Palate Restaurant

20 Alma Street • Hamilton

Our ethos has always been to provide consistently excellent food paired with stunning New Zealand wine.
Over the past ten years, our business has evolved, become multi dimensional in what we can offer. Adding to this, it has become easier for us to find like-minded producers who share the same passion for top of the range products and providing guests with the best not only the Waikato region can offer, but all over New Zealand.
From Clevedon buffalo products, to Canterbury lamb and Raglan mushrooms we are constantly excited by emerging products. Supporting local, often specialised producers creates a thriving food industry and inspiration for us when we change our seasonally inspired menus.

Our Menu

WHITE WINES

champagne
taittinger ‘prestige’ brut nv (reims, fr) gls $28 btl $195
taittinger ‘prestige rose’ brut nv (reims, fr) btl $240
taittinger ‘reserve’ brut 2014 (reims, fr) btl $260

methode traditionelle & sparkling
villa sandi prosecco doc nv (veneto, it) gls $13.5 btl $62
quartz reef brut nv (bendigo, nz) gls $18 btl $92

sauvignon blanc
twin island wines 2019 (marlborough. nz) gls $12.5 btl $58
deep down 2020 (marlborough, nz) gls $14.5 btl $68
neudorf ‘tiritiri’ 2019 (nelson, nz) btl $65

chardonnay
clearview estate ‘coastal’ 2020 (hawke’s bay, nz) gls $12.5 btl $58
vidal ‘icon 1888’ 2014 (hawke’s bay, nz) btl $260
palliser estate 2019 (martinborough, nz) gls $18 btl $85
dry river 2019 (martinborough, nz) btl$160
chalk hill 2017 (sonoma hill, usa) btl $98

pinot gris
opawa 2018 (marlborough, nz) gls $13.5 btl $62
la mont 2018 (bendigo, nz) gls $14.5 btl $68
peregrine 2018 (central otago, nz) btl $75

rose
clearview ‘black reef blush’ – chamborcin/merlot 2020 (hawke’s bay,nz) gls $12.5 btl $58
clos marguerite – pinot noir 2020 (marlborough, nz) gls $13.5 btl $62

riesling
mountford estate ‘liason’ 2013 (waipara, nz) gls $16 btl $75
palliser estate – dry 2020 (martinborough,nz) btl $62
misha’s vineyard ‘limelight’ 2015 (central otago, nz) btl $68

chenin blanc
maxim wines 2018 (hawkes bay, nz) gls $13.5 btl $62
marc bredif ‘vouvray classic’ chenin blanc 2017 (loire valley, fr) btl $78

gewurztraminer
rene mure ‘orchidees sauvages’ 2017 (alsace, fr) gls $16 btl $75

albarino
pazo cilleiro albarino (rias baixas,sp) gls $13.5 btl $62

RED WINES

pinot noir
pisa range estate ‘run 245’ 2018 (central otago, nz) gls $14.5 btl $68
la mont ‘r4’ 2019 (central otago, nz) btl $68
peregrine ‘saddleback’ 2018 (central otago, nz) btl $72
rippon ‘mature vine’ 2017 (central otago, nz) btl $150
fromm 2018 (marlborough, nz) gls $13.5 btl $62
deep down 2020 (marlborough, nz) btl $92
philippe liveira domaine des tilleuls ‘gevrey chambortin’ 2015 (burgundy, fr) btl $195

merlot/ merlot blends
theory and practice merlot 2018 (hawke’s bay, nz) gls $12.5 btl $58
clearview estate ‘cape kidnappers’ merlot/cab sav 2019 (hawke’s bay, nz) btl $72
puriri hills ‘pope’ merlot/cab franc/ carmenere 2013 (clevedon, nz) btl $350
chateau de hartes bordeaux superier merlot/cab franc/cab sav ( entre-deux-mers, fr) btl $72

carmenere
de martino estate 2018 (maipo valley, cl) gls $13.5 btl $62

malbec/ malbec blends
tilia malbec 2018 (mendoza, ar) gls $13.5 btl $62

cabernet/ cabernet blends
mills reef ‘reserve’ cab sav/ merlot 2018 (hawke’s bay, nz) gls $13.5 btl $62
mills reef ‘elspeth’ cab sav 2016 (hawke’s bay, nz) btl $120
babich ‘irongate’ cab sav/merlot/cab franc (hawke’s bay, nz) btl $92
vasse felix ‘filius’ cab sav 2018 (margaret river, au) gls $12.5 btl $58
chateau gloria cab sav/ merlot/cab franc 2013 (st julian, medoc, fr) btl $320

syrah/shiraz and blends
babich ‘black label’ syrah 2018 (hawke’s bay, nz) btl $68
little ‘x’ syrah 2018 (hawke’s bay,nz) gls $13.5 btl $62
schubert ‘con brio’ syrah/merlot/pinot noir 2015 (martinborough, nz) btl $150
jim barry single vineyard shiraz 2018 (clare valley, au) gls $14.5 btl $68
michelas st jemms syrah 2018 (crozes-hermitage, fr) btl $95

mourvedre
abbots & delaunay ‘les fleurs sauvages’ 2018 (languedoc, fr) btl $58

DESSERT WINES

white
villa maria ‘reserve’ noble riesling 2015 (marlborough, nz) gls $14.5 btl $68
tempus two ‘pewter’ botrytis semillon 2015 (griffith, au) gls $13.5 btl $ 62

red
domaine du mas blanc ‘banyuls rimage’ grenache 2018 (languedoc, fr) gls $18 btl $85

port
mills reef ‘espeth’ vintage port 2013 (hawke’s bay, nz) gls $15 btl $92
taylors 10 years old tawny (porto, pt) gls $16.5
dows 10 years old tawny (porto, pt) gls $16.5
dows 20 years old tawny (porto, pt) gls $18

sherry
elegante palomino -fino nv (jerez, es) gls $12.5
gonzales byass alfonso -oloroso nv (jerez, es) gls $14
lustau pedro ximenez -dessert nv (jerez, es) gls $15

BEER LIST

tap – 30L keg
shunters yard lager (hamilton) 6% gls $13.5
brewaucracy ‘form filler’ apa (hamilton) 5.7% gls $13.5

lager
corona (mexico) 4.5% btl $8.5
peroni ‘nastro azzurro’ (italy) 5.2% btl $8.5

japanese lager
asahi ‘super dry’ (japan) 5% btl $9

pilsner
croucher ‘sulfur city’ (rotorua, nz) 5% btl $12

draught
waikato (waikato) 4% btl $8

sour hopped ale
boneface ‘the juice’ (wellington) 5% btl $9

indian pale ale (IPA)
behemoth ‘something hoppy’ 5.9% btl $11
epic ‘armagddon’ (auckland) 6.6% btl $12

double indian pale ale (IIPA)
epic ‘hop zombie’ (auckland) 8.5% btl $16

pale ale
8 wired ‘tropadelic’ (warkworth) 5.4% btl $12
liberty brewing co ‘yakima monster’ 6% (auckland, nz) btl $12

session pale ale
moa brewing co. (marlborough, nz) 4.3% btl $9

american pale ale (APA)
parrot dog ‘falcon’ (wellington) 5% btl $11
tuatara ‘aotearoa’ (paraparaumu) 5.8% btl $9

porter
yeastie boys ‘pot kettle black’ (wellington) 6% btl $15

stout
cassels & sons brewing co. ‘milk stout’ (christchurch) 5% $12

low alcohol
croucher ‘lowrider’ ipa (rotorua) 2.5% btl $10
garage project ‘fugazi’ (blenheim) 2.2% btl $9

cider
three wise birds ‘summer fling’ off dry (hawke’s bay) 5.5% btl $9

non – alcoholic
apple, orange, cranberry, pineapple, tomato, feijoa gls $5
coke, diet coke, tonic, soda, lemonade, ginger ale gls $5
lemon lime and bitters gls $5.5
bundaberg ginger beer gls $6

mineral water
antipodes sparking 1000ml btl $12

tea
la maison du thè tea $5
peppermint, earl grey, english breakfast, green, chamomile, lemon & ginger

vittoria coffee
flat white, latte, long black, short black, macchiato, hot chocolate, white hot chocolate, hazelnut hot chocolate $5

COCKTAIL LIST

cocktails
-$18 each-
rye on point – canadian club, saint germaine, apple juice, lemon, soda
kahlo’s ice tea – tequila, malibu, lemon, habanero syrup, ginger beer
mule with no name – vodka, passionfruit syrup, lavender syrup, lemon, mint, ginger ale
tinkerbells lemonade – homemade limoncello sorbet, vanilla vodka, white chocolate syrup
ohh lala – strawberry sorbet, elderflower liqueur, bacardi, black pepper, star anise
pina rita – coconut and malibu sorbet, herrradura silver tequila
mocktails
-$8 each-
habanero sour – seedlip garden 108, lemon, egg white, habanero syrup, lavender syrup
tropical cooler – pineapple juice, passionfruit syrup, bitters, lime
idas cosmo – apple juice, cranberry juice, lime juice
sober G&T – seedlip garden 108, lemon, rosemary, tonic

speciality coffee
-$15 each-
rusty nail coffee – scotch, drambuie, espresso, cream, cinnamon
jaffa five coffee -baileys, cointreau, kahlua, espresso, chocolate milk
bavarian – amaretto, chambord, kahlua, chocolate cream, espresso
hot nutty irishman – bailey’s, frangelico, cream, espresso

A la Carte menu

We invite you to experience our menu with a flexible wine match. Please ask our friendly staff to help with the suggestions.
we are committed to helping you with any dietary needs, whether you have food allergies or religious believes, please let our wait staff know of any restrictions and we will adjust the dish where is possible.

** Sample Only (last updated on 24th February 2021)

appetizers
te kouma bay oysters
natural – with rock sugar dressing & lemon
or
craft beer battered – with lime mayonnaise
1/2 doz $28 1 doz $56
Bread
Volare sourdough with smoked butter & mataprio olive oil
(4 pieces)
$7.5
____________________________________________________________________________
2 courses $55 3 courses $70

entree

– confit pork, cauliflower tortellini, walnut gouda, white asparagus, truffle foam
– cranky goat cheese, watermelon, basil, dried olives, pumpkin seeds
– venison carpaccio, bell pepper mousse, grilled prawn, cherry, szechuan pepper, shiso
– seared tuna, spiced calamari, citrus, rock melon, crayfish powder, chilli mayo, seaweed
$16.5 each

____________________________________________________________________________
mains
– greenstone creek rib eye, smoked gouda pudding, beetroot puree, smoked brisket ravioli
– kawhia snapper, sweetcorn, peppers, snapper croquettes, courgette, smoked butter sauce
– venison cutlets, crisp polenta, aubergine puree, paprika hollandaise, pomegranate
– potato gnocchi, clevedon buffalo feta, parsnip, pine nut, sumac, rocket
$40 each

____________________________________________________________________________
sides
– hand cut chips, garlic mayonnaise
– green beans, miso sesame dressing
– rocket salad, grilled pear, smoked local gouda
$9.5 each
__________________________________________________________________________
unique cheese with accompaniments
NZ cheese selection, house made crackers, quince paste
small $15 / large $30
____________________________________________________________________________
desserts

– passionfruit cheesecake, coconut sorbet, macadamia, oat crumble, passionfruit sauce
– milk chocolate mousse, white chocolate & miso ice cream, plum, caramel, peanuts
– pistachio baked custard, apricot sorbet, raspberries, pistachio brittle
– affogato, vanilla ice cream, bailey’s liqueur
$16.5 each

(one account per table)

kitchen table

Kitchen Table
Enjoy our seven-course degustation, created by the chefs every night with an option of matching wines, on our kitchen table. The table is located inside the kitchen, with the opportunity to see our kitchen team in action during a busy service. A truly unique opportunity to see ‘behind the scenes’.
The degustation menu is
$120 per person
with matching wine an additional $70 per person
Suitable for groups between 2 – 6 people
Booking in advance is essential, and a deposit prepayment is required to secure the table. – The deposit is non-refundable in case of cancellation within 48 hours from the booking time – no exceptions.

Please note: While Mat and the palate team are usually happy to accommodate dietary requirements, this does not extend to this particular menu format and dining experience. Palate’s degustation menu is a true expression of Mat and his team’s philosophy and innovation in both food and wine.

Event

Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience

Upcoming events

NYE Degustation 2020

Say bye-bye 2020! with a 5-course degustation at Palate!

Bookings are available from 5:30pm-9:30pm and are going fast!
Tickets are $100pp with optional wine matches an additional $60pp.

Call us on 07-834-2921 or email palate.restaurant@xtra.co.nz to book now!

*NO dietary requirements this time
**full prepayment is required to secure the booking
***online bookings not accepted

oyster happy hour

Celebrate the weekend with fresh
Te Kouma Bay oysters.
$2 each and served natural with lemon & rock sugar dressing, or
beer battered with lime mayo. Perfect with a beer or glass of bubbles!

EVERY Thursday and Friday from 5pm – 6:30pm in our bar/lounge area

Call 07-834-2921 to book your after work treat!

THE PALATE TEAM

Mat Mclean - Owner/ Head Chef

Larissa - Restaurant Manager

Mat Mclean - Owner/ Head Chef

Mat McLean,
Head Chef and Owner
Mat McLean is regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading chefs and Palate is one of New Zealand’s most awarded restaurants.
After gaining professional qualifications from Waikato Polytechnic Mat was awarded a scholarship to work in the UK, where he gained invaluable work experience at two of London’s most prestigious restaurants; Leith (1 Michelin star) and The Capital Hotel (2 Michelin stars).
Following a stint in Melbourne as Head Chef at the Middle Brighton Baths (a 1 hat restaurant) he returned to New Zealand to establish Palate in 2005.
Mat is a chef with highly developed technical skills, who’s committed to cooking with seasonal, local produce. He is not afraid to experiment with flavours and textures.

Larissa - Restaurant Manager

Larissa
Restaurant Manager
Larissa arrived in New Zealand from Brazil in 2006 and started working in the hospitality industry. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to make ‘hospitality’ her career. Prior moving to Hamilton Larissa was the face of many weddings and conferences at venues she managed in Queenstown and the Bay of Islands.
She has extensive experience in operations management and enjoys leading a team that surprise and delight their customers. For Larissa the best reward is when diners come back to Palate again and again!

Reservations

To book a table simply complete the form below. Our online booking system will check the table availability and confirm your reservation immediately. Whilst Palate does accommodate children, we request that children 6 and under dine before 6:30pm.

Please note that Degustation bookings and tables over 8 people must be made directly on 07-834-2921 and is subject to availability.

Please note that we may not be able to accept requests for certain tables, due to availability restrictions.

Voucher

Say thank you or help someone celebrate with a restaurant gift voucher to dine at Palate Restaurant.

We have gift vouchers from $50 upwards, please click the image below to order an e-voucher