Absolutely wonderful. First dinner in Auckland and it was a winner. Our server was Valentine...she…read morewas excellent. We ordered way too much food...it just looked so good. We ordered: Wood Fired King Prawn. The King Prawn arrived and it was beautiful and very large. It was served with a black peppered pancetta and a gremolata sauce of which both enhanced the grilled prawn. Not a drop was left. Mamma D's East Coast Beef Meatballs. They were big and filling. Some of the best meatballs served in restaurant. I thought they were packed a little tight. I loosely form mine when tends to ensure tenderness. The sauce was perfect and they went well the side dishes. Cacio & Pepe was served and it was the prettiest we had ever seen and probably the best we have ever had. Put it right up there with those served in Roma. Polenta - another winner and beautiful. It also went well with the meatballs. Creamy and delicious just wish we could have eaten the whole dish or had a kitchen where we were staying...that good. Baduzzi was hopping the night we were there. So glad that we had reservations...highly recommend booking.

Balduzzi is a spot I've been to twice. It's in Wynard Quarter in a cozy spot near the ASC building…read more It's even got an Italian three wheeled truck outside. The owner is from Italy and the care shows. The pastas are great and the highlight are the meatballs. They are huge so beware but delicious. We were yearly too full after the great bread to even think about the pasta but they were both great. There are two parts to the restaurant but we liked the patio area outside. Overall a nice spot for both lunch and dinner.

This very popular Italian restaurant sits near the harbor and is centrally located just outside the…read moreCBD. We were graciously welcomed by our server and ordered our servers recommendations . The food was delicious and fresh. Very satisfied indeed

Loved this place. The interior has a modern hip vibe with an open warehouse feel. Large windowed…read moredoors open up to views of the harbor. We had reservations and got a lovely table near those windows. They recommended sharing plates so we had the pappardelle which comes with a lamb ragu, the monk fish, and the cauliflower side. The main courses were excellent. The ragu was a nice comfort food with a rich taste over homemade noodles. The monk fish was light and tropical with a fennel and fruit side. These two dishes were nice compliments of each other. The cauliflower wasn't my fav but it was more of a personal taste so don't keep me from having you try it. I chose a local wine which was delicious. Love trying local wine when possible. We walked from our hotel so no parking worries. Service was excellent. Our server walked us through several of her and of patrons favorite options. Great stop.

This was a delicious breakfast. The whipped yoghurt was amazing. The fluffy, airy sweetness was so…read moregood and the granola was also great. Fresh and crunchy with sweet stone fruits on top. The sourdough and eggs were great as well. I personally don't like parsley garnish so I didn't enjoy that on the egg as much but everything else was fantastic. Tomatoes were really juicy. Everything just tasted super fresh and of great quality.

we loved everything about this restaurant when we had dinner there. so much so that we went back…read morefor breakfast a day later! All the people there are friendly and efficient. The seating is comfortable. Go here.

Found this place on trip advisor and was excited to have handmade, fresh pasta. Unfortunately, we…read moreunderestimated how tiny and popular this place is because we showed up only to be told that we needed a reservation. Sadly for us, they were totally booked up that night. We were about to turn away when my cousin thought to ask about takeout. I'm kind of surprised the server didn't ask us if we wanted to do that and was ready to let us walk out. We ordered 3 pasta dishes, a side of meatballs, and 3 pieces of tigella bread. That came out to about $70 USD. I might be a little off because I'm not sure about the conversion. Price wise, I'm not entirely convinced it was worth it. $70 for 3 people is expensive, but at the same time, FRESH, HANDMADE pasta! The food was good. No doubt about that. I'm glad we got a mix of flavors to share though, because it was one of those meals where you can only eat so much before your mouth starts to reject it. I LOVE cheese, but the tortellini with cream and parmigiano reggiano started feeling very heavy. It went perfectly in between bites of the tagliatelle with Bolognese though. The spaghetti alla chittara with gorgonzola and walnuts was my least favorite, but it was my cousin's favorite. Just a matter of preference. I was still willing to eat it though. The meatballs were so good. Perfectly seasoned and paired with the sauce. I was disappointed to see an order only had 4 pieces, but I don't know how much it cost. The bread was also delicious. The texture reminded me of a waffle, not quite crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. One order is only one disk-shaped pieced about the size of your hand. If I could, would I come again? I'm very tempted by the other items in their menu. As a person on vacation with little thought to budget, I absolutely would come again. If I was a local and had to watch my wallet, this place would be a treat, not something I could have often.

omg I LOOOOVE this place. I am a big fan of pasta (and carbs in general) and after complaining to…read moremy boyfriend about how much I miss Italy, I was sooo happy to find Pasta & Cuore. I walk by here all the time on my way to Rad coffee, and I'd really been wanting to go in. The restaurant is TINY, and reservations are required, but it's so worth it. I came here with a group of friends and we wined and dined for a good two hours. I ordered the gnocchi with vegetables and it was fluffly, light, and freaking delicious. The portions are small but enough to fit dessert after and an appetizer first. The selection of Italian wines is fantastic, I was so excited to try as many as I could. I'm pretty sure I spent more money on wine than on food that night. My boyfriend ordered dessert after dinner and was happy about that. They have a tiramisu which I would die for if it was vegan. I would definitely recommend this place for a relaxed dinner with friends if you love pasta, wine and Italy!

Absolutely amazing place, when you enter the restaurant you feel like being beamed into Italy. The…read morestaff gave us a warm welcome and we were offered to chose ourselves a free table. Immediately they served a bottle of still water and brought the menu. We choose pizza (Salmon and Italian, Italian is with meatballs) and ordered a bottle of New Zealand local wine. Everything was great, especially the meatballs. The bill was NZD 83. A fair price. Also free water top up was offered. I would wish to have this place at home, I would go very often. This place is a clear recommendation, go for it.

We were staying at the Cordis across the street, Da Vinci's is a stones throw from the ground…read morefloor/back entrance. To be honest we didn't have high expectations, however we were pleasantly surprised. Firstly the service was outstanding! Refilled drinks, cleared empty dishes, and checked on us to make sure everything was good. Now the food.... The garlic bread isn't the usual US variety because it was better. The pasta was fresh and excellently prepared, their red sauce was delicious The lasagna dish appeared to be quite good also, I didn't get to taste it as it vanished too quickly!

Not bad place for a good meal. I've eaten here several…read moretimes when I have visited Auckland. My favorite thing about this place is that I can sit down and have a nice casual meal without resorting to the fast food joints in the area or the too fancy dining establishments. Little Italy has a neighborhood "joint" feel. The place is pretty small and seating at some of the tables are a bit tight but the staff has been very quick and the food has arrived promptly. There's nothing fancy about the place, but it's not a bad choice for a comfortable meal.

If you haven't had really damn good Italian food, Little Italy might seem alright. However, to pay…read more$23 for a plate of penne with a watery arrabbiatta and very thinly sliced cheap salami is not acceptable in my book. My friend had the tortellini which was clearly frozen and not handmade, with once again a watery cream sauce and pieces of avocado! It is true that this place has a cozy 'neighbourhood joint' feel to it but there is a very fine line between cozy and just tacky. The blinking fairy lights, too small booths and being able to hear everyone's conversation a small neighbourhood italian joint it does not make. Our waitress was very nice but a bit clueless about interrupting our conversation to ask if we needed anything and then not realize we needed water top ups. It seemed like everyone else in the restaurant was a tourist, which makes me think that this place is one of the few tourist traps in the CBD. My advice: for the price yelpers local and foreign can definitely find better.

Great italian eatery in Auckland CBD - amazing setting, great drinks and the bruschetta's are just…read moredelicious. Service is great and prices are more than reasonable. We will return soon!

I was in the city on a mission to have a lunch date with my partner, and we decided on the Italian…read moreflavour of Bruschetteria, which was nicely situated at the front of the Elliot stables. If you're after a slice of Italy, this is 100% the right place to be seated. They have a Fantastic menu with over 15 selections of Bruschette. My pick of the day was Dal Fiume- Marscopone Cheese, Herbs, Salmon, Capers, Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil. Was sensational, and a pleasure to eat- just delicious. I was served my Bruchette so fast, that I was sure, they had mixed up someone else's order, but no, it was a quiet day, and the staff were in top form, as I am sure they always are. Coffee was Italian roasted and just smooth and silky. Service was friendly and fast, and the setting sophisticated and stylish. I really enjoyed my lunch date and will return to sample the crostini and ensalada's.

We love this place. It's our go-to for a casual night, particularly with a group of friends as it…read moredoes cheap BYO. We really love the owner and chef, who is always happy to tell us honestly what he thinks is the best choice out of two options, or on the odd occasion, create a new dish by combining two things we can't choose between (we've been there enough to now be classed as 'regulars', it seems). The decor is hilarious - great mis-matching paintings/photos/who knows and even an in-built disco light that will sometimes be turned on if you're there for a birthday. It's just ridiculous. And so wonderful. We definitely rate the pasta over the pizzas, particularly the chicken fettucine, but the pizza is good too. They have GF bases available also. All in all, is a great wee place for when you want to go out but feel like somewhere cosy and relaxed, rather than fancy.

Eduardos is Italian made by an Iranian and served by people from South East Asia. In the tradition…read moreof so many amazing inventions, it seems like a terrible idea. Its owner is like a pot-bellied, soft-spoken version of Kramer from Seinfeld. Ive gone so often over the years that he's become a kind of friend. In the old days orders were often forgotten. He would come rushing out, hunched over, hands clasped together, begging forgiveness and offering to make the 'special' pasta. Ten minutes later he would bring out a meal big enough to make lunch with for the next three days. It's been a while since they've made a mistake. I miss them. His restaurant isn't the fanciest place in town. It doesn't have Michelin star service. But it's the place I go to if I'm feeling down. Sitting in that strange orange room filled with faded paintings of Marilyn Monroe, old car ads and what looks like a group torturing someone in a medieval village square somehow makes me feel better. The best time to go is while experiencing that worst of tragedies: A birthday. The staff turn on the disco lights that hang from the ceiling and the place becomes the best party in town. We went recently on New Year's Eve. The owner sat down with us and talked about his struggle to make ends meet. He wanted to do better for his staff and his business this year. I kept thinking losing Eduardos would be a minor tragedy. It's one of our last bastions of glorious amateurism; a shambles that somehow assembles itself into something beautiful every single night. Also the food is really good.

food great but rushed out at the end while there were still empty tables. bought the bill while we…read morewere still eating dessert. spent over $200 for 2 people and rushed out like we'd gone for takealways . nice food

Everything you'd want in a small, Italian, family run restaurant. You can tell the three…read moregenerations who work here put a lot of effort into serving great quality, traditional italian food. The servings are generous and the flavours are bold and robust. Not to mention, they have a fantastic wood-fired oven that pumps out perfectly imperfect pizzas and calzones - great for takeaways! We came here for dinner recently with the extended family and it was an absolute treat. Whilst the majority of the table went for the veal, I opted for the linguine with prawns, chilli, garlic, lemon and olive oil. Such a classic combination but an absolute winner in my book. The pasta was cooked al dente and the chillii /garlic/lemon ratio was spot on. My dad raves about this place and after our most recent visit, it's not hard to see why!

I love this place. I am finally taking my plane travel time to write all my reviews for my favorite…read moreplaces I visit on my monthly trips. I visited this place quite some time ago and I had some amazing pizza here and the service was down right friendly and welcoming! It probably helped that the owner recognized me and was honored to have my travel companion and I at their establishment and offered to comp our meal. I said no thank you I will pay and I left them a large tip for there kindness and welcoming atmosphere. We had the Rocket and Prosciutto, Antipasto (for 2), Carne Pizza, and the Quattro Formaggi Pizza. my companion had the Nutella calzone and I had their only option for chocolate free gelato. A MUST PLACE TO VISIT AND EAT AT IF YOU ARE VISITING THE CITY!!! All pizza had an amazing crust which I haven't had since my studies at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France. The gelato was smooth and very silky. The salad was good quality and the antipasto had several good options although I remember it being waay too much food so we gave our leftover to some homeless people we saw later that evening. EVERY-TIME I PERFORM IN AUCKLAND, THIS IS MY GO TO PIZZA SPOT!

It's a quaint spot in the heart of Ponsonby Central, with a few small tables under cover outside in…read morethe pedestrian alley. The pizzas are in the napoletana style with puffed crust on the outer edge and thin underneath. Menu has limited options for salads / veg on the side. Overall thought the pizzas were really pricey for the size and quality relative to other spots in the neighborhood.