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Recommended Reviews - Bistronomy
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2.75 star One of the few restaurants that close beyond 5pm in this sleepy town. The produce used for dishes were fresh, creative dishes but the service was not that great. We ordered their boneless chicken appetizer- server did not acknowledge she forgot about it and it came last (thankfully it was the best dish for me). The chicken app was moist, crispy and flavor went beyond the batter. We also ordered: Pressed lamb shoulder- portion was a little small but otherwise flavor was there and cooked well. It had a crispy corn beef like texture which complemented the side dishes. Cauliflower steak- a little on the dry side, and it wasn't cooked long enough. I wasn't a fan. Skip it. Butternut cannelloni- my first bite was a hard piece of butternut squash that was raw and just chose to pass on the dish. It also wasn't seasoned well enough- another disappointing dish. Overall I commend the restaurant's effort in bringing something fresh and creative (due to its seasonal menu) to the community but the flavors overall were just lacking.
This is a nice spot for dinner. It's hard to find somewhere open on a Monday night, but I was lucky that I was able to get dinner here without a booking. I sat at the bar, which was fine. The entree of sashimi was lovely, tender and delicious. My main course was fish of the day (Snapper) - again delicious, but the greens I ordered were a little strange - raw spinach (or possibly kale) with raw broccoli, radish slices and bean sprouts - very little of it was edible. However, I say again that the fish was delicious. Service is very good and it's a popular place. I would come again, but probably order different side dishes. A nice wine list also.
Arrived in Napier at 6pm on a Saturday night. This restaurant came up first on the list in Yelp so I went for it and booked a table. Wow ! What a gem! I had the Chef's tasting menu (I requested the fish in place of meat). The food was phenomenal! You can tell the chef loves food when it comes prepared like this. (A couple on the next table also had the tasting menu and were full of praise for the food. The gentleman mentioned that he had experienced flavours he had never had before...) If you come to Napier - make this your stop, push the boat out and let the chef show you what they are capable of ....
A friend from Napier took us to lunch at Bistronomy during our visit and we absolutely loved it! I am usually one to roll my eyes at "molecular gastronomy" and other overwrought food trends, but the menu here presents a creative and unique offering that is elevated but not pretentious. For starters, the restaurant space is beautiful - spare with an industrial vibe, warm wood tones and cool lighting, it is a nice change from so many of the other more traditional type places we dined in New Zealand. As for the lunch menu, I went for the prix-fixe lunch option (which I believe was NZ$40 for three courses) and was very impressed - I went for their chicken wing starter and steak main course and was impressed with both the presentation and the food itself. The humorously named "Isaac Hayes" (chocolate truffles) dessert was a big hit too. Paired with a glass of local rose wine, it truly was a memorable meal! Overall, Bistronomy is a great choice for something a little different in Napier and I'd certainly come back time and time again if I lived nearby!
I have had two meals at Bistronomy and both were excellent. The service is subtle yet attentive, sitting next to the open kitchen meant we were able to ask the chef about the preserved feijoas and not only did he answer but he gave all five of us a sample! Highlights were the Iceberg wedge with cured egg yolk and Caesar dressing, and Trevally Boqueron. Decor is simple yet beautiful. Highly recommend!
My mom and I ate A LOT of fine dining during our two week vacation to New Zealand. Value and quality, Bistronomy was the best! What's great about this restaurant is that their menu changes seasonally, which I think keeps the dishes creative! Be prepared for 2-3 hour dinner as they really space out each meal. We opted for the 6 course tasting for $75 and this was the line up: Kingfish with baby vine leaves: Refreshing, simple as that. Carpaccio lamb, creme, soft chewy pretzel: A shotgun of flavors, prepares the palate for what's next. Beats with wasabi, sweet puree: I'm not a big fan of beats but the flavors perfectly complemented each other. Flounder on seaweed, with hazelnut dressing: Best dish of the night Skirt steak in Teriaki sauce: NZ meat is SOOO fresh so this dish, despite appearing too raw, was definitely how it should be enjoyed. Strawberry with goat cheese ice cream: light, great way to cleanse the palate!
Didn't have a booking and it was peak period on Saturday night while Art Decoder weekend was on (busiest time of the year in Napier). They were accommodating and squeezed us in on the bar seats overlooking the kitchen. Now some may think this is terrible, however we had the opportunity to watch the head chef and his team work which was really intriguing and quite a unique experience to watch of food being prepared. Now to the food! 10/10, beautiful presentation, delicate flavours perfect portion sizes. Fairly priced for the quality and care in preparation. Cocktails were quite nice. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to.
James Beck's Bistronomy in the iconic Thorpe's building in the heart of Napier is a great fine dining restaurant in the Wine Region. At Bistronomy they are believers in making every day eating a little bit extraordinary. And what a great area in which to get the best of produce if the markets we went to are anything to go by. Their menu changes with the seasons, we were there for the beginning of their Autumn menu. The duck liver parfait with Te Mata fig in a crispy shell was divine, could have eaten another. The crumbed mussels good as was my Grilled Waikane with Chilli Chimi Churi. My 3 friends all had different dishes so that we covered the menu. Then I finished with the tiny donuts with salted caramel. Fantastic service, great wine selection, nice ambience with great flavours and beautiful presentation. When I am next in the area I will be back and I hope you can all check James restaurant out when you are in Napier.
This was the first meal we had in New Zealand that we really loved! After a long drive we decided to go for an early dinner, we walked into Bistronomy which was conveniently located about 5 minutes from our hotel. The restaurant had a very nice vibe, the decoration was fresh and modern and the music was calm and relaxing and helped create a fresh ambiance. We really enjoyed our meal - from their spring menu we ordered the oysters, beef tartar, to start and then lamb which was prepared medium rare and quite delicious and the white fish which was tender and tasty. We had a side oyster of mushrooms and desert was the brownie dish. Everything was wonderful and we walked away from this meal truly thinking this was our best meal so far in nZ. Service was friendly and attentive and we really enjoyed the whole experience! Thank you for a lovely experience!
Enjoyed the well prepared flounder, and my wife had the sole with lavender. We also had as sides a Cos salad with radishes and a side of chips, which are like large french fries but nicely seasoned . The Sauvignon Blanc was perfect with the fish.For dessert we shared an Isaac Hayes. Sea salt caramel encrusted balls with dark chocolate inside. Then a mochachino to finish! Yum!
3 years ago
Delicious high end meal in the quiet town if Napier. Got to say that I want impressed by the lack of service or freindliness I received once I arrived (alone). I standed at the front for about five minutes before I asked where to be sat. Once they learned I was a food writer the vibes changed a bit. I tried the appetizer sampler. The tomato sorbet was truly a unique tasting experience I quite enjoyed the savory approach. I think the marrangue texture was a little stale but overall great tasting experience and beautiful plating. For my main I got the fish, in which I found a bone but otherwise delicious flavor contrasts and preparation though it was served pretty luke warm. I loved the take on crunchy fish tails (something from my childhood) that the female head chef had. My favorite of the night was the dessert. It was fantastic and had plenty of fun textures at play. Of all, small tweaks and they could be on the Michelin Guide read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
2.75 star One of the few restaurants that close beyond 5pm in this sleepy town. The produce used for dishes were fresh, creative dishes but the service was not that great. We ordered their boneless chicken appetizer- server did not acknowledge she forgot about it and it came last (thankfully it was the best dish for me). The chicken app was moist, crispy and flavor went beyond the batter. We also ordered: Pressed lamb shoulder- portion was a little small but otherwise flavor was there and cooked well. It had a crispy corn beef like texture which complemented the side dishes. Cauliflower steak- a little on the dry side, and it wasn't cooked long enough. I wasn't a fan. Skip it. Butternut cannelloni- my first bite was a hard piece of butternut squash that was raw and just chose to pass on the dish. It also wasn't seasoned well enough- another disappointing dish. Overall I commend the restaurant's effort in bringing something fresh and creative (due to its seasonal menu) to the community but the flavors overall were just lacking. read more
5 years ago
This is a nice spot for dinner. It's hard to find somewhere open on a Monday night, but I was lucky that I was able to get dinner here without a booking. I sat at the bar, which was fine. The entree of sashimi was lovely, tender and delicious. My main course was fish of the day (Snapper) - again delicious, but the greens I ordered were a little strange - raw spinach (or possibly kale) with raw broccoli, radish slices and bean sprouts - very little of it was edible. However, I say again that the fish was delicious. Service is very good and it's a popular place. I would come again, but probably order different side dishes. A nice wine list also. read more
6 years ago
Arrived in Napier at 6pm on a Saturday night. This restaurant came up first on the list in Yelp so I went for it and booked a table. Wow ! What a gem! I had the Chef's tasting menu (I requested the fish in place of meat). The food was phenomenal! You can tell the chef loves food when it comes prepared like this. (A couple on the next table also had the tasting menu and were full of praise for the food. The gentleman mentioned that he had experienced flavours he had never had before...) If you come to Napier - make this your stop, push the boat out and let the chef show you what they are capable of .... read more
A friend from Napier took us to lunch at Bistronomy during our visit and we absolutely loved it! I am usually one to roll my eyes at "molecular gastronomy" and other overwrought food trends, but the menu here presents a creative and unique offering that is elevated but not pretentious. For starters, the restaurant space is beautiful - spare with an industrial vibe, warm wood tones and cool lighting, it is a nice change from so many of the other more traditional type places we dined in New Zealand. As for the lunch menu, I went for the prix-fixe lunch option (which I believe was NZ$40 for three courses) and was very impressed - I went for their chicken wing starter and steak main course and was impressed with both the presentation and the food itself. The humorously named "Isaac Hayes" (chocolate truffles) dessert was a big hit too. Paired with a glass of local rose wine, it truly was a memorable meal! Overall, Bistronomy is a great choice for something a little different in Napier and I'd certainly come back time and time again if I lived nearby! read more
9 years ago
I have had two meals at Bistronomy and both were excellent. The service is subtle yet attentive, sitting next to the open kitchen meant we were able to ask the chef about the preserved feijoas and not only did he answer but he gave all five of us a sample! Highlights were the Iceberg wedge with cured egg yolk and Caesar dressing, and Trevally Boqueron. Decor is simple yet beautiful. Highly recommend! read more
8 years ago
My mom and I ate A LOT of fine dining during our two week vacation to New Zealand. Value and quality, Bistronomy was the best! What's great about this restaurant is that their menu changes seasonally, which I think keeps the dishes creative! Be prepared for 2-3 hour dinner as they really space out each meal. We opted for the 6 course tasting for $75 and this was the line up: Kingfish with baby vine leaves: Refreshing, simple as that. Carpaccio lamb, creme, soft chewy pretzel: A shotgun of flavors, prepares the palate for what's next. Beats with wasabi, sweet puree: I'm not a big fan of beats but the flavors perfectly complemented each other. Flounder on seaweed, with hazelnut dressing: Best dish of the night Skirt steak in Teriaki sauce: NZ meat is SOOO fresh so this dish, despite appearing too raw, was definitely how it should be enjoyed. Strawberry with goat cheese ice cream: light, great way to cleanse the palate! read more
Didn't have a booking and it was peak period on Saturday night while Art Decoder weekend was on (busiest time of the year in Napier). They were accommodating and squeezed us in on the bar seats overlooking the kitchen. Now some may think this is terrible, however we had the opportunity to watch the head chef and his team work which was really intriguing and quite a unique experience to watch of food being prepared. Now to the food! 10/10, beautiful presentation, delicate flavours perfect portion sizes. Fairly priced for the quality and care in preparation. Cocktails were quite nice. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. read more
James Beck's Bistronomy in the iconic Thorpe's building in the heart of Napier is a great fine dining restaurant in the Wine Region. At Bistronomy they are believers in making every day eating a little bit extraordinary. And what a great area in which to get the best of produce if the markets we went to are anything to go by. Their menu changes with the seasons, we were there for the beginning of their Autumn menu. The duck liver parfait with Te Mata fig in a crispy shell was divine, could have eaten another. The crumbed mussels good as was my Grilled Waikane with Chilli Chimi Churi. My 3 friends all had different dishes so that we covered the menu. Then I finished with the tiny donuts with salted caramel. Fantastic service, great wine selection, nice ambience with great flavours and beautiful presentation. When I am next in the area I will be back and I hope you can all check James restaurant out when you are in Napier. read more
8 years ago
This was the first meal we had in New Zealand that we really loved! After a long drive we decided to go for an early dinner, we walked into Bistronomy which was conveniently located about 5 minutes from our hotel. The restaurant had a very nice vibe, the decoration was fresh and modern and the music was calm and relaxing and helped create a fresh ambiance. We really enjoyed our meal - from their spring menu we ordered the oysters, beef tartar, to start and then lamb which was prepared medium rare and quite delicious and the white fish which was tender and tasty. We had a side oyster of mushrooms and desert was the brownie dish. Everything was wonderful and we walked away from this meal truly thinking this was our best meal so far in nZ. Service was friendly and attentive and we really enjoyed the whole experience! Thank you for a lovely experience! read more
8 years ago
Enjoyed the well prepared flounder, and my wife had the sole with lavender. We also had as sides a Cos salad with radishes and a side of chips, which are like large french fries but nicely seasoned . The Sauvignon Blanc was perfect with the fish.For dessert we shared an Isaac Hayes. Sea salt caramel encrusted balls with dark chocolate inside. Then a mochachino to finish! Yum! read more
9 years ago
8 years ago
Can't say enough good things about our experience at Bistronomy last night. We were celebrating our 17th Wedding Anniversary and so wanted that "something special", and we were not disappointed. Excellent service during the whole experience (special thanks to Bethany). Started with a complementary bubbly which always sets a good tone :) We did the "try everything" degustation, and shared the wine match. Each dish was perfectly presented and tasted superb. Living up to their name, it was indeed all about gastronomy. We took time to "experience" each dish, from the aroma, to the presentation, to the savouring of each mouthful and testing the wine match. Brilliantly matched wines from around NZ and the world. Really enjoyed the creativity present in each dish, not just creative for the sake of it but ingredients that really worked well together. We also noted the careful attention to the "textures" present in each dish and how they combined to add that extra something to each mouthful. This was the first dining experience in Hawkes Bay that we were comparing to places like the French Cafe in Auckland. Extremely impressed. We highly recommend you try Bistronomy and enjoy not just a meal, but a dining experience. read more
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