cellar de can Roca in Girona, Spain, was named number three.

Celery Root and Black Truffle served with celery root puree. Part of the winter 2014 menu at Eleven Madison Park.

The Ashley Palmer-Watts led original Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London, ranked 36, up nine places from last year, while Heston Blumenthal was given the Lifetime Achievement award.

The chefs’ choice award winner was Virgilio Martinez from Central in Lima, Peru, which was South America’s Best Restaurant ranked 5.

THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS

50. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium RE-ENTRY

49. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina NEW ENTRY

48. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin, Germany

47. Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

46. L’Astrance, Paris, France RE-ENTRY

45. Den, Tokyo, Japan NEW ENTRY

44. Brae, Birregurra, Australia NEW ENTRY

43. Reale, Castel Di Sangro, Italy NEW ENTRY

42. Boragó, Santiago, Chile

41. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai, China

40. Cosme, New York, USA NEW ENTRY

39. Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark

38. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu, Spain

37. Saison, San Francisco, USA

36. Dinner By Heston Blumenthal, London, UK

35. Septime, Paris, France

34. De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands

33. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru

32 Attica, Melbourne, Australia

31. Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris, France NEW ENTRY

30. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain

29. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

28. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand

27. The Ledbury, London, UK

26. The Clove Club, London, UK

25. Tickets, Barcelona, Spain

24. Amber, Hong Kong, China

23. White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia

22. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico

21. Alinea, Chicago, USA

20. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

19. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark

18. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

17. Le Bernardin, New York, USA

16. D.O.M., São Paulo, Brazil

15. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

14. Restaurant André, Singapore

13. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris, France RE-ENTRY

12. Arpège, Paris, France

11. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, New York, USA

10. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

9. Mugaritz, San Sebastian, Spain

8. Maido, Lima, Peru

7. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand

6. Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Spain

5. Central, Lima, Peru

4. Mirazur, Menton, France

3. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

2. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

1. Eleven Madison Park, New York, USA