Gingerbirds kind of snuck into the Eden Valley area of Dominion Road without me noticing until…read morerecently. It's not really an eat-in kind of a place (although they do have a big table), but certainly there's always someone sitting in there having a hot cuppa. I probably won't ever be purchasing any of the amazing-sounding takehome meals - it's just too hard to justify when cooking is the main part of the parenting job description. For the time-poor though this place provides the perfect solution and I will be trying to recreate their recipes at home myself, they sound so good. I've dropped in here for the delicious fresh salads and I reckon this place is doing the best fast lunch this side of Mt Eden Road. Don't even get me started on the cakes and sweets; I have resisted thus far but they look absolutely out of this world. It's a habit I don't want to start. If I was in need of catering I would come here and when we popped in last Saturday hoping for the traditional family 3pm lunch (an hour after closing) the owners were so kind and didn't mind us interrupting their own meal to ask for advice.

From the owner: We serve Allpress Coffee, provide dine-in and take away for a range of freshly made bakery and food…read moreincluding daily Paleo meals and frozen meals and can can cater your next event. - Hot drinks; we serve Allpress Coffee - Cold drinks; we serve a range of freshly prepared smoothies and bottled drinks - Meal of the day with Paleo options - Frozen meals and desserts - Cabinet food includes sandwiches, salads, savoury and sweet (quiches, muffins, scones, brownies) - Catering; our extensive menu is avail on our website with delivery and pick up options available

After salivating over their Instagram feed for a long while, I finally made it to Greenleaf to…read moreexperience all the goodness in real life. If you don't care about any of the detail, just know this: The Matcha Latte. Get it, sip it, savor it. Smooth and creamy and perfect and ahh, what dreams are made of. Tucked on the corner of New North and Ace place (the link to Dominion Rd), this garage-front cafe feels a bit 'off the beaten path' (but in the best way possible). The space is elegantly decorated with bright artwork & stylish cushions, with an inexplicable feeling of freshness. They make their own raw pressed juices and smoothies, with an impressive variety. From green detox through to cacao date handmade nut milk, the color of the rainbow is up for grabs. I tried the Aloha, a blend of pineapple, almond milk, cashews, tumeric and lemon. It was pretty f*cking delicious. This, alongside the Namaste bowl of spiced lentils, naan, veggies and avocado made for a super satisfying, balanced meal. They have a decent selection of raw desserts too - we split the raspberry lemon 'cheese' cake, which tasted like a healthier version of fudge - just as creamy but without a stomach ache afterward ;) No, it's not cheap, but I would say sliiiightly more reasonable with the other organic specialty spots in the neighborhood....slightly.

I've been to Geeks On Sainsbury twice now and I'm definitely keen to go back again!…read more Where are they? Their location, 1/55 Sainsbury Road, gives them enough privacy that they aren't packed with people, but enough exposure that you don't feel like you are hidden away. Both times I ate here, I happened to be in the area. They are right beside this little park which has a few seats in it, so you could easily get takeaways on a nice sunny day and have a picnic! They are also just down the road from St Luke's Mall, so if you want some nice food that isn't from a food court, then this should be your go-to place! My sister used to live across the road and it would have been such a joy to have Geeks On Sainsbury as a local. So what's their service like? They come up to you relatively straight away when you arrive and ask where you'd like to sit. The second time I went I was on crutches and that didn't seem to bother them, which was nice. They were fast on taking our orders, although didn't mind coming back to let us spend a few more minutes deciding what to get. All of the staff I have interacted with have been super friendly and the ones who see you leave say 'Thank you' and/or 'Goodbye', which is always a nice touch. It's a cute location with delicious food and friendly staff. I would recommend it to anyone in the area! And their food? Delightful! Below are a few shots - Eggs Bene, Pork Salad, Bibimbap and a drink. I would recommend their 'Yellow' smoothie and anything with a side of their potato stack... because it is absolutely divine. There a quite a few gluten-free options, which is great and overall they have a relatively wide selection of food to choose from. They also have a cabinet with sweet treats and a few sandwiches, if that's more your style. Cost? I believe they would be considered an average café cost - around $20-$30 for a cooked meal and a drink. Not super cheap but not crazy expensive either. Totally worth what you get!

We decided to go to Geeks and Sainsbury on a whim. It had been on the back of my mind and the name…read morereminds me of the Big Bang Theory! I could just imagine the waitors in lab coats measuring out the amount of coffee beans with a test tube. Not quite! There's much to boast about their coffee lineup though. They serve coffee from Wellington boutique roasters Red Rabbit Co, famous for their labyrinth of flavours in a cup. The first choice on the All Day Breakfast menu was Granola. It sounded delicious with white quinoa, glazed strawberries, roasted almond with pumpkin seeds. Nothing like the chew-til-your-temples-hurt type that I have in a box at home. That set the tone of being healthy over geeky. The eggs benedict had the option of pan fried tofu with poached eggs. Heck, even the Waffles had granola in the ingredients list. The pork salad obviously was no normal salad, beautifully plated and garnished on top. The sunflower encrusted shell the a standout element. Light but full of crunch, the house made chutney and shredded apple was tantalising to my sweet side. The eggs benedict comes in the option of Petit and Regular so you can easily satisfy your brunch craving after a round of gym. Again keeping it light, layered agria potato takes the normal place of a hash brown. With an open bright space spilling out into the sunny outdoor setting, it's an attractive place to be all year round. The decor is determinedly geek chic. A blackboard diagram details how seriously they take their coffee extraction method, and shelves look like they belong on Pinterest. They show the same dedication to their food. Presentation is exact, pairings are purposeful. It's a shame to hear that the Shore could have boasted this cafe gem. While it reminds me of Little King, it could easily take out the backsliding quality of the food there. Service was a bit unsure - there were moments where I got excited by food coming my way, only to have the waiters step on their brakes. That however, was minor and played no part in the rest of the experience. Geeks on Sainsbury, you are doing great things for Sandringham, looking forward to hearing more from you!

After our hike on Mount Eden, we went to the Garden Shed for lunch as they offered gluten free…read moreoptions. I had the "creamy mushrooms" (garlic butter mushrooms, cream, toasted sourdough) and my sister and husband had burgers. My mushrooms on toast were delicious, but my sister and husband didn't think the burger was anything special, especially not for nearly $30. (The food was very expensive!) I did love the decor and ambiance though. The restaurant had a covered seating area that was bright and full of plants, and made you feel as if you were in a plant nursery, or, a garden shed. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023]

@thegardenshednz is the most perfect place to celebrate all your important moments and events we…read morecelebrated a family engagement here this past month and this place is just WOW the atmosphere makes you literally feel like you're in a garden the staff is the sweetest, and go above and beyond food was absolutely stunning it is a closed space, so rain or shine , the location is perfect definitely a place to check out in the future for your events or just for some drinks and dinner with your friends #gardenshed #engagementparties #cocktails #mocktails #drinksdrinksdrinks #nztravel #nzfood #aucklandeats #aucklandcity #newzealandfinds #newzealandguide #aucklandfoodie #foodandtravel #travelingtheworld #travelinggram #foodstagram

Ultimate in fresh and delicious food - excellent vege/protein combinations with oomphy flavour…read more Sweets choice superb. Enthusiastic service, with a smile.

The food is here is delicious. Consistently so. There's a…read moreserver there who, for some reason, enjoys yelling at her colleagues and singing really loudly. I dunno ...maybe it's just me but I didn't really find it cool, cute or gimmicky. First thing in the morning it's freaking annoying. I still go back most days regardless.

Amazing food, coffee, and even better service. Highly recommend for a quick breakfast.read more

Goodness Gracious is a tucked away store/cafe in Eden Terrace. Unless you work around there or…read moresomeone told you about it, you would hardly notice it. Goodness Gracious offers a menu of NY Bagels, which the store follows a similar concept at Best Ugly Bagels. To be honest, I was initially hesitant to try Goodness Gracious. I have had Ugly Bagels a couple of times and there was a lot to live up to. Their menu was quite standard with your classic sandwich fillings in a bagel but executed well. I do like the option to choose the type of bagel you want. I'm a sucker for salmon, so I chose the Classic bagel. It was a nice change since the salmon was cooked rather than raw. My dining partner chose the Wilbur bagel which was an unusual bagel filling with a spiced pulled pork. Again like Burger Burger, this was a very messy bagel to eat although tasty. We also had to try the Peanut butter and salted caramel smoothie. For $7 this was quite reasonable with the unique flavours and great flavour. Seating was very limited so we had to takeaway. This is where we realised some of the bagels you may need a fork and knife to eat it. Good place to try. Everything was tasty and quick, just not quite as good as Best Ugly Bagels. Rating Food: 6.5/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Good 2A New North Road, Eden Terrace Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 730am-4pm Sat 8am-4pm Sun 8am-3pm

I absolutely love a good Poke Bowl…read more Poke is the Hawaiian word 'to slice' and is essentially a raw fish salad. It consists of raw marinated fish (like tuna or salmon) and is often served by itself, but also on sushi rice with vegetables. Many Poke eateries have been popping up around Auckland recently, so I thought I would go out and try a few, and also share with you my favourite one - Poke Poke in Newmarket. Here are five reasons why I love Poke Poke and why you should visit pronto. 1. The Poke! All of Poke Poke's ingredients and sauces are prepared in-house and taste delicious, fresh, and healthy, plus you will feel great after eating. There are two options available - you can choose from their 'Poke Poke Bowls with Purpose' menu or build your own poke bowl. Do the latter as it is more fun! Here is a lowdown on how to customise your own: Step 1: Base: Offerings include white rice, purple rice and salad or choose to have half and half. I usually go with half purple rice and half salad. I absolutely love the purple rice as it is high in fibre and packed with antioxidants. Step 2: Protein: If you choose the $13.90 poke bowl, you get to choose two proteins. If you choose the $15.90 poke bowl, you get to choose three proteins. If you are want a huge bowl, you can add an extra scoop of protein for $3. I usually go with the $13.90 bowl as this is enough to pleasantly fill me up. They offer many proteins which include sashimi-grade tuna and salmon, plus prawns, sous vide chicken, organic tofu and a seasonal special - on most occasions this has been squid. Step 3: Toppings: I love that Poke Poke's toppings are super fresh and colourful. Toppings include spring onion, cucumber, edamame beans, seaweed salad, seasonal fruit (love the pineapple!), Japanese pickles, surimi crab salad, pickled ginger, plus the following at an extra price: scallops, masago (roe of capelin fish), avocado or mushroom salad. You can choose as many toppings as you want. Step 4: Sauces: Finally, pick a sauce... which can only be one, so choose wisely! My favourite is the Korean gochujang sauce (which I always overdose on when eating bibimbap), but they also offer shoyu, ginger miso, sriracha aioli, kimchi aioli, wasabi mayo, lemon yuzu mayo, beetroot mayo and toasted sesame kewpie. You can also add garnishes to top it off. Lastly, choose to eat in or get takeaway. If you can, eat in, as I find the serving size is more generous and there is plenty of seating available (see below). 2. The fact that they are open for dinner: How many places can you think of that are open for dinner Monday to Saturday in Newmarket, serving possibly the healthiest meal? I love that Poke Poke is open until 8pm six days a week. I often go to Event Cinemas on Broadway, and on one occasion, a group of us had dinner at Poke Poke before watching a film. It is a great place to have dinner, as you know you are getting a healthy, delicious and affordable meal. While they do not have a liquor license, they serve a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages (see below), plus we took a beer into the cinema anyway, so no worries there! 3. The Decor and Layout: Walking in, the space is clean and light. The design is minimalist, with white washed and tiled walls, hanging plants and modern lights. I love the life-size print of the orange Combi van and a blue neon sign with the words 'What good shall I do this day?'. There is also plenty of seating - wooden bar stools and tables at the front, a long table plus couch seating at the back which is perfect if you are dining in a group of more than two. 4. The Drinks: Do not even think about sitting down without ordering a cup of their miso soup. At $2, it is super cheap and goes perfectly with your poke bowl. There is also a wide range of drinks to suit everyone's tastes, including green tea (also $2), Karma Cola drinks, organic kombucha, organic juices, coconut water and bottled water. 5. The Location: Situated on Remuera Road, Poke Poke is in a prime location. It is right opposite Newmarket Train Station (so easy to get to if you are coming from the city), there is a bus stop right outside and loads of street parking nearby. It is also close to Nuffield Street and the many shops on Broadway, so it is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner after a morning/afternoon of shopping. If you are looking for a healthy, delicious and good for the 'gram meal, plus welcoming and friendly staff, then no doubt you will be dreaming daily about your next visit to Poke Poke.

Beautiful and affordable. If you are eating a veggie meal you don't need to add any protein and can…read moreget edamame (instead of tofu) and it's $10.99. Really fresh food!

When I think of airport food you usually think of a greasy hashbrown or a big mac. But not any…read moremore! Thank goodness for Sumo Sushi. It's the most amazing salad bar in the Domestic Terminal and it makes bumpy plane rides a whole lot better as you have great fresh ingredients in your stomach. No more Maccas bellies! They have loads of different options and they even have fruit salad which is perfect if you've got an early morning flight. It's kind of set up like a subway style retaurant where you go along the line and choose your ingredients. I like this as I love some veges but I'm not so fond of others so it makes me seem a whole lot less picky, yay! Of course since it's at the airport it's not super cheap but it's totally worth it. Next time you fly, go check it out!

What a expensive place , $5.90 for what can only be described as a regular , a ham and cheese…read morecroissant , that was still cold whenever though it had been heated (the meat was cold and the cheese hadn't even melted ) , next time I'll go next door to Maccas , at least for my $16 I'll get HOT food cooked properly and a decent size hot chocolate

The chicken is absolutely incredible! You can't go wrong with any of their choices. I love the…read moreKorean BBQ. But you have to try the Japanese Slaw with Ponzu Dressing, it's to die for. Great atmosphere and people watching. Also, as a person from the states who lives on Iced Tea, you can't find it in NZ. However, the good people at Bird on a Wire made me one!

Solid place to grab some grub. Has various kinds of chicken dishes. I had the Korean fried chicken…read morebowl which did not disappoint. Would eat here again.

We stumbled on this place as we're walking from Mount Eden on a week day. Monday - Thursday they…read moreopen at 5pm & Friday through the weekend they open at 11 am so be aware. Right off the bat the vibes, service, & music were on point. The fried chicken & loaded fries were delicious! Unfortunately, the chicken dumplings were too heavy on the fusion for us. The dumplings were overwhelmed by the curry powder and the inside was overcooked. With so much Asian influence in the city of Auckland, I feel there are times when restaurants should just leave some dishes/flavors alone as they are amazing in their own right. Overall the experience was good.

Eric the bartender was pretty awesome. Helped kept it real with the drinks, which were all pretty…read moretasty, but also with some history of the Eden area. Very personable and made a first time to NZ felt like a local. Talent.