Delissi
16 Pacific Ave, Mount Maunganui
Just over a year ago, Helen Thornton and Darren Gussy opened Delissi in Mount Maunganui. The couple are revelling in the move to the Bay from Hamilton and this is shown in what they have achieved in just over a year.
The Culture Trip
recently named Delissi one of the top 10 restaurants in Tauranga . Darren, who heads the kitchen, enjoys cooking the food he loves. Helen describes it as "simple food cooked with lots of flavour".
But what sets Delissi apart is their unique concept of small plates. We are not talking tapas here. Instead, the entire menu is entree size dishes. This means you don't have to choose between the chicken and the beef. You can have both. Two dishes equate to one main, so you could even choose three and still fit in dessert. Darren loves how this style of menu allows him the freedom to be more creative.
Complementing Darren's menu is a carefully crafted drinks list full of boutique wines and craft beers. Following the theme with the food, several of the wines are available in tasting glass sizes, meaning you can match your wine perfectly with each dish without the risk of overindulging. It's also a great way to discover a new wine.
