Editorial: Eat St on to a winner

Eat Streat opened on Friday.

In my Our View column last week I said I planned to reserve judgment on the revamped Eat Streat until it was finished.

Well, it opened on Friday so now it's judgment time.

And my verdict? For what it's worth, I love it.

Some of the Rotorua Daily Post team headed down on Friday night, eager to check it out after months of stories, letters and contrasting opinions.

As we approached we could see and hear a buzz unlike anything I've experienced in Rotorua in my year or so living here.

Then I saw the people - where did they come from and where had they all been hiding?

Pretty much every outdoor chair at every establishment was taken, a live band was playing and the mood in the area was overwhelmingly positive.

It was suddenly (well not so suddenly, but it felt that way) a place I was proud to take out-of-towners.

Whatever you think of the design itself - how it could have been improved, what you would have done differently - the fact is Rotorua needed a real entertainment destination.

A place to which locals and visitors of all ages can head and know they will have a good time.

As we report today, the crowds continued all weekend, helped no doubt by the stunning weather.

Bar and restaurant owners are loving it and, now they've had a wee taste, are working together on ideas to make the Eat Streat experience even better.

The only negatives for me were a couple of instances of below par service, remarked upon by my visitors, which I hope were just a result of some being caught out by the big turnout.

As long as the Eat Streat service can match the quality of the surroundings, it's going to be a great summer in the city.

Bring it on.