The Bistro

restaurant — Taupō · Taupo

About The Bistro

The Bistro is a family-owned, family-run restaurant on Tamamutu Street in Taupo, offering what it describes as Kiwi-style dining at a price everyone can afford. Owners Jude and Tiffany Messenger built the restaurant around Jude's 30 years of kitchen experience in New Zealand and overseas, and the menu reflects that background - seasonal, simple, clean flavours built from fresh local produce.

Dishes change with the seasons, from starters like grilled celeriac and crispy fish cakes to mains such as golden crackled pork belly and a grilled Scotch fillet of Greenstone Creek beef. Beyond the regular dinner menu, The Bistro also offers a six-course degustation with matched New Zealand and international wines, and set two, three and four course group menus for parties of 11 or more.

The restaurant has been recognised with two hats in the Cuisine Good Food Guide, a distinction the owners describe as an honour "amongst so much great talent." The Bistro is open Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to 9pm, and takes table bookings and gift card purchases directly through its website.

The Bistro Taupo: Family-Run, Two-Hatted Kiwi-Style Dining

On Tamamutu Street in Taupo, The Bistro is a family-owned and family-run restaurant built around a simple idea: give locals and visitors a genuine Kiwi-style dining experience at a price everyone can afford. It's owned and operated by Jude and Tiffany Messenger, with Jude bringing 30 years of experience in demanding kitchens in New Zealand and overseas to the menu.

A Seasonal, Produce-Led Menu

The dinner menu is shaped by the seasons, built from fresh local produce and simple, clean flavours. Starters range from a grilled celeriac with truffle and Kinloch honey dressing to a wild rabbit terrine with chicken liver and quince brown butter. Mains include a golden crackled pork belly, a boneless lamb shoulder wrapped in bacon, and a grilled Scotch fillet of Greenstone Creek beef with truffle tortelloni. The kitchen lists calamari cooked sous vide, golden crackled pork belly, wild rabbit and chicken liver terrine, and Tahitian vanilla crème brulee among its self-described crowd favourites.

Degustation and Group Dining

For a fuller experience, The Bistro offers a six-course degustation menu - a sample of the kitchen's current favourite dishes, thoughtfully paired with New Zealand and international wines and guided by a team member through each pairing. For larger parties, set two, three and four course group menus are available for bookings of 11 or more guests, with vegetarian and vegan courses available on request.

Recognition and Values

The Bistro has been awarded two hats in the Cuisine Good Food Guide, a distinction owner Jude Messenger describes as both proud and honoured, "especially amongst so much great talent." The restaurant's philosophy is summed up simply: "keeping it simple but nice." That ethos extends to family - the Messengers speak of raising their children with an appreciation for life's simplest things, and making that available to the next generation.

Visiting The Bistro

The Bistro is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 5pm to 9pm, at 17 Tamamutu Street, Taupo. Guests can book a table or purchase gift cards directly through the website, and a dedicated kids menu is available for younger diners. Whether it's an a la carte dinner, the wine-matched degustation, or a set group menu for a celebration, The Bistro positions itself as a relaxed, produce-focused dining option in the heart of Taupo.

Signature items

  • Calamari Cooked Sous Vide
  • Golden Crackled Pork Belly
  • Wild Rabbit & Chicken Liver Terrine
  • Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee
  • Grilled Scotch Fillet
  • Six-Course Degustation

Menu

Kids

  • Handmade Pasta Ribbons — Pork belly, tomato sauce, garden vegetables, parmesan cheese
  • Battered Hawkes Bay Fish — Carrot sticks, chunky chips (gluten free)
  • Crumbed Chicken Tenders — Carrot sticks, chunky chips
  • Classic Ice Cream Sundae — Peanuts, choice of chocolate or raspberry sauce
  • Fresh Fruit & Ice Cream — Peanuts, choice of chocolate or raspberry sauce
  • Raspberry Ice Cream Soda — Peanuts, choice of chocolate or raspberry sauce

Mains

  • Roasted Butternut Squash Cake — Local chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, Blue Earth EVO, balsamic reduction (vegan, gluten free)
  • Today's Fresh Fish — Hot and sour coconut broth, shiitake, pickled mung beans, handmade noodle ribbons, coriander (dairy free)
  • Golden Crackled Pork Belly — Kumara, orange, walnuts, pineapple, granny smith apple, pickled red cabbage, grain mustard dressing (gluten free)
  • Boneless Lamb Shoulder — Wrapped in bacon, cannellini beans, Jerusalem artichoke, anchovy and brown butter dressing (gluten free)
  • Grilled Scotch Fillet — Greenstone Creek beef, truffle tortelloni, celeriac cream, toasted Grana Padano, black pepper dressing

Sides

  • Bread & Butter — Handmade sourdough, lemon brown butter
  • Marinated Olives — Citrus zest, thyme (vegan, gluten free)
  • Rocket Leaves — Pear, lemon miso dressing (vegan, gluten free)
  • Chunky Fries — Roasted aioli (vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free)
  • Sauté Vegetables — Red spiced saute of the season's vegetables (vegetarian, gluten free)
  • Crispy Battered Vegetables — Toasted nori salt, sweet chilli aioli (vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free)

Sweets

  • Tamarillo Iced Tea Sorbet — Cinnamon, mint, tamarillo seed meringue (gluten free, dairy free)
  • Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee — Cooked sous vide, orange polenta cookies
  • Feijoa and Hazelnut Financier — White wine poached feijoa cake, vanilla ice cream, hazelnut cracker
  • Sourdough Pudding — Bread and butter pudding, vanilla cured mandarins, classic kiwi custard, star anise ice cream
  • Cheese Board — Over the Moon Camembert from Putaruru, Mt Eliza Blue Monkey from Katikati, Te Tihi 3-year-old cheddar from the Kapiti Coast, with handmade crackers, Kinloch honey, preserves and sourdough toast (half or full board)

Starters

  • Grilled Celeriac — Pickled fennel, walnuts, grapes, truffle and Kinloch honey dressing (vegan, gluten free)
  • Crispy Fish Cakes — Smoked fish chowder, sauce gribiche (gluten free)
  • Calamari Cooked Sous Vide — Handmade lemon gnocchi, fried capers, gremolata, champagne veloute
  • Wild Rabbit Terrine — Chicken liver, salsa verde, house pickles, pistachio nuts, quince brown butter, sourdough toast
  • Cambridge Duck Leg Confit — Mushroom and light soy a la grecque, green onion stems, coriander (gluten free, dairy free)

Degustation (6 Courses)

  • Grilled Celeriac — Paired with The Bistro Brut NV (Hawkes Bay)
  • Calamari Cooked Sous Vide — Paired with Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
  • Crispy Fish Cakes — Paired with Squawking Magpie Gravels Chardonnay (Gimblett Gravels)
  • Tamarillo Iced Tea Sorbet — Paired with a loose leaf tisane
  • Cambridge Duck Leg Confit — Paired with Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir (Martinborough)
  • Sourdough Bread Pudding — Paired with Coney Sticky Fingers Riesling (Martinborough)

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Bistro located?
At 17 Tamamutu Street, Taupo.
What are the opening hours?
Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to 9pm.
Does The Bistro offer a degustation menu?
Yes, a six-course degustation featuring current favourite dishes paired with New Zealand and international wine.
Can I book for a large group?
Yes, set two, three and four course group menus are available for parties of 11 or more guests.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes, many dishes are marked vegan, gluten free or dairy free, and vegetarian/vegan courses are available on request for group menus.
Has The Bistro won any awards?
Yes, it has been awarded two hats in the Cuisine Good Food Guide.
Is there a kids menu?
Yes, including handmade pasta ribbons, battered fish, crumbed chicken tenders and ice cream desserts.

Tips

  • {"body":"The Bistro takes table bookings directly through its website, useful given its Good Food Guide recognition.","title":"Book ahead"}
  • {"body":"The six-course, wine-matched degustation offers a curated sample of the kitchen's current favourites.","title":"Try the degustation for a special occasion"}
  • {"body":"Set two, three or four course menus are available for groups of 11 or more, with vegetarian/vegan options on request.","title":"Ask about group menus for larger parties"}
  • {"body":"Many dishes are already marked vegan, gluten free or dairy free, but let the team know of any specific requirements.","title":"Flag dietary needs in advance"}

Good to know

  • {"family":"Dedicated kids menu available","dietary":"Many dishes marked vegan, gluten free or dairy free; please advise of dietary requirements when booking"}