Cafe Ariki — Restaurant in Avarua

(4.5 stars) Tucked in between the furniture warehouse and the Yamaha shop up behind the township of Avarua, Cafe Ariki is where the locals come to celebrate. The indoor-outdoor space is full of long tables of beautiful women with their hair pulled back into low buns under leaf and flower crowns. Raucous laughter rings out over the low throb of music and the swish of coconut palms stirred by the trade winds overhead. Fairy lights decorate most available surfaces, from the wrought iron gates to the specials board and the over-table shelters in the courtyard.

They come for the dishes of kings, ariki, hefty plates of NZ ribeye steak (NZ$29.50) with more than 300 grams of great beef set under the best mushroom sauce I’ve tried so far on the island with wedges and ‘slaw. The catch of the day—tuna—can be taken barbequed (NZ$26.50) under garlic butter and a sweet chilli and pawpaw salsa with rice and salad. It’s cut thinly so not quite as raw in the middle as I like it. You can also eat your tuna raw, as sashimi (NZ$18.50) with a pot or their famous Ariki sauce. It was a bit thick and sweet for the fish but I gobbled it up on rice. Near the front of the restaurant you’ll find a huge collection of sauces in case what’s presented on the plate isn’t to your liking. You get your...

This café is a regular lunch & dinner visit for myself and family. The food serving in portion size are one of 'great value for money' on the island. Menu includes a good balanced of popular meat & seafood cuisines, tasty local fresh salads, herbs and kinaki (taro, breadfruit, kumara) and more...

Family favourites: Ika-mata (fresh fish marinated in lime/lemon ..served in fresh coconut cream, salad mix and kinaki)

BBQ chicken or steak served with either potatoe-chips or island fries, creamy mushroom sauce and fresh salad.

...tasty succulent Ribs; tender Pork bell; fish of the day ....to name a few :)

Staff are welcoming and friendly with a 'Kia Orana hosting care'. Enjoy your dining...

We visited for two meals while we had a weeks vacation at Rarotonga. First meal we shared an ika mata and then my wife had steak while I had pork belly. Both main meals were very good and healthy portions. I felt the fish in the ika mata was a bit soft and very white coloured. I suspect it may have been albacore tuna as opposed to yellowfin tuna. Still tasted fine. Second meal my wife had pork ribs and I had pork belly again. We shared an ice cream sundae 🍨 for dessert. Overall I would say the food and service here is excellent and recommend this restaurant. It can get busy so it pays to...