Kai Mata Restaurant

restaurant — Kerikeri · Kerikeri

About Kai Mata Restaurant

Kai Mata Restaurant is a contemporary dining destination set in Kerikeri, Northland, offering a warm and relaxed courtyard setting alongside an inventive, seasonal menu. Celebrating quality regional produce and modern culinary techniques, the kitchen prepares thoughtfully crafted plates ranging from casual snacks and shared platters to refined mains and indulgent desserts.

The restaurant's offerings span seasonal à la carte dining and dedicated multi-course function menus for groups, complemented by an extensive drinks programme featuring local Northland wines, regional craft beers from PhatHouse Brewing and Sawmill, and house-crafted signature cocktails. Operating Wednesday through Sunday from late morning through dinner, Kai Mata provides an inviting venue for everything from long lunches in the courtyard to private celebrations and intimate evening meals.

Dining at Kai Mata: Modern Flavours and Courtyard Hospitality in Kerikeri

Located along Kerikeri Road, Kai Mata Restaurant presents a relaxed yet refined dining experience in the heart of the Bay of Islands. Operating out of an inviting venue with a dedicated outdoor courtyard, the restaurant balances contemporary culinary craft with warm local hospitality, making it an appealing spot for unhurried midday lunches, celebratory group dinners, and intimate evening meals.

Thoughtful Plates from Land and Sea

The kitchen at Kai Mata centres its menu around dynamic flavours and seasonal produce. Starters and small plates invite social grazing, featuring items such as traditional fry bread served alongside roasted pepper hummus and paprika oil, duck croquettes paired with beetroot relish, and crispy fried chicken served with blue cheese sauce and pickles. Seafood lovers can explore fresh starters like the fish crudo dressed in mango and lime with radish and chilli, or sesame seared tuna paired with wakame, miso orange sauce, and pea emulsion.

Substantial mains continue the commitment to bold, balanced flavours. Hearty options include the scotch steak with cauliflower puree, truffle, broccolini, onion rings, and a rich bone marrow jus, as well as a lamb rack served with pumpkin puree and crisp braised lamb. The pan-seared fish pairs ocean-fresh seafood with mixed beans, chorizo, and mussels, while poultry enthusiasts can enjoy twice-cooked duck served over carrot and orange puree with wilted spinach. To accompany the meal, sides like twice-cooked chips with truffle aioli and parmesan or roasted baby beetroot with goats' cheese and spiced walnuts complete the table.

Group Functions and Celebrations

For gatherings of eight or more guests, Kai Mata provides structured set menus designed for sharing and effortless hosting. Offered across seasonal rotations including dedicated Spring and Summer options, group menus incorporate shared appetisers, pre-ordered individual mains, shared side dishes, and plated desserts. Options range from sirloin steak and fresh pan-seared fish to creative vegetarian mains like curry empanadas or herb gnocchi, finishing with comforting classics like sticky date pudding with salted bourbon caramel.

Crafted Cocktails and Regional Wines

Behind the bar, Kai Mata delivers an extensive beverage list that showcases both local Northland producers and international classics. Handcrafted cocktails balance tropical and herbal profiles, with bespoke house creations like the Kai Mata Paloma, Watermelon Julep, and the uniquely named A Kiwi in Cancun, which blends mezcal with kiwifruit, green apple, lime, and paprika. An equally considered mocktail selection offers alcohol-free alternatives such as Cinderella Comes to Kerikeri and the Garden Spritz.

Wine enthusiasts can sample Northland labels including selections from The Landing, Marsden Estate, 144 Islands, and Dancing Petrel, alongside curated New Zealand and international vintages. Local craft beer features prominently as well, with fresh pours and cans from nearby PhatHouse Brewing alongside Sawmill craft ales.

Signature items

  • Crispy Pan Seared Fish
  • Twice Cooked Duck
  • Fry Bread
  • Sesame Seared Tuna
  • Cardrona Orange Liqueur Crème Brûlée
  • A Kiwi in Cancun

Menu

Mains

  • Scotch Steak — Accompanied by cauliflower puree, truffle, broccolini, onion rings, and bone marrow jus
  • Crispy Pan Seared Fish — Pan-seared fresh fish served with mixed beans, chorizo, and mussels
  • Lamb Rack — Served with pumpkin puree, crisp braised lamb, broccolini, and rosemary jus
  • Twice Cooked Duck — Paired with carrot and orange puree and wilted spinach

Sides

  • Twice Cooked Chips — Served with truffle aioli and parmesan
  • Roasted Baby Beetroot — Roasted baby beetroots with goats' cheese and spiced roasted walnuts
  • Baby Cos Salad — Crisp baby cos with blue cheese dressing, prosciutto crumble, and walnuts

Snacks

  • Curry Empanada — Served with coconut and tzatziki
  • Fry Bread — Traditional fry bread with roasted pepper hummus and paprika oil
  • Scotch Egg — Churchill sausage, pickled onion, and apple slaw
  • Fried Chicken — Crispy fried chicken with blue cheese sauce, pickle, and onion
  • Fish Crudo — Fresh raw fish with mango & lime sauce, radish, and chilli
  • Duck Croquettes — Crispy croquettes accompanied by beetroot relish

Entrees

  • Prawns — Prepared with leek, fennel and sambuca sauce, served with salsa
  • Beef Carpaccio — Truffle, prosciutto crumble, and shaved parmesan
  • Sesame Seared Tuna — Wakame, miso orange sauce, and pea emulsion

Desserts

  • Sticky Date Pudding — Warm pudding served with salted bourbon caramel and ice cream
  • Apple Crumble — Classic crumble served with vegan ice cream, malibu & coconut caramel
  • Cardrona Orange Liqueur & White Chocolate Crème Brûlée — Delicate crème brûlée flavoured with Cardrona orange liqueur and white chocolate

Cocktails

  • Pink Lychee Martini — Raspberry gin, lychee, lemon, pineapple, mint
  • Kai Mata Paloma — Tequila, grape, grapefruit, rosemary, lime
  • Pineapple & Passionfruit Daiquiri — Pineapple spiced rum, vanilla, lime, passionfruit
  • Watermelon Julep — Bourbon, watermelon, mint, lime, soda
  • Summer Spritz — Cucumber infused gin, cucumber, sparkles, elderflower, mint, soda
  • Raspberry Sour — Raspberry gin, Amaretto, lemon, raspberry
  • A Kiwi in Cancun — Mezcal, kiwifruit, green apple, lime, paprika
  • Espresso Martini — Chocolate vodka, espresso, caramel syrup, Kahlua
  • Cosmopolitan — Vodka, raspberry, lime, triple sec, cranberry
  • Kai Mata Paloma (Version 2) — Tequila, watermelon, grapefruit, thyme, lime
  • Strawberry and Basil Caipirinha — Cachaça, strawberry, lime, basil
  • Passion in Manhattan — Rye whisky, 144 Vermouth #2, passionfruit, bitters
  • Bee's Knees — Gin, honey and ginger, sauvignon blanc, lemon
  • Apple Sour — Apple syrup, white rum, lemon, apple juice
  • Mezcal Mary — Mezcal, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, spice

Mocktails

  • Cinderella Comes to Kerikeri — Watermelon, pineapple, passionfruit, lime, orange
  • Garden Spritz — Cucumber, mint, lime, elderflower, soda
  • Pal-no-ma — Grapefruit, lime, orange, basil
  • Strawberry and Basil Spritz — Strawberry, lime, basil, ginger beer
  • Sunny Days — Watermelon, grapefruit, thyme, lime
  • From the Grape Vine — Grape juice, rosemary, lemon, soda

Beer & Cider

  • PhatHouse Lighthouse Lager (Draft) — Locally brewed 400ml draft lager
  • PhatHouse Riwaka Hazy IPA (Draft) — Locally brewed 400ml draft hazy IPA
  • PhatHouse Mega Mega Lager — 400ml craft beer can
  • PhatHouse Midnight Espresso Stout — 400ml dark craft stout can
  • PhatHouse Apple Cider — 330ml bottled apple cider
  • Sawmill Pilsner — 330ml bottled craft pilsner
  • Sawmill Pale Ale — 330ml bottled craft pale ale
  • Sawmill Hazy IPA — 330ml bottled craft hazy IPA
  • Sawmill Nimble 2.5% — Low-alcohol bottled craft beer
  • Sawmill Bare no Beer 0% — Alcohol-free bottled craft beer

Non-Alcoholic & Hot Drinks

  • KeriTea Selection — Varieties including English, jasmine green, berry, lemon ginger manuka, Manuka mint, peppermint, rooibos, hibiscus & honeybush, Earl Grey
  • Coffee — Freshly brewed espresso coffees
  • Soft Drinks — Coke, Coke Zero, Ginger beer, Tonic, Lemonade, Lemon lime bitters, Soda
  • Juices — Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Tomato, Grape, Grapefruit, Kiwi

Spring Function Menu (Groups Of 8+)

  • Group Shared Snacks — Fry bread with roasted pepper hummus, duck croquettes with beetroot relish, and fried chicken with blue cheese sauce
  • Group Mains Selection — Choice of sirloin with cauliflower puree and onion rings, crispy pan seared fish with beans, chorizo and mussels, or curry empanada
  • Group Shared Sides — Twice cooked chips with truffle aioli and parmesan, plus cos salad with blue cheese sauce and walnuts
  • Group Desserts Selection — Choice of sticky date pudding with salted bourbon caramel or apple crumble with vegan ice cream and malibu coconut caramel

Summer Function Menu (Groups Of 8+)

  • Summer Group Shared Snacks — Prawn brioche rolls, smoked ham & cheese croquettes, and fried chicken
  • Summer Group Mains Selection — Choice of steak with truffle mash, pan seared salmon with pearl couscous pesto, or herb gnocchi with pumpkin and pesto
  • Summer Group Shared Sides — Twice cooked chips with parmesan and fresh garden salad
  • Summer Group Desserts Selection — Choice of chocolate mousse with basil and macadamia or pineapple cake with rum caramelised pineapples

Frequently asked questions

Where is Kai Mata Restaurant located?
The restaurant is located at 93 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri 0230, Northland.
What are the opening hours?
Kai Mata is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
How can I make a booking at Kai Mata?
Reservations can be made by emailing bookings@kaimatarestaurant.com or by calling +64 9 401 6464 or 021 08337397.
Does Kai Mata cater to group bookings or functions?
Yes, dedicated set function menus are offered for groups of 8 or more, featuring shared starters and sides alongside individual mains and desserts.
Are there vegetarian and dietary-friendly options available?
Yes, the menu includes items marked as vegan, no dairy added, no gluten added, and no nuts added, and dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.
Do you offer non-alcoholic drink options?
Yes, Kai Mata offers a range of house mocktails, KeriTea blends, espresso coffee, sodas, juices, and zero-alcohol craft beer.

Tips

  • {"body":"Kai Mata features an outdoor courtyard area that is ideal for enjoying relaxed lunches and sunny afternoons in Kerikeri.","title":"Enjoy the Courtyard"}
  • {"body":"If you are planning an outing with eight or more people, ask in advance about the seasonal set function menus.","title":"Book Ahead for Groups"}
  • {"body":"Take advantage of the drinks list featuring regional Northland vineyards like The Landing, 144 Islands, Marsden Estate, and Dancing Petrel.","title":"Sample Local Northland Wines"}
  • {"body":"Cocktail and wine pairings are available for each course—feel free to ask your server for recommended matches.","title":"Ask About Pairings"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"Menu clearly marks no-gluten, no-dairy, no-nut, and vegan options; kitchen accommodates dietary needs with advance notice."}