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Throughout western North Island, provincial city restaurants and small, tourist-town cafés feature an overall sophistication you might not expect away from major urban centers: think wholesome and hearty fare, local organic produce, good espresso and loose-leaf teas, high-quality New Zealand wines, plus local craft beers. Counte
Throughout western North Island, provincial city restaurants and small, tourist-town cafés feature an overall sophistication you might not expect away from major urban centers: think wholesome and hearty fare, local organic produce, good espresso and loose-leaf teas, hi
Throughout western North Island, provincial city restaurants and small, tourist-town cafés feature an overall sophistica
Throughout western North Island, provincial city restaurants and small, tourist-town cafés feature an overall sophistication you might not expect away from major urban centers: think wholesome and hearty fare, local organic produce, good espresso and loose-leaf teas, high-quality New Zealand wines, plus local craft beers. Counter food is generally fresh salads, paninis, filled rolls, sweet or savory pies, and homemade soups.
Dinner menus in the higher-end restaurants include the chef's latest creations using high-quality New Zealand eye fillet of beef (beef tenderloin), fish, lamb racks, pork fillets, and chicken. The best chefs change menus regularly to focus on fresh regional and seasonal ingredients. You will also find Indian, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese, Mexican, Turkish, and Italian restaurants, even in smaller centers. "Smart-casual" is about as formal as attire gets.
This spot out in the country offers food up there in quality with the best urban-chic cafés. The contemporary New Zealand–style menu has a mix...
This spot out in the country offers food up there in quality with the best urban-chic cafés. The contemporary New Zealand–style menu has a mix of smaller and larger plates that (mostly) stay under NZ$30. The drinks menu features popular New Zealand wine varieties and craft beer. Dinner is available Wednesday to Sunday, but lunch is only on the weekends.
10 Waitomo Village Rd., Waitomo, Waikato, 3977, New Zealand
Though this café shares premises with a property brokerage office, it's not your usual pie and sandwich workplace diner. At lunchtime, people from all over...
Though this café shares premises with a property brokerage office, it's not your usual pie and sandwich workplace diner. At lunchtime, people from all over town descend on the Local, and you are unlikely to get a table to yourself if you don't make a reservation. However, there is usually space on the long communal table. Noodle bowls are a specialty here: choose your preferred type of noodle and add anything from tofu, portobello mushrooms, marinated beef, pork belly, or prawns, just for starters. Sliders (small burgers) are another menu favorite; the smashed avocado and feta slider is a popular vegetarian choice. It's about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, or a short drive.
240 Broadway Ave., Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4414, New Zealand
Head to Nero for fine dining in a charming old Victorian-style villa on a quiet inner-city street. Chef and owner Scott Kennedy describes the cuisine...
Head to Nero for fine dining in a charming old Victorian-style villa on a quiet inner-city street. Chef and owner Scott Kennedy describes the cuisine as contemporary New Zealand, along with a touch of fusion to celebrate cultural diversity. Choose warm and cozy indoor seating in winter, or restful alfresco in the garden in summer. Nero consistently wins restaurant awards and has received New Zealand's prestigious Beef and Lamb Excellence Award.
36 Amesbury St., Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4410, New Zealand
At this buzzing corner café, surfers—here for the great coffee and organic, free-range food—cram the couches and Formica tables beneath walls decorated with hanging plants,...
At this buzzing corner café, surfers—here for the great coffee and organic, free-range food—cram the couches and Formica tables beneath walls decorated with hanging plants, surfboards and Raglan beach scenes. The menu is huge and the meals hearty, starting with breakfast at 8. Dishes hail from around the globe: Mexico, Thailand, and more. The dinner menu (Thursday through Saturday only) is seasonal and plates are designed for sharing. There's also a selection of organic beers, wines, teas, smoothies, and juices.
The dosa (a filled, savory pancake) takes pride of place on the menu at this southern-Indian restaurant on New Plymouth's main street. The most traditional...
The dosa (a filled, savory pancake) takes pride of place on the menu at this southern-Indian restaurant on New Plymouth's main street. The most traditional (and popular) option is the masala dosa (filled with seasoned potatoes, other vegetables, and mixed spices), but you can also get a number of variations, including one with mozzarella cheese for an "India meets Italy" combo. Other dishes to try include aubergines with roasted coriander and cashews, goat in fresh sliced coconut, and grilled fish with tiger prawns in banana leaf. If you need help, the enthusiastic staff here will be happy to provide explanations. A nice touch is the "peace wall" that displays quotations from famous people along the entire length of the restaurant.
77 Devon St. E., New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
The local newspaper used to be produced in this historic building, but the premises now house a friendly café that doubles as a retro clothes...
The local newspaper used to be produced in this historic building, but the premises now house a friendly café that doubles as a retro clothes and arts store. A large communal wooden table takes pride of place near the streetside windows, so this is a great place to chat with locals or just people-watch while you enjoy a cup of organic, fair-trade coffee. It is also known for its biscuits and cakes; the gluten-free chocolate and prune tart with blackberries is a popular choice.
21 Drews Ave., Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand
A buzzy microbrewery, right in the center of the city, Brew Union serves a flexible menu of small plates, wood-fired pizzas, grills, salads, and burgers....
A buzzy microbrewery, right in the center of the city, Brew Union serves a flexible menu of small plates, wood-fired pizzas, grills, salads, and burgers. Along with house-brewed beers, there are regular taps serving ales and ciders from craft brewers across New Zealand as well as a full selection of other beverages. So pop in for a pint with the locals, or bring the family for lunch.
41 Broadway Ave., Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4410, New Zealand
Just off the Square, funky Café Cuba is a perennially popular local haunt for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and after-show mingling. The menu is all...
Just off the Square, funky Café Cuba is a perennially popular local haunt for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and after-show mingling. The menu is all classic, wholesome café fare, matched with laid-back background music. There are magazines and newspapers to peruse if you can focus with the happy chatter of locals all around.
Cuba and George Sts., Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4410, New Zealand
Wholesome homemade food attracts both Taranaki locals and travelers to this character-filled village café housed in a circa-1878 butcher shop. The menu runs from breakfast...
Wholesome homemade food attracts both Taranaki locals and travelers to this character-filled village café housed in a circa-1878 butcher shop. The menu runs from breakfast through late lunch (i.e., 5 pm), with dinner only on Friday and Saturday nights. Midway between New Plymouth and Stratford, in the town of Inglewood, it’s a welcome spot if you’re on the road, heading to the mountain.
1 Kelly St., Inglewood, Taranaki, 4330, New Zealand
This restaurant is actually a short walk from the beach, but the atmosphere is right, if a little kitschy. Seafood is predominant on the menu...
This restaurant is actually a short walk from the beach, but the atmosphere is right, if a little kitschy. Seafood is predominant on the menu (try the seafood chowder or the smoked kawahai fish cakes), but there's also an extensive selection of wood-fired pizzas. The menu matches everything with a beer or cider from the Waikato-based Good George Brewery, but you can also order wines and cocktails. Sit yourself down on a swing chair or around one of the wooden picnic-style tables and check out the colorful artwork, surfboards on the wall, hanging pot plants, and 'street' signs to other famous surf places like Bora Bora and Waikiki.
One of the newer eateries in town, Iso has established itself as a favorite with locals as well as the visiting surf set (it's connected...
One of the newer eateries in town, Iso has established itself as a favorite with locals as well as the visiting surf set (it's connected to a surf shop). Bagels are a brunch special, along with the Ozone-brand coffee, but the restaurant really comes into its own in the evening when you can pick up a wine or locally brewed beer along with European-inspired fare such as tapas or pasta. But there are also burgers as well as a tasty Buddha bowl that combines brown rice and veggies. The friendly staff will explain the market fish and 'butcher's block' specials, and they're usually good. The liveliest atmosphere is in the street fronting room (it's got the bar) but for a more intimate time, there is an area out the back.
Traditional Japanese food made with a mix of imported Japanese ingredients and fresh local produce is the star here. There's also a good selection of...
Traditional Japanese food made with a mix of imported Japanese ingredients and fresh local produce is the star here. There's also a good selection of beer, sake, rice wine, and New Zealand beverages. Momiji is set in an old heritage building, once a post office, in the CBD.
26 Victoria Ave., Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand
This waterside restaurant has big windows, big views, and big tasty menus. Brunch is served every morning, and dinner brings out the chef's creativity. For...
This waterside restaurant has big windows, big views, and big tasty menus. Brunch is served every morning, and dinner brings out the chef's creativity. For lunch, look for platters, flatbreads, burgers, and salads. Orca also has a casual bar, where you can watch the sunset over the harbor, play a game of pool, or listen to live music on weekends. Beers from Raglan's own Workshop Brewing Co. have pride of place at the bar.
Occupying a 100-year-old shearing shed, the funky, rustic Rock-it serves casual Kiwi fare and local Raglan Roast coffee. The menu is small but wholesome; try...
Occupying a 100-year-old shearing shed, the funky, rustic Rock-it serves casual Kiwi fare and local Raglan Roast coffee. The menu is small but wholesome; try the all-day brunch, beef sliders, and soups for lunch, either inside or out on the huge deck. It’s 3 km (2 miles) from town on the way to Ocean Beach. It is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday only.
248 Wainui Rd., Raglan, Waikato, 3297, New Zealand
The casual yet stylish setup at this Japanese yakitori grill and cocktail bar is designed to bring people together, and it works. The menu focuses...
The casual yet stylish setup at this Japanese yakitori grill and cocktail bar is designed to bring people together, and it works. The menu focuses on small plates to share. Quality wines, craft beers, and sake are also available. Located in the heritage-listed White Heart Hotel, the Snug has cozy nooks and crannies plus a sheltered courtyard with a massive gas fire and barbecue. Lunch is served on Friday, but otherwise it's dinner only.
124 Devon St. W, New Plymouth, Taranaki, 4310, New Zealand
The name says it all: this is the place to socialize with friends while sharing plates from the open kitchen. The food has been fired...
The name says it all: this is the place to socialize with friends while sharing plates from the open kitchen. The food has been fired up with flavor in the South American--styled Mibrasa charcoal oven or slow-cooked to create delicious 12-hour smoked meats. There’s also a huge selection of tapas-style shellfish, vegetables, charcuterie, and breads. While the food is high-quality, the decor is pretty casual; guests sit at high benches in the sheltered courtyard or the slightly more formal restaurant seating inside.
40 Powderham St., New Plymouth, Taranaki, 4311, New Zealand
This relaxed bar–restaurant specializes in pizzas, burgers, light meals, salads, and meaty main courses. It's also a music venue and hosts weekly quiz nights. There's...
This relaxed bar–restaurant specializes in pizzas, burgers, light meals, salads, and meaty main courses. It's also a music venue and hosts weekly quiz nights. There's a strong Kiwi character here, with wool presses for bar stands and giant screens for watching sports.
2 Victoria Ave., Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand
Wholesome, organic, and scrumptious food is served in a country café that’s set in the middle of a 2-acre herb garden. The herbs grown here...
Wholesome, organic, and scrumptious food is served in a country café that’s set in the middle of a 2-acre herb garden. The herbs grown here are served fresh with your food and are also used in the natural healing products manufactured on site. The dining area is adjacent to a themed garden designed to keep children interested. It's just a 10-minute drive from the city, near the town of Ashurst.
88 Grove Rd., Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, 4470, New Zealand
Situated at Waitomo's General Store (which itself offers limited grocery items and souvenirs), this versatile eatery can serve as a café if you're just looking...
Situated at Waitomo's General Store (which itself offers limited grocery items and souvenirs), this versatile eatery can serve as a café if you're just looking for a coffee with a scone or biscuit, but it also offers fresh cabinet-style food such as paninis and bagels that can be prepared on the spot, as well as a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Grab a comfortable and sunny spot near the window in the lounge-style seating area if you can, but there are plenty of standard tables and chairs. The outdoor deck is a good choice in the summer. Decor is fairly sparse, but there are some nice photos (for sale) of New Zealand landscapes on a couple of the walls. The eatery opens by 8 am each day.
15 Village Rd, Waitomo, Waikato, 3943, New Zealand
Join the locals at this cozy café, spread throughout the veranda, garden, and several intimate rooms of an old, mostly yellow villa. It serves a...
Join the locals at this cozy café, spread throughout the veranda, garden, and several intimate rooms of an old, mostly yellow villa. It serves a full breakfast/brunch menu with all the classics as well as wholesome, house-cooked lunches. It's located across the road from the river and a two-minute drive from the city center. The cafe caters well to vegetarians and vegans (try the haloumi stack with roasted kumara, wilted greens, and smoked capsicum [roasted red peppers]) but for meat eaters, one of the best things on the menu is the ginger beer pulled-pork burger.
17 Pitt St., Whanganui, Manawatu-Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand
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