About Phil
Phil Wood is a Sydney-based chef and restaurateur. In 2021, he opened his first independent restaurant, Ursula’s Paddington, which quickly established itself as one of Sydney’s most acclaimed dining destinations and has held Two Hats in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide since opening. In January 2025, Phil expanded his presence in the neighbourhood with the opening of Cafe Cressida in nearby Woollahra.
Prior to this, Phil was the inaugural Culinary Director of Pt. Leo Estate in Victoria, overseeing both Laura and Pt. Leo Restaurant. Under his leadership, Laura was awarded Two Hats in 2019 and 2020, as well as New Restaurant of the Year at both the 2019 Good Food Guide Awards and the 2019 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards. Pt. Leo Restaurant received One Hat in 2019 and 2020, and together the venues were recognised as Victoria’s No. 1 restaurant in the 2018 Delicious 100.
Phil began his career at Tetsuya’s under Tetsuya Wakuda before working at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in Napa Valley. In 2010, he became Executive Chef of Rockpool est. 1989, where the restaurant was awarded Three Hats by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, Three Stars by Australian Gourmet Traveller, and named Restaurant of the Year in 2016.
His expertise spans fine dining, cafes and event environments, and he is widely respected for his technical excellence, attention to detail and calm, considered leadership style.