Japanese robata restaurant, Masu, is the winner of this year’s 2014 Metro Restaurant of the Year Supreme Award. It’s the first time a restaurant in the smart dining category has won overall, which confirms the overall trend of Auckland dining towards a more casual, lively environment.
Nic Watt in his award-winning restaurant Masu. Photo credit: Michael Bradley
Since opening in October 2013 with chef Nic Watt at the helm, Masu has embraced the combination of a casual environment paired with exemplary food, according to Metro editor Simon Wilson. “Masu is a most impressive addition to Auckland’s restaurant scene. It’s sophisticated, yet informal. The food is magnificent but the atmosphere is lively. And we really love the Japanese menu.”
“These are the things Aucklanders are embracing when we go out to eat. We want to have a really good time and we want to do that without sacrificing anything in standards of food and service,” says Wilson.
Watt spent eight years with the Roka group, a family of robatayaki-style restaurants in London, Hong Kong, Macau and Arizona, bringing to Masu the worldly experience gained from those businesses.
Wilson says New Zealanders have become increasingly adventurous with cuisine. “The fact this is a Japanese restaurant run by a New Zealander is symbolic of something much larger in this city: we’re comfortable in a cosmopolitan urban world. Nic Watt has created a restaurant that takes a real step forward for the city.”
However, the long stayers of the Auckland dining world have also continued to impress with the judges awarding two runners up: neighbourhood bistro The Engine Room in Northcote Point and Ponsonby fine-dining restaurant Sidart. The Engine Room also takes out the Upmarket Bistro category. This restaurant has won its category every year since it opened nine years ago
Masu’s category awards are for Smart Dining – the winner of the category has never before taken out the supreme award – and Best New Restaurant. Sidart wins Fine Dining category, which it has never won. Owner Sid Sahrawat is also named Chef of the Year.
There are four new awards in 2014.
Michael Dearth has been named Restaurateur of the Year, for his efforts in establishing two five-spoon restaurants in the city, The Grove and Baduzzi. The five-spoon system is Metro’s unique method of rating restaurants.
Best New Talent goes to Chef Tom Hishon and front-of-house Josh Helm, owners of Ponsonby’s Orphans Kitchen.
Best Renewal goes to Mediterranean game-focused bistro Cazador on Dominion Rd and the restaurant with the best degustation menu is Clooney. The French Café again takes the accolade for best service, the fourth year in a row it has done so.
Best Value for Money Restaurant goes to Ima and Titirangi’s The Refreshment Room while Best Drinks List is won by Cocoro. Ponsonby Road Bistro is awarded Best Mid-Size Drinks List and Best Short Drinks List goes to Eight.Two. Waiheke’s The Shed at Te Motu Vineyard takes home Best Rural Restaurant.
The 2014 winners have been chosen from 50 finalists and the awards have been announced at a special awards dinner at Shed 10 on Queens Wharf. All the winners feature in the May issue of Metro, on sale 29 April.
Listing the category winners and finalists:
SUPREME WINNER
Masu
Co-runners up
The Engine Room
Sidart
BEST FINE DINING
Sidart
Runner up
The Grove
BEST UPMARKET BISTRO
The Engine Room
Runner up
Baduzzi
BEST SMART DINING
Masu
Runner up
Clooney
BEST CASUAL BISTRO
Orphans Kitchen
Runner up
Coco’s Cantina
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Michael Dearth, The Grove/Baduzzi
BEST DEGUSTATION
Clooney
Runner up
Kazuya
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Masu
BEST CHEF
Sid Sahrawat, Sidart
Finalists
Makoto Tokuyama, Cocoro
Nic Watt, Masu
Ben Bayly, The Grove / Baduzzi
Des Harris, Clooney
Michael Meredith, Merediths
Kazuya Yamauchi, Kazuya
BEST NEW TALENT
Tom Hinson and Josh Helm, Orphans Kitchen
BEST SERVICE
The French Café
Finalists
The Engine Room
Sidart
Clooney
Kazuya
Coco’s Cantina
BEST RENEWAL
Cazador
Runner up
The Engine Room
BEST RURAL
The Shed, Te Motu
Runner up
Bracu
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
Ima and The Refreshment Room (joint winnners)
BEST DRINKS LIST
Cocoro
Finalists
Andiamo
Clooney
Masu
O’Connell St Bistro
BEST MID-SIZE DRINKS LIST
Ponsonby Road Bistro
Finalists
Baduzzi
Moochowchow
BEST SHORT DRINKS LIST
Eight.Two
Finalists
Merediths
Stafford Rd Wine Bar
PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Gatlin Avery (Depot)
A team of nine judges including restaurateurs and food writers decided this year’s awards. One of the awards was open to public vote – The Metro Restaurant Personality of the Year which honours front-of-house restaurant staff. Votes were cast at metromag.co.nz and on Facebook.
