Kylie Klein-Nixon
Rita
We’d heard... It was a cosy little place with topnotch food. Talk about an understatement.
The vibe... Dinner at your mate’s place... if your mate is a first-class chef with excellent taste and a keen eye for cosy interior design that’s chic but doesn’t overwhelm. Even the building is adorable – a cute little single-fronted villa in Aro Valley.
We ordered... Three courses for a very reasonable $65. The menu changes every day based on what’s in season and what the chef fancies. You’ll never have the same meal there twice.
On my visit, the entree was a duck breast salad with kohlrabi, white icicle radish and dried plum vinaigrette. Dotting the plate like little pink gems, the cabochons of duck were some of the most succulent – sweet and delicately smoky – I’ve tasted.
Next came a pan-seared fish on a green soup with shiitake mushrooms. It’s been a week and I’m still thinking about that soup. I don’t usually associate upmarket dining with heartiness, that’s more a homestyle thing, but in this nourishing offering, Rita’s chef has created a dish that is elegant, balanced and as hearty as something Nana might make. A side of fluffy potato bread completed the hearty dish.
After that, the ‘‘surprise’’ dessert of tangy pistachio and apricot tart with a smooth dollop of fennel and chocolate icecream felt like being overindulged. Glorious.
The service… Is expert, friendly and incredibly personable – but never obtrusive.
If you go… If you’re heading there later in the week, book early, especially for the second sitting of the evenings. Arrive early or take a bus as parking is tight.
The coffee was... A hibiscus soda, which was sweet and unusual. The wait staff are happy to match each course with a glass from the wine list.