Chauncy (restaurant)
| Chauncy | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Chauncy | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2021 |
| Owner(s) | Louis Naepels and Tess Murray |
| Head chef | Louis Naepels |
| Food type | French |
| Rating | 2 Chef Hats in 'The Age Good Food Guide' |
| Location | 178 High Street Heathcote, Victoria, 3523, Australia |
| Coordinates | 36°55′6.01″S 144°42′20.82″E / 36.9183361°S 144.7057833°E |
| Website | https://chauncy.com.au/ |
Chauncy is a French bistro restaurant located in Heathcote, Victoria.
Description
Chauncy is located on the main street in Heathcote and was established in 2021. It resides in a heritage-listed sandstone building that was built in 1854, originally the office and residence of Philip Chauncy, the chief surveyor of the district.[1][2][3]
The restaurant is owned by chef Louis Naepels and his partner Tess Murray, who is a sommelier.[1] Naepels is French, and much of the menu is inspired by his experiences in Basque Country in south-western France.[1] He was previously also the head chef at Grossi Florentino, in Melbourne.[4] Murray has experience in some of Melbourne's best restaurants, including Supernormal and Cutler & Co, and has done vintages making wine in Burgundy and the Mornington Peninsula.[1][5][6]
Reception
A review of the restaurant in The Sydney Morning Herald referred to Chauncy as the "most affordable two-hatted dining in Victoria."[1]
It was voted as The Age Good Food Guide's 'Best Regional Restaurant' in its 2024 awards.[7]
Gourmet Traveller awarded Chancy "Best Destination Dining' in Australia for 2025, and included it in their list of the top 25 restaurants in Victoria.[8][9]
In the 2025 Good Food Guide, Murray was awarded "Sommelier of the Year", and Chauncy retained its two hats.[10]
A review of the restaurant in October 2025 noted that dining at Chauncy was "an intimate, hosted experience, where everyone enjoys the same long, lovely progression of courses, and you’re looked after with exquisite care by the owners."[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Groundwater, Ben (16 November 2023). "Victoria's most affordable two-hat restaurant is worth a holiday on its own". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ Sungaila, Barbara (8 December 2023). "The man who put Heathcote on the map". McIvor Times. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Victorian Heritage Database: Former Survey Office". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "How a winery helped turn a town into a destination". Australian Financial Review. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Chauncy restaurant Heathcote Tess and Louis Chauncy Central Vic Chauncy Restaurant Chauncy.com.au". CHAUNCY. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ O'Neill, Bianca. "Chauncy is regional Victoria's hottest new French restaurant". Time Out Melbourne. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "All the winners at The Age Good Food Guide Awards". Good Food Guide. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Team, The Gourmet Traveller (19 August 2024). "Just in: Chauncy in Victoria named the best destination restaurant in Australia". Gourmet Traveller. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Team, Matty Hirsch, The Gourmet Traveller (28 January 2025). "These are the best restaurants in Australia right now". Gourmet Traveller. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Age Good Food Guide 2025 Sommelier of the Year: Tess Murray". Good Food. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Valent, Dani (23 October 2025). "Review: This intimate lunch-only Victorian restaurant serves 14 diners". Good Food. Retrieved 27 October 2025.