Orphans Kitchen is a partnership between two friends. Tom Hishon, Executive Chef, and Josh Helm, Manager.

Our restaurant can be found in Auckland on Ponsonby Road, inside a narrow Victorian villa that was built in 1912.

We are a small, friendly place with a 40-seat dining room, a long table upstairs and an outdoor courtyard where, weather permitting, you can catch the afternoon sun. Orphans Kitchen initially opened for dinner only, but is now a day time affair.

Manifesto:

1 — Practically express the qualities of purity, simplicity and sustainability that we would like to see associated with New Zealand’s food culture.

2 — Respect New Zealand’s erratic weather and remember that ever-changing conditions give us true variety in the produce we like to use.

3 — Work with regional produce that is cultivated with care, high in nutrients and holds the unique terroir of its area.

4 — Continue to invent, challenge convention and produce the best dining experiences.

5 — Promote the protection of native fish species in our seas, and openly champion more sustainable approaches to harvesting food in our forests, farmlands and rivers.

6 — Educate diners about Māori heritage through ways of food preparation and bringing forgotten flavours or ingredients to the table in a modern context.