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Power of the people for Catalina

Lucille Keen

Catalina's restaurant owner Judy McMahon and her son James say since winning the People's Choice award, the business has had fantastic growth.
Catalina's restaurant owner Judy McMahon and her son James say since winning the People's Choice award, the business has had fantastic growth.Peter Braig

After two decades in business Catalina restaurant has had a 12 per cent increase in diners over the past six months. One of the reasons: it won last year's Australian Financial Review Top Restaurants People's Award.

One of the best-known restaurants in Sydney's eastern suburbs, Catalina, which specialises in seafood, overlooks Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour. Seaplanes land and take off nearby.

"People want to go to a place they know will be good," owner Judy McMahon said.

"Once they get a recommendation, we've already been validated and it's up to us to make it memorable and turn first-time customers into return guests."

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The awards, presented by Qantas, will once again allow readers to vote for their favourite restaurant in Australia.

Winners of the People's Award will be announced alongside the Financial Review Top 100 restaurant list at on May 2.

Co-director Terry Durack said often the sort of restaurant referred to as an "institution" is a bit like dining in an institution of another kind.

"Not Catalina – it's fresh, lively, buzzy, and as bubbly as a glass of the Pommery they sell so much of," Mr Durack said.

Mrs McMahon said it was the fettuccine nero, which is pasta tossed in lobster, tomato and chilli-infused oil, that "flies out the door".

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She said regular customers were beaming with pride after the win.

"We do moderately well in the usual food awards, judged by critics, but being a favourite of the people, that's a whole other thing," she said.

"Because we've been here so long it's become a generation thing. Our earlier customers brought their children, who are now bringing their children. It's a real neighbourhood restaurant."

'A voice for the diner'

Award co-director Jill Dupleix said until now, the voting has been about the chefs, by the chefs.

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"Now it's the people's turn to choose the restaurant they love, or one that they feel is achieving the absolute height of excellence," she said.

Ms Dupleix said this year it would be fascinating to see if it will be another classic "institution" restaurant or perhaps something new that has caught people's imagination.

"Last year, over 10,000 people voted in The People's Awards – it provides a real voice to the diner. And it's always fascinating to see which of the top 500 restaurants in Australia is the most popular."

The People's Award voting is open until April 22. To vote, visit www.australiastoprestaurants.com. Voters will also be in the running to win Qantas flights, accommodation and dinner for two at one of the winning restaurants.

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