Hamilton’s food scene is constantly growing and there are some seriously great hidden gems to get amongst in the Waikato's biggest city. There is a range of spicy Asian, fine dining, award-winning chefs, pizza to die for and oh-so-many more to eat your way through.
Without further ado, here are the best restaurants in Hamilton.
Mexico
Victoria Street
Madam Woo
Hamilton East
Agenda
Central Hamilton
Paddock to plate is the motto at Agenda, who pride themselves on offering the best of the best when it comes to meat. Specialising in New Zealand prime meat cuts, they have multiple awards to show for it including the multiple Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards up their sleeve. The eye fillet wrapped in streaky bacon with potato rosti, mushrooms, red wine jus and béarnaise sauce is the signature dish. Save room for dessert because the menu is full of delectable sweet treats including the Whittaker’s dark chocolate molten lava cake with a peanut butter centre and vanilla bean ice cream. The liquid dessert menu is equally as tempting with creations such as the Jelly Tip-Chambord raspberry liqueur, white crème de cacao, cream, chocolate and raspberry syrup.
Smith & McKenzie
Chartwell
First designed as a tribute to the old New York steakhouse, Smith & McKenzie prides itself in serving up quality steaks that really hero their menu. The blend of industrial and modern themes combined with historical butchery elements and the amazing brick fireplace give the restaurant an awesome atmosphere. With steak as the highlight of the menu, a lot of care goes into sourcing and preparing each one. Smith & McKenzie dry age its steak on site and use a specific slow cooking technique to ensure the best flavour and experience. The steak menu lets you pick the kind of meat you prefer. Options include prime rib, smoked T-bone, Hereford sirloin and the Savannah Angus eye fillet. Each is served with shallot puree, roast potatoes or mash and a sauce of your choice. What’s even better is that each steak comes with a red wine recommendation to match. There are also several special occasion and function options available, such as the Chefs table or the private McKenzie room if you really want to take your evening to the next level. The award-winning team really know what they are doing with perfectly prepared steak and great service, head along and let the experts do their thing.
Gothenburg
Hamilton East
Chim Choo Ree
Anzac Parade
Serving up beautiful dishes, Chim Choo Ree is one of the best restaurants in Hamilton, especially when you’re in the mood for something fancy. The open space is simple and minimal however, the food served up is anything but. The menu is divided into sections. Choose from the charcuterie, raw, entrée, main and extras list to customise your experience. For the mains, the duck breast with almond cream, braised red cabbage, turnips and cavolo nero is guaranteed to impress. If you can’t decide (and fair enough), then the six-course tasting menu is available on request. The warm flourless chocolate cake with spiced pumpkin, whisky ice-cream and chocolate streusel will finish the evening on a high, accompanied by one of the many dessert wines on offer from the extensive menu. The warm drinks menu also offers a lighter way to finish the meal, the hot malt and chocolate is a great option if you don’t quite have room for dessert but still want something sweet.
Palate
Hamilton Central
Adriana’s
Alma Street
It opened in 1989 and is now Hamilton’s oldest restaurant. Adriana’s has a flawless reputation among Hamilton locals who continue to come back time and time again. The unique ambience, personalised service and consistently authentic Italian meals are what has kept Adriana’s a destination for anyone and everyone wanting good Italian food. The menu is made up of antipasto (appetizers), primo piatto (first course), secondo (main course) and of course dolce (dessert). On the primo piatto menu, you will find dishes such as the spaghetti marinara with Italian tomatoes and fresh herbs tossed with whole shelled de-veined prawns and mussels. The secondo menu has slightly more hearty dishes like the daily market fish, pan-grilled with unsalted butter and a melted parmesan, chardonnay and lemon crust. The coffee and wine menu has Italian espresso coffees, liqueur coffees and New Zealand and Italian wines to choose from to finish off your meal perfectly. If you are after real Italian food that is more than just pizza, then Adriana’s should definitely be on the list.
Dough Bros
Victoria Street
Concrete floors, white brick walls and plants hanging from the ceiling pretty much sum up Dough Bros vibe. It’s casual and relaxed, modern and fresh, and looks like it is straight out of a Pinterest mood board. In other words, it’s really cool. The smell of the wood-fired, sourdough pizzas fill up the restaurant thanks to the impressive manuka oven that is the hero of the kitchen. The pizza menu keeps things relatively classic with simple favourites—Margherita, Prosciutto and Meatball—but it also has some more inventive options like the anchovy, oil and garlic base, crispy potato, red onion, mozzarella and salsa verde. There is a separate vegan menu as well as a tasting menu that gives you an array of different flavours, perfect for when you are stuck choosing. The craft beers on tap focus mainly on independent local breweries in Waikato, and local wine on offer has plenty of options to choose from. Dough Bros offer a casual dining experience with delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere to make you feel right at home.
Banh Mi Caphe
Hamilton Central
Vietnamese eatery Banh Mi Caphe serves family-style food that is fresh, tasty and not over-complicated. With a traditional flair, the restaurant is vibrant and colourful, with a relaxed and casual vibe. The classic street food dishes include banh mi (filled baguette), banh xeo (savoury pancake), goi cuon (summer rolls) and pho (noodle soup). The authentic flavours are the result of owner Anh, who learned the recipes from her grandmother growing up. The food is always light and punchy with plenty of fresh herbs to send your taste buds into overdrive. If you are having trouble choosing, opt for the sharing menu and get a few things for the table. Options include braised pork belly, Vietnamese chicken curry and deep-fried soft-shell crab. There is also a separate vegan menu to cater for all the plant-based foodies and the drinks menu has special Asian-style cocktails such as the Melon bite—Absolut vodka, watermelon, soda and fresh chilli.
Furnace
Hamilton Central
We love places where there's a little something for everyone and Furnace does exactly that. From pizza and pasta to fresh market fish and slow-cooked steak, there is plenty to choose from. The line caught market fish served with smoked chorizo and crushed new potatoes, fennel, coriander and red onion salad and lime and mustard aioli is a winning choice. To finish things on a sweet note, have a look at the dessert menu for treats such as the Central Otago tart—hot apple, peach and apricot pie served with caramel ice-cream, mascarpone and caramel sauce. The drinks list features quality tap beers as well as more than 60 wines from around New Zealand and the world. While the menu is clearly reason enough to head along, the comfortable setting is welcoming and inviting with leather booths and oak joinery, making it a relaxing evening all round.
The Chilli House
Hamilton Central
You really can’t beat a cheap and cheerful night out and local favourite, The Chilli House has absolutely nailed it. Authentic, Sichuan Chinese cuisine is served to the always-heaving crowds that the restaurant brings in all day, every day. The simple interior and non-fussy decor let this humble restaurant focus on the important stuff—the sensational food being cooked up in the kitchen. Noodles, braised chicken and dumplings are just the beginning of the many choices on offer. And, there are options to mix and match a few items to create your own dish to suit your preferences. If you are a hot and spicy fan then you are definitely in luck because The Chill House does not hold back when it comes to heat. If you're not, then it might pay to order a Chinese beer or something stronger in case your mouth starts to feels a little too hot.
Want more? Here are the best things to do in Hamilton.
Image credit: Furnace, Dough Bros, Mexico, Gothenburg