Nearly half the restaurants are located in the country's biggest city.

Cuisine's top 100 New Zealand restaurants for 2018 reflects a year of massive change in the restaurant industry.

Many names are missing from last year's list and many new names have appeared.

The impact has come from closures, changes and new openings.

Chief judge Kerry Tyack says this year's judging process was particularly complex.

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KEVIN STENT/STUFF Wellington's Monte Cervino in Tory Street is an exciting newcomer to the top 100 list.

"2018 has been a watershed year in so many ways. An unprecedented number of new entrants into the industry, myriad changes of chefs, new menu directions and a host of other developments – including the rise of casual dining – have made the assessment task more complex than ever."

Big names missing include Merediths and The French Cafe from Auckland - with The French Cafe reappearing as Sid at The French Cafe after The French Cafe's Simon Wright sold his operation to Sidart's Sid Sahrawat.

But Auckland maintained its dominance with 41 entries and these include exciting newcomers such as Cotto, Hugo's Bistro, Lillius and The Hunting Lodge.

Wellington's contingent swelled from 13 last year to 22 restaurants.

Leslie Hottiaux and Mo Koski of Auckland restaurant Apero are back in the Cuisine top 100 for 2018. Last year they were awarded two hats and in October will find out how many this year brings.

They include popular casual spots like Loretta and Havana Bar, Egmont St and the exciting new Monte Cervino - the reincarnation of Matterhorn.

Old school favourites Pravda and Boulcott St Bistro have also fought their way on to the list that will appear in the 2018 Good Food Guide.

Exciting Christchurch newcomer Inati also makes the list, but the city is missing regulars King of Snake and Saggio di Vino. Hamilton has lost Victoria St Bistro to closure.

Wanaka's exciting newcomer is Ode Conscious Dining.

Kevin Stent Legendary Boulcott Street Bistro of Wellington has finally got the top 100 ranking.

The next stage comes on October 15 when Cuisine awards one, two and three hats to the very best along with the national awards.

Tyack says the list features restaurants that are doing what their diners want, either by embracing and exploring trends, or providing consistency.

The top 100 is found through a national pool of expert judges who make anonymous visits. These reports, plus background information on the restaurants, decides whether they make the list, and then whether they get further awards or the "hats" that mark an outstanding place.

AUCKLAND

Amano

Antoines

Apero

Azabu

Baduzzi

Bracu

Cassia

Cazador

Cibo

Clooney

Coco's Cantina

Cocoro

Cotto

Culprit

Depot

Euro

Federal Delicatessen

Gemmayze St

Gusto at the Grand

Harbourside

Hugo's Bistro

Kazuya

Lillius

Masu by Nic Watt

O'Connell St Bistro

Orphans Kitchen

Ortolana

Pasta & Cuore

Pasture

Ponsonby Road Bistro

Prego

Satya Chai Lounge

Sid at The French Cafe

Sidart

Soul Bar & Bistro

The Engine Room

The Grill by Sean Connolly

The Grove

The Hunting Lodge

The Sugar Club

White + Wong's – Auckland

WAIHEKE ISLAND

The Shed at Te Motu

HAMILTON

Chim Choo Ree

Hayes Common

Palate

TAUPO

The Bistro

HAWKE'S BAY

Bistronomy

Black Barn Bistro

Elephant Hill

Pacifica

Te Awa Winery Restaurant

Craggy Range Restaurant

MARTINBOROUGH

Pinocchio

Union Square

NEW PLYMOUTH

Social Kitchen

MANAWATU

Amayjen

WELLINGTON

Boulcott St Bistro

Capitol

Chameleon

Charley Noble

Egmont St Eatery

Field and Green

Havana Bar

Hillside

Hippopotamus

Logan Brown

Loretta

Monte Cervino

Noble Rot

Oikos Hellenic Cuisine

Ortega

Pravda

Rita

Salty Pidgin

Shepherd

Tinakori Bistro

WBC

Whitebait

NELSON

Hopgood's

Urban Oyster Bar & Eatery

MARLBOROUGH

Arbour

CANTERBURY

Twenty Seven Steps

Black Estate

Chillingworth Road

Gatherings

Inati

Pegasus Bay

Pescatore

Roots

NORTH OTAGO

Riverstone Kitchen

Fleurs Place

CENTRAL OTAGO

Amisfield Bistro

Bistro Gentil

Botswana Butchery – Queenstown

Fishbone

Kika

Ode Conscious Dining

Rata

Sherwood

DUNEDIN

Bracken