Sidart restaurant review: Metro Top 50 2019

By Metro date Apr 30, 2019

Sidart is the Metro Peugeot Restaurant of the Year 2019 Best Fine-Dining Restaurant runner-up. To see a full rundown of all our winners, click here.

To get to Sidart, you walk through a brightly lit shopping arcade and just as you start to wonder where on earth you’ve wound up, you find the sliding door to the restaurant, and entry to a different world. This was Sid Sahrawat’s first restaurant and it still feels the most personal. Sidart changed direction last year and now offers contemporary Indian fine dining using only New Zealand produce. It’s dégustation only: be sure to order wine matching while you’re at it, which is exceptionally good value. It’s pretty damn extraordinary. Clever versions of Indian classics, hints of spice with modern techniques – magic tricks of the highest order. You start with an amuse-bouche – three small intense bites, which recently included an exceptional coriander and chilli sorbet served in an edible cup and draped with a nasturtium leaf. Though it’s pointless praising specific dishes: like a vague memory, they’re soon replaced with the next sleight of hand. Masterful.

What it offers: Dégustation dining only / Good for vegetarians / Takes large groups

A favourite dish: Scampi Chaat with yoghurt, pomegranate and tamarind

Awards:
Winner, Restaurateur of the Year: Sid and Chand Sahrawat (joint)
Runner-up, Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Finalist, Best Chef: Sid Sahrawat
Finalist, Best Dish

Hours: Lunch Fri, Dinner Tue-Sat
Bookings: Yes
Price: $$$
Chef: Sid Sahrawat, executive chef; Nishant Arora, head chef