tried this tapas bar/ mediterranian food when we travelled to Auckland. the food was amazing. we…read moregot the chicken risotto, arancini, kofta kebab and the chorizo. we also tried their cocktails. the ambiance is very hippy. the staff were pretty cool and welcoming. also gave is a recommendation for a dessert which we ended up getting. we got the almond tart which was a good way to end our dinner. would definitely recommend if you ever visit this part of New Zealand.

Mezze is a very charming space, that gives indulgent traditional vibes. It came up in a search of…read morerestaurants near my hotel and I was able to walk there. I didn't get the ordering situation right off the bat. You get a menu from the bar then sit, decide what to order, then place your order at the bar. You also pay when you place your order. I went with the lamb burger and a cider. The fries with the lamb burger were amazing as was the cider. The burger was well prepared but not seasoned the way I prefer. I'd totally return to Mezze and try something else. It's a very cool spot, worth the visit.

Such a great find while exploring Parnell Rd. Had a great Pisco Sour and spanakopita on tzadiki…read more Staff was attentive. Really cute bar with indoor and outdoor seating.

I was surprised with the negative reviews, but base on my daughter's experience we thought the food…read morewas good. We ordered the pita bread, beetroot hummus, prawn manti, spanakopita, kataifi prawns, sokolata, cheesecake, and butterscotch and tahini dessert. I agree that the dishes were not Greek food based on other Greek restaurants I have visited, but I found the food in Oceania lacked flavor (which might be because I am pollo-pescatarian). The food here was flavorable, and had a very nice presentation.

I've heard lots of advertising for Fatimas and I'm addicted to Middle Eastern and Turkish/Greek…read morecuisine so I've been meaning to eat here for a long time but hadn't gotten round to it. Came for dinner with a friend and we shared the Potato Koftas and pita chips and dips (hummus and an eggplant dip). And then had a spiced lamb pita each. I was quite disappointed with the starters in general. The potato koftas looked like potato hash bites that you'd get in the frozen section of the supermarket- and tasted the same. The pita chips were fantastic and there were heaps of them - but both the dips were rather bland. The pitas on the other hand were excellent. Juicy lamb marinaded in a really nice spiced sauce with lettuce, tomato, parsley etc etc. Nice Mayo sauce as well. On the way out I saw their special was a chicken harissa pita so I'm going to be back to try that, but will pass on the sides next time. Fatimas is designed as a takeaway place, but they do have 3 tables and a sit at bar for eating there.

Really disappointed in this place tonight. An American girl…read morenamed Dee ( on the docket)stared at me condescendingly every time I tried to catch her eye for 45 minutes and didn't call out my order name once. Other orders ready were called out multiple times but not once did she say my name. I didn't ask was it ready as I didn't want to be a pain when they were obviously onto it calling out the names. Finally I asked 45 minutes later and she looked under the bench and said oh yeah here it is.My food was totally cold when I got it and I wanted to say something to her but she flipped her ponytail and turned away. I get that it was just forgotten or whatever but there was no apology offered at all. I love the food at this place but the staff needs talking to about customer service and using their brains if they see a customer waiting a long time.

Traveling around NZ for the last month and looking for something different. Cafe Midnight Express…read moreoffered us a fantastic meal with great, attentive service. I honestly feel my chicken shish was the best meal I've had since we started the trip! We were told that everything was prepared in house and the flavors were delicious. House wine was a bit of a disappointment but the food more than made up for that.

Had a good dinner here. BF had the kofte and I had the doner kebab. We finished with a slice of…read morechocolate cake. Everything was great! The place was busy, but service was still quite good. Our waiter was seriously multitasking! I'm always appreciative when somebody works that hard so I have a good experience.

Over the weekend, two friends and I were invited to dine at Bodrum Market in Westfield Newmarket's…read morenew rooftop dining precinct. It was a fantastic lunch, thanks to the lovely food, cocktails, ambience and service. Bodrum Market is run by one of my favourite hospitality companies - Nazar Group. Founded by Alex Isik and Nigar Ivgen, they own restaurants all over Auckland, including Feriza's, Miss Istanbul, Ottoman Mezze Lounge, NOA Chargrill + Burger, Devon on the Wharf, Mozaik Caffe, Deco Eatery, Casablanca and Bodrum Kitchen. All of their restaurants bring a slice of the Mediterranean to the table - featuring Turkish, Greek, Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes... so we were really excited to check it out! Walking in, we absolutely loved the interior of Bodrum Market, which is inspired by Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and the streets of Bodrum City. While I have not yet been to Istanbul (it is on the list!), I immediately felt transported to an exotic city! We were seated in one of their booths, which overlooks the dining area and bar. If you dine at Bodrum Market, you must order a cocktail! We tried three which were all refreshing and delicious. My top picks are the Bombay Masala Talkies - Gin infused with masala tea, butterfly pea flower syrup, lemon juice and Mediterranean tonic water; the Sultan Treat with Russian vodka, rose petal water, fresh pomegranate, lime juice and pomegranate molasses; and the Aam Pana Cooler with Tequila, orange liqueur, raw mango puree, roasted cumin powder, lemon juice and lemonade. (Seriously, typing this now makes my mouth water!!!) And now for the most important part, the food! Bodrum Market is offering diners an authentic experience by serving four different cuisines - Indian, Italian, Turkish and Latin American Asado, just like the traditional food markets of the Mediterranean. Their aim is to showcase unique flavours from each of their teams' homelands. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak through their kitchen and admired their Wood-Fired Pizza Oven, Asado Grill and Doner Kebab machine. There are many options on the menu to suit a range of palates, and I recommend sharing if possible so you can try a few dishes. We trusted the team to bring us a few of their favourites from each of the four cuisines to try, including Olives and Feta with almonds and dates, Chicken Lollipops with chili sauce, Grilled Octopus with new potatoes, paprika butter, garlic aioli and parsley, Beef Short Ribs with Chimichurri sauce and Prosciutto Pizza with fresh rocket, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and Parmesan. We loved that everything was super fresh, flavourful and tasty, plus every dish was full of colour. Our favourites were the Beef Short Rib - lathered in a beautiful Chimichurri sauce and the meat was melting off the bone! The Chicken Lollipops were also a highlight, and we surprisingly enjoyed the Grilled Octopus... must admit those tentacles freaked us out a bit! For dessert, we tried their Loukoumades - light and fluffy Greek honey puffs, drizzled in chocolate sauce and served with pink fairy floss, ice cream and pistachios. You will definitely want to save room for this dessert! For a further sweet treat, head outside to the entrance of Bodrum Market to admire the displays of Baklava, Chocolate Baklava and Turkish Delight - definitely recommend buying a few pieces for the ride home. Thank you Bodrum Market for a FAB dining experience - we cannot wait to come back! x

ferizas is a nice spot in the viaduct harbor/ wynyard area for Turkish food! the food service is…read morepretty quick but they were not very attentive with our table so we kept having to ask around for the waiter. they have indoor and outdoor seating and it is great for groups. they have a pretty wide menu and drink selection. the Greek meatballs and the slow cooked lamb were very flavorful and breads were also well made. i would return if in the area.

Low-key 24/7 casual spot that hit the spot!…read more We stumbled upon this cafe one evening and enjoyed a burger (sunnyside up egg included) and a side of kumara fries with a fantastic garlic aioli! Order at the counter, pay for your food, and a few moments after we enjoyed a tasty and underrated meal!

When looking for a date night spot on our trip to NZ, we came across Chargrill. I am seriously…read moreupset we haven't come every time we've been! The food was delicious. My partner got one of their pizzas and it honestly was so nicely cooked, the crust was perfect, and there was a generous amount of toppings but not overwhelming. I had one of their pasta dishes and loved it. The portion size was just perfect and the flavour was great. The service was excellent. The woman that took our orders made small talk with us and even joked with us. She was lovely. There is limited seating inside so keep that in mind if you're visiting during peak hours. There is seating outside, but it is next to a street (not much traffic but the occasional car). Overall we had a lovely experience and it was one of the most affordable meals we had while visiting. We will definitely be back

I've been going to this place since I was eleven. That's a LONG TIME AGO. The owners and staff are…read morealways cheerful, funny and warm - I moved out of Titirangi years ago, they still recognise me every time and ask me about my family. The food is great and their hummus dip is always a good start: it comes with creamy spiced hummus and soft pita, as well as a drizzling of tomato sauce and greek yogurt. The kebab bread is always cooked fresh, never too chewy. Eat in or take away, the quality of the food is always fantastic and the salads are always fresh. Coffee leaves something to be desired, but I'll forgive them for that. Don't go expecting fine dining food - keep in mind that it IS just a kebab shop, and that's what you're getting. A kebab.

When my family moved to Titirangi they were excited to be in an area with a wider range of dining…read moreoptions (having come from Waterview, which has two dairies and a pet shop). Shortly after they moved they enthusiastically took me to the Turkish restaurant they'd discovered, to have the delicious, exotic Turkish food. What they meant was now that they lived in a proper suburb, they'd found a kebab shop. And as exciting as it was for them, it's a kebab shop. A good kebab shop, with good kebabs (both wrapped and on rice), and apparently if you dine in there's a wine list which suggests a certain level of class that isn't the norm. But as far as the food goes, if you've ever had a kebab before, this is a good version of that. About as exotic as bolognese.

I like anything in the CBD that isn't another gross fastfood chainstore. And I really like that…read moreTank is now right in town. Usually a preserve of suburban shopping malls, Tank shops produce reliably yummy juice to a standard recipe, and like to add in things you wouldn't normally think about putting in your body (like shots of mushed up grasses and stuff). The High Street branch gets very stuffy and crowded at peak hours, but the staff have been really patient with my annoying off-the-menu requests. If you're thirsty in the CBD, there's also another Tank on the corner of Elliot and Victoria Streets, which I think from memory is all shiny and new.

I don't know if I just made a terrible choice (tank mango), but I was totally disappointed with…read morethis place. The price of their smoothies is high ($7ish? -- then again, that seems to be the NZ going rate). Then the smoothie was just disgustingly sweet. It clearly had a crapload of added sugar, perhaps through the sorbet? I don't know, but I won't bother next time around. I could hardly finish it, and for $7, that's a shame.

Point One: This café looks like a nice European eatery…read more Point Two: This café is more confused than John Key's dealings with Kim Dot Com. Named Café Byzantium, a Greek city that became the Turkish Istanbul, it advertises Roma coffee, has a wall of Australian and New Zealand wines, a huge painting of Napoleon and is run by Asian staff. Let me give you an example of an order in this pseudo-European café: -Could I have the Esk Valley Cab Merlot please? Hmm here is a Villa Maria Merlot- this one? -Erm no, the Esk Valley please? *leaves me at the foot of the stairs and returns handing me a glass of red* -Sorry is this the Esk Valley Cab Merlot? This is Esk Valley, yes. -True, but you've poured me a Rosé. Oh. *gets new staff member* A merlot? Yes the Villa Maria is Merlot. -No could I have the Esk Valley Cab Merlot please?...

This was an old favourite of mine when I worked around the corner during the late 90s and on the…read moresurface not much is different. While it has changed hands, the owners have done everything they can to enhance what is good about this place; primarily getting a liquor license and opening for dinner. The Eggs Benedict here with Spinach and Avocado were always the absolute best in town and while the avocado is not quite as generous and the hollandaise a bit thinner, it's basically the same. In fact, the whole menu is pretty much as it always was, as is the decor. There are a few unfortunate additions, notably the clangy artworks that just don't belong with the byzantine theme and the ugly sandblasting signage on the window. If you can get past that though, Byzantium is still a winner. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food and coffee good. I intend to try dinner here some time soon.