ADDRESS:Â 328 Tinakori Road, Thorndon
BRUNCH:Â Sat & Sun
LUNCH:Â Fri – Sun
DINNER:Â 7 days
MAINS:Â $30
WEBSITE:Â tinakoribistro.co.nz
SCORE:Â 14.5 / 20
A typical French-inspired bistro traditional in every respect, but hey, what’s wrong with that? A thoroughly classic harmony of flavours comes out the kitchen of Josh Baxter (pictured), such as chicken Cordon Bleu with house-cured ham and a sharp tang of Swiss cheese, steak frites served with both Cafe de Paris butter and a lovely sticky jus, and a tamarillo crème brûlée with just the right crunch. A small pocket-friendly wine list is supplemented by an ever-changing list of bin-ends if you’re happy to go up a few price notches. The 150-year-old building has had a recent restoration inside, with new and chic textile-style striped paint effects on the rear wall and two-toned, striped wooden tables, giving a fresh look to the building that has been a French restaurant since 1974.
IN BRIEF Flavoursome French bistro classics with a dash of city chic
SEE MORE FROM CUISINE
The Road Less Travelled
Leanne Kitchen turns aside from bustling Venice to meander through…
The Little City of Cool
Already a drawcard for art lovers, Alexia Santamaria discovers that…