By 
What a year it has been! The hospitality and food service industries are tough at the best of times, so opening a new venue during 2021 would be no easy feat.
However this didn’t stop determined foodies all across Australia from realising their dreams of opening a venue. The sheer number of outstanding openings this year is a testament to the strength and determination of Australia’s hospitality industry, especially throughout Melbourne and Sydney.
We want to take a look at the new venues that impressed or intrigued us the most in 2021 from the most populous cities across Australia.
MELBOURNE
Al Dente Enoteca
A new pasta paradise hit the streets of Carlton early this year. Al Dente was originally a pasta-delivery service that began when Italian born chef Andrea Vignali was stood down from his job during the first 2020 lockdown. Now he has turned this hustle into a fully-fledged restaurant serving crowd favourite pastas that are loved by many. The perfect spot for some comfort food after a turbulent year.
Big Esso
Chef Nornie Bero has been making indigenous food more accessible to Melburnians for years. However, she has now landed a bigger platform for her indigenous-food advocacy inside her new venue Big Esso, located in Federation Square on the land of the Wurundjeri people. Big Esso is a new all-day diner and bar that is all about the foods that Nornie grew up with. Expect sprinkling saltbush, strawberry gum, wattle seed, lemon aspen, pepper berry and other native ingredients throughout the dishes. If you are looking for something new and exciting in 2022, we recommend this spot.
SYDNEY
The Blue Door
The Blue Door is a new venue located in Surry Hills that has an emphasis on a producer focused and transparent dining experience. At every turn, chef Dylan Cashman’s venue is guided by provenance and zero waste. Whole animals are used from nose to tail, and fresh produce comes from the garden out back with local winemakers front and centre. This is all in an effort to create a sustainable dining experience that highlights local suppliers and products. A great venue for those who are looking for the freshest and best produce NSW has to offer.
Woodcut
From the duo behind the legendary CBD restaurant, The Bridge, comes the dazzling fine diner, Woodcut. Woodcut is an experience within itself. With each of the four kitchens within the venue harnessing a different element to create their dishes. Steam, fire, smoke and ice are front and centre, with an amazing range of decadent seafood and grill options available to feast on. This is a fine dining establishment, perfect for those looking to treat themselves to an experience.
BRISBANE
Melrose
A brand new southeast Asian inspired rooftop bar and restaurant was welcomed onto the Brisbane hospitality scene this year, headed up by former Longrain chef, Assavakavinvong. Dine under the blue skies by day, and under stars by night on the amazing Melrose rooftop, which is an experience in itself. With an exceptional mix of fresh, colourful Asian dishes, their prawn and pomelo betal leaf wraps and soft-shell crab stir-fry are two must try dishes if you visit.
Maya
The once popular Eleven rooftop bar has now been relaunched and is now a pop-up Mexican restaurant. Maya is a beautiful open-air eatery serving a Queensland-produce-driven menu that explores a variety of Mexican influences from the Pacific-inspired food of the north-west to the Caribbean-inflected dishes of the Yucatan Peninsula. A delicious and fun venue to make your first stop on a night out, serving the perfect Mexican-influenced cocktail and an enormous range of tequila to start your night off right.
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