I went to town on Wednesday armed with my camera. I had a plan for where I would go for lunch, even what I would order and take pics. Yes, well! Time has taken on a whole different meaning now that I'm retired. I popped in to where I used to work for a catch up and talked for hours, then had another long chat with a friend who also has a son living in Brazil. In the hardware store I ran into another lady I haven't seen in years and we trotted off to the store cafe for lunch together. No, that's not my favourite cafe but I did remember to take a photo.
Revas featured in my post last week, too. It's definitely top of the pops to me when it comes to eating out. It's been something of an institution in Whangarei since 1976, I remember I tasted my first ever pizza from that first little 'Pizza Parlour'. Twelve years later it was still going strong, moved and became a licensed restaurant near the waterfront. Up until then eating out meant dressing up, going someplace where you didn't feel comfortable, coping with pretentious waiters and paying through the nose for the privilege.
Whangarei developed the Town Basin in the early 90s and in 1995 Revas were invited to open the town's first waterfront restaurant in the new development. The new Revas had an open fireplace, generous seating inside and
outside, and views to live for. Despite being much larger than their previous premises, it retains the laidback charm and intimacy of the earlier restaurants,
including local art on its walls.
Lovely as it is inside, I always prefer to sit outside, along the verandah looking out at the boats moored in the marina, watching the occasional traffic on the water.
Fi, from Four Paws and Whiskers commented last week that she always thinks of Rivas as the place the french traitors ate before the Rainbow Warrior bombing (in 1985). Before moving to Auckland to carry out their deadly mission, French agents off the yacht, Ouvea, visited Reva‘s and signed her guest book. Two weeks later, the Rainbow Warrior lay sunk in Auckland Harbour, victim of the explosives brought into NZ aboard the yacht. The agents’ moment of carelessness turned out to be a crucial piece of evidence in the subsequent investigation and charges being laid against them.
It will be interesting to see where other FSO contributors like to eat and drink. They will be here.
