Restaurant Review: The Bridge

On the menu: You're definitely not overwhelmed when perusing The Bridge's menu, but while the range might be limited in number, it certainly isn't when it comes to variety.
Head chef Jonathan Hayes has created a menu with a strong seafood theme that also offers lamb, beef, pork and chicken options. What he has done wonderfully is create flavours that cover a huge range of tastes.
Although the portions are not huge, every mouthful sings as it makes its way across your tastebuds. The meals were also presented in an original manner.
I'll have: Scallops with pearl barley risotto, chorizo, pea foam and cress ($24) as a starter. Keeping to the seafood theme, I chose the fish of the day ($33) for my main, which was snapper fillets with saffron polenta and cashew nut-and-fennel sauce. Both choices were tender, tasty and far too good to leave behind.
She'll have: Nut-loaf fondant with goats' cheese, aubergine caviar and rocket salad - a vegetarian option but beautiful in its breadth of tastes. It had a "yummy" crunchy texture as well. Meat-eaters would happily enjoy this meal, too.
We shared: Roast peach knicker-bocker glory with almond icecream and dark chocolate Toblerone parfait with white peppercorn icecream. While both were lovely, we decided the peach sundae was our favourite, with its delicate flavours and great variety of icecreams.
For the adventurous: Try tarragon-poached crayfish with artichoke, sundried tomato, capers and rocket ($48).
Value for money: You get what you pay for - and you certainly get a superb meal for your money here.
To drink: A good range of beers, juices, soft drinks and coffees/teas. The wine list offers glasses and bottles and covers all tastes. It also features a number of fine local wines.
The staff were: Polite, friendly and helpful.
The buzz: The Bridge must have one of the best settings in Tauranga. With water everywhere, it is surprising how few eateries utilise the ocean as a backdrop. Sitting outside on The Bridge's deck, we looked out over the yachts moored in the marina to the Kaimais in the background.
The verdict: The setting is amazing and the food really is a taste sensation. There are many worse ways to spend a Sunday evening.
Where: 101 Tauranga Bridge Causeway.
Phone: 574 4147.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 11.30am until late.
Prices: Lunch $24-34; dinner starters $18-$34; mains $27-$48;
desserts $14-$16.