Social Kitchen

About Social Kitchen

Social Kitchen is a shared-dining restaurant housed in the historic former Salvation Army Citadel in New Plymouth, offering a cosy, character-filled atmosphere built for connection and conversation. Chefs cook with authenticity using a Mibrasa charcoal oven, drawing out the natural flavours of every ingredient, with a menu designed around the belief that food tastes better when shared.

The restaurant is co-owned by Blair and Karen, friends of over 30 years and business partners for more than a decade. Blair is the culinary force behind the kitchen, with over 25 years of experience as a chef and a food philosophy built on letting quality, locally-sourced ingredients speak for themselves. Karen and her front-of-house team bring the hospitality side to life, giving Social Kitchen the warm, welcoming atmosphere this award-winning restaurant is known for.

Dinner only, the menu moves through small plates, large charcoal-cooked sharing plates, sides and dessert, with a dessert cocktail list for those looking to finish the evening in style.

Social Kitchen: Charcoal, Sharing Plates and a Historic Citadel in New Plymouth

Housed in the historic former Salvation Army Citadel in New Plymouth, Social Kitchen has turned a heritage building into a warm, character-filled setting for shared dining. The philosophy is straightforward: cook with authenticity, use a Mibrasa charcoal oven to bring out the natural flavour of every ingredient, and build a menu designed for the table rather than the individual plate.

A Kitchen Built on 30 Years of Friendship

Social Kitchen is run by Blair and Karen, friends of more than 30 years and business partners for over a decade. Blair leads the kitchen with over 25 years of chef experience and a food philosophy of "don't mess with a good product" - letting quality, locally-sourced ingredients do the talking. Karen and her front-of-house team bring the hospitality side to life, with decades of customer service experience behind the warm, welcoming atmosphere this award-winning restaurant has become known for. Together, the pair have built Social Kitchen into an iconic part of New Plymouth's dining scene.

Small Plates to Start

Dinner begins with small plates built for sharing - a white fish ceviche with coconut cream and granny smith, a South Island venison tartare with smoked creme fraiche, and the Flaming Whitestone Halloumi, served with lemon, thyme, grapes and ouzo alongside house-baked focaccia. Croquettes filled with Spanish chorizo and nduja mayonnaise and a crispy polenta cauliflower round out the starters.

Charcoal-Led Large Plates

The large plates are where the Mibrasa charcoal oven does its work. A Black Angus picanha is served medium-rare with chimichurri, while a lamb shoulder is slow cooked for twelve hours with rosemary, garlic, lemon, chilli and balsamic. A beef cheek braised in Shining Peak dark lager, a slow cooked beef shoulder with pink peppercorn jus, and fresh fish fillets with beurre blanc and gremolata give the menu range beyond red meat, alongside a crumbed heirloom tomato dish for a vegetarian option.

Sides and a Sweet Finish

Sides lean into the same charcoal-and-share approach, from baby carrots with honey and smoked yoghurt to an SK gnocchi in blue cheese and cream. Dessert covers a baked toffee custard, a chocolate panna cotta with strawberry salsa, and a caramelised white chocolate semifreddo with Black Doris plum - plus two dessert cocktails, the Jelly Tip and the Lemon Tart, for guests looking to extend the evening (R18).

Visiting Social Kitchen

Social Kitchen is dinner only, open seven nights a week from 5pm at 40 Powderham Street, New Plymouth, with later closes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Signature items

• Black Angus Picanha
• Lamb Shoulder
• Beef Cheek
• Venison Tartare
• Flaming Whitestone Halloumi
• SK Gnocchi

Menu

Sides

• Baby Carrots — Honey, thyme, black sesame, smoked yoghurt
• Baby Peas — Bacon, Spanish onion, cherry tomatoes, ricotta, thyme
• Crispy Potatoes — Smoked duck fat
• Grilled Broccolini — Beurre blanc, toasted almonds, buffalo curd, basil
• SK Gnocchi — Blue cheese, cream, black pepper
• Roebuck Greens — Pesto, grana padano
• Butternut Pumpkin — Chick peas, rosemary, buffalo curd, caper and raisin vinaigrette

Dessert

• Baked Toffee Custard — House dessert
• Chocolate Panna Cotta — Strawberry salsa, berry mascarpone
• Lemon Curd Cheesecake — Biscuit crumb, torched marshmallow
• Orange Sorbet — Orange praline
• Caramelised White Chocolate Semifreddo — Black Doris plum, plum compote, mint
• Dessert Cocktail - Jelly Tip — Baileys, raspberry liqueur, creme de cacao (R18)
• Dessert Cocktail - Lemon Tart — Limoncello, vodka, lemon curd, meringue (R18)

Large Plates

• Beef Cheek — Shining Peak dark lager, chipotle, pesto
• Slow Cooked Beef Shoulder — Onion soubise, pink peppercorn jus, beef crackle
• Black Angus Picanha — Served medium-rare with chimichurri
• Charred Chicken — Green goddess, roasted chicken skin, chilli crisp
• Lamb Shoulder — Slow cooked 12 hours, rosemary, garlic, lemon, chilli, balsamic
• Crumbed Heirloom Tomatoes — Tomato and fennel ragu, fresh mozzarella, smoked yoghurt, basil
• Fresh Fish Fillets — Peas, beurre blanc, capers, gremolata
• Pork Belly Cuchifrito — Red beans, chargrilled capsicum, fresh herbs, citrus gremolata

Small Plates

• White Fish Ceviche — Coconut cream, lemon, shaved radish, Spanish onion, granny smith
• Venison Tartare — South Island venison leg, smoked creme fraiche, sourdough croutons, grana padano
• Beetroot Bruschetta — Truffled cashew cream, capers, shallots, seeded mustard, balsamic gel
• Firecracker Chicken — Tatua sour cream, sweet and sour red onions
• Croquettes — Spanish chorizo, charred corn, mozzarella, nduja mayonnaise
• Crispy Polenta Cauliflower — Apple dressing, lemon
• Flaming Whitestone Halloumi — Lemon, thyme, grapes, ouzo, house baked focaccia
• House Baked Focaccia — Aged balsamic, chilli butter, hummus, dukkah

Frequently asked questions

Where is Social Kitchen located?

At 40 Powderham Street, New Plymouth, in a historic former Salvation Army Citadel.

What are Social Kitchen's hours?

Dinner only, Monday to Thursday and Sunday 5pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm-midnight.

Is Social Kitchen open for lunch?

No, it is a dinner-only restaurant.

What is Social Kitchen known for?

Shared dining cooked over a Mibrasa charcoal oven, including dishes like the Black Angus picanha and 12-hour lamb shoulder.

Who owns Social Kitchen?

Blair and Karen, friends of over 30 years and co-owners for more than a decade.

Does Social Kitchen have dessert cocktails?

Yes, including the Jelly Tip and Lemon Tart cocktails, both R18.

Tips

• {"body":"The menu is built around small and large plates designed for the table.","title":"Come hungry, come sharing"}
• {"body":"Dishes like the picanha and lamb shoulder showcase the Mibrasa charcoal oven.","title":"Try the charcoal-cooked mains"}
• {"body":"Reservations can be made via the website.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"The Jelly Tip and Lemon Tart cocktails round out the dessert menu (R18).","title":"Stay for a dessert cocktail"}