We decided to dine here in our first night in Auckland on recommendation of our hotel. It was just…read morea short walk from where we were staying. Ostro has a somewhat limited menu but several tantalizing options. We both opted for the nightly fish special (grouper with a lovely basil sauce) and for sides the Parmesan beignets (more aptly described as croquettes) and some broccolini. The fish was perfectly prepared and the the croquettes just melted in your mouth-I could have eaten a ton of those (an order was around 7 and was served with a chipotle mayo). Service was attentive with water and wine glasses filled on a regular basis. The petit four (dessert) was a bit pricey with 3 small one-bite mini desserts but they were all good and not too sweet. The restaurant has a lovely view of the harbor from their 2nd floor location. It's all glass looking out to the sea. We enjoyed the meal and felt well taken care of. Recommended

Dined June 27, 2014…read more What a happening place this is. The evening was most memorable. Four of us dined here, and were thoroughly enchanted by the food. Service was good, though we all commented that the scene is so busy, and the acoustics so lousy, that we were almost yelling at each other to be heard in an attempt to have a conversation across a narrow dining table. Starters to share for the table were the Kingfish Crudo, $18 & Pumpkin Ravioli, $24. The marinated and cured kingfish (citrus/ginger based) was filling, and the added chili provided some punch, but otherwise was lackluster. However, the ravioli was the star and we all commented that we each would order it as our own individual entrée. Mains that we enjoyed were Steamed snapper w/ assorted shellfish,$38, Beef filet, $38 and Pork belly, $38. While the portion size was very adequate for three of us (see photos), yet the gentleman who had the pork belly commented that it was more sizzle and substance, and felt unsated and desirous of more food. Flavors on everything were excellent, and the beef filet was perfectly cooked, with a seared exterior. Desserts were: Chocolate fondant, $16, Crème Brule, $16, and cinnamon donuts, $9 for the other gentleman. The gentleman who ordered the pork belly had the donuts, and was appeased by the generous quantity, if only it had the taste to enjoy. We all had an opportunity to sample one, and we all agreed it was the losing dessert of the night. Everything else was easily devoured. All in all, a positive evening. I would return, but only on a quieter night so I could hear my dining companions.

What the service lacks in attentiveness the food makes up for. The food is exceptional.read more

I'm from California and wanted to try something a bit different while visiting Auckland, NZ and…read morecame across this establishment. I ordered a chicken kebab and Chicken Tadori Pizza. All I can say is wow! The food is so fresh and made with such care. No long wait and while I didn't finish the pizza at sitting I took it back and ate it the next morning. The staff is very friendly and enjoy what they do. At the time of this writing I also ordered their classic burger. Once again it was very fresh and reminiscent of a smash burger which we have back in the states. Very yummy! I highly recommend Chill and Grill to anyone staying close. The atmosphere is very relaxing (albeit not for the occasional honking of cars outside) and it's very homely. From this yank, keep up the fantastic work!

Strolling at Queen's Street and saw a sign Fish and chips with beer for $30 was a steal…read more We decided to try and very pleased. Seated inside due to windy conditions. There were patio tables and chair available. The place was kinda more of London bar . Very old bricks and wooden tables which I like. We got the special Fish and chips then my husband got the Angus Rib eye steak with chimichurri sauce and veggies. The battered of the fish was very light and crispy. Not too oily and with the tartar sauce gave a tasteful flavor. The fish was very tender with some salt and lemon. The French fries tasted fresh. The Angus rib eye steak was juicy medium rare. Their light draft beer was a good one too. Satisfying experience.

Beautiful old bar with tons of history and a wonderful owner. We wandered in for a quick drink, and…read morehad a great time chatting about the history of the pub and this area of NZ. The drinks were delicious and the chat was even better. Highly recommend!

Best gluten free bun I've ever had. Held up for the entire meal without falling apart in my hands…read more The burger was the size of my head and absolutely delicious!

As usual I'm back, the food is 5 Stars....the service is unbelievable...thanks for the nice…read morehospitality

I don't know about you but I associate the term "gee gee's" with stale-smelling, monotonous…read moresounding TAB venues with bad food. I was not prepared for Gee Gee's in Epsom, which came complete with it's own faux-crystal horse-and-harness-racer statuette. It has the entrance of a motel, complete with welcome mat and front desk. Already at 10.30 am the kitchens service windows framed busy chefs racing around. The setting inside was of a long, elegantly set dining area flanked with wait stations and sepia photos (presumably famous jockeys). It was immaculate. So naturally, I was expecting stiff-lipped, steel-spined service to ensue. But instead, I was given the most welcoming invitation to enjoy a beer in the sun, facing Cornwall park. I felt apprehensive and under-dressed in a strangely pleasant way and have high hopes for the well priced food there. Obviously this is a business that has kept it's head down doing the hard work, making sure the basics in service and presentation are done properly and I hope to see more of it in the future.

Gee Gee's CLOSED many years ago and the phone and location are now a Turkish Bar and restaurant. I…read morewent a long to try it out as I was staying very close. But the music was so loud that the staff had to shout at each other and I decided I couldn't eat a meal in such a LOUD place. It looked nice and smelt good but WAY TOO LOUD.

Just outside the Auckland Fish market is Seafood Central, the restaurant that serves up the seafood…read morefrom the maker in the center courtyard. This was suggested to me by a local, and while fried seafood is not really my thing, I went, I saw and I ate! It was a fried food bonanza! They have a seafood platter for 2 for $60 that my friend and I split. On it were mussels, shrimp kabobs, fried shrimp, fried scallops,fried calamari salmon,whitefish,French fries, a small salad and bread. Be sure to,ask for tartar sauce as this only comes with lemons as a condiment. You can also order your favorite wine or beer to go along with it. The ordering process is simple. Sit at a table with a number and grab a menu from another table if there isn't one. The server will come along and take your order. The food is delivered and you pay up at the bar before you leave. Not sure why the server doesn't take the money but she didn't so don't sit there the way I did waiting to pay. Also- know that the restrooms here are quite clean as well ( located behind the bar) so it's a good stop all the way around. Maybe it was what I ordered, but I thiught the food was just okay. I expected more for a place associated with the fish market. I should have bucked the trend and tried something other than the fried food platter but since everyone had been raving about it, I went with th group's suggestion. Take a time out and grab a cold beer and some seafood at Seafood Central. Its a good break in the wharf area of Auckland.

Don't rush, enjoy the day here with a glass of wine or two!…read more We ordered a seafood platter and a whole fish - reasonable price. The seafood was fresh and nothing to be complained. However, the seafood platter is too overly buried with fried food e.g. fried calamari, fried fish, chips, fried scallops... um.. only one item was raw and its the oyster. The sauce that came with it seem to be out of the bottle mayo. Its a great place to hang out for a sunny afternoon for beer and fries... :) Maybe I did back for live Jazz music though. haha

The Good: Gorgeous views at this family run cafe/diner/bar. The interiors were relaxed, playful and…read moregave off a beach bohemian vibe. We came here for breakfast but spotted beers on tap and a pizza oven. I imagine having drinks out back on a summer afternoon must be glorious. The Bad: Food took a while, so make sure you're willing to wait like 40+ minutes for a meal. Recommend grabbing a drink and a pastry to tide you over. And we found a live ant in our garnish, but we channeled our island selves and it was chill.

Has a central location in Onera Village, with lots of seating on the patio and inside. You can get…read moreindividual wifi codes at the counter that each last for 30 minutes. Came with a group of 7 behind another large party and they had the courtesy to warn us of a 35 minute wait. Despite the amount of seating, their kitchen looked rather small so I could see wait times being an issue here. We weren't too bothered since many of us were tired and just wanted to sit, but be aware if you're hoping for food right away. Ordered the special of the day ($14) along with a side salad ($8). The special was only a salmon fillet, although they allow you to pick 2 different half-salads. The fish was delicious, very nicely cooked but succulent and not dry at all. A good rest stop overall, but wished they offered just a couple more affordable options. Most of my party could only get decent sized portions for lunch items starting between $18-22.

We stopped in for a quick lunch after our trans Pacific flight, and our family of 7 loved our…read moremeals. Three of us had the crumbed fish and chips - outstanding! Two had the brisket sandwiches and found them to have a great mix of flavors. The other two had breakfasts - avocado toast and Belgian waffle. Both were top notch. You have to love a place that serves both breakfast and lunch in the middle of the day. The staff was very efficient and friendly. We sat outside and enjoyed a nice Sunday afternoon lunch. Georgia was our server and could not be lovelier. We highly recommend this place for a quick bite.

Came for coffee, but ended up ordering iced mochas on my daughter's recommendation. We had a good…read moreseat by the big open window and the mochas hit the spot. Nice surprise to be offered a topup of our drinks. Thought we must have been special but Chelsea, our waitress, said they do it for everybody. Give this place a try, I hear the pizzas are really good too.