IN BRIEF
Elegant, approachable and a spectacular taste of Nelson.
WHY CHOOSE THIS RESTAURANT?
A Cuisine Good Food Award-winning restaurant – which has been consistently feeding the good people of Nelson and their visitors a first-rate menu for more than 17 years – should be on the bucket list of any self-respecting food and drink lover.
ABOUT THE MENU
It had our attention straight away with the goat’s cheese custard on asparagus nestled alongside a sharp olive and tomato tapenade, while the classic flavours of mushroom, prune and Pedro Ximenez sherry were enough to make us swoon. On our seasonal menu, the clever pāua schnitzel with a silky mash, preserved lemon, capers and wild garlic was so good it was hard to refrain from asking for another, and the fluffy pillows of ricotta gnocchi and superbly cooked artichoke pieces were piled casually around a confit egg yolk and dotted with crispy kale and pecorino. The scampi ‘boudin noir’ with potato butter and grenobloise sauce is a showstopper.
ABOUT THE CHEF
There is an inspiring partnership in this kitchen between chef/owner Kevin Hopgood and head chef/part owner Aaron Ballantyne which you can taste in every dish. Aaron has evolved an outstanding menu and he is using masterful techniques to create stylish yet relaxed and comforting food.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Managers Vickie Joy Burke and Dawa Lampe and the enthusiastic team at Hopgood’s keep a fiercely loyal customer base fully bathed in friendly service with happy smiles and it’s not unusual to see Kevin back and forth, casting a proud eye across this bustling and buzzing room.
OF NOTE
Kevin Hopgood’s skills and influence as a chef are quietly reflected in the many rewards and accolades that chefs he has mentored have received around the world. A constant in our Cuisine Good Food Guide, in 2022 Hopgood’s was awarded two hats and named winner of the Pead Food Legend/Long-Term Player award at the Cuisine Good Food Awards.
284 Trafalgar St, Nelson
Check website for opening hours
MAINS: $38 – $44
TASTING MENU: $95 pp
CONTACT: 03 545 7191
WEBSITE: hopgoods.co.nz
