On the menu: It is a simple cafe-style menu that features many delightful dishes. There are seafood choices as well as venison, chicken, lamb, beef and vegetarian. You are certainly not overwhelmed by the options but you'd be hard pushed to make a bad choice from what's on offer. Starters
$16, mains $19-$28, desserts $14.
The buzz: Walking into the restaurant on a sunny Saturday evening, we were bathed in sunshine. Facing towards the Kaimais, this must be just about the sunniest restaurant in the Bay for an early-evening meal. The setting is casual but classy, simple yet sophisticated. There's a real welcoming feel to the place. The combination of subtle background music and delicious sizzling from the kitchen complete the setting.
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I'll have: To start off, a peppered venison with slow roasted tomato, onion jam and feta tart ($16). This was beautifully presented and offered a delightfully tender taste sensation. Keeping to a meat theme, I decided on roast lamb rump, served with aromatic braised red cabbage and apple mint salad ($28). This was some of the best lamb I have ever eaten. It was tender, tasty and plentiful. It was superbly cooked and delivered to me with some lovely extras to supplement the meat.
She'll have: Ricotta porcini tortellini, leek fondue with sage butter. A side of fresh green beans in butter and a side green salad to complete the meal. The tasty and creamy sauce was a delight as was the side salad, which was particularly delicious and full of variety with lots of nuts and seeds.
For the adventurous: How about a smoked salmon and prawn cocktail with a Bloody Mary mayo? ($16)
Value for money: Nothing is too expensive on this menu but you could always go for the beer-battered fresh snapper with chips, or Thai chicken curry with fragrant jasmine rice, both $19.
Dessert: We shared two choices - a walnut manuka honey tart with vanilla bean mascapone and a wonderfully light French chocolate fondant with rum confit pineapple. Both were exceptional choices.
To drink: There is a range of smoothies, juices, coffees, teas, red and white wine ($35-$65) and beer.
The staff: Duty manager Kirsty certainly made us feel welcome. There was a lovely quiet efficiency about the place. The staff were there when you needed them but not around all the time.
The verdict: This cafe/restaurant is one of the Bay's hidden gems. It only opened for lunches in March and started serving dinner last month but it has quickly become a local favourite. Its simple setting belies the fact they serve up the most delightful meals that would not be out of place in a much fancier establishment. It is welcoming, unpretentious and a wonderful place to enjoy an evening meal.
Grange Road Cafe & Restaurant
Cnr Grange/Milton Rds, Otumoetai
Phone: 576 3660.
Hours: Breakfast, lunch: 8am-4pm; Monday to Sunday.
Dinner: From 6pm; Wednesday to Saturday.