Region climbs the restaurant rankings

Bistronomy restaurant manager Dean Lister (left) and chef James Beck. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay is one step closer to claiming the title of a major food destination as two Napier restaurants placed at this year's Cuisine New Zealand Good Food Awards.

Bistronomy won the Best New Regional Restaurant award and Pacifica took the Best Regional Restaurant award.

The awards, presented by Vittoria Coffee, were announced on Monday night at a function at Auckland War Memorial Museum. They are New Zealand's only national restaurant accolades.

Judges said they were impressed with the creativity and delivery of Bistronomy's talented chef-owner, James Beck.

Bistronomy is touted as a restaurant that can make "everyday eating a little bit extraordinary".

The menu changes seasonally and is inspired by the soil and the sea.

"We're less about fine dining and more about fun dining," the website states.

Mr Beck said he owed the success to creating a "well thought out concept" and sticking with it.

"A lot of it comes down to hard work, training and working overseas, and also a really strong team."

He said Napier seemed like it was just waiting for something new to come along - and it embraced it when it did.

"Pretty happy for Hawke's Bay, it seems to do really well," Mr Beck said, mentioning Pacifica's achievement.

"Hawke's Bay is really getting itself on the map as a food destination."

Being a new restaurant, it was the first Cuisine New Zealand Good Food Awards the Bistronomy team had attended.

"I was really impressed with the quality of it," Mr Beck said.

The judges praised Pacifica Restaurant chef-owner Jeremy Rameka's artistry and passion and the front-of-house team's professionalism.

Pacifica Restaurant's menu is a five-course degustation which changes daily depending on the availability of ingredients. Seafood and New Zealand meat and game dishes feature.

Pacifica's Liam Thomas, left, Natalie Bulman and chef-owner Jeremy Rameka.

Deemed "true Kiwi hospitality and generosity", Pacifica offers "world-class food".

Cuisine magazine editor Kelli Brett congratulated all the winning and contending restaurants.

"New Zealand's food story is evolving," she said.

"It's such an exciting time as chefs and restaurants work to establish an identity that will showcase the incredible ingredients we have here."

Several Hawke's Bay restaurants also featured in the Hat recipients.

Bistronomy, Elephant Hill, Mister D, and Te Awa Winery Restaurant were all awarded one Hat.

Hats were awarded to restaurants who satisfied different criteria for overall restaurant experience.

Ms Brett said that this year more hats had been awarded than any other year, "which indicates the steady growth of our restaurant industry".

Auckland restaurant The French Café was named Cuisine magazine's Restaurant of the Year 2016.