MOST delicious

Take your taste buds globe-trotting with the very best international cuisine you can find here at home.

MIDDLE EASTERN: AALIA (NSW)

Aalia takes diners on a tour of the Red Sea coastline, as executive chef Paul Farag serves a Middle Eastern dining experience Sydney’s never seen before. Impeccably trained staff are armed with insightful knowledge of the menu that journeys from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, Yemen to Iraq and beyond.

JAPANESE: HONTO (QLD)

Down an alleyway hides one of Brisbane’s coolest restaurants. Guests can enjoy a share-style offering of modern Japanese, moving from raw dishes and sushi to snacks, salads and items from the grill. From intimate dinner dates to nights out with friends, Honto sets the scene for a good time.

ITALIAN: DI STASIO CITTA (VIC)

The Spring St outpost of Rinaldo “Ronnie” Distasio’s St Kilda sweetheart is a weird and wonderful mash-up of restaurant meets gallery – austere in looks, yet rich in warm Italian hospitality and hug-in-a-bowl food. Come for soul-warming fare, stay for the show. A masterpiece.

FRENCH: BISTRO FRANCAISE (SA)

This is a tour de force of French classics – soupe a l’onion, boeuf bourguignon, creme brulee – that shows recipes like these are timeless when cooked with respect. For chef Fabien Streit there can be no shortcuts: what he presents on the plate is a reflection of himself and his heritage.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN: ARU (VIC)

Chef Khahn Nguyen has a knack for clever takes on Melbourne’s cult snacks. He strikes a balance between cultural correctness and downright deliciousness, and inspires edge-ofyour-seat anticipation for his next move. Aru is one of Melbourne’s most exciting, value-formoney restaurants.