Wollongong’s Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant has won the national award for Best Seafood Restaurant - Formal at the Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards overnight.
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Owner of 16 years Angelo Scioscia and his team claimed the title at Luna Park on Monday night.
In accepting the award he thanked everyone who worked at the restaurant and expressed how grateful he was to all customers for their support.
“I am beyond proud of my team and their hard work everyday to provide the best food and service to our customers,” Mr Scioscia said.
“We were up against some really good restaurants like Flying Fish.”
The best restaurants in Australia such as Aria in Sydney compete in the annual awards and to win in front of such a prestigious gathering of chefs and owners is a big honour.
And great recognition for the eatery and Wollongong.
Mr Scioscia said Harbourfront had won at the regional level a couple of times but had never won the national title before.
He said he had always tried to continually improve and evolve the menu at the popular waterside restaurant and this was a great endorsement.
“Being part of the Restaurant and Catering Association they go around and judge restaurants throughout Australia,” he said
“They are like mystery diners who come in and judge you. It is completely impartial.”
Bouyed by the result Mr Scioscia said the restaurant was planning the next menu change leading into summer.
“With our weekend menus we usually do a chef’s market menu. And we are looking to introduce a chef’s seafood tasting menu as well going into summer matched with some wines,” he said.
Mr Scioscia said one of the secrets to the Harbourfront restaurant’s success was employing and keeping good staff.
“My restaurant manager Christopher Mead has been here for 12 years and my chef Andrew McCormack has been here for a couple of years. He and my sous chef Matthew Zulumovich worked in some hatted restaurants Benalong and Est,” he said.
Mr Scioscia said having good suppliers who were committed to providing great produce was also important.