If you want to have authentic Greek food in Auckland then Niko's Pizza on the North Shore is…read moreperfect for this occasion. Located on Anzac Street a short walk from the busy Hurstmere road, is this awesome eatery that brings you tasty Greek food with flair. The happy and charming Niko was at hand for my first ever experience, full of laughter and entertainment. As my partner and I were the only inside diners that evening, he recommended a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir which was accepted. I really wanted to try the Greek Special Pizza- and accompanied by a Greek salad- I was happy to sit, and sip wine and eat pizza for a while. I felt like I could have been back in Greece, I was surrounded by Greek food, music, decor, and great service. I had to try the Kataifi for dessert and this recipe I was told came directly via Athens. A delicious Greek pastry filled with almonds, walnuts and pistachio. Just divine. I know there are not many places in Auckland like Niko's Pizza, you have genuine service from the owner, and you can sense his passion for what he does and the love of his home country.

I almost gave Niko's four stars because the owner (Niko maybe?) is so lovely but at the end of the…read moreday their pizza isn't amazing and it's quite expensive ($25 for a plain Napoletana) given the quality of the ingredients and the size of the pizzas. Don't get me wrong the pizzas are tasty - super thin crust with liberally applied, fresh ingredients but my Napoletana had way too much Oregano (which was dried, not fresh) and not enough basil pesto. Plus when we called to order our takeouts we got the answering machine, which told us to leave a message with our order but when we called back 15mins later to confirm they say they never got it. Plus we wanted delivery and they simply said they weren't doing delivery tonight. Perhaps it was too busy, it was a Friday after all! Judging by the wait time and how busy the restaurant was when we picked up our pizzas at 9:45pm, it's clear that Niko's is a local favourite but for me, i'd rather make the hike across the bridge to Dante's or Toto's!

On a sunny but cold Sunday I met up with other yelpers to try out Fortieth and Hurstmere in…read moreTakapuna , what a great space .I'm sure when it's filled with eateries it will be a place to go . I imagine live music there and drinks flowing . I'd been wanting to try Bird on a Wire for a while now , after looking online at their menu I decided to go for the chicken Bahn mie and beer battered chips . The Bahn mie was great everything I imagined it to be with a rich pate and crunchy carrot and lots of coriander,however it was the chips that I liked the most . So crunchy with that fluffy potato inside and just the right amount of seasoning . A awesome place for groups and families.

Kombi Coffee and El Humero have joined Bird on a Wire and Dante's Pizza. Great venue, and…read morereasonably priced dining in Takapuna.

I had heard through the grapevine that this was just the best ever pizza found on the North Shore…read more So of course I pestered my partner to take us there for a takeout pizza mid week. I arrived around five thirty and the popular pizzeria had a few guests eating pasta on the front outdoor seating area. The owner who bakes all the pizza's himself is a friendly and humorous Greek man, and was only too happy to point out the fave choices of pizza for us first time visitors. The Top picks were Greco, a delicious topping of lamb, red onion, olives, peppers, tzatziki, basil and parsley (My first pick also). And the Quattro Stagioni which had Salami, Ham, Prawns and Mushroom, this was sensational (my second pick). As it was the premiere visit, we opted for the two small pizzas, costing both under 18 dollars each, and let me tell you, I thought I could have eaten a pizza to myself, however the servings were so great that I only managed about 2 pieces each. Beautiful pizza base , and the toppings are just divino divine! I will be back as soon as I can, to try more pizza flavours, and a pasta dish for sure.

Just need some good food during the interim of taking care of my mother in law in the NS hospital…read more We ordered one Divino Pizza and one Divino Pasta for three of us. The pizza and pasta are eally nice and far beyond my expectations (I preferred pasta a bit more). Got refreshed and continue facing whatever they are in the real life.

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!

UPDATE TO MY RECENT UPDATE. No Really!…read more Soooo because we really, really liked the vibe here we came back. Thank goodness Imi was here and she rocked it! Just a charmer and just outstanding. Not only did she hook up our spillage friends but she made great suggestions for dinner and drink. OBTW there was live acoustic guitar (on Sunday from 3:00 pm until 7:30!) There was a couple in the patio and they brought their sweet dog. She (the dog) recognized our crowd as doggie people and she (again the dog) came over and butt snuggled with our clan while her (again the dog) mommy and dad finished their dinner. So cute and so one of the things we LOVE about Takapuna Beach! Had the fish and chips and a nice merlot ...... Yes I know. Stop it! Anyway it was great. My spillage Friend had the veggie gnocchi and it was great. She also got dessert - its the Mousse. Omg! I won't describe it the way she did but it was complimentary. ;) Looked awesome and she loved it. Other folks had the steak and chips M-O-N-E-Y! Solid evening, great food, and Imi was AWESOME. She Rocks! We'll be back! Thanks Imi! Don't tell her you know this but its short for Imogen) but nobody other than her SO calls her that. No really don't tell her!

R'Totos, you've had an excellent makeover. I almost didn't recognise you…read more Gone is the stage area where the young folk (maybe me once or twice) used to shake their thang on a Thursday night. And the sticky floor and bar area. Now the Mac's Brewbar has an elegant terrace area, and equally classy yet understated new bar with heavy wooden furniture and a neutral background. The good bits of R'Toto are still there too: the location; the high ceilings and the tasty bar menu. Definitely a winner for a casual drink.

The inside of this establishment reminded me of the décor at Mexico though I still loved it and…read morethought it had a good feel. Blunderbuss was a little bit of a blunder on what I heard to be good pizza's. The duck was barely there as wasn't the leek and the only flavour was the caramlised red onion. A nice thin base but I just wish there was a little more topping for $20 and a bit more flavour. Thankfully although it was not my expectation to get it free, I just wanted them to acknowledge from my complaint that the pizza was below par, The Manager took it off the bill. On a good note the Polenta fries and aioli was perfect and tasty. The Holoumi was nice with the mushrooms and salsa verde. The service was great because it was quiet and the cocktails were good too. The Manager did tell me to come back and give them another go but considering I live on the other side of the bridge and have a few good pizza places over here I don't think I'll bother.

Love a good pizza and Blunderbuss do it well. A fan of their thin crispy bases as well as lightness…read morewith cheese toppings. Bases are home-made and if you need it, they have gluten-free bases as well- wonderful. We got the Funghi Pesto which had mushrooms of course paired with pesto. More greens from the rocket with buffalo mozzarella and truffle oil- fancy! Also got their Quattro stagioni which had my fave proscuitto with more mushroom, olives and artichokes. Couldn't go past without getting some sides so got their moreish shoestring fries that came with porcini salt and aioli. We sat in the front with their leather wall couch and industrial metal chairs, right next to the floor to ceiling metal grate storage units. This made our own little cubby space and separate area from the more open dining space near the central outdoor patio. Beautifully displayed wholesale tomato cans, limoncello and other more practical goods stockpiled for an apocalypse. Had a similar theme with their drinks aisle on the way to the bar which makes for a good feature. Would love to come back in the evening to sit outdoors and do drinks or get a group together and hold down one of their long tables.

I have been dying for some good traditional pasta for ages! And this place does not disappoint…read more Service was so quick and the pasta was so fresh and well cooked. The scallops were cooked perfectly in the seafood pasta and the pasta sauces were so unique from each other!! Will definitely be coming back!

When you are around Takapuna area and have no idea what to have for dinner, then Botticelli is a…read morenice option. As an Italian food-holic, I must say that this won't let you down except you should possess great patience while waiting for your food to come. Just sit down, have a sip of some Prosecco or Peroni, set your nerve at ease. If you are starving, then better not come here. From the entree to Pasta and Pizza, even the main course, all the items on the menu is quite Italian. Calamari with veggie salad is delightful to start, something chewy by the tongue, something not too guilty for your stomach. As for the pasta, which is what we are here looking for, I always choose the basic but classic one-Spaghetti Bolognese. Dense flavor from the beef mince, combined nicely with tomato sauce with a bit of Parmesan cheese and parsley, just hearty on both the taste bud and mind. It warms you up! And what is more, Fettuccine alla panna is a choice never go wrong. Smoked bacon, mushroom, cream... That's the rule of being delicious. Al dente is for the fettuccine, savory is for the sauce, homey&simple is for the whole plate. Well, Tiramisu is just left for next time's imagination, and Pizza Margarita as well. Or maybe try every pasta on the menu. Just wish next time they put on some proper music for the scenery. It will be more helpful for the ambience.

Comforting food for a cold winter night. A small place but it was busy so you know it must be good…read moreand there were a few tables outside with heaters nearby that accommodated myself and my friends. We got garlic pizza bread to share and I then had the gnocchi alla gorgonzola - a creamy pasta dish with meatballs - loved that this place had a large range of Italian cuisine dishes to choose from

YUM! This quaint and rustic little Italian gem is just up Devonport's main street, boasting a…read morediverse menu of great value. I took my girlfriend there for a special occasion dinner, and we loved it. Their antipasto platter is fantastic, everything you'd want from cured meats and cheeses to olives and an amazing preserve. For mains we chose the canneloni [a bit dry in the meat, but still tastes delicious] and the breaded veal scallopini with baked mozzarella and eggplant. The veal was incredible. We also had the joy of BYOW, an Italian chianti from Wine Direct [check them out in Ponsonby/Parnell]. The wait staff was also very warm and friendly, I was eager to leave a tip. We'll be back!

Excellent pizza, truly Neapolitan taste, the dough is made authentically. I was transported back to…read moreNaples. The salads are good too, the staff are very friendly. The restaurant is small but cozy. Use Google Maps for directions. Apple Maps will send you to their old address and leave you frustrated.

Great pizza and pasta place. The pasta is fresh and delicious. Very popular so recommend a…read morereservation. Very well priced as well. Dinner * Extra mozzarella pizza (Excellent) * Bolognese baked pasta (Excellent)

Sal's is so freakin' good. We all know about New York style pizza, mainly from American TV shows…read moreand movies, but we never had it this good in New Zealand until Sal's. This pizza comes from an old family recipe (don't they all) but nah seriously it's amazing. The guys name was Salvatore Leo, he was a pizza maestro and his son made it into a thing. It's true American style so there isn't any crazy flavours its just simple and delicious. My favourite and recommendation by far is the Pepperoni. It is dripping with cheesy oily goodness. There's something about the base that tastes ridic. Ugh, give it to me now. You can order a slice or a whole pizza (they're huge). They also have other little treats like garlic bread and cheesy scone things. Get the pizza delivered or sit in-store and enjoy a beer from their fridge. Yes, they sell beer. Heaven. Or, if it's nice out, take advantage of the location and take your pizza down to Takapuna Beach. If you like pizza, even just a little bit, actually even if you don't, try Sal's. It rulzzzz.

Authentic NY style pizza. Sal's Takapuna has finally added chicken wings and mozzarella sticks to…read moretheir menu which I am very grateful. $5 pizza slices if you don't feel like ordering one of their massive full pizzas and they always have MLB or NBA on their satellite television. It's so refreshing to enjoy pizza without it being smothered in sugar loaded bbq sauce. Cheers Sal's for bringing the REAL DEAL to NZ shores!