Move to Nelson central pays off for Harrys restaurant

Move to Nelson central pays off for Harrys

Atmosphere, Asian food and the best of Nelson beer and wine have made Harrys restaurant and bar a hot favourite with Nelson locals since it opened six years ago. A move earlier this year into bigger premises, within a cocktail shake of Nelson’s iconic Church Steps, has seen Harrys picking up more of the visitor trade as well.

Co-owner Rob Fanselow says when the opportunity came up to move into the space that for decades was famed world wide as Chez Eelco it was a no-brainer.

“We needed more room and this lends itself nicely to having a bar at the front and the restaurant at the back where it’s cosier with an open fire in the winter,” he said. “Coming into summer we have more space for tables outside and it’s much conducive to outdoor dining, with the brick pavement and the trees…the higher profile at the top of Trafalgar Street is an added bonus.”

Rob and his partner Howard Morris gave the interior a makeover with white walls, local art and a black enamelled treatment for the bar, in keeping with the urban look that suits their multi-age-group clientele.

“Really in Nelson, come July, you can’t have too niche a market – you have to have a wide appeal,” Rob says. “We seem to manage that and I think it’s the casual atmosphere, having a really great local wine list, craft beers on tap and pitching the menu so that it’s priced for an everyday night out.”

Most of the dishes on the menu are authentically Asian, rather than fusion. Those with enduring appeal include chilli salt squid, served in a bowl with a herb and sprout salad; crispy red braised chicken wings with plum sauce; crisp fried whole snapper with yellow bean sauce, steamed greens and jasmine rice; and for ‘afters’ Harry’s trademark kaffir lime tart with fresh pineapple and cream.

Friday nights see the bar humming with the famed pint glass of margarita leading a cocktail menu that offers specialities such as Thai One On - lemongrass infused Finlandia vodka, fresh lime, apple juice and soda. Favourites on the wine list include the Greenhough Apple Valley Riesling and the Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir. The tap beers change frequently and include local brews such as Founders’ Tall Blonde and Harrington’s Dopplebock 8% as well as international stalwarts like Stella Artois, Corona and Heineken.

Harrys is definitely worth checking out on your next visit to the sunshine capital. It’s at 296 Trafalgar Street, Nelson and is open 4pm till late from Tuesday to Saturday. For reservations phone 03 539 0905.

ENDS

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