Rātā

A nice and quiet little restaurant in a small alley way, away from the busy Queenstown. We opted for the lunch set menu $85 per person. Our favourite was the sourdough on marmite butter. The remaining dishes in the menu were relatively average compared to the price range. The drinks were great. Staff were attentive and professional.

Love all the starters especially the sourdough and the duck parfait. The mains are on point. My personal favorite is the black cod, the combination is great. My least favorite is the wagyu. It is of course a really good piece of meat but the combination didn’t work well. Having an alternate sauce or adding more veges than the only carrot would surely balance the oiliness of the meat. Looking forward to visit again.

Great restaurant. Wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up in the Michelin guide. The food was excellent. Even the side salad/dish we ordered was phenomenal. Nice atmosphere as well. Our waitress was super as well, think her name was Paula? (Blonde with the pony tail)

short story: book ahead and enjoy it, fully.

a casual fine dining experience with modern fusion offerings rooted in local ingredients, served in a low pressure environment.

the ambiance is built around a black palette with stone, wood and forest elements to warm into well lit coziness with an expansive feel and pretty perfect lighting. I loved it!

recipes were balanced with a gastronomic flair and the delivery was close to the intention. plating was on par with the ambiance. some elements were stand out (notably desserts and small bites). Cocktails were just ok.

Staff was knowledgeable, kind, and low pressure. if you ask for something like a pairing, opinion, or the check it is given, but not before. this may be part of local culture. Ask questions and understand your context.

arbitrage made this a good value. Queenstown is a relatively pricey place and this was on the more expensive side for the town.

I would go here again. do it.

Beautiful food and ambiance. We ordered all vegetarian options and really enjoyed our meal. The servers were very friendly and warm, and made us feel at home after a long day of traveling. A great spot for a night out that is both elevated and low-key.