The 2008 Sunday Telegraph Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence NSW/ACT

Outback Steakhouse Nth Strathfield 2008 themed ‘Restaurant of the Year’

Outback Steakhouse Nth Strathfield took home the top prize by winning the themed "Restaurant of the Year" category at the 2008 Sydney Metropolitan Awards for Excellence gala dinner conducted by Restaurant & Catering of New South Wales.

Receiving award: Fabiana Barbosa, FOH Manager, Mark Ivancic, Managing Director, Mike Palmer, Operations Partner, Manny Rosenberg, Managing Partner, and Jonathan Zhang, Kitchen Manager.

This is the second straight year Outback Steakhouse Nth Strathfield took the honours in this category winning the best themed restaurant in 2007 beating strong fields the last two years which included Tony Roma´s, Hard Rock Café, and Hog´s Breath Café.

"We are all very excited and honoured to win this award again," said Managing Partner, Manny Rosenberg. "It´s a real testament and affirmation to the principles and beliefs of Outback Steakhouse and to the dedication of our managers, and staff."

Each year Restaurant and Catering Association Australia conducts the Awards for Excellence throughout Australia. Restaurants are nominated at large by the general public. Finalists, by way of nominations, are then notified that professionally trained judges will be visiting their establishments anonymously. A point system is then used and winners are announced at the gala dinner. Winners of their respective regions, which also include Melbourne, ACT, Brisbane, Regional NSW, Victoria and Queensland, compete for the National Awards to be awarded October 27 in Brisbane, Queensland.

"One of the objectives of R&C NSW/ACT is to recognise best practice in the hospitality industry. Awards to industry leaders are one way it achieves this objective" quoted from the Restaurant and Catering website. "We‘re hoping for a win at the National Finals and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort the staff makes each and every day," said Manny.