Story occupies an intimate 22-seat room on Christchurch's New Regent Street, giving Chef Shafeeq Ismail and a collaborative kitchen a compact stage for an evolving menu. The restaurant describes each plate as part of a wider journey, with cooks drawing on different global traditions while responding to local ingredients and the seasons. That approach is visible in combinations that move freely among curry spice, Japanese condiments, European sauces and New Zealand produce without reducing the meal to a single culinary label.
The current smaller plates introduce that outlook with sharply differentiated ideas. Fenugreek focaccia arrives with karro spice butter, while a venison croquette brings together swede, black garlic and parmesan. Bluff octopus is paired with romesco, kosho dressing, masala praline and cucumber; kingfish takes a cooler path through pickled celery, buttermilk, chilli gel and dill oil. Beetroot with goat cheese, pear, candied walnut, balsamic and cumin gives vegetables an equally considered place at the opening of the meal.
Larger dishes maintain the same layered construction. Lumina lamb rump is served with curried parsnip, coriander verde, pine nuts and kale, while beef cheek combines mushroom XO, pepper jus, leeks and pickled fungi. Bostock chicken comes with cider jus, sunchoke, herbs and chips, and the market fish uses celeriac velouté, remoulade, pickled fennel and watercress oil. Miso eggplant, supported by smoked purée, chutney, basil vinaigrette and hazelnut rayu, is a complete main rather than an afterthought.
Sides and desserts continue to carry their own ideas: charred Brussels sprouts meet hot honey and sumac chickpeas, nori-salted Agria potatoes come with sour cream and togarashi, and the sweet finish can move from ricotta cheesecake mousse with rhubarb and mandarin granita to dark chocolate cremeux with hazelnut ice cream. Groups of six or more are served through a seasonal four-course tasting format, and dietary requirements can be discussed in advance, fitting the precision required by Story's small room and kitchen.
Address: 8 New Regent Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
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