Such and Such named ACT (and NSW!) Best New Restaurant
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It’s been a big year for Canberra’s young guns. Following Onzieme’s crowning as Gourmet Traveller’s best ACT restaurant earlier in the year, Such and Such has gone big, beating out other restaurants across Canberra and NSW to be named New Restaurant of The Year in the 2023 Good Food Awards.
When it opened, Such and Such owners Ross McQuinn, Dash Rumble (group manager), and Mal Hanslow (executive chef)—known for their relaxed but sharp approach to fine dining at award-winning Pilot—wanted it to be a ‘cool and relaxed place to drop in’. Well, just over nine months in and they’ve achieved that and a whole lot more.
The signs were all there last week when Sydney Morning Herald’s Callan Boys named it ‘one of the most exciting places to eat in Australia, right now’. And last night, it took the title of the 2023 Good Food Awards New Restaurant of The Year – picking up a hat for good measure.
The judges were lavish in their praise, saying:
“Alongside head chef Nick Petersen, Hanslow has created a comfort-first menu that doesn’t skimp on creativity or flavour, whether you’re a nearby office worker keen on a quick bowl of rigatoni, or up for a longer innings featuring perfectly roasted duck enhanced by fish sauce caramel.
Meanwhile, restaurant manager Caitlin Baker recommends emerging producers from a versatile drinks list in which equal love is given to wine, beer, cocktails, sake and spirits.
A new generation of talent transforming Canberra into one of the most exciting Australian cities in which to eat.”
Sister restaurant Pilot retained its two hats, joining a slew of local one-hat restaurants.
Two hats
Pilot
One hat
Bar Rochford
Italian and Sons
Morks
Mu Omakase
Onzieme
Raku
Rebel Rebel
Such and Such
Photography supplied: Rohan Thomson, Pew Pew Studio
