Cory and Nicola Peterson recently opened Little Street Kitchen after years of running their food truck Now Bao.
The couple said they used their food truck in Gordon Rd to save enough and gain a following prior to opening their restaurant.
Mrs Peterson said it had always been her husband’s dream to open his own restaurant.
"The food truck was always a starting point so that we could build a following," she said.
Little Street Kitchen replaces Chocolatt Hair at 2 Little St in Wānaka’s town centre.
The couple set up a Pledge Me campaign to help cover the costs of opening the new restaurant.
Their target was surpassed and $24,000 was raised.
"One of the main pledges was to donate $100 back in February with the promise that once we were open we would give them $120 to spend."
Mrs Peterson said the work that went into renovating the space was "beyond anything they ever expected or wanted to do".
"There was an awful lot of things that we knew were going to be tricky and so many things we couldn’t do on our own," she said.
Trying to save money, the couple renovated a large amount of the space themselves.
"I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of something."
After receiving a $14,000 quote, Mrs Peterson did the flooring with the help of a local builder and borrowed gear.
Some chairs and light fixtures in the space had been upcycled and time was donated by local businesses.
"It’s such a relief but more excitement to be in here, opening a restaurant has been in the back of Cory’s mind forever," she said.
Little Street Kitchen is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon till late.
