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Hey There!

We're Rata and Thomas, and our journey began when we met in New Zealand. Rata, a chef from Thailand, had been living in the stunning town of Queenstown for 12 years.

Meanwhile, Thomas, a sommelier from France, had been exploring the Kiwi shores for nearly five years.

In April 2022, we took a leap of faith and left Queenstown for the charming coastal town of Russell. There, we started Rata's Kitchen with a humble food truck. To our surprise, our flavors quickly captivated both locals and visitors, and the support we received from the wonderful people of Russell was heartwarming...

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Mitchell Bidois

"We’ve been wanting to book in at Rata’s for a while, so a birthday dinner proved to be the perfect occasion. While the pairing of French and Thai cuisine may not seem like a natural match, each plate was an outstanding blend of flavours."

Grace Crook

"The most amazing meal, totally love the French, Thai fusion that these beautiful people have created. Such a clever, well balanced , packed with flavour menu. Front of house is so well looked after, so knowledgeable and friendly, and we only wish we lived closer so we could come back again and again. I will be dreaming of French onion soup dumplings and Thai tea creme Brûlée"

Claire O

"We had the lamb and it was divine; tender, succulent with lots of flavor. The toasted slithered almonds brought it all together. Duck fat roast potatoes were fantastic as was the chocolate orange tart. Highly recommend Rata's kitchen and the lamb dish in particular."

M Cap

"Food is divine, service is impeccable! What a gem. Favourite dish is the beef croquet and the onion soup dumpling! The decor is tasteful and had the best birthday dinner, impressing my guests."

Jo

“Rata’s Kitchen was fantastic, probably the most complete dining experience we’ve had in a long time. Such an interesting menu that made us want to try everything, with beautifully colourful dishes that tasted just as good. Coupled with fantastic authentic service and a relaxed atmosphere, we will be returning for sure."
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