Best Specialist Restaurant
Winner
Sponsored by Estrella Damm
ADDRESS: Shop 15-16, St Kevin’s Arcade, City
DINNER: Tue – Sat
MAINS: $10 – $60
WEBSITE: gemmayzestreet.co.nz
SCORE: 15.5 / 20
Something exciting happens at the back of K’ Road’s atmospheric St Kevin’s Arcade of an evening, with a street-dining-meets-palm-court ambience and superb Lebanese home cooking. Start with the silkiest hummus ever or vibrant tabbouleh while being guided through the exotic Lebanese wine and beer choices. The staff are as authentic as the aromatic, satisfying food, served in perfect sharing portions, beautifully cooked and full of Middle Eastern flavours. Order the ‘jeeb’ and chef Samir Allen (pictured) will send out a stream of cut-above classics such as baba ghanouj and fattouch, followed by larger plates such as samak, a golden-fried thick nugget of seared hāpuku on an aromatically spiced green lentil stew with fennel purée and stewed radicchio. Finish o with the exquisite rose custard and green apple dessert topped with a crunchy bunch of katai pastry.