The best restaurant in New Zealand

Queenstown restaurant Amisfield, named third best in the world by a prestigious US culinary magazine, has been crowned restaurant of the year in New Zealand's Good Food Awards.

Six restaurants scored the highest, 'three hats', among more than 300 in the Cuisine Good Food Guide - from Auckland Ahi, Cocoro, Paris Butter and Tala; Hawke’s Bay's Craggy Range Restaurant and Amisfield from Queenstown.

Casey McDonald from Craggy Range Restaurant was named chef of the year at the ceremony in Auckland on Monday night. The establishment also won winery restaurant of the year, in just their first year at the awards.

“In a world where culinary artistry can often feel disconnected from its roots, Casey is a chef who brings everything full circle,” head judge Kerry Tyack said.

Tala, led by trailblazing Samoan chef Henry Onesemo, was also a new entrant this year. Onesemo told Morning Report despite the tough environment in hospitality, there’s a collective effort by restaurants to back each other up.

“We have restaurants like Amisfield in Queenstown, who are shining New Zealand out to the world. So we have customers who come from overseas that are trying to make it to Amisfield but then they stop at Tala because they’ve heard of us.”

His wife, Debby Onesemo, was the backbone of the restaurant, he says.

“I think without her, we wouldn’t be able to do what we are able to do at the restaurant.

“Most of the time, the chefs and front of house get the praise, but nobody sees the work that goes [on] behind the scenes. Tala would be shut in a couple of weeks if my wife wasn’t around.”

The pastry chef of the year went to Kenji Yoshitsuka at Advieh in Auckland and newly opened Supra in Wellington took home the new restaurant of the year award.

Josh Phillips from Aosta in Arrowtown was bestowed with the rising talent title. Aosta was also named the regional restaurant of the year.

In total, 95 restaurants received a ‘hat’ rating of either one, two or three