Norris & Bell: a new restaurant on The Strand

NORRIS & BELL

Cuisine: Wood-fired bistro

Address: 83 The Strand, Tauranga

Phone: 07 5711543

Website

Drinks: Fully licensed

Reservations: I would assume necessary

It's always nice to welcome a new restaurant to town and there's been a conspicuous space down on The Strand for a while between Volare and India Today. That has now been filled by Norris & Bell, a name that nods to the property's 1915 land agent owners and a concept that centres around wood-fired food.

I don't have a review for y'all, since Norris & Bell doesn't open till this Friday (19th March). But they're taking bookings now and I was lucky enough to be invited to some welcome drinks on Thursday. I like the look and feel of the place. It's a long narrow space with a sort of smart retro wooden shed ambience, a collection of steak knives and bottles displayed on one wall opposite the imposing shape of the wood-fired oven. It's a huge beast set in the middle of the room and there's wood stacked around to feed it.

outside

inside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THAT oven

wine, knives

The menu reads well, with some interesting combinations. Actually, it sounds delicious. I'd happily eat my way through every small plate there. In fact I intend to, starting with these:

SMOKED PORK HOCK BRAWN - Baby carrot giardiniera / Burnt pineapple / Dijon mustard / Crostini    $20

WOOD FIRED PRAWNS - Tiger prawns / Goan chorizo oil / Bomba calabrese    $21 

 

That's just a couple and they sound pretty damn good! Meanwhile the mains are largely cooked in the wood-fired oven (even the fish), which promises to be something rather special.

 

We did get to try a few things and, yep, they were excellent. The ceviche was lovely and all the little touches of sauce and relishes were a notch above the ordinary. The prawns, presented as finger food rather than the entree, were particularly good and genuinely sang with that hint of wood-fire. The chef - American I believe - seems to really know his oven!

 

I also spotted one dessert, which was most definitely a mouth-watering bit of all right:

 

DARK CHOCOLATE DELICE - White chocolate sands / Lemon sorbet / Plum powder / Sugar tuile / Hazelnut praline    $16

 

 

OK. That's about all I know. The wine list is largely popular favourites from the Lion stable but the vibe is good and of course it's all about that wood-fired food. Nail that and this place will go off in a big way. Owners Billy Emeny & Mohinder Sawroop have form at CBK and more both here and in Rotorua so seem to know what people like - I wish them every success!