Dolly’s Bar and Restaurant Leanyer wins Best Steak at Gold Plate Awards

The Territory’s best eateries have been honoured at the annual Gold Plate Awards. See a list of all the winners.

A suburban steakhouse has flipped the script on its better-known CBD rivals by winning the Best Steak gong at this year’s prestigious 2023 Gold Plate Awards.

Dolly’s Bar and Restaurant in Leanyer scooped the Best Steak prize, ending three years of category dominance by the Cavenagh Hotel and flying the flag for Darwin’s north-suburban hotels.

A record 550 people flocked to Darwin Festival Park for the Gold Plates, which celebrate the hundreds of businesses and thousands of people employed to help the rest of us have a good time.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the awards were hotly contested every year and helped bring out the best in the super-competitive industry.

Charlie's of Darwin won Best Casual Dining. Picture: Tourism NT

“While the evening was a fun and festival themed celebration, we acknowledge the hard work that each and every nominee and their staff have put in this year,” Mr Bruce said.

“It is their passion and drive that continues to see our local hospitality offerings improve year in year out for the enjoyment of Territorians and tourists alike.”

Awards were presented in 22 categories and was the culmination of six weeks of anonymous judging and several rounds of barista and bartender competitions.

A Top End favourite, Pee Wees at the Point, was awarded Gold Plate Restaurant of the Year for the second consecutive year as well as best stand-alone restaurant.

Alice Springs Brewing Co founder Kyle Pearson in September 2018. Picture: Supplied.

It could be a farewell victory for Pee Wee’s owner Simon Matthews, who announced in June he was looking to sell the cornerstone restaurant after 21 years.

“Pee Wees at the Point continues to showcase the very best of the NT’s hospitality industry, with Simon and Lily and their team delivering excellence in food, drink and service in an iconic location,” Mr Bruce said.

Other popular winners include Sid Gurung from The 1995 for Barista of the Year and Riley Landini from Hanky Panky Lounge who won Bartender of the Year.

Judges praised the standards in both categories, describing competition as close and standards as high.

The 2023 Service Excellence Gold Plate Award was given to Steven Ferreria from the Mercure Darwin Airport Resort.

Snapper Rocks was awarded the City of Darwin Lord Mayor Local Produce Champion award for their daily delivery of produce spread across a number of local suppliers. Snapper Rocks also won Gold Plates for Best Seafood Restaurant and Best Wine List.

Charlie’s of Darwin head chef Sufendi Bong won the prestigious Chef of the Year Award.

With a number of new and exciting venues opening over the past 12 months, the Gold Plate Award for Best New Establishment was hotly contested, with Together & Co at the Hilton Garden Inn taking the honour.