Owner Malika Ganley fuses Middle Eastern flavours from her Moroccan heritage with modern Kiwi flavours, served up in a bright and modern setting.
The growing popularity of street food in the region has also been recognised with Hawker and Roll, Burger Burger, Japanese Quarter and Johney's Dumpling House all receiving nominations for their exceptional casual dining experiences.
In an area of great outstanding beauty, hospitality establishments in settings outside of the main centres are ever popular.
Flat White Waihī Beach, The Cider Factorie, Te Puna, The Daily Café, Te Puke and the Falls Retreat Bistro, Waihī all received nominations for best suburban or regional setting.
The Bay of Plenty community is also able to vote for its favourite establishment in the First Table People's Choice Award category.
Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said millions of tourists and domestic travellers flowed through the area each year so the hard working hospitality community had an important job to do in showcasing our national cuisine and looking after its guests.
"The awards are really an opportunity to recognise those providing an exceptional experience to the dining community and spread the word about the amazing places there are to drink and eat in the region," Bidois said.
Voting is open until Sunday July 28 and the winners will be revealed at the awards evening on Sunday August 4.
Tickets to the event are on sale now, to purchase or for more information regarding the awards visit https://hospitalityawards.co.nz/bay/.
Voting links are here for industry and here for people's choice.
Bay Hospitality Awards 2019 Finalists:
Nourish Magazine Outstanding Barista
Dominique Vogler, Flaveur Breads Tauranga
- Sam Graham, Luca Café
- Simon Backelin, Tay Street Beach Café
- Taylor Gibbons, Blackberry Eatery
Asahi Premium Beverages Outstanding Bartender
- Katie Short, The Barrio Brothers Mount Maunganui
- Minerva Saner, The Rising Tide
- Simon Insley, Fire Mount Maunganui
- Zachariah Nathan, Izakai Bar and Eatery
Hospitality Management Systems Outstanding Front of House Team
- Flatwhite Waihi Beach
- Harbourside Tauranga
- Mills Reef Winery
- The Barrio Brothers Tauranga
- The Rising Tide
Bidfood Tauranga Outstanding Chef
- Andy Kang, Izakai Bar and Eatery
- Ian Harrison, Clarence Bistro
- Sam Terretta Hide, Brew Co.
- Shane Kearns, Fire and No.8 Mount Maunganui
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Emerging Chef
- Jay Van Der Meys, Fire and No.8 Mount Maunganui
- Joe Noon, Fish Face
- Sinead O'Brien, Blackberry Eatery
- Zoe Purdy, The General
Eftpos NZ Outstanding New Venue
- Fire
- Izakai Bar and Eatery
- Oscar & Otto
- The Good Home Coast Papamoa
Restaurant Association of New Zealand Outstanding Café
- Eddies & Elspeth
- Mixture Eatery
- Tay Street Beach Café
- The General
Monin NZ Outstanding Cocktail Experience
- IKIbar
- Izakai Bar and Eatery
- Macau Bar Kitchen & Lounge
- RYE Bar & Grill
Lion NZ Outstanding Bar
- Hide
- Thirst and Hunger
- The Barrel Room
- The Freeport
- The Rising Tide
Bidfood Tauranga Outstanding Casual Dining/Street Food
- Burger Burger
- Hawker & Roll
- Japanese Quarter
- Johney's Dumpling House
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience & Design
- Alpino Mount Maunganui
- Clarence Bistro
- Macau Bar Kitchen & Lounge
- No.8 Mount Maunganui
Nova Energy Outstanding Suburban/Regional Experience
- Flatwhite Waihi Beach
- The Cider Factorie, Te Puna
- The Daily Café, Te Puke
- The Falls Retreat Bistro, Waihi
Service Foods Outstanding Restaurant
- Clarence Bistro
- Harbourside Tauranga
- Latitude37 Restaurant
- Somerset Cottage
