The Owners of Waiheke Island's Mudbrick Vineyard Are Taking Over Augustus Bistro

After being tipped into liquidation last month, Ponsonby restaurant Augustus Bistro has been sold to the owners of Waiheke Island's Mudbrick Vineyard and Archive Bar and Bistro.

Found in the historic Ponsonby post office, the space was transformed from a Belgian beer cafe into a sophisticated French bistro by SPRQ proprietors Chris and Courtney Rupe in 2016. The restaurant served as a space for casual catch-ups, formal occasion meals and boozy brunches.

Now in the hands of Robyn and Nick Jones — who purchased Mudbrick back in 1992 — Augustus Bistro will reopen on 18 October. The pair's plan for the space is to keep the bones of the Parisian-style fit-out while adding a few tweaks to make it their own.

Award-winning chef Logan Coath, the head chef of Mudbrick's Archive Bar and Bistro is heading to the mainland to bring the new concept to life. From cleanly constructed, French-influenced cuisine, Coath's menu will evolve to more a "European Italian" focus. Robyn and Nick Jones suggest, "It's upmarket but perhaps a little more relaxed than before."

The name, which is in reference to 1920 postmaster Augustus Braithwaite, and the contact details will remain the same. The new look Augustus Bistro will be in operation from Thursday, 18 October. For more information, visit augustusbistro.co.nz.

Image: Augustus Bistro.