Over the past few weeks alone, Crown Melbourne’s precinct of restaurants has scored over a dozen individual accolades. Prestigious awards have been presented by revered international publication, Wine Spectator, respected magazine, Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE and at this week’s Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards of Excellence for Victoria.

Nicolas Kurban, Crown’s Executive General Manager, Food & Beverage, commented, “We are thrilled to have received these prestigious accolades. We take great pride in our commitment to excellence and are sincerely grateful for this recognition.”

At the annual Victorian Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards of Excellence, 7 of Crown’s restaurants, including Nobu, Conservatory, Silks, Koko, The Merrywell, Number 8 restaurant & wine bar and Mings were all  recognised. In addition, Crown Melbourne’s Food and Beverage Training Department was presented with the prestigious 2012 Victorian George Mure Memorial Award and Crown Melbourne was named a finalist in the Function and Convention Centre Caterer, Restaurant in a Training Institute and Wedding Caterer categories.

2012 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence

Conservatory                                                           Winner    New Restaurant
Nobu                                                                       Winner    Modern Asian Restaurant
Silks                                                                         Winner    Chinese Restaurant
Koko                                                                        Finalist    Japanese Restaurant
Mings                                                                      Finalist    Chinese Restaurant
Number 8 restaurant & wine bar                           Finalist    Contemporary Australia Restaurant Informal
The Merrywell                                                        Finalist    New Restaurant
Culinarium                                                              Finalist    Restaurant in a Training Institute
Crown Melbourne                                                   Finalist    Function/Convention Centre Caterer
Crown Melbourne                                                   Finalist    Wedding Caterer
Food & Beverage Training Department                   Winner  George Mure Memorial Award

Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine’s annual Australia Wine List of the Year Awards

Recently, Number 8 restaurant & wine bar, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Spice Temple and The Waiting Room were all included in Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine’s annual Australia Wine List of the Year Awards for 2012.

Each wine list is assessed on five criteria: content, balance, suitability, presentation and pricing by an expert panel of impartial judges.

Number 8 restaurant & wine bar’s wine list is described as “A high roller list that reads like a Langton’s catalogue. Plenty of blue-ribbon names and prestigious wines. Back vintages are available for notable Australian wines, such as Cullen Cabernet Merlot and Penfolds Grange. The global representation for each variety is impressive.”

Rockpool Bar & Grill’s award-winning list is praised as, “an impeccable list of the highest standards with balance being its core strength. Top-end respectable wines sit alongside lesser-known gems, with a vein of quality throughout. Not only does it reflect current drinking trends but it sets them.”

While Spice Temple’s concise list of 100 wines is declared, “interesting, forcing closer scrutiny and careful selection, especially making certain the wines match Neil Perry’s fabulous cuisine.”

The Waiting Room’s list was awarded two goblets and is named “a Southbank star, which has a thoughtful and well-priced wine list, best attacked by the glass, and one of the most exciting spirit collections in the country.”

Wine Spectator Magazine – Best of Award of Excellence August 2012 Issue

For the fifth consecutive year, both Number 8 restaurant & wine bar and Rockpool Bar & Grill were awarded a “two glasses award” in the Best of Award of Excellence by the world-renowned and revered magazine, Wine Spectator. This award recognises restaurants that offer over 400 expertly chosen wines along with superior presentation and breadth across several wine regions.

In 2012, Crown Melbourne has launched Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar at Crown Metropol, the double-storey gastro-pub The Merrywell, a live performance and sports bar named the Common Room, the Lumia cocktail lounge and Cotta, an all-day café; as well as the newly re-launched Conservatory restaurant at Crown Towers.

Later this year, Neil Perry will launch his new Italian restaurant, Rosetta, while an addition to Crown’s new West End precinct is also planned with the opening of Jimbo & Rex, modelled on a traditional pub experience.

These recent awards and accolades further cement Crown Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s leading dining precinct.  Crown continues to offer guests and visitors an unsurpassed experience with a myriad of choices for dining, entertainment and accommodation.