ADDRESS:   24 The Esplanade, St Clair, Dunedin
CHECK WEBSITE FOR OPENING HOURS
SET MENU:   $65pp three courses
WEBSITE:    titi.co.nz
CONTACT:   03 466 3610
SCORE:   16 / 20

It’s no small wonder that this restaurant has taken Dunedin by storm: Tītī is gorgeous from top to toe. The menus are elegant, as is the carefully curated selection of wines to match. And then there is the picture-perfect view of blue Southern Ocean waves crashing on the seawall. Abandon any sense of executive decisionmaking here and trust in chef Hannes Bareiter’s choice. He and partner Melanie Hartman (she’s superbly across front of house) know their stuff. “We love to entertain people with our creativity and showcase our region’s amazing food,” they say. Bareiter’s commitment to his craft sees him pick and gather fresh food every morning and present it on the plate the same day. And if you can’t make a meal, they’ve got the perfect in-between: the best Belgian waffles and fries are available in the afternoon.

IN BRIEF Feast on a surprise in every bite