Restaurant Review Indulge

Duck, apple tart fit for a king

On the menu:

With bar and restaurant facilities, Bureta Bar & Eatery offersclassy food and affordable prices. The menu features 12 starters, from $7 to $18, covering seafood, meat and vegetarian options. Main course options range from $17.50 to $32 with duck, beef, seafood, lamb, chicken, pork and vegetarian selections. Desserts are priced from $12 to $16. Special roast days on Sundays and Tuesdays are proving popular, and an appealing breakfast/brunch/lunch menu with a price range $11 to $19.

The buzz:

The restaurant has a modern almost industrial chic feel. Raw materials, high ceiling and funky furniture work well together. Upbeat music complements the decor and the layout has an airy freshness. Outdoors there are plenty of tables to enjoy some sunshine.

I’ll have:

Salt and pepper deep-fried calamari with aioli ($15) to start with – very tender, with a delightful zing to the coating. I also coundn’t fault the ample portion size. For mains I went half roasted duck with cep mushroom pearl barley risotto, Brussels salad and duck jus ($29). WOW, I’m always drawn to an appealing duck dish but I wasn’t sure how the risotto was nearly better than the duck; the crispy, tangy and tender duck was something to behold. I finished with apple tart tartin ($12) – hot apple tart with caramel sauce and vanilla bean icecream. Light and appealing; a wonderful way to complete the meal.

She’ll have:

Hummus with toasted ciabatta and warmed olives ($12). The tangy hummus featured well-balanced flavours and came with crispy bread. The warmed olives were a lovely companion to the dish. For mains my wife went with roast pumpkin salad with couscous, quinoa, green beans, mixed leaves, feta and zesty pomegranate dressing ($17.50) – a stunningly presented meal with a lovely contrast of colours. The array of flavours merged together harmoniously.

Value for money:

There are a few simple yet tasty options like Fish and Chips ($20) and the Bureta Burger ($19.50), which are good value but the roast nights are also economical.

To drink:

A good range of reds and whites ($32 to $68). A fully stocked bar alongside the restaurant offers a number of tap/bottled/craft beers plus spirits, cider, sodas, soft drinks, juices and hot beverages.

The staff:

Restaurant manager Laurent looked after us and gave us service we could not fault. Knowledgeable and friendly, he ensured the entire dining experience was seamless.

The verdict:

During the 22 years I have lived in Tauranga I have seen a growing sophistication in the eating establishments around town. Whereas onceyou needed to go to downtown Tauranga or the Mount to find good food, now this city’s suburbs are proudly boasting great offerings. In mid-March Bureta received a real boost when Bureta Bar & Eatery opened its doors. It may be in the suburbs but the food is as good, if not better, than anywhere around town.

Craig Nicholson

Bureta Bar & Eatery

50 Bureta Rd, Otumoetai     Phone 07 576 9059