Historic restaurant ‘Old Mac’s’ re-opens
The thought of bringing a classic restaurant back to life has drawn in a set of staff.
Old Mac’s Bar and Bistro, located inside the White Heart Hotel in Ha¯ wera, has recently reopened with a set of fresh faces and a fresh menu.
Manager Lovedeep Singh, said he had been in town for a few months and was told good things about the restaurant.
‘‘We’d been hearing a lot from people, especially regulars - obviously the place had got a very good name in the past,’’ Singh said. ’’The previous owners shut the place so we were quite excited to bring it back.’’
Singh said the history of the restaurant interested him, as well as the fact it is based in a heritage building.
Head chef Hayden Erueti found himself joining the crew because he too wanted to bring the historic restaurant back.
‘‘I had left Colonel Malone’s - I was there for five years,’’ he said. ‘‘I took a little break and I had several job opportunities. But I wanted to take this one on.’’
The White Hart Hotel building has been standing since around 1888 when the Empire Hotel on this site burnt down and was rebuilt.
It is suggested that it was renamed the White Hart after 1910
‘‘The place had got a very good name in the past.’’
Lovedeep Singh
when the verandahs were added.
As the oldest pub in the centre of Ha¯ wera that is still serving its original use it has strong historic value.
Although the fact the restaurant hadn’t been open again for long, Singh said they were already getting a good response.
‘‘We’re increasing day by day we’re getting new people in here which is good,’’ he said.
Erueti said they were already seeing regulars come through too. He crafted the all-day menu. ‘‘It’s similar to the old one, but there’s better options,’’ Erueti said.
He said a favourite starter meal was the bruschetta bread, and the favourite main was the sweet thai curry - which is a family recipe.
Singh said there had been people floating between the bar next door and Old Mac’s Bar and Bistro.
‘‘Sometimes we get orders from the bar for the meals,’’ he said.
The restaurant is based at 82 High Street. It’s open from 11am2pm and 5-9pm five days a week. It’s closed Mondays and does a half day on a Sunday.