Media release
24 November 2016
Sidart restaurant reinvented
Multi-award winning chef Sid Sahrawat’s pursuit of perfection doesn’t only apply to his cooking.
To ensure the entire dining experience is as flawless as the food he creates, Sid’s Auckland restaurant Sidart has been reinvented – but with the same innovative menu and inspirational art on a plate.
With some of the best views of the Auckland skyline, the fine dining restaurant has undergone a lavish refurbishment and
extension by interior design group Orb Design.
As part of the exciting refit, Sidart has increased the size of the restaurant creating a second dining area with an
intimate bar. This has been named the Alhambra room after the beloved restaurant that occupied the premises until 2006.
The restaurant will service an additional 20-plus diners with both dining rooms (original and Alhambra) available for
private functions. And by popular demand from international visitors to Auckland, Sidart can now also cater to solo
diners for the first time since opening in 2009.
The newly installed marble bar has enabled Sidart to increase its beverage offering. In addition to the existing wine
list described as “a compact representation of the wine world” curated by sommelier and manager Stefano Baldin, a full
beverage offer includes spirits, sake, cider and tap and bottled beer. New to the team, bar tender Caellan Sparkes (MASU
/ The Jefferson) has created an impressive array of seasonal cocktails - developed to complement the menu.
With its marble top chef’s working area which sits proudly in the original dining room, stunning marble bar with
reflective tiles and Peter Collishanging pendant lights, the refurbishment aims to be as inspirational as the meals the team create.
Other features include textured walls and hex tiled flooring, while hex shaped screens provide a division of spaces
without blocking out the light.
Thick bare oak tables replace the restaurant’s former white linen tablecloths; a separate area for storage and coats is
added which has the dual benefit of creating dedicated restrooms.
And while the aesthetics may have changed, Sid’s cutting-edge flavour combinations, textural contrasts and inspired
visual composition remain the same.
So too does the popular menu format, which includes the crowd-pleasing Tuesday Test Kitchen - an idea that enables Sid
and his team to test new concepts, dishes and flavours each week.
A seven course Discovery Menu is also available Wednesday – Saturdays, in which the Sidart team showcase new techniques
and the finest locally sourced seasonal produce New Zealand has on offer.
Guests who want to witness the talented chefs creating their masterpieces also have the option of booking the chef’s
table for two – six guests.
And to ensure those who like to celebrate the end of the working week, Sidart is open for lunch on Fridays.
Sid is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most talented and innovative chefs and has been consistently recognised
since opening the fine-dining restaurant seven years ago.
Currently rated the 792nd best restaurant in the world by La Liste – France's algorithm-based version of The World's
1000 Best Restaurants – Sidart has been celebrated in all the major restaurant awards, including the Cuisine Magazine
and Metro Magazine awards.
Passionate in his kitchen to the point of obsession, Sid has worked hard to make the Sidart experience truly special and
says the recent refurbishment is part of that.
“I like to take diners on a culinary journey of taste and flavour. From the oven to the table, our motto is
'inspirational dining.
“While I endeavour to achieve perfection on the plate, the interior design, atmosphere and ambience also needs to be
perfect as it’s just as important to the overall dining experience”.
It’s this attention to detail and faultless knowledge of fine dining, combined with a personal touch that is uniquely
Sidart.
Sidart Restaurant
Three Lamps Plaza
283 Ponsonby Road
09 360 2122
Find out more about Sidart at www.sidart.co.nz
Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6 pm
Lunch Friday from 12 noon
Bookings essential
About Sidart (opened 2009):
Sidart restaurant in Three Lamps, Ponsonby, represents an inventive fine dining degustation experience devised by
multi-award winning chef and owner Sid Sahrawat. Renowned for his innovative and inspirational cooking, Sid remains one
of New Zealand's most exciting talents. At Sidart, Sid combines his famous innovation and precision to create art on a
plate with the menu changing weekly. Cutting-edge flavour combinations, textural contrasts and inspired visual
composition make his cooking both thought-provoking and intensely satisfying. Sid is passionate in his kitchen to the
point of obsession - from oven to table, his motto is ‘inspirational dining’. With Sidart’s recent expansion, the
restaurant now offers dining for 60 guests, with two areas which can be booked for private functions. Sidart is open for
dinner Tuesday – Saturday and for lunch on Friday. In 2012 Sid opened his second restaurant Cassia, offering
contemporary Indian cuisine.
ENDS
Sidart and Sid Sahrawat have achieved the following awards:
• La Liste – 792 in the 1000 best restaurants in the world list, 2016
• Cuisine Magazine NZ Good Food Awards Chef of the Year 2016- Sid Sahrawat (Sidart & Cassia)
• Cuisine Magazine NZ Good Food Guide - 3 Hats
• Lewisham Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur- Sid Sahrawat (Sidart & Cassia)
• Metro Peugeot Restaurant of the Year awards 2016 Sidart awarded 5 spoons
• Cuisine Magazine NZ Good Food Awards 2015 – Best Metropolitan Restaurant – three hats
• Cuisine Magazine NZ Good Food Awards 2014 – Restaurant of the Year – three hats
• Cuisine Magazine NZ Good Food Awards 2014 – Best Metropolitan Restaurant – three hats
• Metro Magazine Restaurant of the Year 2014 – Best Fine Dining Restaurant
• Metro Magazine Restaurant of the Year 2014 – Best Chef
• Lewisham Foundation Awards 2014 – Outstanding Chef
• Cuisine magazine NZ Good Food Awards 2013 - two hats
• Metro magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2013 - Runner Up Best Fine Dining Restaurant
• Lewisham Foundation Awards 2013 - Award for Outstanding Maitre D - Ismo Koski
• Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2012 - Top 50 Restaurant
• Metro Magazine Restaurant of the Year 2012 – Runner Up Best Progressive Restaurateur
• Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011 - Top 50 Restaurant
• Metro Magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011 - Best Dish
• Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011 - Top 50 Restaurant
• Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2010 - Top 50 Restaurant
• Metro magazine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2010 - Best New Restaurant