social kitchen

before our trip, kran had found social kitchen restaurant. it was meant to be one of the best restaurants in town. that was a challenge, we had to find out if it was! if it was awesome, we wanted to be there to eat all their foods. unfortunately they didn’t have any bookings for that night (whaaaaat??!!! we exclaimed in disbelief… no bookings for a night out in new plymouth?!) so i put my name down on the waitlist in the afternoon and we tried our luck by just popping in anyway. no luck. disappointed but not to be discouraged, we thought we’d go to freddy’s (another institution in np apparently) for a drink and a snack (since i was getting super hangryface) before trying social kitchen again.

great concept for a restaurant. was busy and popular. party of six started with small plates. the hot chicken was my favourite. followed this with three large plates. shared meals are so much fun. venison was over cooked but goat and spare ribs were excellent. all with a mix of veges and a good red wine. we couldn't get through the ribs but everything else went. i'll go back.

a bit disappointed with the service. wanted to have a relaxing lunch with family. specifically stated during online booking that we require high chair. we could have been informed early on that they don't have one and we could have brought ours. instead, the waitress made a remark that "this isn't really a kids place". poor communication.

been dying to try social kitchen, worth the wait. ordered the white fish large dish with garlic potatoes and brussel sprouts. potatoes were not garlic at all, just average. fish was tasty and flaky. the brussel sprouts were amazing! omg i am totally converted to loving brussel sprouts.

food was absolutely amazing. well presented and cooked to perfection. meals were hot and tasted phenomenal. the service was excellent. i have no issue recommending this fabulous restaurant.

i love social kitchen. i have been there 4 times now, and will continue to go.
the staff are amazing, so professional and helpful. the interior is super cool, and has a great atmosphere, you definitely don't feel like you are in new plymouth. the cocktails are so delicious, best espresso martini i have had in np. there sides are a good size and priced well, and very flavorful. i also would like to mention they are very considerate when asking for dietary requirements to be met. have recommended this to everyone! love this place, keep up the great work.

dinner in social kitchen felt like being in a busy auckland or wellington bar. i think this atmosphere is trendy. and i tickled a bison lol (wall-mounted). the food is tasty and my favourite dish was the beautiful lamb shoulder cooked in the style of the cuisine from southern france. my side of fresh vegetables was delicious and well made. we paid prices that i'm happy with and the service was good.

the sides were probably my favourite part of the meal, because it was an opportunity to try so many different things. i must say the brussel sprouts were amazing (and i'm someone who hates brussel sprouts!). everyone in my group loved the peas and ricotta. also the polenta fries.

the lamb ribs were disappointing, quite greasy; it didn't seem like they'd been rendered very well; i couldn't take more than a few bites. we ordered a steak too but it didn't go that far, what i did manage to try was quite nice and tender.
my group enjoyed the pork belly (but i don't eat pork).

i checked out the outdoor area which looks like it will be really nice in the summer. i loved the decor and layout of the restaurant. it's quite cool how the kitchen is open and you can see what's going on.

overall the atmosphere and the food was good.
i get the concept of social and sharing but i think this restaurant would be better suited to a couple or a group of no more than 4. unfortunately for me i feel like i missed out, so i'd have to try it another time.

been here 3 times now, twice for lunch and once for dinner.  it is a place where a good group of foodies that like to share will love.  very happy to recommend

very poor service. we were in a hurry to go. a waitress walked pass and i called her she pretend did not hear me. food is not so good either. i would not recommend this restaurant. poor derive even and poor food for the price.

was in new plymouth for a weekend when i was on business trip to nz. i had shortlisted few places and this was one. me and one of my friends visited this place for lunch. we ordered one small plate prawns, one salad for sides, and beef for mains. loved the food. it was great.

week day lunches that are quick, easy and intimate. best spot in np for lunch and dinner if you are under 36. if you are over 36, it will be to loud, to dark and you’ll just complain to your dinner date.

not your usual hangout spot. the ambience is a bit quirky, might not be to everyone's liking. that being said, the food is delicious and staff's great too. it can get busy on a weekend night so booking your table in advance might be a good idea. it can be a bit on the pricey side but their portions are a decent size and offer some excellent meats and steaks.

loved dining here! on a cold , damp night in np, we could only sit in the courtyard as the inside area was full. this was not a problem as the courtyard area was toasty warm, with a great atmosphere. the staff were friendly, and great at explaining the menu and how much to order for the three of us. the food arrived promptly and was out of this world. i can't rave enough about this place, it has everything to offer.... a great menu , onto it staff, and food to die for!!!! we are from wgtn and super impressed 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

the ambience and decor of this were quite special. good mix of family and young and hip clientele. menu is exceptional and the food matches expectations in quality and taste set by the excellent service.

they deserve more than a gold star for bringing the edge of cosmopolitan fusion to provincial taranaki. new plymouth is growing and with places like this can clearly compete with zurich, toronto or my melbourne home.

great job done by the whole team here.
i hope you've won some awards and got the recognition you deserve.

a must do when visiting this gorgeous part of nz!