Best restaurants

Wellington restaurant Logan Brown has been named the Best Restaurant in New Zealand in the 2009 NZ Cuisine ‘Restaurant of the Year' awards.

Owned by Steve Logan and Al Brown, hosts of the popular New Zealand television show Hunger for the Wild, the restaurant beat 39 other finalists to take New Zealand's top restaurant award.

This is the fourth time in the last five years that a Wellington restaurant has won the title, backing up the city's claim to be the gourmet centre of New Zealand.

Overall Winner

Logan Brown, Wellington 

Metropolitan Winners

Best Smart Dining
Winner - Logan Brown, Wellington
Runner-up - Clooney, Auckland

Best Casual Dining
Winner - Soul Bar & Bistro, Auckland
Runner-up - Saggio di Vino, Christchurch

Best Neighbourhood Restaurant
Winner - Molten, Mt Eden, Auckland 

Regional Winners

Best Smart Dining
Winner - Bouterey's at 251, Richmond, Nelson
Runner-up - Pacifica, Napier

Best Casual Dining
Winner - Hopgood's Restaurant & Bar, Nelso
Runner-up - Wendy Campbell's French Bistro, Martinborough

Best Winery Restaurant
Joint Winners - Terroir at Craggy Range Vineyard, Hawke's Bay and Pegasus Bay Winery Restaurant, Waipara