To share
In the Central City’s West End, INATI takes a unique approach to fine dining.
Celebrating its sixth year, INATI, meaning ‘to share’ in Te Reo Māori, is led by husband-and-wife Simon and Lisa Levy. Simon, the executive chef, and Lisa, managing business operations, lead a team of 10 passionate hospitality professionals.
Simon’s passion for food traces back to his early memories of Covent Garden markets in London. After 15 years of honing his skills in the UK, he and Hawke’s Bay-born Lisa immigrated to New Zealand in 2013.
Opening in 2017, INATI is still a young restaurant, though it has made an impact, making it into the Cuisine Good Food Guide’s Top 100 restaurants in New Zealand the year after it opened – no easy feat in your first year.
Since then, it has continued to wow diners, winning several awards. This year, INATI was named a finalist in the Best Metropolitan Restaurant category at the Cuisine Good Food Awards. It is also one of three 2-hatted restaurants in the Canterbury region, among a select group of 26 in the country, featured in the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2023/24.
INATI’s culinary philosophy centres on showcasing the best seasonal produce from Canterbury. The menu includes categories like Earth, Land, Sea, Large Plates, and Nectar, available à la carte or as ‘Trust Us’ set menus.
At the heart of the restaurant is a chef’s table, providing a view of the kitchen for 19 diners. Conventional table options are also available for a more intimate dining experience.
Simon’s classic French training meets culinary innovation on the menu. Highlights include the Boeuf-nut, a braised beef cheek-filled doughnut, and the famous duck trumpets and blackberry jam waffle cones – inspired by Simon and Lisa’s children enjoying ice cream, these creations have been menu staples since the restaurant’s 2017 opening.
INATI offers lunch on Fridays, with the addition of Thursday and Saturday lunch services for the remainder of the year. Dinner is served from Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are recommended, though walk-ins are welcome when space is available, and there is always room in the lounge for guests to pop in for cocktails and a snack without enjoying the full menu.