Tapas sounded good so we checked it out and ended up getting the lamb with roasted veggies a cheese…read moreplate and some wine. All were delicious and the service was excellent. Spoke to the owners for an hour or so while we ate - one from Christchurch and the other is from Madrid. Super nice people. Everything was excellent and authentic Spanish - the cheese, olives (free), wine and bread. It's in the alley with seating outside. People from the neighborhood stopped by just to hang out. Very cool spot.

The reviews I read were right. The food and drinks were delicious at Madriz. The Sangria was a fun,…read morerefreshing choice and we enjoyed everything we ordered. The tapas plates were so nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked and fun to share. The charcuterie plate was decadent with melt in your mouth Iberico ham. The little alley the restaurant is located in makes you feel like your in a small cafe in a European location and makes for fun people watching.

Most Authentic Spanish cuisine in Auckland. Great service,wine and Food…read more Muy Bien!!!

A cool little bar and eatery..it used to be Ruby and El Toro from memory. We stopped in for a…read morecouple of drinks. We were greeted with smiles and even though the kitchen was closing they were more than happy to open for us. Nice. We ended up just drinking and were very pleased with the friendly table side service. All staff seemed to be Spanish, happy and welcoming. We drank Spanish beer and wine. Good reasonable prices. Although we didn't eat, we definitely plan to next time and I can recommend the cold drinks and excellent service. I'm sure the food would follow suit. Seating options are tables and leaners and outside there is a courtyard with seating. Decor is pleasing and I'm looking forward to heading back in to see those smiling faces.

Just checked in the hotel and came here before it got too late. The Depot had good reviews on Yelp…read moreso I tried it. It's about 15-20 min walk from the warf. It was busy so I was seated outside. They had overhead heat lamps so I was comfortable without a jacket one (this is in June). The menu is geared for sharing dishes so ordering for one is a challenge. I had the local Lagar on tap, 1 of each of the 2 oysters offered, and the NZ green-lipped mussels with chiriso. They also gave me a complementary pita triangles with hummus. Overall, everything was delicious. I could have gone for more oysters, but didn't want to overdo it. The mussel dish had 7 good size mussels so I was satisfied without feeling stuffed. Glad I came to the Depot.

My friends and I went there for my last day in Auckland. We went around lunch time and we were able…read moreto get seated very quick. The ambiance was still so chill and not as packed because it was early afternoon, which was nice. The staff again were super friendly and answered any questions we had. Sadly, we didn't get the fish sliders because they were sold out! But we did get some of the same dishes I had ordered before but got oysters as well. The oysters were fresh and tasty, especially with their vinegar sauce. My friends also loved the charred eggplant and a couple of them don't really eat eggplant. The crispy potatoes were so good! The truffle wasn't too overpowering and they were perfectly crisp. The steak was super tender and juicy and the wedge salad helps cut the fat and compliments the steak as well. Can't wait to come back to Depot. Already miss it so much!

Genuinely, one of the greatest , and maybe most understated, gems in Newmarket. Be transported away…read morefrom the bustle of traffic and pedestrians, behind the fountains and summer cicadas and small knolls of Lumsden Green, and enjoy a sample of the Mediterranean under a flock of bright red parasols. Above the reasonable prices, the great food and the wine selection, the service is impeccable- testament to why Safran has been here for over 20 years. Staff comfortably approach you before you enter, without looking like the starving hyena that is often encountered walking past a restaurant. Even though I had only stopped in for a summery Pinot Gris this time around, I had a tall glass of ice water almost before I sat down with the wine, followed by a smile, not long after. A positively enjoyable restaurant for their lunch time specials, a hot date or a small group of friends for dinner.

When I worked in Newmarket we came to Safran at least every 2 weeks, there were many other…read morerestaurants/cafes in the area which we also tried, however we always preferred Safran. When we first started going they had a $10 menu, then it was $12 and now its $14, oh inflation and rising prices. Anyway the lunch meals were always good and tasty, I think over the time I tried every lunch meal and they were all good and they had around 12 or so lunch specials. Probably the most popular one would be the Safran sandwich which is like a gourmet sandwich and very good. The food has a Spanish/Mediterranean influence. The service was always very good, somehow much better than all the other nearby places.

I love the idea of Basque; A cosy, Spanish wine & tapas bar in the backstreets of Newmarket…read more Delicious food, delicious wine. Buuuuut unfortunately a few things let it down. 1) The prices. They're too high. I hate complaining about how expensive a dish is because I know how high food costs are these days but $10.50 for two small goats cheese bites seems a bit steep. Even the small side of zucchini, lemon zest and pinenuts was $10.90. 2) The atmosphere or lack thereof. Granted it was a cold and windy Tuesday night but regardless of how busy it was the lights were too bright, the music was too quiet and the plastic table numbers made you feel like you were paying bistro prices to dine in a café chain. That being said the food was delicious. The baked goats cheese bites, warm and creamy, was served with a slice of medjool date. The half chicken was moist and covered in a buttery aioli and the zucchini was fresh and zesty. For me, Basque has a tonne of potential and clearly a fantastic chef, if only they put some more thought into creating a more inviting atmosphere I would be back in a jiffy.

Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you are not looking to find. We liked this place from…read morethe minute we walked in, we were escorted to one of our favourite types of tables (side by side on a comfy couch) centre stage watching the world go by. The world came and went as we were so engrossed in our selection, gently aided by our host Carol. She was very helpful with the menu and the wines, she asked us what we usually drink and made recommendations based on our preferences. It was spot on. Highly recommend this place, we will definitely be coming back.

DELICIOUS STEAKS!!! Remarkable and Memorable…read more Food: -Scotch Fillet (Ribeye-medium) comes with a side salad and chimichurri all is Mouthwatering & Delicious! 5/5 -Parrillada (Lamb, Pork Belly & Flank Steak) very good choice. This also comes with The Scotch Fillet was the star of night! Seasoned and cooked perfectly Service: Very Friendly and Helpful! Atmosphere: it's inside a food hall and has a nice sleek interior, cozy feeling! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Worth going if you're in the mood for Argentine food! Easy 5/5

They do things properly over charcoal and they've got a great indoor/outdoor space, plus they're…read morequite quick with the good. Yet I have middling feelings, mostly because while I enjoyed my parradilla, I wasn't amazed by it either. The beef was an okay cut, but had to be cut very small less it be too chewy. Pork was probably the best part of the meal and a massive portion, while the lamb was... I really wanted to like it, but it didn't have the wonderful seasoning and flavor I was hoping for. Seemed almost more like it could have been pulled lamb than the lamb chop I was hoping, so maybe it's just my expectations being off? Wine list is solid and the service is pretty good. 3.5 stars seems right.

The churro was very nice. My servers name was Namrata from The Base Mall in Hamilton, she was very…read morekind and considerate of how I like the churro. She seems like a very greatful, upbeat worker! Very easy to talk to :))

Tasty churros and friendly service. Love the caramel sauce and the drizzle option is my favoriteread more

What a find between Ponsonby and Herne Bay. Dida is beautifully set for its location, its interior…read moredesign and its wine&tapas paring presentation. Better to be here after 4pm, otherwise you would feel too early to relax. Maybe the locals never take a thought like that. Anyhow, Dida is a place for friends, for two, three or a big group. You name it. It is fully functional with a nice vibe easily to get immersed. Dim light soon recalls you of Spanish Monastery style, floor-to-ceiling shelves could both work for books and of course, wine display. A good selection of wine, with a smartly put tapas menu. Nothing works better than little bites for the wine mood. Paella&Romesco Arancini, which is seafood ball with romesco sauce, full of nutty and dried tomato flavor. Then we tried the potato bravas, which is potato chunks with spicy tomato sauce and saffron aioli, quite fit for a glass of port though:) Braised pork pringa turns out burger-like snacks. The flavor is totally light up by the gazpacho mayonnaise. Truly Spanish, however, they all work out nicely with New Zealand white and red wine. Feel free to come any time at Dida's. Bring a sense of curiosity and an open mind with what they can offer, it will be so much fun and relaxed.

I first went to Didas when I was eighteen and since then I have become a regular patron of the…read morerenowned wine and tapas lounge. Situated on Jervois Road, Didas attracts all sorts of stylish and successful Ponsonby locals. With an extensive wine list, and bottles ranging in price from the standard $30-40 to over $600, I probably would have felt out of place if it wasn't for the incredibly friendly staff - like Nick and Chris who are more than a little chatty, and the wine lounge's completely relaxed atmosphere. Behind the bar wine bottles are stacked in library-like fashion, and there is even a sliding wooden ladder - just like the one Belle swings on in Beauty and the Beast - to ensure staff can reach every bottle. Although my average Didas experience occurs at night and revolves around copious amounts of alcohol and a lot of shit-talking, my latest experience was totally different but equally as fun. I met friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon for a drink and, sitting out on Jervois Road with my cider and live music - it really was the perfect set up. So next time you're on Jervois Road and the weather is good, take a moment to have a cold one and people-watch from the comfort of a Didas stool.

I first tried Tasca at the end of last year when we had a staff function. We tried most of the…read moretapas (my favourite being the patatas bravas) and had a buffet set up complete with paellas, salads and Turkish Pide bread. It was a great night - the restaurant had a lovely ambience, the service was good and most importantly, the food was delicious!!! So delicious that I really wanted to come back and try their lunch menu. When a recent Grabone deal popped up, it was the perfect opportunity! I booked a table for two ahead of time and I'm so glad I did! We arrived at 1pm on a beautiful sunny Saturday and the place was absolutely packed! Our table was right by the huge windows that open out onto Nuffield Street. They have ample seating, with a great indoor/outdoor flow and it definitely felt like we were in a European city - such a cool vibe! We ordered a Mojito ($14.50), the Mussels ($18.50) and the Moorish Eggs with Turkish Pide Bread ($17.50). The mojito was very refreshing on the hot summers day and instead of being overly sweet, it was minty and had a good amount of lime in it. My Mum had the mussels and she thoroughly enjoyed them - the flavours were a perfect balance of garlic, chilli and lemon. The Moorish eggs were delicious as well. After seeing many Instagram photos of the Moorish eggs, I just knew I had to order them! At $17.50, one would think it is too steep, but it was actually very filling! The dish consists of 3 eggs and 6 meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, plus Turkish Pide bread on the side. It was very yummy and it would make a great comfort meal in the winter! The service was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Highly recommend Tasca - it's a great place for all occasions whether it be a function, a birthday, a date night or best of all, a lazy Sunday afternoon!

We have our book club here every month . Such incredible good service and hospitality…read more Great menu and excellent cocktails .scallops perfectly cooked. Hadn't been for a while before joining and was like coming home.

Toro and El Camino are mates, which means that if you want El Camino food but can't squeeze you and…read moreyour group into the tiny restaurant, you can order and have your food brought up the road. Thankfully Toro makes the same delicious margaritas that El Camino is known for, so you can have the same experience without worrying about getting a table initially. You can also order food straight from Toro - their tapas are awesome. I've seen my meaty friends chow down on chorizo with mushroom and the buffalo rings, while I stuck to the seafood and enjoyed it thoroughly!

El Camino has become one of those places that cool people are starting to talk about, so in a…read morecouple of months' time it'll be obnoxious. I'm not that cool so I've never been, but I have been to Toro and I have to say I enjoyed it. As far as I can tell the two places have some familial connection but I won't let my praise for Toro spill over onto its hipster neighbour. Toro does a good balance between bar and restaurant. You know how at some bars you feel stupid sitting down to eat, and at some restaurants you feel like a lush if you just want to drink? Well Toro doesn't have either of those problems. I went for a friend's birthday and we transitioned smoothly from food to beers to mojitos over the course of the evening, and all of it seemed comfortable and relaxed. The food and mojitos were nice too, and the beers were bottled so their quality was uniform. I'd come here again.