Freemans Dining Room - Lyttelton

One of my favourite places, Lyttelton, has been thoroughly  pessundated  by the earth’s seismic rumblings over the past 17 months and many places of culinary worship have disappeared in clouds of dust.
All is not lost, however, as fortunately for us  Freemans Dining Room  has reopened in its original building, one of the few character structures to survive. Once again, those of us who are excited at quality, comforted  by good service and gratified  by welcoming surroundings can be assured of the very best of South Island hospitality at the hands of Sarah & Nick Freeman.
With an emerging world-wide trend this year away from the complex yet  alluring trickery of molecular gastronomy, those restaurants whose forte revolves around established provenance of locally-sourced ingredients, unashamed simplicity &  elegance of presentation and a passion and respect for customers will soar on the uplifting winds of success.
Basking in warm sunshine on Freeman’s famous harbour view deck was an ideal place to enjoy the bursts of joy a chilled glass of Clos Marguerite Sauv Blanc offered with it’s fresh aromas, genuine Marlborough flavours and nuances of stonefruit.  The Grilled Squid with chilli and mint salsa was so fitting in a seaside location and worked beautifully with the wine and the sensation of the  gentle but invigorating breeze that quietly swept across and between the tables. The chilli and mint  splashed about on the canvas of my palate, the crunchy, pale,  grilled squid adding  its pleasurable touch of  body and soul . Tres Bon!
The Freeman’s menus always seem to have good old fashioned Cumberland Sausages and I was ready for these with mash, green beans and onion gravy. Basic fare by no means as each of the four essential components of this dish spoke with a steady confidence, offering those long-standing, much-loved fundamentals as straight-up, simple flavours, honest tastes of clean  freshness and tantalizing aromas from the sausages, the beans and the onion gravy. A more than pleasing textural interplay added to my enjoyment with a further delightful accelerant ,  a glass of Lagaria Merlot, a strapping Sicilian native with all the required features. To quote Psalm 104:15, “Wine Maketh Glad the Heart of Man.”
The coffee is good at this place too. A fine end to an uplifting lunch.