Pātaka Kai is the restaurant at Te Puia on Hemo Road in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, and it overlooks the Pōhutu Geyser. Its food is Māori cuisine, served as brunch, lunch and dinner buffets. Dishes listed on the website include pork rib boil-up with kūmara, cabbage and watercress, mānuka smoked bacon caesar salad, a Cajun seafood boil and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with horopito gravy. Dishes carry labels for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options, including a tofu and vegetable coconut curry. Tea and coffee are included with the buffet, and other drinks are sold separately.
The restaurant is open to the public daily for lunch and dinner, according to the website. It sits within Te Puia, which offers guided tours of the geothermal valley, the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Our pick in Whakarewarewa for a buffet meal above the geyser.