The Quay to good food

Partners Lloyd Rooney and Mike Fraser (pictured) have made a big splash on the local dining scene and they may not be finished yet as their downtown Whangarei Basin establishment, The Quay, has been labelled by Cuisine Magazine as a finalist and one of only two restaurants from Northland in their list of 100 top eateries in the country. The other is the iconic Duke of Marlborough from Russell.

The grand awards night will be held in Auckland on August 7.

The Quay has been open just on a year and, being perched alongside the water, has obviously sent out ripples far and wide gaining a wave of both regular and casual customers, from coffees to family meals and then evening dining with all the trimmings.

If opening The Quay wasn’t effort enough following their initial local entry, Cove Cafe at Waipu Cove, the pair then renovated and rejuvenated the former Smashed Pipi restaurant in Mangawhai, opening as The Dune late last year.

Those who know The Quay will also be aware of the former seafood restaurant across the courtyard at the Town Basin. This too has been commandeered by Lloyd and Mike. The official address is Number 8, considered the Chinese lucky number, and that is now the name of the restaurant which opened to full bookings just a fortnight ago.

The iconic building has been refurbished with an Asian flavour which follows through to the menu which features a wide range of Asian and Eastern dishes which are best shared and ideal for families and groups.

Downstairs is cosy while the upstairs balcony gives a fabulous view of the Whangarei Basin and will surely be a very popular spot when summer rolls around again.