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Christchurch
Reviewed by Diana
Other
Christchurch Restaurants
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Date/Time:
Saturday 10th November 2007, 7 pm
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Restaurant:
Sezn Restaurant
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Booking:
recommended - but you might be lucky if you just call in 381 2496
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Where
to Find:
705 Gloucester St., Linwood, Christchurch
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Parking:On the street
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Service:
Personal, knowledgeable, and nothing-too-much-trouble for Debbie and staff. We were most impressed with the attention to detail, with Debbie asking when we booked about food allergies. Unobtrusive utterly professional waiter for the bulk of our evening, interrupted by an annoying man later on who nicked our wine list and seemed particuarly keen to rush us to order desserts ... maybe I'm being unkind and he was just being efficient?
Presentation:
The food is total five-star quality in both presentation and taste. Extra little touches, such as the divine mushroom soup amuse-bouche, really made our night. Staff are smartly dressed, the restaurant itself funky rather than chic, and the newly extended outdoor garden (the ideal venue for the Friday and Saturday jazz lunches) is a gem.
Wine List:
Somewhat eclectic - frankly I would rather have seen an all NZ winelist, but then I'm a well-known bluff old traditionalist when it comes to supporting our own excellent wine industry! (having said that, I did enjoy the gentle, sophistocated sweet apple and toasted brioche of the Ayala ...) Great to see a small local producer, Tresillian, featured. We took the recommendation of one of the owners, Debbie, and tried their 2006 Pinot Noir and were favourably impressed. It was the perfect foil for my warm duck with chorizo, potato and greens; well-balanced, fruity, with a slight hint of licorice, rich and zingy with a great tannin/acid backbone.
Value for
Money:
Fantastic. We tried the prix fixe menu, and for $55 were treated to an entree, main course, side dish to share and dessert each. With such unexpected and exciting combinations as pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree and watercress (converting even my cauli-hating husband) using the freshest locally-sourced produce no-one could complain about the value offered for your dollar at Sezn. It's hard to choose a dish to recommend, but don't go past the braised pork belly and roast loin with apple and walnut salad - the contrast of flavours and textures in the two different pork treatments had my beloved in raptures.
Ambience:
This restaurant was initially The Bookshop, then became Trilogy, then the Cocoa Club - and having tried them all my view is that this is the best yet. After the departure of chef Jonny Schwass to set up his own restaurant I wondered what I'd find ... have no fear, Sezn will become a fast favourite.
The feel
good factor:
There aren't many places in Christchurch where you can enjoy food, wine and service of this calibre in your jeans. I'll certainly be going back, and taking friends.The only thing I'd change on the menu is the inclusion of an English cheese - can't see the point when we do the job so well here
Highly Recommended
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