A Tauranga restaurant known for its generosity is once again opening its doors to those in need, with a free community meal planned later this month.

Castle 91, located at 2 Jude Place in Brookfield, will provide free meals for the community on Monday, January 19, continuing a tradition the restaurant has upheld since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Owner Mike Dhillion said the initiative is about giving back to the community that had supported Castle 91 through both good times and challenges.

“As part of this community, we believe it’s our responsibility to help where we can,” Dhillion said. “Not everyone is able to afford a special meal around Christmas or New Year, and we want to make sure no one feels left out.”

The Castle 91 team. Photo / David Hall

The free lunch is open to individuals and families facing financial hardship due to job loss, illness or other circumstances.

The impact

Castle 91 first hosted a free meal as a one-off in 2018, but demand during the pandemic highlighted the level of need. Since then, the restaurant had made the event an annual fixture, serving hundreds of meals in recent years.

Dhillion said one of the most rewarding aspects had been seeing the impact small acts of kindness could have.

Castle 91 owner Mike Dhillion. Photo / David Hall

“We’ve had people come back months later just to say ‘thank you’ once they were back on their feet,” he said. “Those moments remind us why we do this.”

Guests on January 19 will be offered a selection of Indian dishes, including butter chicken and vegetarian options, served with rice and naan bread. The team is preparing to cater for up to 120 people, with capacity to serve more if needed.

The event comes after a challenging year for the Castle 91 team following a fire at their Cameron Rd restaurant in June.

Delicious food on the menu at Castle 91. Photo / David Hall

“Normally, we serve this free lunch every year from Castle 91, Cameron Rd, Greerton. Unfortunately, this year Castle 91 caught fire and is not operating yet,” Dhillion said. “While we have certainly faced a challenging time due to the fire, we remain committed to supporting our community and will continue to do so.”

Thank you

“The messages and help we received after the fire were overwhelming. This is our way of saying thank you to Tauranga.”

The free community meal will be held from late morning at Castle 91, 2 Jude Place, Brookfield. No booking is required. For more information, contact the restaurant on 07 571 8891.