Reva's On The Waterfront
When Reva and Doug Meredith opened the first Revas in 1976, it was just a little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint in downtown Whangarei. But thanks to Revas legendary hospitality, and her love of delicious food, live music and local art, Revas 'Pizza Palour' soon became the meeting place for local musicians, artists, travellers and anyone who appreciated great food, great company and a great time.
"See you at Revas" became the farewell cry as cruising yachts left foreign ports to cross the Southern Ocean. In 1988, the pizza joint became a licensed restaurant in a new premises near the waterfront.
In 1995, Reva and Doug were invited to open Whangarei's first waterfront restaurant in the new Town Basin development - Revas on the Waterfront was born - and the rest is history.
Reva's History
Reva was born in Brooklyn, New York and was the youngest of her five brothers and sisters. Her father was from Lithuania and her mother a first generation American with family roots on the Russian-Polish border. Reva‘s family moved to Manhattan when she was two.
When Reva was 16 she moved to Southern California to live with her eldest brother, US film, television and Broadway star, Gene Barry and his wife, Betty. Later she worked as a sportswear buyer for a major department store chain.
When she was 21, Reva and some Italian friends rented a beach house in Malibu, where she meet neighbour, Doug Meredith - a diver, surfer, sailor, boat-builder and set-builder for the film and television industry. They married and have two sons, David and Casey.
In 1971, when David was seven and Casey three, the Merediths loaded their possessions aboard a ship in San Pedro, California and headed for New Zealand. Although they’d hadn’t visited NZ before they emigrated, they wanted their family to live in a country that had a similar culture, environment and values to those that were being threatened by Malibu’s proximity to ever growing Los Angeles.
In a very real way, Reva‘s restaurant started in the kitchen of their rented farmhouse up a quiet coastal valley in Northland’s Matapouri Bay.
Word of Reva‘s cooking talents quickly spread and it wasn’t unusual for a Friday or Saturday dinner party for a few friends to turn into dinner for twenty or more. Reva always took it in her stride and her hospitality became legendary - especially since she accomplished all this in a house with no mains power.
According to an old friend, “Reva has always been a supreme hostess. She welcomed everyone to her home and especially to her kitchen. When a dozen extra people showed up for a dinner party, most people would panic., but Reva would say ‘GREAT’ and go on to host a memorable party.â€
After repeated requests to share her culinary talents with a wider audience, Reva and Doug bought the ‘Pizza Parlour' on James Street, Whangarei in 1976. It had seven tables and a staff of two.
Their new venture was an instant hit. There was nowhere exciting or outstanding to eat in Whangarei when they started up. And there was nowhere to eat out for lunch on weekends except, what quickly became known simply as, Reva’s. But the thing that made Reva‘s stand out was that the food not only made the taste buds take notice, but it was fun to go there. Up till then, going out to eat meant dressing up, going to someplace where you didn’t feel comfortable and paying through the nose for the privilege. Reva‘s had music, laughter, local art, regular jam sessions and, as time went on, wonderful new dishes to try.
To make things even more attractive, Reva‘s was able to get Whangarei’s first BYO license. in 1977.
In 1985 French agents off the yacht, Ouvea, visited Reva‘s and signed her guest book. Two weeks later, the Rainbow Warrior lay sunk in Auckland Harbour, victim of the explosives brought into NZ aboard the yacht. The agents’ moment of carelessness turned out to be a crucial piece of evidence in the subsequent investigation and charges being laid against them.
In 1988 Reva‘s moved to larger premises in the A&P Building on Dent Street.
Then, in 1995, Reva and Doug were offered the chance to be the first tenants of a purpose built restaurant in the developing Town Basin marina precinct and Reva‘s moved to their current location.
Reminiscent of the Lahaina Inn restaurant on Maui in Hawaii, the new premises had an open fireplace, generous seating inside and outside, and views to live for. Despite it’s much larger size, Reva‘s has retained the charm and intimacy of the earlier restaurants, including local art on its walls, live music, lively conversation and lots of laughter.
Reva‘s menu has been described as, “where Mediterranean meets Californian meets Kiwi.†And “See you at Reva‘s,†is still the farewell call of yachties across the Pacific.
