Lewisham Awards: Auckland's top eateries named

Coco's Cantina added another award to its growing list, coming top in the outstanding establishment category. Photo / Dean Purcell

Auckland's hospitality industry has named its best and brightest for 2015 overnight at the Lewisham Awards.

Now in its 14th year, the award ceremony at Shed 10 on the waterfront picked the best Auckland has to offer when it comes to food and drink.

This year's competition was fierce, said Lewisham Foundation chairman Chris Upton."Results in many of the categories this year have been very tight, which to me demonstrates our industry is in excellent heart," he said.

"The fact there are only two winners from 2014 that have made the honours board this year also reinforces the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry in Auckland and the wide selection of quality establishments.

"The award for outstanding chef went to hospitality veteran Michael Meredith at Mt Eden's Meredith's Restaurant.

Ponsonby Road cocktail joint Mea Culpa won both outstanding bar and outstanding bartender, awarded to Kate Rose.

K'Road's EightThirty was crema of the crop when it came to coffee, winning the award for best coffee establishment/barista.

Newcomer Woodpecker Hill, in Parnell, took home the award of outstanding new venue and employee Ash Visvanathan was awarded outstanding Maitre d'.

Crowd favourite Coco's Cantina added another award to its growing list, coming top in the outstanding establishment category.

The Lewisham Foundation Awards were named in honour of Auckland hospitality entrepreneur Richard Lewisham who helped establish the modern day eating and drinking scene, an awards spokeswoman said.

Full list of winners

Angostura Outstanding Bartender:

Kate Rose,

Mea Culpa

Beam Suntory Outstanding Bar: Mea Culpa

L'affare Outstanding Coffee Establishment/Barista: EightThirty

Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter: Des Dillon, Soul Bar

EuroVintage Outstanding Wine List: The Grove

General Digital Outstanding Maitre d': Ash Visvanathan, Woodpecker Hill

Gilmours Outstanding Chef: Michael Meredith, Meredith's

Menumate Outstanding New Venue: Woodpecker Hill

Aotearoa Fisheries Emerging Talent: Rohan Satam, Wine Chambers

Moet Hennessy Outstanding Hospitality Personality: Nicola Richards, Monsoon Poon

Negociants Outstanding Wine Service Professional: Meg Abbott-Walker, MASU

OneMusic Outstanding Establishment: Coco's Cantina

Pernod Ricard Outstanding Restaurateur: Nicola Richards, Monsoon Poon

Restaurant Association of New Zealand Outstanding Sales Representative: James Barber, Mineral Wines

Fine Food NZ Outstanding Caterer: LittleWolf

Spark Business Outstanding Supplier: The Produce Company

Waterfront Auckland Outstanding Local: Mo's Bar