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Roam Leisure
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Thursday, 02 November 2006 There’s been a load of comings and goings on the local dining scene during recent months and its all bodes well for foodies, says Times’ Features Editor Helen Perry. In a nutshell… NEW GENERAL: I see there’s a new owner at The General Store in Whitford. Jeff Berriman took over in September and has already made changes. Check out the new curtains, Sky TV and, most importantly, the new menu (more on that later). However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing. Jeff says look out for a stray 50inch Sony TV swiped from the premises! Needless to say new security measures are in place. More to the point Jeff is concentrating on making new and old patrons welcome and he’s also on the look out for a top chef to add even more bite to his menu. Any takers? TASTY ADDITIONS: Two restaurants have opened on Ti Rakau Drive and are making quite a statement. Rangoli Indian Cuisine and Genghis Khan Mongolian Restaurant are new taste sensations joining Thai Flame and Heading Home on site at 333 Ti Rakau Drive. Both the venues are tastefully appointed and offer value for money eating WHAT’S COOKING: At Half Moon Bay Restaurant and Function Centre, new owners Faranak and Sohrab Irani have brought their own special touch to this lovely venue overlooking the water. Retaining a predominantly modern Kiwi menu with just a hint of Indian cuisine, the restaurant rests in good hands — Faranak is a well known guest chef on Triangle Television and some people may be familiar with her special knowledge of Parsi cooking which has its roots in Persia. The restaurant has been open for dinner Thursday to Sunday only but from November 7, opens Tuesday to Sunday nights. MORE CHANGES: Torrens Rd has become a hive of Japanese restaurants. First there was upmarket Sakura Teppanyaki, specialising in great cooked-at-your-table teppanyaki cuisine. Next came Nishiki with its bounty of entrée size servings at very reasonable prices and now newcomer, Na Ra Japanese Restaurant has joined the fray bringing to the area its own special flavours from the land of the rising sun. It’s on my list for a visit. NEW HOME: For those wondering about the departure of the Khan Mongolian Restaurant from Uxbridge Rd, the restaurant has re-emerged at The Hub, Botany. It’s next to Countdown supermarket on the site formerly occupied by Smokey’s and should not be confused with Genghis Khan Mongolian Restaurant down the road at 333 Ti Rakau Drive. Though the Countdown site is smaller than the Uxbridge Rd premises, the Khan team look to have made a nice job of bringing their special brand of hospitality to Botany and no doubt locals will love the diversity and flavour of a mix and match menu. KIWI FLAVOUR: After the sale of the former Také Japanese Restaurant in Chapel Rd, new owner Ces Cranch has made some radical changes and introduced a wide range of Kiwi and Pacific rim flavours which is sure to win a thumbs up from locals. The nice thing about the new Paua Restaurant is that it offers eastern corridor residents an attractive restaurant on their doorstep and is an alternative to the host of ethnic restaurants in the area. NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN: It would be hard to forget there are also new owners at Shamrock Café in Selwyn Rd, Howick. Alex Blake and Kelly Miller, who took over four months ago, are doing a great job at this landmark restaurant where the colonial atmosphere seldom fails to charm. Of course, there is also the very memorable arrival of New York, New York Restaurant & Bar in Uxbridge Rd – those duelling pianos are quite something. MAKING ITS DEBUT: Finally, there’s the very latest addition to Howick’s Picton St. GBS Bar & Restaurant Bar has opened in style at the Prospect of Howick and haven’t owners Barry O’Shaunnessy and Pat Williams done well? After weeks of renovations this superb venue is up and running and promises to be a fantastic asset to the district. The opening was a very celebratory affair and from day one the new-look venue has attracted patrons. There’s more to come on GBS later but first, for those who don’t know, GBS stands for George Bernard Shaw, the acclaimed playwright who stayed on site in 1934 when the Prospect was still The Marine Hotel. So how’s that for a bit of celebrity status? I’m checking out this site next week, in the meantime, no excuses, there is something for just about everybody and it’s all going down locally so there are more than a few good reasons to find out what suits you. | |||||||||
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