Good food and good vibes
When Etta opened its doors in mid-July, it brought a warm, welcoming energy to the Northcote neighbourhood something owner Stephanie Reeves had envisioned from the beginning. After speaking with a developer about a new commercial space on Claridges Road, the idea began to take shape. “I live in the area,” says Stephanie, “and everybody’s like, it would be fabulous if there were an amazing restaurant. And, somewhere you can go for a nice glass of wine...”
Stephanie, a hospitality veteran, is no stranger to creating destination eateries in residential pockets. With Red Eight Café in Kaiapoi and Leeves at Portstone Café in Woolston already under her belt, Etta is her latest venture in what she describes as ‘neighbourhood creating’. It’s something she wants to see more of in Aotearoa.
The name Etta is inspired by Italy. “It’s not an Italian restaurant, but it’s got an Italian influence,” she says. “I love the fact that you gather together with the people that you love. It’s about nourishing your soul, good food, and having lots of laughs.”
The kitchen is in excellent hands with Daryl Remaneses, formerly of 5th Street, leading the team, and 5th Street’s head chef, Samson Stewart, helping to shape the menu. Expect delicious, comforting food that suits every time of day. Think morning baking, cabinet salads, sandwiches and gourmet pizzas by day, and thoughtfully plated à la carte sharing dishes by night.
Being directly opposite the busy Nomads United football ground, Stephanie has future plans to add a takeaway window for hot chips, espresso from The Coffee Workshop, and scoop gelato from Gelato Roma.
Inside, Etta is a lesson in refined comfort. “My brief to the design team was understated elegance,” Stephanie says. “It has a lovely, warm feel to it with some beautiful materials like the velvet booths and the marble.”
At its core, Etta is about experience. “My philosophy has always been, if you’ve got excellent food and excellent drink and excellent service, plus a really nice surrounding, it’s going to be really lovely.”