Inati

The Inati experience is an experience like no other. Tucked in a beautifully designed space on Hereford Street, Inati delivers a personalised dining experience which aims to challenge the palate and open the mind to the magic which can be made from the finest Canterbury and New Zealand produce around.

At Inati, guests are seated at the polished brass chef’s table on beautiful leather-armed chairs where they are able to watch chefs prepare their meals in front of them. And what is being created will not disappoint nor will it bore – chef and owner Simon Levy’s innovative offering of small and larger sharing plates includes wonders such as Boeuf-nuts – a salty-sweet doughnut filled with braised beef cheek sitting in a rich pool of beef liquor and Donkey Carrot – a beautiful slow cooked carrot served with pear, taleggio cheese and hazelnut praline. These two dishes sit alongside a raft of other delicious plates, all designed for sharing, whether you’re in degustation-mode or just wanting to share a snack with a glass of wine. And speaking of wine, Inati’s offering is sourced only from vineyards and viticulturists known to the restaurant and sit perfectly alongside their memorable fare.

But the Inati experience goes beyond the beautiful food and wine – it’s about the details too. Owners Simon and Lisa Levy have put an incredible amount of thought into the experience, right down to personally designing the plates that the food is served on, which Simon says are made by a local potter and are speckled with earthquake liquefaction as a constant reminder of where Christchurch has been and where it is heading in it’s post-quake regeneration. It’s fair to say the future of the city’s dining scene is certainly shining bright thanks to Inati.