Smoked by AI

Smoked by AI · Melbourne

The people.

The chefs, critics and writers and bar people, owners and locals whose picks shape the Melbourne list, grouped by what they do for a living. Every name is a real person with a public track record, and each one appears against a room only where they endorsed that room themselves.

Chefs 74Critics and writers 74Bar people, owners and locals 3

Chefs.

Chefs cook for a living, and a chef who sends you to somebody else's room is putting their own name on it.

  • Rosheen KaulChef4 picks

    Chinese-Australian cooking, pop-ups and residencies; the pastry-and-cocktail crossover.

  • Alejandro SaraviaChef3 picks

    Victorian produce; Latin American cooking.

  • Andrew McConnellChef3 picks

    Melbourne modern dining across every format: bistro, izakaya, bar and fine dining.

  • Khanh OngChef3 picks

    Casual eating across the city; Vietnamese and Chinatown; late-night.

  • Andy AllenChef2 picks

    Pubs, casual dining and produce-led cooking.

  • Elias SalomonssonChef2 picks

    Nordic-influenced modern Australian cooking.

  • Eun Hee AnChef2 picks

    Korean cooking and Korean grocery culture.

  • Hugh AllenChef2 picks

    Modern fine dining, Nordic technique, Melbourne's top end.

  • Junda KhooChef2 picks

    Malaysian and Chinese-Malaysian cooking.

  • Kate ReidChef2 picks

    Laminated pastry and bakery craft.

  • Mo ZhouChef2 picks

    Modern Chinese cooking in Melbourne.

  • Nornie BeroChef2 picks

    Australian native ingredients and Torres Strait Islander cooking.

  • Robbie NobleChef2 picks

    Modern Australian restaurant cooking.

  • Tom SarafianChef2 picks

    Armenian-Lebanese cooking over live fire; Middle Eastern technique.

  • Tony TanChef2 picks

    Cantonese and wider Chinese cooking in Australia; Asian technique.

  • Victor LiongChef2 picks

    Modern Chinese cooking; Cantonese technique read through a chef's eye.

  • Zackary FurstChef2 picks

    Contemporary Australian-Polish cooking; wine-bar kitchens.

  • Aleksis KalninsChef1 pick

    Modern Australian restaurant cooking; Mulberry Group kitchens.

  • Alex KaewChef1 pick

    Thai cooking in Melbourne.

  • Andreas PapadakisChef1 pick

    Pasta and Italian cooking.

  • Coşkun UysalChef1 pick

    Turkish cooking and Anatolian technique.

  • Dani ValentChef1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants, neighbourhood dining and openings.

  • Emma DawsonChef1 pick

    Bistro cooking and bar food.

  • Esca KhooChef1 pick

    Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking.

  • Fhred BatalonaChef1 pick

    Filipino cooking in Melbourne.

  • Frankie CoxChef1 pick

    Produce-led cooking and wine service.

  • Gareth WhittonChef1 pick

    Pastry and dessert; the brasserie register.

  • Helly RaichuraChef1 pick

    Regional Indian cooking and Indian fine dining in Australia.

  • Jack Muir-RigbyChef1 pick

    Sourdough baking and bagels; bakeries and banh mi.

  • Jacqui ChallinorChef1 pick

    Wood-fire cooking, Middle Eastern and Levantine influence, large-format restaurant kitchens.

  • Jett AlexanderChef1 pick

    Italian cooking and pasta.

  • Jun PakChef1 pick

    Japanese omakase and sushi; Melbourne drinking rooms.

  • Lucy WhitlowChef1 pick

    Pastry and cheesemaking, both made by hand in Melbourne.

  • Michael McAulayChef1 pick

    Modern fine dining; Nordic technique.

  • Mika ChaeChef1 pick

    Modern Korean cooking in Melbourne.

  • Mino HanChef1 pick

    Cocktails and bar programs; Korean-influenced drinking food.

  • Nat ThaipunChef1 pick

    Thai cooking; regional Thai in Melbourne.

  • Ross LustedChef1 pick

    Live-fire and wood cooking; produce-led modern Australian.

  • Aitor Jeronimo OriveChefno picks on this list yet

    Basque and Spanish cooking; tasting menus.

  • Albin LawangChefno picks on this list yet

    Southeast Asian cooking; ice-cream.

  • Audrey AllardChefno picks on this list yet

    Pastry and dessert, made in a Melbourne kitchen.

  • Audrey ShawChefno picks on this list yet

    Japanese cooking; cafe and canteen formats.

  • Barry SusantoChefno picks on this list yet

    Indonesian cooking in Melbourne.

  • Ben ShewryChefno picks on this list yet

    Australian produce and native ingredients; fine dining.

  • Brigitte HafnerChefno picks on this list yet

    Italian and Mediterranean cooking; farm-to-table.

  • Cam Tay-YapChefno picks on this list yet

    Malaysian and modern Australian cooking.

  • Carmen NewtonChefno picks on this list yet

    Sourdough bagels, seasonal produce toppings, farmers-market trade.

  • Clinton McIverChefno picks on this list yet

    Modern Australian tasting-menu cooking; wine-bar snacks.

  • Dave VerheulChefno picks on this list yet

    Live-fire and produce-driven cooking; wine-bar dining.

  • Diana DesensiChefno picks on this list yet

    Italian cooking in Melbourne.

  • Frankie HadidChefno picks on this list yet

    Pizza and Italian-American cooking.

  • Giorgia McAllister ForteChefno picks on this list yet

    Viennoiserie and Italian pastry.

  • Guy GrossiChefno picks on this list yet

    Italian cooking in Melbourne; the Grossi group.

  • Hendri BudimanChefno picks on this list yet

    Modern Asian and Indonesian cooking.

  • Hyoju ParkChefno picks on this list yet

    Korean cooking and patisserie.

  • Jason StaudtChefno picks on this list yet

    Seafood and modern Australian cooking.

  • Jerry MaiChefno picks on this list yet

    Vietnamese cooking in Melbourne, from pho counters to full restaurants.

  • Joane YeohChefno picks on this list yet

    Ice-cream and pastry, made in a Melbourne production kitchen.

  • John RiveraChefno picks on this list yet

    Filipino cooking and dessert.

  • Jung Eun ChaeChefno picks on this list yet

    Korean fermentation and hansik; the home-restaurant format.

  • Karen MartiniChefno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne restaurants and mainstream food media.

  • Kay-Lene TanChefno picks on this list yet

    Japanese and modern Asian cooking; omakase.

  • Lisa ValmorbidaChefno picks on this list yet

    Gelato and Italian dessert.

  • Nicola DusiChefno picks on this list yet

    Italian cooking and pizza.

  • Patti ChimkireChefno picks on this list yet

    Bread and pastry; Mongolian and modern Australian baking.

  • Ravi PresserChefno picks on this list yet

    Bakery and modern Australian cooking.

  • Saavni KrishnanChefno picks on this list yet

    Indian cooking beyond the standard canon; Melbourne suburban Indian and Pakistani kitchens.

  • Sarah ChanChefno picks on this list yet

    Southeast Asian cooking; cafe-to-restaurant formats.

  • Scott EddingtonChefno picks on this list yet

    Pub kitchens and Southeast Asian noodles.

  • Shane DeliaChefno picks on this list yet

    Middle Eastern and Maltese cooking in Melbourne.

  • Shannon MartinezChefno picks on this list yet

    Vegan cooking done as cooking, not as substitution.

  • Sriram AdityaChefno picks on this list yet

    Indian cooking; bread and bakeries.

  • Stephen NairnChefno picks on this list yet

    Modern Australian and Japanese-influenced cooking.

  • Thi LeChefno picks on this list yet

    Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cooking in Melbourne.

Critics and writers.

Critics ate the meal, wrote it up under their own name, and the review is linked so you can read it yourself.

  • Larissa DubeckiCritic5 picks

    Melbourne restaurants across the price range; the big-room and group-restaurant end in particular.

  • Lauren DinseCritic5 picks

    Melbourne bars, wine bars and neighbourhood drinking.

  • Michael HardenCritic5 picks

    Melbourne restaurants, bars and food history; a thirty-year view of the city's dining.

  • Sofia LevinChef5 picks

    Melbourne's migrant and suburban food cultures; value eating.

  • Will ZiebellCritic4 picks

    Melbourne and Victorian craft beer; brewery venues and neighbourhood beer geography.

  • Amy CollinsJournalist3 picks

    Melbourne restaurants and bars.

  • Emily MorrisonCritic3 picks

    Melbourne bars and restaurants; starred, visit-based reviews.

  • Gemima CodyCritic3 picks

    Melbourne restaurants, bars and pubs, across the whole price range.

  • Orlaith CostelloJournalist3 picks

    Melbourne pubs, bars and Irish hospitality.

  • Sonia NairCritic3 picks

    Melbourne bars and restaurants; books and arts criticism.

  • Eileen P. KennyCreator2 picks

    Specialty coffee, Melbourne and internationally; roasters, baristas and cafe openings.

  • James SmithAuthor2 picks

    Australian craft beer: breweries, taprooms, industry economics.

  • Lauren VadnjalCritic2 picks

    Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.

  • Libby CurranCritic2 picks

    Melbourne cafes, bars and restaurants.

  • Paul ChaiCritic2 picks

    Melbourne bars and cocktail rooms; travel writing.

  • Rushani EpaCritic2 picks

    Melbourne restaurants, with real depth on Southeast Asian and migrant-run kitchens.

  • Sarah LewisCritic2 picks

    Melbourne cafes and brunch.

  • Tim WilliamsCreator2 picks

    Specialty coffee: roasting, sourcing, the Melbourne third wave.

  • Una CruickshankCritic2 picks

    Melbourne small bars, and the northern-suburbs end of them.

  • Adena MaierJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne cafes, roasteries and new openings.

  • Andrew ZuccalaJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne breakfast and cafes.

  • Bryanna PerriamCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants, casual and value.

  • Cassidy KnowltonCritic1 pick

    Australian food and drink; Melbourne bars.

  • Chynna SantosCritic1 pick

    Melbourne food and drink, especially Asian restaurants and value eating.

  • Cjay AksoyCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants, value end.

  • Cordelia WilliamsonCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars and drinking; venue write-ups with a verdict.

  • Dan CunninghamAuthor1 pick

    Melbourne food and drink features.

  • David UrwinCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes and coffee roasteries.

  • Ellen FraserCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants, bars and wine rooms.

  • Ellen SeahCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants, and who is actually cooking in them.

  • Emily Lloyd-TaitCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes, breakfast and coffee rooms.

  • Emma BrehenyCritic1 pick

    Melbourne food news, openings and closures; also signed, visit-based bar and restaurant assessments for Good Food.

  • Evan JonesCritic1 pick

    Melbourne markets, provisions and neighbourhood shopping.

  • Frank SweetCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants; long, dish-by-dish visit reviews.

  • Frankie Anderson-ByrneJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne live music and nightlife listings.

  • Fred SigginsCritic1 pick

    Melbourne pubs, beer and spirits.

  • Gary BrunCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants across the mid price range.

  • Hannah ValmadreCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars and outdoor drinking.

  • Jade SolomonJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

  • James SmithCritic1 pick

    Australian craft beer: breweries, venues, styles and the industry behind them.

  • Jo RitteyJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

  • Juliana YuCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars, reviewed with a star rating attached.

  • Kathryn LewisJournalist1 pick

    The Australian coffee trade; roasters, cafe operators and the business of specialty coffee.

  • Kelly EngCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes and coffee rooms.

  • Lachlan KanoniukCritic1 pick

    Melbourne pubs and bars, beer venues and live music rooms.

  • Leah GlynnCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars and drinking; starred, anonymous reviews.

  • Lucas RadbourneJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne live music venues and bars.

  • Matilda KnowlesCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes and specialty coffee.

  • Maya SkidmoreJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne food and drink openings.

  • Meg WatsonCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars and pubs, and what a room is actually like to drink in.

  • Molly GlasseyCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes, roasters and coffee.

  • Nick ConnellanCritic1 pick

    Melbourne restaurants and bars; Broadsheet's best-of guides.

  • Nick SheltonOwner / operator1 pick

    Melbourne cafes and coffee; Australian food media.

  • Nicola DowseCritic1 pick

    Melbourne things-to-do, markets and shopping.

  • Rebecca RussoCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars, rooftops and late-night drinking.

  • Roseanne TizianiCritic1 pick

    Melbourne cafes and coffee bars.

  • Sam BygraveCritic1 pick

    Australian bars, bartenders and spirits; the trade view of a drinks programme.

  • Stephanie AlexanderAuthor1 pick

    Australian home and restaurant cooking; a fifty-year view of Melbourne dining.

  • Thomas BeecherJournalist1 pick

    Melbourne wine bars and bottle shops.

  • Tom CliftCritic1 pick

    Melbourne bars and pubs, beer venues in particular.

  • Yihan AiJournalist1 pick

    Southbank neighbourhood reporting, including its businesses and new openings.

  • Alexandra ZinghiniJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Australian bar industry news and awards.

  • Alice MandersonJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and drink openings.

  • Audrey PayneChefno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and drink news, openings and the chef-recommendation beat.

  • Besha RodellCriticno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne and Australian restaurant criticism, anonymous and visit-based.

  • Claire AdeyJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and hospitality openings.

  • Haymun WinJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and drink openings, with a strong line on migrant and Southeast Asian food businesses.

  • Jack HayesJournalistno picks on this list yet

    North and West Melbourne neighbourhood reporting, including its food and drink openings.

  • Kim BerryJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Australian bar trade; operator interviews.

  • Lauren Tran-MuchowskiJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and drink openings; digital and audio.

  • Luke RobertsonJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne bar and restaurant openings.

  • Nomi MakinJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne food and culture; new bars and restaurants.

  • Olivia HartJournalistno picks on this list yet

    Melbourne shopping, markets and produce.

  • Rupert HohwielerJournalistno picks on this list yet

    International spirits and bar trade.

Bar people, owners and locals.

Bartenders, owners and locals know the things a review misses, like where the trade actually drinks.

  • Charlie DuffyOwner / operator2 picks

    Bread and viennoiserie, baked in Melbourne.

  • Liinaa BerrySommelier2 picks

    Wine lists and wine service, Australia and internationally.

  • Nolan HirteOwner / operatorno picks on this list yet

    Specialty coffee roasting and sourcing in Melbourne.

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