Connewarre restaurant secures top honour at Good Food Guide Awards

TUCKED away in the Surf Coast locality of Connewarre, restaurant Moonah has taken out the top honour at this year’s The Age Good Food Guide Awards for 2025.

Just down the road from Torquay, the 12-seat fine dining restaurant was awarded the Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year Award at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on Monday night.

Represented on the night by owner and chef Tobin Kent and Simone DeKever, Moonah was also awarded ‘Regional Restaurant of the Year in The Age’s Good Food Guide for 2023 and nominated for ‘Restaurant of the Year’ last year.

 

“Tobin Kent is creating a regional Victorian coastal cuisine that tastes of the landscape,” The Age’s chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell said.

“Food is often delicious and fun but Moonah is so singular. I think he’s doing something really different.”

Mr Kent was also nominated as a finalist for Chef of the Year, which was ultimately awarded to Jung Eun Chae of CHAE in the town of Cockatoo.

Further representing the Torquay hospitality industry was restaurant Samesyn, which won the Food for Good award for their top-level service and service to the Surf Coast region through its commitment to minimising waste.

The Age Good Food Guide 2025, which provides access to more than 500 reviews, is available for purchase for $14.95 from newsagents, supermarkets and at thestore.com.au