BRISBANE RAISES THE STAKES - THE COURIER MAIL TUESDAY AUGUST 19TH, 2008

Melbournians and Sydneysiders could well be crying into their cocktails when news hits that Brisbane is officially home to Australia's best bar.

Proof that Brisbane has come of age, The Bowery in Fortitude Valley was named bar of the year at last night's 21st Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Awards, beating the likes of Carlton's Gerald's Bar in Melbourne and The Bayswater Brasserie in Sydney's King Cross. The Bowery also out-did fellow Brisbane bar The Lark, in Paddington, to take top honours. Queensland was the only state to field two nominees in the best bar category.

Named for a New York street that became famous in the Prohibition for its secret gin joints, The Bowery is tucked away on busy Ann St. The only indication of its presence is a small brass plaque on a low-key black door and a doorman during busy periods.

Elsewhere, Queensland fared less well. Sydney's Quay restaurant was named overall Australian restaurant of the year and the best regional restaurant, an award which Queensland has won two years running went to Victoria's Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld rather than Port Douglas's Sassi at Bale. Best new restaurant went to Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne.

NSW now has nine three-star restaurants, down from 10 last year, Melbourne one and the rest of the states and territories none, according to the guide.

Sydney's Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz of Surry Hills' Bodega jointly took best new talent. Liz Carey and Paul Guiney of Universal in Darlinghurst share maitre d' of the year while James Erskine of Auge in Adelaide is top sommelier. Perth's Balthazar has Australia's best wine list.

Brisbane's five top restaurants
1 E'cco, City
2 Montrachet, Paddington
3 Urbane, City
4 Restaurant Two, City
5 Isis Brasserie, Fortitude Valley