San Ray — Restaurant in Waitematā

Had dinner at @sanray.nz (formerly Orphans Kitchen) — I’ve been here before for breakfast, but this time I tried their set dinner and was genuinely impressed. Every ingredient felt super fresh, and the combinations were creative and thoughtful.

Entrées: • Sourdough with chipotle butter – The butter was rich, creamy, and had a hint of spice. Don’t overdo it though — a little goes a long way. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft inside. • Crudité with radish, witloof, carrot, and smoked macadamia – Incredibly fresh veggies; they had that perfect snap when you bite in. Loved the dip that came with it. • Cazador Charcuterie with heritage pork coppa – Personally found this a bit heavy if eaten alone, but pairing it with the sourdough and some butter made it much better.

Mains: • Wood Fired Mushrooms with quinoa, mascarpone & cascabel chilli – You can really tell the chef enjoys playing with spices. There’s a slight kick here, and I was blown away by the texture contrast: crispy, almost breadcrumb-like quinoa, soft (but not mushy) mushrooms, and a delicious sauce to bring it all together. • Chargrilled Butternut with sundried tomato, grapes & ancho oil – Also very tasty. The sweetness from the tomatoes and grapes balanced the spice and umami from the mushrooms perfectly when eaten together. • Chargrilled Wagyu Bavette with caramelised butter & cognac jus – Solid execution. Nothing too bold here, but the meat was tender, not greasy, and cooked just right.

Sides: • Mixed Green Salad with jalapeño, lime, walnuts & sultanas – Okay, real talk: why is this spicy too?! I would’ve finished the whole thing if it wasn’t for the unexpected heat — such a shame. • Shoestring Fries with housemade tajín & buttermilk mayo – Crunchy and addictive. Great side.

Dessert: • Chocolate & Brandy Mousse with salted caramel, olive oil, rosemary & hazelnuts – Like eating a silky, rich truffle. Loved the hazelnuts for texture. Not a fan of the rosemary in the mousse, though — maybe better as a garnish for aroma rather...

We are, no doubt, 'di parte' (on their side) as Cazador is our local lunch spot, and favorite cafe' on Dominion. However, San Ray does not need favouritism. It will conquer the most skeptic customer, and will seduce the refined palate in wanting more. The flavours explode with the refined, inventive combinations, the presentation is impeccable and the help offered by the staff is reliable and authentic (customer) care. We waited for our table sipping aperitif, and I tried something I would not normally order, the Michelada: highly recommend it, if you are into subtle explosions of flavours. I loved the chicken, and it was perfect for two: moist and flavoursome, as well as crispy and served on a divine radicchio & rucola combination. The venison tartare is a must try, and the Sardinian crackers spectacular! the cabbage a delicious surprise, and the leek exquisitely baked. The chamomile panna cotta is the most delicate version of this famous dessert that I have ever tried, and the chocolate mousse mouthwatering. We were spoiled by the talented sommelier, who expertly paired dessert with surprise, and seduced us in trying a vino aromatizzato (which I now love). The atmosphere is welcoming and the setting elegant and contemporary. San Ray will make you feel spoiled and cared for, leaving your senses...

Fabulous. Just fabulous. We were unexpectedly in the area at 6pm on Saturday and decided to spontaneously grab dinner. They managed to fit us in even though we didn't have a booking, and wow, it was totally worth it. It's been a while since we've been excited about a meal in the way this one inspired us, and for the price, it was also excellent value. We had the set sharing menu, and the portion sizes were perfect. (Full disclosure - we ordered extra sourdough, not because we were still hungry but because the first serving was so heavenly that we basically inhaled it in 10 seconds flat!) The menu was small, but well thought out, and the tastes/ingredients were excellent and (importantly) interesting. This restaurant hasn't jumped on the bandwagon of serving the exact same food as all the other restaurants - they've put some thought into the flavour profiles and made the most of seasonal produce too. I seriously can't rave enough about it. The wine menu was equally interesting and different. Good price point for the quality of food and drink, we went home very happy. Shout out to the excellent staff too, all of whom were helpful, attentive, and actually seemed happy to be there. Go there! (But save room for us -...