The Dangerous Kitchen

Despite its moniker, the only thing truly dangerous about The Dangerous Kitchen in Tākaka, is how tasty its food is. 

Head inside after checking out the punny mural by the entrance—“need coffee, need it nowl!” says a tired-looking morepork—and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how deep the space extends. Paintings from local artisans dot the walls, and cosy couches are clustered around the freestanding wood stove. Outside lies a charming outdoor courtyard, where you can eat under sprawling green vines when the weather cooperates. 

If you only have time for a quick bite, The Dangerous Kitchen’s homemade cabinet items—flaky, filling pies, savouries and sweet slices—will more than suffice, especially when paired with an expertly poured Supreme coffee or refreshing fruit smoothie. But the pizza menu they start offering from 11am, is where The Dangerous Kitchen really shines. 

There are options for everyone, from the meat lover to the vegan. You can order each pizza in either small, medium, or large—the small is about right for a satisfying single-person meal. Flavours run the gamut from classics like Margherita to the unique and addictively spicy Mushroom Diavolo, which comes heaped with spicy jalapeno and feta, and the Dangerous, which has mushrooms and four types of meat slathered in barbecue sauce. There are even a few kid-centric options. What makes the entire menu even better is knowing 99% of the produce is grown locally—“dangerous ethics” at their very best.