Gastronomics Restaurant Cafe & Bar

About Gastronomics Restaurant Cafe & Bar

Gastronomics Restaurant Cafe & Bar is a restaurant on the main street of Thames at 428-430 Pollen Street, run by head chef and owner Kishan Raikwar and his wife, co-founder Radha Raikwar. Kishan brings over 34 years of hospitality experience to the kitchen, having trained at a five-star hotel in New Delhi before working as head chef at venues including the Whangamata Ocean Sports Club and Whangamata Club Inc. He is a member of the New Zealand Chef Association and has been a culinary judge at the NZ Chef's Championships for 17 years.

Gastronomics has been recognised with the 2021 Hauraki Coromandel Business Award for Hospitality, and in 2024 received a High Commended in the Community Contribution category and was a finalist in Waste Minimisation. The couple's varied hospitality background means the menu draws on Kiwi, European, Asian and Italian influences, alongside wild food.

The restaurant serves dinner from 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. A children's menu and vegetarian options are available, and each main comes with a suggested wine pairing.

Gastronomics: Award-Winning Dining on Thames' Main Street

On Pollen Street in the heart of Thames, **Gastronomics Restaurant Cafe & Bar** has built a loyal following as one of the town's most enjoyed dining spots, known for its fresh food, friendly staff, and a bespoke range of drinks.

A Chef's Journey

Behind the restaurant is head chef and founder Kishan Raikwar, whose hospitality career began at age 13 as a kitchen hand and later took him to The Claridges, a five-star hotel in New Delhi, where he built the foundations of his cooking skills. After moving to New Zealand in 2001, Kishan worked as head chef and restaurant manager at the Whangamata Ocean Sports Club, serving around 700 meals a day at peak times for a membership of roughly 5,000, before working as head chef and caterer for Whangamata Club Inc.

Kishan and his wife Radha, the restaurant's co-founder, purchased the Pollen Street building from a friend in 2018 and transformed the former retail shop into Gastronomics. With over 34 years of combined hospitality experience, the couple bring a wide range of cuisine to the menu, spanning old-fashioned Kiwi favourites, European, Asian and Italian dishes, and wild food.

Award-Winning Reputation

Gastronomics won the Hauraki Coromandel Business Award for Hospitality in 2021, and in 2024 was High Commended in the Community Contribution category and named a finalist in Waste Minimisation at the same awards. Kishan is a member of the New Zealand Chef Association and has served as a culinary judge at the NZ Chef's Championships for 17 years.

What's on the Menu

The menu leans into premium New Zealand produce, with mains like the Waikato Prime Silver Fern Farm Beef Eye Fillet, oven roasted on manuka wood and served with tiger prawns and a red wine beef jus, and Alpine Prime Venison Ribs, smoked and slow-cooked with a dark rum and hickory BBQ sauce. Seafood lovers can choose from panfried scallops, a home-smoked Akaroa salmon fillet, or the local fresh fish of the day, prepared to the chef's own creation.

Each main comes with a recommended wine pairing, from a Leveret Estate Chardonnay alongside the vegetarian fettuccine pasta to a Diggers Law Pinot Noir with the venison ribs. Starters include a homemade venison kofta kabab and a Coromandel mussel chowder, while desserts range from a Totara cream liqueur pannacotta to a Turkish date and toffee steamed pudding.

Visiting Gastronomics

Gastronomics serves dinner from 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. A children's menu covers simpler options like chicken tenders and mini hotdogs, and a vegetarian fettuccine pasta is available for non-meat eaters. Bookings can be made by phone or through the restaurant's online booking system.

With its award-winning kitchen, varied cuisine, and central Thames location, Gastronomics continues to be a destination for locals and visitors looking for a memorable dining experience on the Coromandel.

Signature items

• Waikato Prime Silver Fern Farm Beef Eye Fillet
• Alpine Prime Venison Ribs
• Scallops, Panfried
• Canterbury Lamb Shank
• Akaroa Salmon Fillet
• Homemade Venison Kofta Kabab

Menu

Mains

• Vegetarian Fettuccine Pasta — Fresh fettuccine pasta, vegetables, baby spinach, cream, herbs & parmesan cheese.
• Waitoa Free Range Chicken Tender, Bacon Wrapped, Oven Baked — Grapefruit juice marinated chicken tenders, sauteed vegetables, potato and herb rosti, baby spinach, cranberry sauce.
• Waikato Prime Silver Fern Farm Beef Eye Fillet — Oven roast on manuka wood with garlic mushroom, kumara, baby potato, leek, tiger prawns and red wine beef jus.
• Alpine Prime Venison Ribs — Smoked and slow-cooked, agria potato fries, Asian slaw salad, dark rum and hickory BBQ sauce.
• Akaroa Salmon Fillet, Home Smoked — Mixed vegetables rosti, baby spinach, citrus and fennel hollandaise.
• Local Fresh Fish of the Day — The chef's daily creation - ask your server.
• Heineken Beer Battered Fresh Fish — Seasonal salad, fries, tartare sauce.
• Cambridge Duck, Oven Roast — Herbed gourmet potato, sauteed vegetables, baby spinach, red wine ginger sweet soy sauce.
• Scallops, Panfried — Sauteed vegetables, gourmet potato, kumara, baby spinach, white wine herb mornay and green citrus sauce.
• Canterbury Lamb Shank, 5 Hour Braised — Caramelised onion and bacon mash, kumara fries, baby spinach, rosemary red wine beef jus.
• Authentic Curry of the Day — Served with rice & poppadum, mango chutney, seasonal salad.
• Opoutere River White Bait Omelette — Garden salad, fries, tartare sauce.
• Chicken Open Sandwich — Crispy fried free range chicken, garden salad, ciabatta garlic bread, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic aioli and potato fries.

Sides

• Potato Fries — Side of potato fries.
• Kumara Fries — Side of kumara fries.
• Green Salad — Side green salad.
• Five Grain Ciabatta Garlic Bread — Side of garlic bread.
• Fresh Sauteed Vegetables — Side of sauteed vegetables.

Dessert

• Totara Cream Liqueur Pannacotta — A customer favourite dessert.
• Apple & Caramel Tart — Classic apple and caramel tart.
• Cheesecake of the Day — A specially chosen daily cheesecake.
• Rice & Coconut Pudding — Rice, coconut, almond, cashew, pumpkin seed and cranberry.
• Turkish Date and Toffee Steamed Pudding — A classic steamed pudding.
• Rich Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie — A rich chocolate fudge brownie.
• Sundae — Available in chocolate, caramel, strawberry, passion fruit, boysenberry or raspberry.

Starters

• Five Grain Ciabatta Garlic Bread — Freshly baked, freshly cooked.
• Five Grain Ciabatta Garlic Bread with Bacon and Mozzarella — Freshly baked, freshly cooked, with extras.
• Chef Special Coromandel Mussel Chowder — Served with ciabatta garlic bread.
• Sauteed Mushrooms — With garlic, green herb, citrus and garlic ciabatta bread.
• Homemade Venison Kofta Kabab — Homemade venison dumplings, mint & coriander sauce.
• Salt & Pepper Calamari — Fresh greens, house citrus aioli.
• Shrimp Cocktail — Large marinated shrimps, house special sauce, fresh greens.
• Garlic Tiger Prawn — Panfried tiger prawns, mild Thai sweet chilli sauce, green herb, fresh greens.
• Prime Beef Nachos — A celebration of wholesome beef goodness.

Children'S Menu

• Battered Fresh Fish with Fries — Kids portion with fries.
• Chicken Tenders with Fries — Kids portion with fries.
• Mini Hotdog with Fries — Kids portion with fries.
• Popcorn Chicken Bites with Fries — Kids portion with fries.
• Chicken Nuggets with Fries — Kids portion with fries.

Frequently asked questions

What type of food does Gastronomics serve?

Gastronomics serves a mix of Kiwi, European, Asian and Italian dishes, with a focus on premium local produce like beef, venison, lamb and seafood.

What are Gastronomics' opening hours?

Dinner is served from 5pm, Monday to Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Who is the head chef at Gastronomics?

Kishan Raikwar, who has over 34 years of hospitality experience and co-founded the restaurant with his wife Radha.

Has Gastronomics won any awards?

Yes, it won the 2021 Hauraki Coromandel Business Award for Hospitality, and was recognised in two categories at the 2024 awards.

Does Gastronomics have a children's menu?

Yes, a children's menu includes options like chicken tenders and mini hotdogs with fries.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes, a vegetarian fettuccine pasta is available.

Can I book a table at Gastronomics?

Yes, tables can be booked by phone or through the restaurant's online booking system.

Tips

• {"body":"Bookings can be made via the 24/7 phone line or online booking system.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"Each main comes with a recommended wine pairing.","title":"Ask about the wine pairing"}
• {"body":"The beef eye fillet, venison ribs and scallops are among the standout mains.","title":"Try a signature dish"}
• {"body":"Gastronomics is closed on Sundays, open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 5pm.","title":"Plan around Sunday closures"}

Good to know

• {"family":"A children's menu is available.","dietary":"A vegetarian fettuccine pasta option is available."}