Chef Justin James

With a culinary journey steeped in innovation and dedication, Chef Justin James stood as the creator and visionary force behind the exquisite dining experiences at Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide, South Australia. Under Justin’s leadership, Restaurant Botanic not only earned the prestigious “Restaurant of the Year” title from Gourmet Traveller but also took out Restaurant of the Year in South Australia for three consecutive years, received the coveted three hats from the SMH Good Food Guide, was named a World’s 50 Best Discovery, ranked #15 in the world by La Liste, was featured in the Hottest 20 by The Australian and received a 5 out of 5 score by The Australian, amongst many other notable accolades.

 

Since creating the restaurant in 2020 and opening the restaurant in 2021, Chef James has been instrumental in crafting a dining experience that intertwines the rich offering of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with his unique culinary vision, which has been informed by his extensive experience at globally renowned establishments like Eleven Madison Park, Noma, Blue Hill, and Vue de Monde. The restaurant’s innovative approach to utilising local flora and indigenous Australian produce in its dishes has not only captivated diners but has also been pivotal in establishing South Australia as a notable culinary destination.

 

Justin’s last service at Restaurant Botanic was June 30th, 2024 and since then has been deep in work opening his first restaurant as the chef patron which is slated to open early 2025. Justin’s new restaurant will dive deeper into the flavours of Australia while tingling the five senses with creativity, beauty, innovation, and deliciousness.