Blonde ambition

This cool, charming, casual-but-classy diner in the Mount offers an all-American experience that fits right in.

words Hayley Barnett

They were always going to do it again, one way or another.

Palace Tavern’s sister eatery, Blondie, has opened its doors on Maunganui Road – a 1950s-style diner offering a daytime menu that doesn’t include your average eggs benny.

“We don’t really like cafés,” admits co-owner Brad Dellar. “We like to create something unique and different, but also know we need to stay in our lane.”

Their “lane” is traditional all-American fare – hot dogs, chicken waffles, reuben sandwiches, cherry pie – similar to their southern American-style eatery and bar around the corner at Palace Tavern.

“We’ve stuck to our usual style, which is risky because it’s the Mount,” says Brad. “It’s where fit people hang out. With Palace, we didn’t know if it would work. We didn’t think it was vegan enough for them. But I think people get sick of that sh*t because, well, meat’s great.”

Brad and his business partner, Sam King, had been scoping out a joint for a new bar when the former Gusto Café owner offered up the perfect location.

They had just five weeks to fit the place out. Impressively, they did most of the work themselves, calling in a couple of friends to help out with some of the more challenging tasks.

“We’ve fit out all our own restaurants and cafés, since the beginning,” says Brad. “Everything from custom tables, tiling and painting, to kitchen fit outs.”

Though they had the vision and the practical skills to pull it off, they still needed a name.

“Blondie just had a good ring to it,” says Brad.

The walls are adorned with famous blondes, including the likes of Debbie Harry, Twiggy, Marilyn Monroe and Kate Moss. The mostly black and white photos work perfectly with the diner scene.

While it might seem ambitious to open in the Mount’s most quiet months of the year, Brad’s confident the locals will be on board.

“It’s that inside kind of soul food,” he says. “It’s what you want to eat when you’re nestling in for the winter. We’ll touch wood, but so far, so good.”

Blondie Diner
200 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

Taste of tradition

One word sums up this Tauranga restaurant: Classic. A classic setting, classic cuisine, and classic vibes make it a local favourite for a reason.

words Hayley Barnett

Mention Harbourside to a Bay local and you’ll hear nothing but good things. As the pinnacle of traditional fine dining here, it offers everything you need from a waterfront eatery – stunning views, great food, friendly service, and a refined yet unpretentious vibe.

Having bought the restaurant back in 2011, husband and wife team Peter and Anita Ward know how lucky they are to own such a perfect spot on the Tauranga Harbour. There’s nothing else quite like it.

Peter had been managing Harbourside for four years when they jumped at the offer to purchase the restaurant. In that time he’d learned exactly what their clientele expected, mainly because they’d tell him.

“Consistency is key,” says Peter. “Even now, if you take something off the menu we’re nearly run out of town.”

The menu is full of classic dishes with a blend of Kiwiana and South Pacific tastes, as well as time-honoured European fare. Only slight variations are made during the change of menu each season.

“Many people here have traditional values and tastes and they simply want consistent quality,” explains Peter. “We provide that quality and consistency without throwing anything out there that’s too left field. It’s important to meet your market.”

Known for its simple fish and chips, these days other favourites consist of agresto crusted lamb backstrap and the popular Harbourside Seafood Chowder. This isn’t the place to come for an experimental, risky food adventure. Here you know what you’re getting every time.

It's all in the family for Harbourside, with Peter, Anita, Nicole and Cameron running the show.

And most of the staff stay consistent too. These days, it’s a family affair with Peter and Anita’s son, Cameron, running the kitchen as head chef, Cameron’s wife, Nicole, as maître d', and their son, 18-year-old Taylor, running the bar. Mixing family and business aligns with their ethos of providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere, where they treat their guests like family. It’s a formula that works and owner Peter isn’t about to do anything silly like change it.

“For us when we first arrived in Tauranga, Harbourside became our staple,” says Peter. “We’d get a table outside, order a wine and fish and chips. It was our favourite spot to be.”

That’s exactly what they want to continue offering to diners: a perfect experience in a tranquil setting, where you’re comfortable enough to order the fish and chips.

Harboursidetauranga.co.nz