AVAGANDA CAFE & RESTAURANT
Corner of SH30 & Luxton Road Whakatane.
Tel 07 308 7879
Mob 027 4131 292
Email avaganda@xtra.co.nz
Craig and Lisa Searle:
Chef and Proprietors
Opening Times
Brunch ~ Lunch
10.00am to 2.30pm
Evenings ~ 6.00pm till late
Fully Licensed
Out catering Function/Wedding Venue
(Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Nestled in the beautiful countryside, located at the White Goose Winery and 5 minutes from Whakatane, Avaganda is well worth a visit.
Award winning chef/owner Craig Searle offers a delightful array of local and international cuisine set in a unique garden oasis inside and out with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Award winning fruit wines are available for sale and tasting. With this winning combination it makes Avaganda the place to be for any occasion.
Avaganda Café & Restaurant is the place to be for any occasion, be it a family gathering, romantic dinner for two, meeting with friends and colleagues or to celebrate your special wedding day
A little bit about Avaganda Café & Restaurant
Avaganda Café and Restaurant was purchased in July 2004 by award winning Chef Craig Searle and his wife Lisa. Its unique character building has a setting of tropical plants inside, with a veranda leading to the gardens outside. In summer the doors open to dining under shade in the vines. All dishes are freshly prepared by Craig and his team of chefs, using only the highest quality of produce. At Avaganda Café & restaurant you can enjoy high quality food and wine in a relaxed dining atmosphere with friendly service, at affordable prices. Lunches are served daily and at weekends a brunch menu is served in conjunction. Evening meals are served from 6pm and children’s menus are available for lunch and evenings.
Private function venue 
The unique building of Avaganda with its garden oasis inside and out makes it the perfect venue setting for weddings, birthday and other special occasions to celebrate. All can be catered for exclusively with individual menus designed to suit you and your budget.
Want to celebrate your occasion at a destination of your own choice with out doing the cooking yourself? Well now you can with Avaganda out catering. You choose the destination of your own choice and Avaganda will travel to you. Be it a wedding, birthday, product launch or business meetings all can be catered for exclusively with individual menus designed to suit you and your budget.
Awards
Craig Searle has won many awards throughout his career and has been in numerous books and publication for his flair and culinary skills. In 2001/2002 he was awarded one of New Zealand’s top awards as Ambassador for the New Zealand Beef and Lamb marketing bureau.
Craig has a further 7 “Hallmark of Excellence” awards from the New Zealand Beef and Lamb marketing bureau, 3 of these being gained in his own restaurant Avaganda in 2005, 2006 & 2007.
In 2008 the New Zealand Beef and Lamb “Hallmark of Excellence” was awarded to Craig for the 8th time, giving Avaganda Café & Restaurant its 4th consecutive award.
A little bit of about the Chef/owner Craig Searle
Since serving his apprenticeship 25 years ago in the Coromandel Peninsula, Craig has vast knowledge and experience in the hospitality industry from working all over the world. He spent many years in the UK working in luxury country hotels and experienced working with many well known chefs including Raymond Blanc. On returning to NZ he was appointed Executive Chef at Auckland’s premier out catering company Austin’s, who catered for prestigious events such as Auckland’s ‘Christmas in the Park’ and extensive product launches for NZ. Craig then moved to the exclusive Puka Park Resort in Pauanui Beach where as Executive Chef he won numerous awards for his food including the prestigious position of New Zealand Beef and Lamb Ambassador. In 2004 Craig moved back to his home town of Whakatane where he purchased his own restaurant Avaganda and where he still continues to inspire the local guests and travelers with his culinary skills. Birthdays, special occasions or a thank you present! Why not spoil your friends and family with the perfect gift an Avaganda Dining Voucher and let them too enjoy the wonders of Avaganda Café and Restaurant. Vouchers are available from $10.00 upwards.
Ava is the slang word for ‘have’ and ganda means ‘look’. Put the two together and you get ‘have a look’. Also with being located at the White Goose Winery, gander also means ‘goose’. So come and have a ganda at Avaganda and see for yourself the wonderful delights we have to offer.
New Zealand fruit wine makers association. This superb range of fruit Wines can be tasted and purchased exclusively at Avaganda café & restaurant. From a sparkling Feijoa to Blueberry wines all are favorite choices as gifts for overseas friends and family.
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