Pilkingtons is a different experience. The marble patterned staircase, the glasshouse, the plants,…read morethe carved out shelf, the floral cushions, booths and ceiling detail. It is all very impressive and very beautiful. We spent a good 15 minutes admiring the decor and its intricate details. We expected great things. From the new Winter menu we had the Shared Plate (tempura prawns, serrano ham croquettes, Szechuan salt n pepper squid, pork belly caramelised apple $49). The croquettes are out-of-the-world amazing. So. Incredibly. Delicious. The salt n pepper squid though was a terrible letdown. The batter was hard, thick, stale and flavourless. We sent this feedback back to our waiter who tried time and time again to justify it. It felt like they were trying to prove us wrong. The market fish risotto ($34) and the wild boar ragout ($33) were the best of the four mains we had. But at that price we've had better. The kingfish ceviche had an overwhelming amount of sauce, it was way too sour and you couldn't taste anything else on the plate (and usually I am a big fan of sour things!). We'll probably go back for those heavenly croquettes and a drink for a chance to sit in those beautiful booths and enjoy the atmosphere.

Great drinks menu and good snacks, but the setting and service wasn't as fab. Three of us came for…read moredrinks after work on a Tuesday, wearing suits/corporate robot gear and casual shoes to walk home in, ready to stay for dinner if the menu looked good. The first round of drinks was great! Yummy strawberry daiquiri and decent beers. We then got fries, and they came with a delicious anchovy sauce. Unfortunately we sat outside, next to a gas heater that was leaking. We told the waitress, and would have moved inside, but there weren't tables for three inside. Add the fact that we felt unexpectedly under dressed in our work clothes, and we decided to go to Fort St for dinner.

Great Fish & Chips and friendly service!! Location is perfect for when you're touring about the…read morecity.

We walked into the Shakespeare about 7:15pm on Wednesday. The restaurant was closed but the bar was…read moreopen; we had to sit outside, which was just fine. There were four of us; we each ordered fish and chips and a drink and paid up front; the drinks were in our hands immediately. After half an hour of waiting for the food, I asked the manager what was going on and she told me "10 minutes". 15 minutes later, I asked again - this time, the barmaid went upstairs to talk to the cook and told me "10 minutes". 15 minutes later (an hour after ordering), I went back AGAIN and this time the manager went up and promised we'd have our food in just a few minutes; she offered us a free drink. We finally got the food about 70 minutes after ordering. To be fair, it was hot, fresh, and tasty - but it was NOT worth waiting that long for. Go for the beer; ask lots of questions about the wait for food.

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.

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!

Went for lunch with friends and should have taken the hint that they have an amazing view and were…read moreempty. The best way to describe it was the food was mediocre at best, and I do mean at best, and the service was absolute shite! The experience was so bad, we chose to leave during a rainstorm rather than stay any longer.

A proper fish and chips spot!…read more The day we visited Waiheke Island, we stumbled upon The Local and we're glad that we did! Upon walking in, we were greeted by friendly staff and ordered at the counter. We tried the beef burger, hoki fish and 2 kinds of chips (regular and kumara), a fish cake, and calamari. Tartar sauce packs were 50¢ each but malt vinegar was readily available on the table. Everything was piping hot when it came out. The fish was extra crispy, the fries were the perfect texture, the fish cake was delectable, the calamari was tasty, and the burger was very flavorful! We had a great lunch and would return!

Great food and great service. I was an American living in NZ, and this place was a nice place to…read moreget American style food while I lived there.

Nice Texas American decor. No need to book unless if is the weekend…read more The food is generous, especially the 1kg pork ribs. Quite a few people get this and when I did I was stuck eating it the whole night. Not really a dish for one, must share it with a few people. The steak I got was not done to medium rare, kind of disappointing for a dish costing $38.

Hallertau is a fantastic brewery and has been a staple of the NZ craft beer scene for many years…read more On a recent trip I got to visit the source, and am thankful I did. If you're a beer fan visiting Auckland, it's worth the extra time and distance to visit. Located in the wine country, you feel far away from the city even though you really aren't. It's along a quiet road, you can't miss the cool retro sign. Parking is free and in the front. The place is much larger than you'd guess; the original brewery and taproom is the main building interior with vintage looking furniture and cozy lighting if it's too cold or wet to enjoy the outside. To the left is the beer garden, which is all enclosed with plants to make you feel you're out in the middle of nowhere. They have an outdoor bar here with pizza ovens and a meat smoker. There are tables and bar seating here. At the back is a climbing wall and playground for kids; the tables nearby have hot water pipes running through them so your tushy stays warm even in cold weather. In the main building is more seating and the indoor bar, restrooms to the back. They also have a merch area and lots of beer for takeaway. Their beer list is large and focuses mostly on their core lagers. Behind this area you'll see the main brewing equipment, which goes back well beyond this area. Outside I was given a tour of the finishing tanks and their garden, where they even grow hops for some of their small batch beers. Thanks to the generosity of friends, I got to try various pizzas, jalapeno poppers, and other appetizers. The pizza was maybe the best I've had in NZ, with so many locally sourced toppings and rich flavors. The beer is fantastic as well, think classic styles made to perfection. The bar staff is friendly, so quick to serve. I can't rave enough about this brewery, and it's really one you need to visit.

Enjoyed my evening here with friends the Venison sausage and pizza went down great with the Number…read more3 Red Ale. The service was prompt and food delivered together so no waiting to eat around the table. Highly recommend

After sitting in the SkyBar in the Tower, it was time for dinner and I spotted this place (from…read moreYelp, not from the window). A short walk and a few minutes later, beer in hand. I found a comfy spot in the back, connected to their wifi and checked in for tomorrow's flight back to the USA. And then dinner. I ordered the fish and chips which was the biggest piece of fish ever. Crispy battered outside, light and flaky inside. Super hot from the fryer and with enough delicious fries to float a battalion. Wifi was speedy and the seating was comfortable and I'm just a little bit sad that my New Zealand adventure is coming to a close. [Review 531 of 2024 - 176 in New Zealand - 21563 overall]

Went out of my way, by myself, and walked over a mile to go to Brothers Beer, which I was told by…read morethe locals that it was closed... While walking back to where my wife was shopping, I got lucky and walked by this place! This place got extra credit because it was much needed after my wasted walk. Quality/Quantity - Good selection of beers on tap. They offer samples if asked. Liberty Knife Party IPA - # 1 seller and an "always" on tap beer. 7.1% so beware. This was good, very smooth. Almost did not even taste like an IPA, not too hoppy. Eddyline West Coast IPA - 7.3%, wow this was even smoother. Borderline dangerous drinking this as it went down too easily. I cut myself off after this second beer (third one for the day). Beer flights are also available. Atmosphere - They cater to the locals here, perfect for me. :) Cool decor, sorry I should have taken more pictures. 7+ weeks out here and I still do NOT have an Australian or New Zealand accent, LOL. Indoor/outdoor seating. No people watching as it is a weekend, a Saturday today. They mainly cater to the local downtown businesses. Free wifi, but you need a password; just ask. Open 7 days a week from 11:30am to 10pm. Service - Good. Price - $28.50 NZ, approximately $8.55 US per beer. Expensive for a non tourist area... Owner Comment - Congrats on your success.