Where to find the best cocktails, chai, fish and chips, fresh fruit ice cream and more in Raglan, according to hospitality veterans Chantelle Rodrigo and Ludo Maignot.
With its black sand beaches, world-class surfing and picturesque views of Karioi looming over the harbour, Raglan is one of the country’s most idyllic towns. It also happens to be a very good place to eat.
For the last five years, the laidback west coast settlement has been the home of Chantelle Rodrigo and Ludo Maignot (Te Rarawa), who made the shift from Tāmaki Makaurau to raise their kids closer to whānau.
Both have foodie credentials. Rodrigo worked for years in hospitality in Toronto and Auckland. She now works as a customer insights specialist while completing a Masters degree in counselling. Maignot is a former restaurateur who co-founded L’Oeuf, Chinoiserie and Kiss Kiss in Auckland, before opening Mission Dumpling in Ngāruawahia. These days, he’s studying permaculture and horticulture with a particular interest in conservation, waste minimisation and innovation.
But their love for food goes deeper than their CVs. “We’ve come from very intensely food-focused cultures,” says Rodrigo. (Maignot is also French, and Rodrigo is South Indian.)
These are their favourite places for date night meals, bags of freshly popped popcorn, takeaway sushi and, of course, fish and chips best eaten with a view of the water.
Three words (other than vibrant) that sum up the food in Raglan: Creative, fresh, comforting.
My most controversial food opinion about Raglan: It’s pretty limited and could use less cafes and more dinner spots.
Everyone has a dining out pet peeve. Mine is: Inconsistent service. It’s so much harder because we’ve both been in hospitality for years and have a good sense of systems, so it’s clear when a place really lacks it.
The best restaurant in Raglan is: The Shack! It’s a cafe and the food is good and the service is consistently awesome. In terms of ambiance, I would have to pick Ulo’s Kitchen. The decor is Japanese surf and the music is what brings the place to life. Cian (from Auckland’s Conch Records) often DJs there on Fridays, and the rest of the time, it’s a winning playlist. It has such a good vibe and the food and cocktails are also pretty decent.
Why I love The Shack: It’s a cafe that’s really embedded itself in the community in a genuine way. It was my first stop with a newborn where I could comfortably sit and have a coffee, breastfeed and feel cared for by whoever worked there. They also host Kawhe Kōrero once a week where people wanting to learn te reo Māori can pop in and engage with it. And of course, the food: it’s delicious! The cabinet food varies, the sweet treats hit the spot without hurting your teeth, and I appreciate that they’re just a bit more creative and willing to try new things. They change up their menu often too.
My go-to order is: Oooh, this is a tough one. Right now a favourite is the fried chicken burger with fries. It’s got juicy Korean fried chicken (nothing worse than a dry chicken burger), gochujang honey sauce, ginger, pickles, coriander slaw, mayo on a brioche bun and the fries have this delicious seasoning that I still haven’t figured out. It’s addictive. And to top it off, we often share the burnt butter slice with yoghurt. The sourness of the yogurt helps balance out the sweetness of the slice. It’s ridiculous how good (and underrated!) it is.
When I’m craving something cheap and cheerful I head to: Fish and chips at the Anchor Inn takeaway at Te Kopua, Every one raves about the wharf fish and chips (which is also great) but the locals tend to hit Anchor Inn because it’s more bang for your buck and the portions are generous, plus our little one can go and have a play while we wait for kai.
A place I’ve been dying to try is: Molasses on Volcom Lane! But every time I find myself in town, they’re closed. I’ve heard such good things from friends I trust.
Celebrating with a group? Book a table at: Ulo’s Kitchen.
Pub or bar of choice: The Yard. We’re really lucky to have such great musicians come to Raglan. Try the Jamaican (alcoholic) ginger beer. It’s spicy and gets you warmed up for the gig.
Got visitors from out of town? I’m taking them to: Ulo’s Kitchen has such a colourful, intimate, vibe, great music, cocktails and a bit of that Asian fusion flair that is otherwise sorely lacking in Raglan.
An ideal date spot would be: IsoBar. It feels intimate but not crowded or loud and the food is really good. We went there for an anniversary dinner and couldn’t believe how tasty it was. A bit pricey, but worth it.
Raglan’s best…
Breakfast: The Shack never disappoints.
Coffee: The Coffee Bar at Raglan Surf Co. It’s a window but they do such a perfect cup of coffee and you can sit outside, meet your neighbours and see kids and dogs running up and down. It very much feels like a tight-knit community.
Sandwich: Sidekick. Try the Hey Habibi. It is *chef’s kiss*.
Kaimoana: Gotta catch it yourself! Or visit the Raglan Wharf to buy some fresh fish and cook it up at home. Alternatively hit up the Anchor Inn.
Pie: Definitely hit the herbal dispensary for some truly amazing beef and port pies. They are supplied by Volare Bakery in Hamilton and definitely worth the stop. You can also find them at The Shack. Their vegetarian sausage roll is also amazing. It is more like a samosa X sausage roll (without the sausage).
Fish and chips: Anchor Inn (it used to be Jo’s Takeaways). Jo’s was an institution but I think the new owners have done well with it and it continues the legacy.
And the best place to unwrap and eat them is: Right then and there or cross the street to grab a picnic bench at Te Kopua and watch the water, people swimming and waka going by. You don’t really want to go further or the crispy coated fish gets soggy.
Bread: Raglan Artisan Bread have a really good selection of bread all baked fresh daily. And they feed the community by offering Yesterday’s Bake to the free pantry.
For a serious sweet tooth, head to: La La Land. The Belgian hot chocolate is unreal…like you’re just drinking melted chocolate. No regrets. Otherwise, head to Big Poppa’s popcorn truck, grab a bag and make peace with how more-ish it is. We will honestly never buy popcorn anywhere else.
The place to go if you want to feel virtuous/ healthy: Aroha Sushi. It’s fresh and filling and you can sit and eat it outside.
A little local treat that always cheers me up: During the winter, a chai from The Chai Wallah. It’s actually the best chai you’ll get for MILES. It’s got a host of interesting characters so it’s also excellent for people watching (and eavesdropping). In the summer, when the heat is running you ragged, head to Roll Up for the most satisfying real fruit ice cream.
A restaurant I would love to relocate to Raglan: Auckland’s Udon Works. Raglan is really missing the noodle factor and what we would give for a big bowl of hot udon soup for dinner!
The place I return to again and again: The Shack, because it’s reliably good and easy with a kid.
Why I love eating in Raglan: It’s always such an experience! You’ll bump into people you know, the atmosphere is always welcoming and if you just want to avoid all that, you can take a picnic out to Manu Bay and watch the surf while chowing down.
