The Porch, Waihi Beach serves breakfast, lunch dinner, coffee and drinks. Photo/John Borren
The Porch Restaurant is great value, writes Annemarie Quill
The buzz Loved by locals and well frequented by visitors and tourists, The Porch Restaurant and Bar is under new management, having been bought by Daniel and Tracey in November. The new owners plan on hosting events throughout the off-peak season, with wine/beer and food matching with winemakers and brewers, themed dinners. They also want to focus on growing the porch as a live music venue via Sunday jam sessions.
There is currently a happy hour with food and drink specials on Friday afternoon 4.30pm-6.30pm.
On the menu The couple are currently in the process of writing new menus.
The daytime menus offers usual breakfast fare (7.30am to 11.30am) for leisurely breakfasts before hitting the beach, with a few interesting combinations to tempt the more adventurous palette such as Istanbul eggs - Middle Eastern baked eggs, merguez sausage and chickpea braise, spinach, smoked yoghurt, green chilli aioli and grilled turkish bread, or baked omelette with hot smoked salmon, capers, pinot pickled onions, rocket, grilled halloumi, and chipotle and lime crema.
From 11.30am onwards there are grazing options - a good selection of nibbles to have over drinks such as breads and dips, cheese platters or the Porch's own special platter of pork & bacon terrine, house made pate and crostini.
Lunches include a good range of salads, fish, steak and risotto and there are vegetarian options. A full dinner menu of starters, larger plates and a mouth-watering dessert menu. There are daily specials offered.
I'll have I started with a seafood and avocado salad, $22, of poached prawns and seared scallops, grilled with asparagus, and avocado. A generous portion of fabulously fresh plump prawns and juicy scallops that would be enough for a light dinner. For main, I went for grilled fish with a Morrocan inspired tomato and chickpea sauce.
He'll have To start a shellfish pots of fresh steamed Coromandel mussels and clams, $21, which come with two sauce options, coconut curry and crispy shallots or red pepper, chickpea and tomato, fresh herbs. The mussels were cooked to perfection, smooth and velvety in the mouth, and again could make a substantial meal in themselves.
For mains a chargrilled rib eye, herb and garlic butter, crispy onions, hand cut fries, herb salad. $33. The fries were so delicious we ordered an extra portion. Neither of us could fit in desserts but I made a mental note to come back and try them, tempted by both the vanilla panna cotta with berries, muscovado shortbread and vincotto, and the decadent sounding brownie bottom sundae with white chocolate, butterscotch icecream, ganache and peanut brittle.
To drink The wine list is well-selected with New Zealand wines, and beer drinkers will not be disappointed either, with an extensive range on offer.
The staff Attentive, bubbly and friendly without being overbearing.
The verdict Whether you just want a beer and a snack on a hot summer evening or a delicious dinner out, the Porch is great value for money, fresh local ingredients and inventive cooking. A fabulous option for locals and will impress visitors to the booming Waihi Beach.
the details: The Porch Restaurant and Bar 23 Wilson Road, Waihi Beach Call: 07-863 133. Serves: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and drinks. Open: Sunday to Wednesday, 7.30am-4pm for breakfast and lunch, and Thursday to Saturday, 7.30am-late for breakfast, lunch and dinner.