Restaurant Review: Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch in Eat Streat.

Atticus Finch is the latest eatery to be added to Rotorua's coveted Eat Streat and has quickly made its presence known among patrons.

After it had been open for a few short weeks my friend and I were told it was hard to get a table for dinner on Friday nights without booking in advance.

With a menu based on shared plates and platters, it is the ideal place for people who like to try a little of everything.

-The food: selection offers a multitude of shared plates making it difficult to decide between each mouth-watering option. Vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options are also available, ensuring all foodies are catered for. My friend had croquettes with chorizo and mozzarella and a roasted pepper relish ($10) to start and I had the polenta chips with sundried tomatoes and olive aioli ($10). We shared the two plates and couldn't get enough - once you try their polenta chips you will never want to eat ordinary chips again. For our main meals we shared a plate of southern fried chicken with chipotle mayo ($18) and the lamb and mint meatball tagine ($18). Both meals were reasonably sized and bursting with flavour. Needless to say, not a scrap was left on our plates.

-The drinks: list was what you would expect at a licensed restaurant, offering a good variety of wine, beer, cider and soft drinks. My friend and I asked the waiter what he would recommend and we ended up with a chilled 2014 Haha pinot gris ($7.50 a glass). The wine was light and accompanied the meal well, suggesting the waiter wasn't just taking a stab in the dark and knew what would go well with our meals.

-Prices: ranged from $6 for the edamame beans with sichuan salt to $28 for a whole chargrilled chicken with barley, parsley and pomegranate. With a shared plate theme, Atticus Finch would be ideal for a group of friends who want to try an array of items on the menu, or a couple who like to nibble on a few different meals.

-Service: When we walked through the upcycled-pallet planter boxes we were promptly greeted by one of the waiters and asked where we would like to sit. We chose to sit outside and the waiter promptly brought over some water, explained the nature of the menu and offered to turn on the heater if we got cold. The service throughout our meal was present but not overbearing and we were given plenty of time to finish our meals.

-Overall: I can see why Atticus Finch is proving a popular dining option with helpful, efficient service, casual atmosphere and beyond-tasty meals. Whether you want to try it out for lunch or dinner, you are bound to find something to your liking. For me, those polenta chips are calling my name as we speak.