This place came up in a search for restaurants who serve whitebait fritters. I didn't realize it was a restaurant I've passed by before on a prior visit to Viaduct Harbour. I arrived one lovely Thursday afternoon and was seated inside right away. It was a nice table in a chic restaurant with an amazing view of the harbour. I quickly placed an order for the whitebait fritters and a side of broccolini, plus a cider. The food looked amazing when it came out and indeed tasted as good as it looked. I was quite pleased. The server was a very pleasant young lady who took great care of me. Soul is a must visit! read more

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In town in business. Went to the water or ad I call it restaurant row!! Decided on SOUL. As they had the best menu and I was with others. Such a beautiful place. The menu is outstanding.. Everything delicious. Can't wait to comeback. read more

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The food was very good! The outside seating isn't reserved so if you have a reservation, you will need to wait for a table outside to be available! Everything was very good. We ordered the filet, side salad, fish and chips, broccolini. read more

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Nice view of the harbor, appropriate ambience, excellent service, wonderful food. Highly recommend the fried oysters, duck ragu gnocchi, and shrimp casarecca. Wasn't a fan of the Russian Honey cake we had for dessert h read more

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My favorite restaurant in New Zealand located in the beautiful marina. They graciously took us in on a busy night and everything from decor, service to food was 5 stars! My fish was made to perfection, we ordered 7 desserts and loved them all. read more

Sorry guys but we went service was poor waited 20min and hardly anyone there. 4 young people standing at till talking socially. Got up and walked out. We spend min $300 every-time we go out for dinner and a drink so your loss. Also who does a $120 steak with cheap french fries smh. read more

Get the Caesar!!! I'm food indecisive but came in knowing what I wanted. We opted for a bottle of Pinot Gris and the Caesar to start. Yummy yummy the Caesar in my tummy. For mains we had the lamb obviously and the scampi, both were prepared very well. The lamb a perfect medium temperature and a great seafood to pasta ratio on the scampi. Great ambiance and environment, I'd definitely return. P.S Make a reservation read more

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I'll never eat here again. The food was good. Which means it was not worth the price nor my effort to take pictures. The service was great with nice people. The McDonalds arch has better seasoning. Better off anywhere else for the view within the vicinity. read more

What a gem! We were surprised to find availability for our party on short notice. The ambiance is lively. We were seated ilm the patio (the screens lowered) and enjoyed the views of the harbor as well as the hanging flower baskets. Our server was efficient and kind. The food was delicious! I enjoyed the rack of lamb which was perfectly prepared. My husband enjoyed the snapper which had a pesto and pine nut sauce. What a magical evening! read more

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The food, service and ambiance was amazing. A'Tasha was knowledgeable of both the food and wine menu as well as provided great customer service. Not too mention the patio was really cute. read more

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Amazing ambiance with view of the harbor and upscale feeling. Service was attentive and accommodating. I only tasted dessert which was a meringue with matcha and strawberry and was well made and tasty although not particularly memorable. A solid dessert option. I'd recommend this spot. read more

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Great service- from the host to the bartender to the server- incredible service, very prompt, great recommendations, super attentive. Food was fantastic- had the oysters (fresh) yum yum yum!! Hot sauce was delicious . Rack of lamb - wow - perfectly cooked - huge portion- nom nom . Side squash, mint and fig!! Wow squash was awesome. Ambiance - by far one of the best vibes, cool and huge outdoor seating - very pretty plants hanging from ceiling, great lighting. Loved it! Highly recommend for groups or solo dining. read more

Soul - Oysters!!! - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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This place was really good and the service was also really good! The environment is beautiful and we sat outdoors with the flowers on the ceilings! I really enjoyed the appetizers and the salads here as they were really fresh and tasted really good! Our waitress was also super sweet and made sure to always come check on us and bring anything we ask for really fast! read more

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Great location on the water in the harbor! Excellent food and service was on point. Highly recommend this walkabl spot with great view of the boats! read more

Dinner was Caesar salad, steak, & Mac n cheese. Highly recommend!! Ambiance was great, busy but sat us right down....One of the best meals in Auckland- will def go back!! read more

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Great view avg food. Wanted to be impressed left less than so. Still the view is what I was there for.

OUTSTANDING! From start to finish, this was one of the best dining experiences we have had in a long time. The fresh oysters were incredible! The salt and pepper squid is the best squid I've ever tasted. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We also had the fresh fish and green goddess salad, which were fantastic. Finished off with an expresso martini, snickers desert, and quite possibly one of the best deserts we've ever had, the strawberry meringue, matcha white chocolate crémeux, strawberry consommé.... The atmosphere with the docks and flowers on the patio was so pleasant and comfortable. Then, of course, the Kiwi hospitality combined with exceptional service made this the most excellent experience. read more

Soul - View from our table on the patio - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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If you're in the cbd in Auckland this is a nice spot with good ambiance. The food was tasty and the service was great. The viaduct harbor in the background adds a nice touch. read more

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This place is a must if you're looking for seafood I'm Auckland! There were no reservations so we called and asked if we could get in, they said they aren't taking reservations any longer but are accepting walk ins but there would most likely be an hour wait. We left almost immediately because there is a cruise ship docked and knew there would be a ton of people. Once we arrived we were surprised that the hostess was able to seat us right away! She told us she needed the table back in 2.5 hours (no problem for our party of 3)! Our waitress was absolutely amazing (she is Fijian so it didn't surprise us that she was amazing!) she suggested everything she loves on the menu and gave us two samples of white wine to decide what bottle we wanted to order! Our food was absolutely awesome! The king prawns, the Cesar salad, the flounder, and the Mac n cheese! Then the chocolate melting cake and the strawberry meringue (to die for!). Wow wow wow! The ambience was equally as amazing and if it weren't down pour raining the view of the harbor would be awesome! This is a must stop!!! read more

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Great location, service, and food. We didn't have a reservation and while we waited a very short wait a kind employee brought us waters. Menu was eclectic, nice flavors and spices. I had the chicken entree and wow, amazing flavors. Husband ordered lamb chops and was in heaven. They had FOUR options of mock tails which really made me happy. I tried 2 and they were delicious and a gorgeous presentation with an ice cube that was as long as my glass - so cool! Wish they offered an NA wine. Overall a wonderful and delicious experience. read more

Soul - Mock tail with an incredible ice cube! - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Soul Bar and Bistro was a highlight of our NZ dining adventures. The beautiful interior, buzzing atmosphere and picture perfect harbour views were fitting of any 5 star dinner. The food, drinks and service, however, were the true standouts. I loved the prawn entree so much, I could have drank the sauce from the plate, if no one was potentially watching. The red wine selection, sublime. I came to NZ to, amongst other things, eat the best lamb dish I could possibly find. I struck gold at Soul. The lamb from Hawkes Bay was utter perfection. Tender, juicy and flavoursome. My favourite dish of this trip for sure. The hospitality was truly award winning. Melodeee ably guided us through the menu. We loved the food suggestions and the wine pairing was perfect. Thank you everyone at Soul for a brilliant and memorable eve. read more

Soul - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Amazing & Fabulous ! Best food we had in Auckland & and the best attentive service .. Thanks Mike ! We came here when landed and before flying home! Great views of the Harbour too. We just loved the rack of lamb, octopus & bait fish fritters Way better than highly rated Ahi - % read more

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Food was so good. The truffle butter is worth it. Salad was delicious and so was the fish. My partner got the chicken and it was good as well. Dessert - we got the sundae and it was good but not amazing like the other items. Only downside- it was very very noisy. read more

Hands down the most amazing lamb I have ever and will ever eat. As our last night in New Zealand, we decided to splurge and make a reservation at Soul Bar and Bistro and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Even inside, the view is amazing. The hostess and our waitress were friendly, attentive, and so helpful. But the FOOD!! I never understood what people meant when they would say that meat melted in their mouth, but this lamb truly did! Absolutely exceptional. It was so memorable and the perfect cap to a wonderful trip. Thank you! read more

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Wow! Just Wow!! We were I Aukland for 3 days and are here 2 out of the 3 days it was that good! Jess waited on us for lunch and she was phenomenal! Her service was 5 stars and her description of the food and recommendations were spot on. The chicken pate was my favorite! Done right! Every meal we had was delicious so I truly don't think you can go wrong with whatever you choose. read more

Other reviews didn't embellish, the food drinks and service are all stellar. After about 6pm on Fri/Sat this area turns into a generic party with lots of music and dancing, so if you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner, keep looking. read more

Food, service, view, and location can't be beat. The menu has something for everyone; even the most picky vegan. Drink selection is on point and the designated driver will have choice to keep them happy as well. I could have eaten just the bread service and been happy. Last comment... save room for dessert as these are excellent. read more

Soul - Cheers to Soul and their dessert menu - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Really enjoyed the service and the food (had lamb rack, broccolini, and an incredibly decadent warm dark chocolate dessert). But the best of all was the Passion Star Martini mocktail. read more

Fabulous food. Gorgeous spot. Great DJ keeping the vibe right and friendly service. Highly recommend. read more

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Top of class, this is an awesome place from the flowers, the service and excellent food! Best to make a booking though, glad we did and though it was not full they were asking "drop ins" for reservation information. We loved the mashed with truffle au jus, it's a side but should not be missed. Oysters Kilpatrick were really nice and the Caesar salad was amazing! read more

Absolutely nothing special. A typical 3 star restaurant. Best features are the outside dining views of the harbor and people watching on the strand. Quality of food is average/good, prices are average in this sought-after location, yet a positive is that you can actually have a conversation at your table. Can be very busy waiting for a table, with slow/disinterested/inattentive hosts. read more

Soul - Flowers adorn the entryway. - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

We were super lucky. Our server was wonderful. Great recommendations for Sauvignon blanc. The salmon is house cured and was amazing. The travelly smoked was even more special. The oysters are expensive but wow with fresh true wasabi was awesome. We really loved the te Maku bay oysters were really not to be missed. We adored the Nautilus Sauvignon blanc which was great. The spot was wonderful with great harbor views and a really nice happy hour. The crayfish salad was wonderful. And they were great about recommending a nice Chardonnay. I'm sure this aplace gets busy so come a bit early on a sunny summer day and life will be good. read more

Soul knocked it out of the park the other night for me as the service was stellar, the food equally as good and the location on the viaduct harbor really can't be beat! Soul had been recommended to me by a local and I always " go where the locals go" as it usually gets me to some pretty great spots! I had called for reservations and I was glad I did as it was a celebratory weekend for Auckland and most places were packed. Unfortunately , while I wanted to sit outside, all those tables were taken but they found a table right by the open window where I could eat and almost feel like I was outside. But then the nicest thing happened. Just as I was served my first course, the hostess came by and said there was now a table for me outside and asked did I want to move. When does that ever happen? I can't believe what great customer service that was! So I got the table I wanted, after all! And speaking of customer service, both of the servers I had, Holly on the inside, and Melanie on the outside were terrific! Quick with suggestions and helpful in suggesting wines to go with my food given I am inexperienced in New Zealand wines. For my starter, I had some black rock oysters. These were the most expensive oysters I have ever had ( $6 each) but they were also the meatiest and had the consistency of a portobello mushroom. These were great! I also had the spicy tuna tartar which was good. Not as spicy as I would have thought but very flavorful and the presentation was lovely. I also,had the steak special of the day which was also quite flavorful although a little fatty for my taste. And be sure to save room for dessert, for while they call it chocolate pudding, it is much more a chocolate lava cake ( or that's what we would call it in the US) with some kind of white cream and ice cream. And this is beautifully served! Dinner with drinks ran about $120 which was definitely worth it. And I also loved that they had live entertainment on the night I was there. I wanted to sit and linger on their patio all night and watch the people walk by. And don't be put off by the listing here showing dressy as the dress code. Given where it is located, people are in a wide range of attire. Nice casual would be fine. Check it out! I think you'll be happy you did! read more

Soul - Chocolate "pudding" dessert - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Has always had delicious food and one of the few places with their kitchen open late.

This is an amazing restaurant for any special event - highly recommend to all for a very special meal and fabulous service each time!

Oh the clams and pasta! I'll be dreaming about this dish for a long time. Two of us had it and both agree. The others had a taste and wished they'd ordered it even though their dishes were also good. But the sauce is so good! read more

Delicious food and okay service. I was a solo diner and kind of felt ignored. Would have ordered another glass of wine had I gotten the chance. Patio has an unbeatable view- just make sure you're not seated by a pillar (directly blocking said beautiful view). I had the West coast whitebait fritters in lemon butter with a rocket and Parmesan side salad. I would recommend it to a friend. Very light and fresh read more

Soul - West coast whitebait fritters in lemon butter with a rocket and Parmesan side salad - Bars Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Food lovers rejoice because Auckland Restaurant Month is here! From 1-31 August, Restaurant Month celebrates the central city's diverse dining scene, offering 26 unique dining events and the chance to experience over 100 special menus, priced at $25, $40 and $55+. It is also a great opportunity to step outside the box and eat odd - try a food you wouldn't normally eat and have a whole lot of fun doing it! Last Friday, a friend and I were invited to dine at SOUL. In honor of Restaurant Month this year, SOUL goes L.A. Chic! They have a limited edition menu which is inspired by the flavours and food trends of Los Angeles. It's new, it's funky, it's delicious! We indulged in their $50 three course Restaurant Month dinner, matched with a delicious gin and pineapple rum cocktail and wines. I particularly enjoyed their Smoked Chicken Liver Pâté with date vinegar, Oxtail Agnolotti, and to finish, a decadent Chocolate Budino Tart. The Santa Monica Sling cocktail, Pencarrow Pinot Gris and Kumeu Village Chardonnay were also perfectly matched! Here's a peek of the dishes we tried: To start: Santa Monica Sling Cocktail with black robin gin, pineapple rum, rosemary, kaffir lime syrup and almond spice. Lovely refreshing cocktail with strong flavours. A great start to the night! For entrees: Smoked Chicken Liver Pâté with date vinegar and grilled bread. My first time trying chicken liver pâté - it definitely exceeded expectations! Salt & Pepper Squid with almond skordalia, chilli oil and lemon. SOUL's salt and pepper squid is always a highlight! For mains: Oxtail Agnolotti with pistachio, rosemary, brown butter and currants. My favourite dish of the night - melt in your mouth! Mushroom Tortelli with balsamic and hazelnuts. Our least favourite dish of the night, as the pasta was under cooked. For dessert: Chocolate Budino Tart with salted caramel, olive oil and sea salt. Glossy, rich, decadent, divine. Food aside, service was friendly and attentive - we couldn't fault a thing! The atmosphere was buzzing and the setting always a highlight. Think waterfront views, boats, twinkling lights and pretty white flowers hanging above. The 'SOUL goes L.A. Chic' menu will be available the whole month of August and costs $40 per person for a two-course meal or $50 including dessert. read more

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OVERALL IT SLWAS A WIP NOT A WAP i had a delightful time, the prawn entree was to die for, the scampi pasta was scampi vibes but gave me ptsd and as a glorfied francophile the crème brulée was great but not fantastic. The staff were very personable and friendly. overall great service and great night read more

Soul Bar and Bistro is the kind of place where you dine to impress, so I picked this Viaduct institution to treat Mum for Mother's Day this year. A sumptuous three-course lunch with prime, sweeping views of Auckland's stunning waterfront? Soul had me Soul'd! We chose to dine from the specially created set menu - a fixed starter and dessert, a choice between two mains, tea/coffee, as well as a glass of chilled Prosseco for the special lady. The food was good, but didn't knock my socks off. Mother's pan-fried John Dory (with saffron bouillabaisse, white beans and blistered tomatoes) was a bit of a let-down, since the fish was dry and perhaps overcooked. My poussin main (with cauliflower cheese, smoky pancetta and truffle jus) was tasty, but like the starter (tuna tartare on squid ink toast), it didn't leave me 'wow'd'. However, it's not entirely a sad story! The shining star of the savouries was the dukkah-spiced crushed baby potatoes, while the much anticipated coconut crème brûlée (with pineapple confit, banana marshmallow and passion fruit sorbet) likewise delivered, shatteringly crisp sugar crust and all! Service was more quick and efficient than it was personable, but totally understandable given that staff were rushed off their feet. Even at 2.30pm, the place was pretty packed so if you're thinking of taking Mum here next year, bookings are essential. As an aside, I'm also not sure it was the standard floor plan configuration, but the tables were set fairly close together and the space felt somewhat cramped. Nothing really went wrong with our dining experience, but due to high expectations on my part and probably the Mother's Day rush, I have to say I was a little disappointed. That said, we did have a good time! Hmm, I'll have to give Soul another go on a non-Mother's Day. read more

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