It's quite rare these days to go to a degustation - let alone a Chef's Table Degustation. Paying so…read moremuch for a meal, there's the expectation of stellar food - which sometimes explains the hefty sigh that would follow an overdone steak. Or the chance of having that knowledgeable but icy waiter who makes me mirror it in the most awkward stretched-smile-kind-of-way. A super special occasion or a yearly treat would justify going. For me, it was to reward a hardworking momma who had been busy looking after an energetic ball of cuteness, otherwise as known as my nephew. Euro had revamped their menu late last year into a gluten-free dining experience that promises the same indulgent flavours without the dreaded food coma afterwards. This new food ethos echoes the recent food trends of healthy eating and people being more educated and aware of what they are ingesting. I'm all for it, dining out and less guilt. We were seated on bar stools along an L shaped table around the kitchen, giving the allusion of watching a private chef at home. Our two chefs were brilliant - boisterous with happy energy that rubbed off on the 10 guests. Everything was explained as they cooked. I could ramble on about each of the 10 dishes but you can check out my full blog for descriptions. At first I found the food almost bland, especially when I faced the greenness of the cucumber and kale sauce in the second course. But after my tastebuds adjusted, I realised I was used to the expectation of the overly salty and seasoned food when dining out. My first surprise was the red pepper egg in the Red Tomato Consomme which pops gently when you pop the whole thing in your mouth. These flavours were light but tasty - there wasn't the overload of flavours, just clean and fresh ingredients. As the courses went along, the flavours got more heavy and food more creamy and dense. We weren't served any form of carbohydrates until the 7th risotto course -although faux spaghetti was spotted before that, which was a dream accompanied with the quail breast. The big perk of a Chef's Degustation is that everything is well personalised. Before serving the wagyu, the chef promised one of our well-built male diners that he will most certainly be full after the degustation, otherwise she'll personally make him a burger. The wagyu, while looking tantalizingly small, had my taste buds going from the moment it started searing on the pan. I cannot resist it, I am a carnivore. Eating at Euro, you'll observe the use of fancy glass gadgets and liquid nitrogen smoking up the kitchen. It's more like a show than any other dining experience I've had. Even when one of the irreplaceable expensive contraptions broke, the chefs were calm and made do with something else. Huge ups for keeping it together and thinking quick on their feet! At the end of the night, we were even given an extra course - cake pops along with a personalised chocolate message to each of our guests. Whilst my sister in law's one read "Happy Birthday", I got a cute one which said "Just Because". To round off the night, a mini burger was delivered to the male diner for being a good sport, even though he insisted he was full. Needless to say, I loved it at Euro. Princes Wharf hasn't got the pulse of Federal Street, or the glam of Britomart. But understated elegance has always been what attracts the business people that come here for their after work drinks. Don't be intimidated, change up your dining scene and head down to this area for something special.

Euro is one of my first picks for a special occasion, the food is always melt in the mouth yummy…read moreand there is always a nice ambiance especially if you get one of the outdoor tables. When you can get the bluff oysters it's a must super plump and creamy with some champagne before your meal is utter perfection. The breads come with a smoked paprika pork cream in a tube which is something unique and if you don't finish can take home with you. Stand out dishes I have experienced are the rotisserie chicken, eye fillet, chicken risotto (best I have ever had) and pork belly. Euro is also good for special events such as Melbourne cup day, where they pack out the place and serve a 3 course meal whilst having the races screening, TAB on site and dancing after, foods not quite up 2 standard on these days but understandable considering the large number of people.

Great place for whiskey. They have a lot of choice. Also cigar friendly out on the patio and they…read moredo sell cigars but ridiculously high priced. Would have given 5 stars otherwise.

Exceptional cocktails. Exceptional service. Beautiful place to enjoy a fine drink…read more We tried 4 different cocktails. They have all the usuals and The Old Fashioned and Manhattan were beyond excellent. My partner had a rhubarb tequila concoction and a margarita which was truly truly delicious. The menu is extensive and I'm sure all delivered with precision and perfection. The staff were helpful and go the extra length to deliver and satisfy. Located down the wharf your get great views from the patio and a great place to watch the sunset.

This place has so much potential. It's come out the other side of a massive face lift with a new…read morename... And boy did it need it. We have dropped in for after hours dessert on one other occasion as applejack. And while that experience was good, it's pretty hard to mess up dessert. This review is based on a full breakfast. We walked and engaged with staff who let us free roam a table. We chose outside on the patio. Good mix of large and small tables. Excellent flow and decor. Howick was packed and our usual cafes looked far to busy for my ideal. So it was nice to have a scattering of other patrons, and the space between tables felt really good. We tried to order a latte bowl, only to be told they come in mugs, OK fine.... No big deal.... But imagine my surprise when a tiny dinky half tumbler glass came out. Half foam! I pointed out I ordered a mug.... To which a sheepish "this is how latte is served here" was uttered by or server. I rolled my eyes and sighed and sipped the foamy latte. I ordered a Bacon and eggs on toast, convincing my fellow breakfast seeker to get the big breakfast so I could pick at his mushrooms and hash. We both asked for grain toast. Once again surprised with the result this time he had grain and my plate had white... I sent my plate back. By the time I was able to start my partner had wolfed down two thirds of his breakfast. And my bacon was half cold, and sunny side up eggs over cooked. None of these faux pas were acknowledged upon settling the bill... Which also seemed pricy, especially given the rather blasé service. I won't be rushing back anytime soon which is a shame given the ample parking and eye catching location

Hubby and I went to Applejack for dinner last night- one of the only places that was open on New…read moreYears Eve, it seemed!!! We ordered a drink each to start and the bread and dips to start- the bread was crusty and deliciously fresh, and the beetroot dip in particular was yum! For mains I had the beef and bacon burger, which was massive- I couldn't finish it- and came with really yummy chips and onion rings. The hubby had prawn and pesto linguine, which was also very tasty. Friendly and fast service, good price (cost us just over $60 for two drinks, the bread and dips, and our two mains), and a nice place overall. Will definitely be back!!!

Great for happy hour!…read more Even brought us complimentary cheese on toast! Which then resulted in more drinks... so great strategy! Fantastic service, friendly bartenders and waiters. Good drinks, great view of water, good music, good vibes.

After enjoying a quiet coffee this morning and having previously eaten the occasional oysters, I…read morehad high hopes for Headquarters Viaduct--until I unfortunately met the owner. I finished my coffee, walked outside, and saw the owner cross the road to the restaurant. What should have been a simple, friendly interaction turned cold and dismissive and, to put it bluntly, simply rude. The owner's attitude was unwelcoming and curt, completely spoiling the experience. Unfortunately, that summarizes the venue: mediocre food, inattentive service, and an atmosphere that fails to match its location or pricing. This was the final straw--I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend it to others seeking genuine hospitality in Auckland or the Viaduct. Sometimes, rude people do not know who they meet and lose the most significant opportunities! I never post reviews, but this one takes the cake--avoid HQ.

Cute little spot with speakeasy vibes down the street from my hotel. I stopped in one night after a…read morecomedy show and had a good time hanging out with the bartender and drinking ciders. The space is small and snug, but opulent. It's bigger than it seems though, with seating past a curtain. Little Culprit is the perfect spot for a nightcap. Check it out.

A small bar opposite Culprit (the restaurant). Due to it being a small place I'd recommend booking…read moreahead especially for a larger group. Little culprit has comfy booths in which you can try their cocktail range. As usual, I went for an espresso martini. Food wise, they do offer grazing platters but they also have a couple of different types of fries - my favourite of them was the truffle fries but everything was honestly so tasty!

Great location and nice views. We were recommended to this restaurant by our tour guide. We made…read moresame day reservations for a group of 3 online. Food: 5/5 Caprese salad: Pretty standard caprese salad. It was light and refreshing. Crispy Fried Squid: Very unique flavor combination and squid was perfectly crispy. Squid pieces did come in larger sizes than we anticipated but nothing a knife and fork can't cut down and fix. Kimchi aioli, charred lemon, crispy kimchi, kimchi powder. Savannah Angus Bone-in Ribeye: The steak was cooked to perfection and very tasty! You get a pretty large portion size for the price you are paying (from an American currency standpoint). Service: 3/5 I am not sure if this is a New Zealand thing or not but it took almost 1 hr between the time we got our appetizers/ salads to when we got our main entree steaks. Service in general seemed very slow. The restaurant didn't seem like it was lacking in staff so I am not sure why there was such a long wait for our food. This is one of the reasons why I gave this restaurant 4 star instead of 5. Website for reservation: 4/5 Making reservations online was easy. You are able to choose if you want indoor or outdoor seating with their available times for that day. However, they have a error in their website where you are required to choose and pay for their special set selected lunch menu when you try to make an appointment for their outdoor seating regardless if the reservation is for lunch or dinner.

Waygu Burgers were awful. Oysters were great Beef tartar great why they couldn't cook a medium…read morerare burger was beyond understanding. If you serve raw tartar... why can't the burger be pink and juicy. Fries and onion rings were good. Kenny was sweet

The Velvet Gypsy is an amazing place!!! Amazing specials every night of the week and great food…read more There are two sides of the restaurant (one quieter and sleeker, the other lively and facing the beach). The decor is awesome and keeps in line with the name of the place. Everyone looks like they are having an amazing time. I saw a huge age range - groups of 20 and 30 something as well as families and older folk. They also have a great range of food and beverages. We got the 2/$20 gourmet pizza special and both were delicious!!! We will be going back for steak night and the summer platter. Love this place!

This is a cool place to go in Browns Bay, its got 2 faces, one that faces the beach and one that…read morefaces the road. On the Beach face it has some comfortable lounge chairs and bar tables to admire the beauty of Browns Bay Beach and its more for eating. The street face is more of the bar side and yes the drinking side. We came here this week and had Pizza and some drinks, we received really good service and the pizza was pretty good too. They have a pretty good menu with a variety of tasty sounding dishes. During the day you can come and have lunch, and later in the evening dinner, then they come alive after dark for drinks and dancing. I will be back soon.

The middle sibling of popular Viaduct venue "White & Wongs" & baby brother "Burger Boy", this cozy…read morelittle bar makes full advantage of it's little nook. Late summer sun on the water, upbeat tunes, a fun & quirky (but still chic) décor. More importantly, a delightful wine list, offering top end NZ & old world classics by the glass or bottle. Pushing their rating into 5 stars is the authentic customer care the staff offered, which extended past the punters & into the street to a fallen pedestrian; Service without the hubris or nonchalance we get in so many other Auckland establishments. Kudos to you Sardine- Will definitely be returning to try the cocktails...