The Vibe gets ‘the name it deserved’
The owner of a new suburban eatery in Christchurch shares a common thread with Bono, Prince and Madonna – they’re known by just one name.
The Vibe owner Himanshu doesn’t have a second name on his passport and he admits “it’s strange”.
He grew up in India and didn’t put his surname on documents as a teen, he said.
“When I went for my passport, I had to use that single name everywhere.”
But does have a last name – Kamboj. Himanshu has been in hospitality for 10 years since moving to Auckland from India for the “freedom”, he said.
He moved down the country while working in hospitality, from Auckland to Wellington, then jumped across the strait to Nelson, before finally settling his family in Christchurch eight months ago when he secured the lease for his new venture.
When he walked into 88 Harris Cres, Papanui, he said he “felt good vibes, so I gave it the name it deserved”.
Formally Bar 88, The Vibe has reinstated a place for the neighbourhood to come together for a bite to eat, a beer and a good yarn – and sometimes all three of those at breakfast.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Himanshu said some of the older punters “do love a beer with their breakfast”, which was usually between 10am and 11am. “They’re retired, they just walk in, have a beer, have their food and walk back home.”
Popular breakfast items include the big breakfast, the light breakfast, and pancakes, which got a “five star” review from a customer recently, he said.
The menu is all about classic Kiwi fare – and some Australian favourites – including chicken parmigiana, steak, fish and chips, pork ribs, salads and a good variety of breads.
Himanshu said he originally intended for it to be a pizzeria, even creating a menu full of pizza, but the premises owed itself more to a steak place.
“The place gave me a vibe, it wasn’t a pizza vibe place.”
Outside the hustle and bustle of Papanui, he had “good support” from locals, he said.
“It’s quite overwhelming actually. I just want to make it a community place, a place where people can hang out and I can have a beer with them – after lunch maybe, after my shift.”