SCORE: 18/20

The emphasis is on casual with a capital C in this restaurant where the generous sharing plates are a not-to- be-missed option in the vibey heart of this resort town. If you’re after contemporary Kiwi cuisine, you’ll find it manifest here courtesy of the skills of chef-owner James Stapley and his head chef Ruairi Bachofner. The menu is super seasonal but the welcome stays flawlessly the same, as Victoria Maria Shaw takes the front-of-house lead with her warm, engaging style. The service is knowledgeable and confident so you can be assured of being steered in the right direction with food-and-wine choices. Once you’ve marvelled at the handsomeness of the delectable beef tartare with its shimmering confit egg yolk or delved into a juicy, tender Lumina lamb shoulder spiked with lemon, rosemary and chilli, you’ll be tempted to bypass dessert – but don’t. Otago cherry and chocolate pavlova is a masterful refresh of this local culinary icon with the sharpness of down-the-road cherries offset by the sweetness of whipped yoghurt cream – in our opinion, a perfectly balanced, beautiful finale. The fact that the plates are presented like mini works of art only makes the experience more fun. Warm, inviting and lively, relaxation is a key ingredient on the Kika menu. Drink it in.