Hardy St Eatery (Nelson)

Talented chef and Hardy St Eatery owner James Rutherford has been serving his delicious food to an enthusiastic (and loyal) following of diners for more than seven years. Seasonal ingredients feature on the menu and there's always a happy buzz and a warm welcome here.

Clem and I have enjoyed many Saturday brunches sitting side by side here and watching the world go by.

It's also a very popular spot for business meetings. I particularly love having an early coffee here to get my working day started. I'm guaranteed to run into several other local business owners doing just the same on any given day.

Other chefs and restaurant owners can often be seen eating here – that's always a good sign!