Daphnes

The Verdict

A slice of the Med has just landed smack bang in the middle of Ponsonby and our tummies couldn't be happier. We're talking about Daphnes, the latest venture from hospo husband-and-wife team Clare and Joost van den Berg (ex Odettes Eatery) which is all about fun, family-style feasting.

New head chef Hayden Phiskie has now taken the lead at Daphnes. He's been instrumental in running the kitchen at some of the city's best restaurants (Cotto and Ada included), and earned a number of awards in the process—and officially joined the Daphnes team last week bringing a brand new menu with him.

In keeping with the chef's typically clean, simple, well-prepared and always seasonal style—along with his commitment to using locally grown produce wherever possible—diners can expect the likes of cured market fish with brodo and green chilli—sourdough flatbread topped with beef short rib, 'nduja, lemon crema and mint—confit lamb shoulder with puy lentils and pine nuts—and brown butter panna cotta with whisky dates. Um, yummm. Hayden is joined in his new role by two other members of the Ada kitchen, Morgan Alan Johns and Ray O'Connor. Check out the new menu for either lunch (Thursday-Sunday) or dinner (Wednesday-Sunday).

Image credit: Wono Kim.