Restaurant in rural town you've never heard of makes world top 50
A restaurant in a tiny, rural Victorian town few people have heard of has just been named one of the world's best places to dine out.
Brae, in Birregurra, near Colac, approximately 130 kilometres southwest of Melbourne, has recently been named as number 44 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
The town, which the fine dining establishment calls home, has a population of just 800 laid-back locals, including Dan Hunter, now recognised as one of the finest chefs on the planet.
Mr Hunter said the honour has put his country restaurant on the map.
"I don't want to put people of from booking, but its a bit tougher to get in now," he said.
Most of the residents don't know what to make of all the fuss.
One resident Roz Diamond said: "now you see a cattle truck going one way and a Ferrari going the other".
Other locals are still digesting the win.
"The world's a big place, can't believe Birrie is on (the list)."
The restaurant, which is located in a 150-year-old cottage, charges about $300 per head, so many of the locals haven't had a chance to sample it's award-winning fare as yet.
"Had to sell some cows to go there," one former customer said, laughing.
She said another customer had flown in just to eat at Brae.
"One guy came from New York for the day, landed, had his meal and went back again."
The New York Times has applauded the win, saying there's no doubt a place on the list can change the fate of a restaurant its chef and even its home town.
