Hillside

Hillside is a vegetarian restaurant that quietly redefines what a fine-dining experience can be without meat or fish on the menu. It is led by owner and head chef Asher Boote, who often chats with guests at the bar or moves through the dining space adding a relaxed, personal touch that reflects the restaurant’s down-to-earth warmth and confidence. The multi-course set menu changes daily and unfolds as a considered progression, beginning with a series of snacks before moving through a sequence of seasonal dishes and finishing with petit fours. Each plate reflects a strong commitment to sustainability, seasonality and the elimination of waste, with ingredients used thoughtfully and to their fullest potential. Each dish is full of flavour, some bold and punchy, others more delicate and restrained but there’s always a playful, unexpected twist that brings a bit of joy to the plate such as the Jerusalem artichoke, kūmara and marmalade working together in a way you don’t quite expect, but it absolutely works. Hillside offers a dining experience that is both grounding and memorable, leaving a lasting impression long after the final course.