AKIBA's Andrew Day wins Young Waiter award

AKIBA's Andrew Day is has been hailed as the best young waiter in Australia, taking out two awards at a national hospitality industry night.

The Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards honoured young restaurateurs, waiters and chefs. Day took out the Young Waiter award and the People's Choice award.

Day described himself as overwhelmed by the support of family, friends and the team at Sage and AKIBA.

"It's affirming to know our service at AKIBA and Sage is leading the way nationally as well as locally," he says. "I was a bit shell shocked to take home the People's Choice Award AND the Waiter of the Year Award. I thought it was a great win just having made it to be a national finalist, let alone taking home an award or even two."

Day said the program was as much about attitude as technical skills. "To win is a really nice way for me to say I have made some good choices in who I have worked with so far in my career and also how much more there is to know to continue being successful."

AKIBA is owned by restaurateurs Peter and Michael Harrington, who had nothing but praise for their staffer. "We are really proud of Andy's accomplishments. We are so lucky to have the talented staff and the most amazing team at Akiba and Sage," Peter Harrington said.