Ahi

Ahi, Māori for fire, is Chef Ben Bayly's flagship and it lives up to the name, built around a wood-fired hearth and produce traced back to source with real rigour. Traditional Kiwi and Māori flavours like hāngi and boil up get reinterpreted through modern technique, using vegetables from Bayly's own organic garden in Patumahoe alongside wild-caught seafood and grass-fed beef. Owner Chef Bayly runs the kitchen alongside Executive Chef Mike Shatura, a lifelong friend, with Chris Martin on the floor. Set in Commercial Bay with harbour views to match, both the à la carte and tasting menus hit hard.

Photography: Courtesy of Ahi Restaurant