Soul Bar and Bistro restaurant review: Metro Top 50 2018

By Metro date Jun 21, 2018

Soul Bar and Bistro restaurant review

Metro Top 50 2018 restaurant Soul Bar and Bistro at the Viaduct is a smart dining option.

Commanding a prime position at the Viaduct for the best part of two decades, Soul is old-school in the best of ways – consistent and efficient, with unobtrusive service. The menu, which favours fish and seafood, offers gentle, well-executed twists on classics such as battered tarakihi, served here with Persian-style Russian potato salad, rather than pushing culinary boundaries. While the restaurant’s sleek monochrome interior is inviting, on a sunny day the wide terrace – where a celebratory air often prevails – is still one of our favourite places in the central city, ideal for watching the passing parade and observing comings and goings at the marina. Where better to feast, when in season, on delicate West Coast whitebait fritters bathed in lemon-butter sauce, or in autumn on crème brûlée with feijoa, lime, apple crumble and feijoa sorbet?

What it offers Shared-plate options / Fixed-price meals / Free-range chicken and/or pork / Good for vegetarians / Good seating outside / Takes large groups / Bar / Craft beer selection
A favourite dish Roasted hapuku with crayfish ravioli and truffle dressing
Bookings Yes
Hours Lunch and dinner 7 days
Price $$
Seats 200 lunch, 120 dinner
Chef Gavin Doyle, executive chef; Josh Hazel, head chef