Restaurant Review: Syndicate Bar & Bistro

It was busy at Syndicate for a wintery Monday night. The bar area is separate from the dining space and both had a good amount of customers. It must have been because of all of the yummy things chef Dan Moore has put on the menu.

Everything you'll find on your plate is fresh, made with care and passion by Dan and the team.

(Read the review below)

On the menu: Syndicate is known for their gourmet pizzas. They also serve crisp fresh salads and mains like salmon, surf and turf, stuffed chicken breast, venison burger and fish and chips. We were keen to try the stone grill this time but there was one warning: do not touch the stone, especially not with your tongue. It is very, very hot!

We shared: What better way to start a nice meal than with a selection of tapas. The pork belly bites with apple chutney and port jus came highly recommended so we had some of those, as well as ox tail wontons and vegetable croquets. They were all delicious little delights.

I'll have: The seafood stone grill. It had prawns, mussels, scallops and a generous portion of tarakihi and was served with fresh steamed vegetables and a lemon, lime sweet chili sauce ($27.50). With a stone grill, you cook the food yourself. It was fun and we managed alright, but it was still a bit of a waste of Dan's cooking skills.

He'll have: The mixed grill on the stone - beef, pork, lamb and chicken with roasted potatoes and a garden salad ($27.50).

For the adventurous: There is nothing too crazy on the menu but if you like a meal with a bite, you could try the spicy sausage pizza with chorizo, baby spinach, tomato, red onion and chilli jam ($24.50).

Value for money: Syndicate's specials range from free coffee, free beer, free fries to getting your second pizza free. The best way to stay in touch and take advantage of all things on offer, including freebies and special events, is to download their app for your smartphone. It's the first hospitality business in Tauranga to offer a free app and it's worth getting.

To drink: A good selection of beers and wine, plus anything else you expect from a bar on The Strand, including some exciting cocktails.

The staff were: Our waitress Hannah was great and, even though the team was busy, they were attentive and friendly.

The verdict: Great service, staff that know their stuff, a nice atmosphere and a team in the kitchen that obviously has a passion for good cooking with fresh local produce. Plus a management team that knows the importance of forward-thinking with excellent offers and exceptional customer service. Syndicate has lifted the bar in the last year or so as far as I'm concerned, and we'll be back.

Syndicate Bar & Bistro

107 The Strand, Tauranga

www.syndicate.co.nz

Open seven days

Prices: Tapas: One choice for $10, three for $28, five for $46; Pizza: $22.50 to $25.00; Salads: $17.50 to $19.50; Stone grill: $18.50 to $32.50; Mains: $19.50 to $32.50; Deserts: $10.00 to $11.50.