HAMILTON. Palate is a restaurant that consistently produces well-thought-out and executed dishes matched perfectly with thoughtful, knowledgeable service, a fabulous wine list and a beautiful riverside setting.
WINNERS
Elephant Hill
HAWKE'S BAY. The modernist winery building captures stupendous views, your eyes sweeping down through rows of vines to the cliffs and ocean beyond.
Charley Noble
WELLINGTON. This classy bistro is doing what it does very well. And what it does is hearty fare prepared in a trad, uncomplicated manner, using quality ingredients.
Amisfield Bistro
Vaughan Mabee invents New Zealand haute cuisine with an accent that speaks of the Central Otago landscape and lifestyle.
Noble Rot
WELLINGTON. The wine list, overseen by sommelier Maciej Zimny, is Noble Rot’s pièce de résistance ... it has no peer, and rightly wins a lot of plaudits.
3 HATS
Kazuya
AUCKLAND. It’s a rare thing to dine out and come away feeling utterly content. Yet put yourself in the hands of chef-owner Kazuya Yamauchi and you’re in for a degustation, every mouthful of which is utterly delicious.
Cocoro
AUCKLAND. The Cocoro experience verges on faultless. From the moment you arrive at their door you are enveloped in a calmness and a serenity that extends from the charming welcome from co-owner Ricky Lee, and continues with understated service throughout the meal.
Roots
Co-owners Giulio and Christy Sturla (pictured) tap close relationships with local and sustainable producers and have an emphasis on foraging and fermentation.
CLOONEY
AUCKLAND. Clooney has always been an elegant and atmospheric venue, particularly for special occasion dining.
2 HATS
Urban Oyster Bar & Eatery
The energy and interest exhibited by head chef Riki Day at Urban Eatery is a delight, his willingness to share his ideas with customers is evident as he presents each dish from the well-resolved fusion menu.
Palate
HAMILTON. Palate is a restaurant that consistently produces well-thought-out and executed dishes matched perfectly with thoughtful, knowledgeable service, a fabulous wine list and a beautiful riverside setting.
Elephant Hill
HAWKE'S BAY. The modernist winery building captures stupendous views, your eyes sweeping down through rows of vines to the cliffs and ocean beyond.
Amisfield Bistro
Vaughan Mabee invents New Zealand haute cuisine with an accent that speaks of the Central Otago landscape and lifestyle.
Noble Rot
WELLINGTON. The wine list, overseen by sommelier Maciej Zimny, is Noble Rot’s pièce de résistance ... it has no peer, and rightly wins a lot of plaudits.
1 HATS
BRACU
AUCKLAND. This elegant old villa sits serenely in an olive grove on the Simunovich Estate, just 40 minutes south of Auckland in the Bombays.
CAZADOR
AUCKLAND. Meat lovers rejoice. At Cazador game is a speciality so expect to see a menu bursting with the likes of hare, venison, quail and goat (though there’s usually a fish and vegetarian option, too).
Charley Noble
WELLINGTON. This classy bistro is doing what it does very well. And what it does is hearty fare prepared in a trad, uncomplicated manner, using quality ingredients.
Depot
AUCKLAND. Depot has become a great fixture on Federal Street and, judging by the consistent number of diners, its popularity hasn’t waned.
Gemmayze St
AUCKLAND. Something exciting happens at the back of K’ Road’s atmospheric St Kevin’s Arcade of an evening, with a street-dining-meets-palm-court ambience and superb Lebanese home cooking.