The Oyster Inn

It is meant to be summer although I wouldn’t blame you if you thought otherwise. On a recent jaunt to Waiheke Island it started to rain rather hard right after I had finished applying sunblock while sitting on the ferry. Despite the bipolar weather I highly recommend visiting The Oyster Inn in Oneroa for beautiful views from their terrace and even more beautiful seafood.

We started with one of their famous oyster rolls. A fat, briny oyster is perfectly battered and fried retaining its juiciness with the added benefit of a hot and crispy exterior. It was served in a toasted buttery brioche bun with harissa mayo and pickled courgette. They’re very moreish and you should order one per person, at least.

My better half claimed to be basic in his choice of the fish and chips although The Oyster Inn’s version is the most well executed example that is anything other than basic. I’ve never had such crunchy thick beer batter, no sog or flabby undercooked bits, with beautifully fresh snapper housed within. The house tartare is next level chock full of capers and dill that its practically a salad. The triple cooked chips were very chunky, very crunchy and very fluffy, and obviously very good for those reasons. As for the mushy peas? Sweet and minty, however I have never much cared for them, you’re eating fish and chips, just own the fact that it isn’t healthy.

The crayfish linguine had my name written all over it. The linguine was perfectly al dente and bathed in a silky tomato and shellfish bisque and punctuated with the weeniest bit of chilli adding fragrance without spice. The crayfish meat was, as always, delicious.

Seeing as I wasn’t going to be doing any wine tasting now that I’m in my alcohol-free era, I took my remaining day’s calories in the form of the amaretti semifreddo. Layers of semifreddo were interleaved with layers of almond nougat and bedecked with crunchy almond praline, the sweetest summer raspberries and a tangy stone-fruit coulis. Both cooling and delicate with crunchy bits and toasty notes, it was a dessert tied together beautifully by the raspberry and coulis.

I had a delightful lunch at The Oyster Inn which was a visit long overdue. The restaurant itself has excellent service and the staff are slick but friendly. The decor has a Hamptons summer vibe to it with white weatherboard and striped white and yellow awnings and some tastefully chosen maritime paraphernalia. This is a place for all lovers of seafood and great food in general.

The Oyster Inn
24 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island 1081
Ph. 09 372 2222
@oysterinnstagram