Napier’s Central Fire Station Bistro has been named the best regional restaurant in the country.
Teresa Cocktail Bar in Napier’s CBD also wowed the judges at the 2023 Cuisine Good Food Awards held on Monday night in Auckland, winning the Drinks List of the Year Award.
The annual awards night is widely considered the most prestigious within New Zealand’s hospitality industry.
Over 80 restaurants were also awarded the title of hatted restaurants during the event, reserved for the very best restaurants across the country.
Those restaurants were awarded either one, two or three hats – with three hats being the highest rating for establishments deemed to be “extraordinary and approaching perfection” or the “best of the best”.
Pacifica, in Napier, was again awarded three hats and was the only restaurant in Hawke’s Bay to receive that honour.
It was one of just six restaurants across the country to be awarded a three-hat status.
Meanwhile, both Central Fire Station Bistro and Havelock North’s Craggy Range Restaurant received two hats, and Havelock North’s Black Barn Bistro received one hat.
Craggy Range Restaurant was also a finalist in the Winery Restaurant of the Year category.
Pacifica owner and head chef Jeremy Rameka was a finalist for the Innovation Award, while co-owner Nat Bulman was a finalist in the Restaurant Personality of the Year category.
Hawke’s Bay’s recognition at the awards has again added to the region’s reputation as an outstanding destination for food, drink and hospitality.
First published by HB Today. Click here to read the full article.