My wife and I ate here during a recent visit to Auckland. The food was excellent--we ordered the…read moremixed grill mussels platter and ribs, and everything was delicious. We were really enjoying the food, atmosphere, and service from our waitress. The reason for the lower rating was an interaction we witnessed involving a tall, bald staff member. An older Asian group was seated near our table. A few moments after they sat down, several additional members of their group sat at a nearby table without first checking with the hostess. The staff member approached them and explained that the table was reserved and that other guests might be arriving. While the request itself seemed reasonable, the way it was handled was not. He spoke very loudly and aggressively, to the point that the entire restaurant turned to see what was happening. The group appeared embarrassed, stood up, and left the restaurant. As Asian visitors ourselves, the incident left us feeling uncomfortable. We understand that restaurants need to manage reservations and seating arrangements, but customers should be treated with courtesy and respect, especially when a simple explanation would likely have resolved the situation. It's unfortunate because the food and the rest of the service were excellent. This would have been a 5-star experience otherwise. I hope management addresses situations like this more professionally in the future.

Great vibe in a historic alley. Beer selection is vast and the food is delicious. Oftentimes these…read morebrewpubs don't focus much on the food, but that was not the case here! It was my last meal in Auckland and I was not disappointed. Mussels were fresh and meaty, the rump steak was perfectly cooked and the chips were spot on with a crisp exterior and soft creamy interior. Staff is super friendly and handles the lunch rush like pros. Highly recommend!

My friends and I were in town visiting and had seen The White Lady on YouTube and social media with…read morepeople regarding it as an institution. The White Lady is a food truck serving a variety of burgers and sandwiches, as well as chips. There is no seating, so they offer take away only. I was a little uncomfortable, as there was a group of homeless people sitting and laying down right next to the food truck. Because of this, I just wanted to grab my food and go. The food took about 15 mins to finish and we were out of there. They did have tomato sauce, as well as garlic aoli sauce, free to take as much as you want. I ordered the White Lady, which is one of their signature burgers. It had a beef patties, Scotch steak, Colby cheese, bacon, fried egg, grilled pineapple, fried onions, lettuce, and tomato. It sounded like a ton of ingredients, but I figured I had to try their namesake burger. I had taken my food back to my hotel, which was only about a 10-15 minute walk back. Understandably, the burger was a bit soggy. That wasn't the worst part though. My main gripe with this burger though, was the Scotch steak. It was probably my fault for not entirely knowing what a Scotch steak was. The steak was chewy and I was NOT able to bite it off each time I took a bite of the burger. After a couple bites struggling to separate the steak from the rest of the burger, I ended up just taking the steak out and eating it with a fork and knife. I cannot understand why you would put something on a burger if it cannot be bitten off solely with your teeth. It goes against the point of having something handheld. On top of that, the steak was very bland. The burger patties itself was okay, nothing amazing. I come from the United States, the home of fatty foods and the best burgers, so maybe I just have high standards. For me, this place was a one and done just to see what the hype was about.

Great simple burger stand. Old history behind the place and tasty burgers and fries (chips).read more

Amazing local spot with a great outdoor seating area! We came here because this restaurant had good…read moreratings on New Zealand's version of Yelp. I was not disappointed with the food, customer service, or the view from the outdoor patio. My friend and I both ordered the grilled prawns dish, and it was extremely flavorful and yummy! Great portion size and great presentation. I also really liked that I didn't have to peel the prawns. I'm a real lazy eater so A+ for that haha. Would definitely recommend dining here when visiting Waineke!

My friends and I were searching for a breakfast spot before a big day of exploring and settled for…read moreWai Kitchen.. it literally looks over Oneroa beach.. Well.. a few tables do as they make the most of their awkwardly shaped cafe. Staff were friendly and engaging.. a few laughs and general chitter chatter while noticing their interesting decor. We got some coffees which were ok.. Pancakes.. Eggs Bene (w bacon).. Mushroom on toast.. The pancakes were amazing! I asked for an extra which is highly recommended if you're hungry. The bene toast was a bit chewy and didn't do the plate justice and mushrooms good if you not hungry as it's just 3 small pieces of toast. Overall we had a nice time but waited too long for our meals which apart from the pancakes, was totally worth it. Worth a try as it's conveniently located in the middle of the main township and close to all the action.

My boyfriend and I stopped in here one night instead of going grocery shopping, as we were hungry…read moreand had been wanting to try this place for a while (I'd always walk by it and it looks super cute). I love the chill vibes and trendy but lowkey ambiance. We sat in a booth which was really fun and round, and though it wasn't super busy, we waited a bit before we could get menus. About 15 mins later, someone came to take our orders. The staff looked busy but there were 2 people working the floor there and only three tables aside from us. Anyway, it didn't bother me too much, and when a person came to chat with us, I asked them if I could get anything vegan. They can do the vegetarian burger vegan-style, as long as you switch out the bun for a gluten free one and take off the special sauce. I thought the buns were really cute and was a bit disheartened to have to get a gluten free bun, but I decided to give it a shot. The guy working there had an amazing knowledge of vegan things, he even knew which beers they had that were vegan. My boyfriend ordered the classic burger, which arrived much cuter looking than mine. He got the combo, which means he also got fries and a soda. The fries were a bit greasy, but I guess thats what makes them "fries." I still ate half :) He tried the blueberry and lime soda, which was super good. My burger was definitely vegan and gluten-free tasting. The "burger" was a battered and fried onion, with more batter than onion. It tasted a bit like fried white flour. It had a portabello mushroom on top, which added a bit of flavor, and I asked for avocado as well. There was the tiniest bit of avocado added, which was also a bit disappointing as it costs a shitload extra for avocado. (okay like $2 but still) The gluten free bun was, as most gluten free bread, crumbly and not ideal. I ordered it, so I can't be mad, but it wasn't the best. I think next time I'd just wrap it in lettuce. But next time I probably wouldn't get the burger, so... I guess I'd just go for fries. #veganlife All in all, it was a bit less than the experience that I'd hoped for. The staff was friendly (if slow), and the food was mediocre but decently priced (we paid like $33 total). I probably wouldn't go back, but I'm happy we finally tried it. If you're a meat eater, you'd probably like it a bit more than I did :)

Just stopped in for a late lunch. Ordered the Corner Burger. Really great burger. Onion rings were…read morefab too. They are licenced so had a nice cider to boot. Definitely coming back.

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.

A great breakfast place ... open air, but sheltered , and dog friendly. The staff was friendly and…read moreattentive, but knew when to keep their distance. As breakfast place, this restaurant is top drawer. We had avocado toast with a poached egg, and eggs Benedict. Both were delicious and well prepared. We had a cappuccino and Earl Grey tea, both just as they should be. The next time I'm in Auckland, I'm going back.

Stopped in as tourists, spent nearly $175 on food and drinks for two. Staff were friendly, drinks…read moresolid, food just okay (Korean chicken was mostly breading and served room temp). Then, a group of guys came in, dapped up the bouncer, and we were suddenly asked to leave our table mid-drink so they could sit down! There was no explanation, no alternative seating. I watched the bouncer get thanked for "clearing us out." Our server admitted a different area had been held for them, so it made no sense. We left immediately cancelling a different drink being prepared. Felt disrespected and singled out for no reason. Totally ruined the vibe. Wouldn't return, and wouldn't recommend to anyone who expects to be treated fairly. So much for treating others the way you want to be treated. Dropping a photo of the bouncer attached for awareness. If you see him working at any establishment, consider yourself warned.

Really wonderful food. I was impressed. The snapper was delicious, the roasted corn it was…read moreresting on was sweet n flavorful w a hint of spice that I loved. The grilled focaccia was delicious! And the martini w passion fruit--excellent. I sat in this little alleyway w 3-4 tables. Nice sea breeze. Go to this restaurant. You will enjoy it!

Convenient, easy location to find with a cozy interior…read more Service was amazing. Waiter was very helpful when I asked questions about dishes and when I ordered something, he made sure I knew what I was ordering. I ordered the Short Rib Agnolotti.. Think of a really soft piece of short rib in a pasta shell, very similar to ravioli. We also ordered the bruschetta, spaghetti, and risotto and those options are also really great, but that Agnolotti was the star of the show. Keep in mind, this is a pre COVID-19 review and I still cannot get over how delicious this meal was. I absolutely cannot wait to go back and introduce more friends to the best pasta of my life.

Orphan's Kitchen was really good and a great way to see Ponsonby during our time in Auckland…read more Thanks to our friend, Mark, that recommended that place to us. There were interesting options on the menu that I've never tried before. I ordered fried eggs with kumara tortilla, sauerkraut and chili. My husband ordered soft boiled eggs with meyer lemon, anchovies and a side of hash browns. He was equally pleased. The service was prompt. I highly recommend making an advanced booking if you can. Even though we booked in advance, the restaurant was already full with a Saturday 8:30am resy. The ambiance was also very cozy. There was a back patio and upstairs that were closed off, I believe due to the rain but I could only imagine how much more enjoyable it would be on a sunny day. Thankful for our friend's recommendation. Must stop in for brekkie or lunch when in Ponsenby.

A tiny little spot for breakfast or coffee, serving delightful toasts topped with everything from…read moresautéed mixed greens (my fav) to bolognese to peanut butters and jams. The coffees are top notch, but note there is whole milk or non-dairy options (but no trim milk). Ambiance is casual and mostly high top seating.