The Ruapehu Hotel—where the locals to dine

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 1, 28 May 1985, Page 21

The Ruapehu Hotel—where the locals to dine

Ray and Iris Parr took over running the hotel one year ago next month and one of their first priorities was upgrading the dining room. They now have an a la carte blackboard menu and a wine list which offers a wide selection of imported wines in addition to reasonably priced New Zealand varieties. As both Ray and Iris are seafood lovers, oysters, scallops and mussels are amongst their specialities.

And when it comes to seafood, "if it's not fresh it's not on the menu," says Iris. Special seafood nights are planned for the coming months, along with Greek, Asian and country and western nights. A successful country and western night was held last week, and seafood nights will be held on the Friday and Saturday of Queen's Birthday weekend, and the Monday too if there is sufficient demand. Before eating in the Ruapehu dining room, the hotel's family bar is the ideal setting for a pre-meal drink. Making the hotel a place for the whole family is something Ray and Iris concentrate on and large family groups often choose to hold birthday parties and other family gatherings there. Iris'extratouches, such asj flowers on the table for couples who are celebrating special occasions, add to the hotel's friendly atmosphere. -With its roaring open fire the family bar is also a good

place to escape from the crowds which appear to be everywhere in Ohakune during the ski season. "It is surprising how many people from Ohakune now make the trip to Raetihi to eat in our dining room," says Iris. If live entertainment is what you enjoy, the Rua-

Intro scheduled for regular appearances. But it is the food which is the main attraction at the Ruapehu Hotel. Mouth- watering steaks and oysters which were in the sea the day before they appear on your plate make the meals top class — and prices stay the same all year round.