I liked this place because I was still jet legged from coming in from America and it opened before…read moreall the other cafes! The mocha and americano we had was good as well as the scone we got! Good vibe and cute inside

Amazing food, great drinks, I suggest the wagyu burger it is amazing. I would say this is one of my…read moretop picks for getting something to eat.

I had the opportunity to eat dinner here twice while staying at the Hilton, and both were…read morephenomenal experiences. First of all, the ambiance is spectacular, with gorgeous views of the harbor. My first night, dozens of sailboats were out, singly and in groups. The staff was welcoming - a sense of formality, but not pretentiously so. The first night, I had the Signature West Coast Whitebait Fritter, Kūmara Fries, and Mango and Mānuka Honey Cheesecake. The second night, I had the Signature Mediterranean Crab Cakes and the Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon. All were wonderful. The small plates were the Whitebait Fritter and the Crab Cakes. New Zealand Whitebait is a real delicacy, and they were perfectly cooked in what would better be described as a thin omelette rather than a fritter, topped with a deliciously rich buerre blanc and fried capers. Stunning! The Crab Cakes were served with a crayfish lemon mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar. Quite tasty with a nice crunch - use the lemon, it really helps bring out the flavor. Of the two, I would recommend the Whitebait Fritter hands down. It's something I will remember. I got the Kūmara Fries (New Zealand's sweet potato) as a side, and they are delicious. Coated with some parmesan cheese and served with black garlic mayo! So good. And it's a large serving - from looking around, all of their sides are designed for more than one person. That said, I did a pretty good job with the fries by myself. The Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is another New Zealand-centric dish. The dish is exquisite and overwhelming. The salmon itself was perfection - perfectly cooked and rich in flavor. Then add the delicious pickled fennel, the red capsicum marmalade, the horseradish cream, herb oil, and the saltiness of fish roe? Explosions in your mouth. The Mango and Manuka Honey Cheesecake was rich and delicious with a nice crust. They also had a nice selection of New Zealand beers, wines, and liquors.

Oh my. Not the best first impression of Auckland. We checked into the Hilton and, tired from a…read morelong journey, decided just to have dinner at Fish, right in the hotel. If it was the only place we had eaten, during our visit, we would have thought that dining in New Zealand was awful. The room is very nice, with wonderful views of the Bay and cruise ship port, although a little less formal than I would expect for the price range. The problem began with the staff who, while trying very hard and being very polite, did not seem to understand a word we said. They were very good with the phrase "Thank you, sir," though, and I realize language barriers must be accommodated while traveling. This IS an English speaking country, though. Anyway, everything seemed to go wrong. Ordering wine was an ordeal, and it arrived halfway through our meal. The food presentation was mediocre, and everything needed some spice or seasoning. It felt like a meal served at a retirement village where everyone has diet restrictions. The kicker, though, was the steak. We ordered medium rare. It arrived burned to a crisp. For the first time in years, we actually sent something back. The next attempt came back nearly raw. It was inedible and almost felt like chef was being a jerk. We just left it pretty much untouched and later, noticed the staff huddled in the corner pointing over at our table. To the restaurant's credit, our steaks were removed from the bill, without our even asking, but that is a bit beyond the point. There are many fine dining options within walking distance of Fish. We wish we had known.

We went to Mecca Devonport for brunch in the weekend, I was looking for a nice cafe that actually…read morehad a view of the water (not too many do) and this was it. We sat outside in one of the lovely spots and we quickly received our menus from the friendly waiter. I had the Vegetarian Breakfast and my husband had the Home-made Venison Burger, we were both very satisfied with our meals. The cafe has a European feel and I had the feeling I was somewhere in France or Italy - I was dreaming about it anyway. I would definitely recommend this cafe and will be back again.

Great location close to the water, nice spot after wandering around Devonport. Service was…read morefriendly, casual atmosphere and tasty selections. Hubby had the Scotch fillet and really enjoyed it, I had the Venison burger (sans bun and sub the fries with greens to make it as paleo as possible-hey I'm on vacation here I can have the sauce!) and really enjoyed it as well. Washed down with some L&P and perfect little lunch on a sunny day. Seemed to have a wider selection than some of the other spots we passed. Definitely give it a try!

My next stop on a day exploring Devonport was out of being hungry and thankfully I found Manuka…read moreRestaurant at the right time. A cute and cozy cafe on a corner, it fit in so well with the other businesses nearby. A chalkboard sign of the specials caught my eye and it was settled. The interior is exposed brick and wood floors. Restrooms are to the back near the kitchen and clean. The staff was immediately welcoming and very attentive through my visit. I had a pilsner beer and the special chicken pie with salad - one thing I absolutely love about New Zealand is the fresh produce and vegetables, everything has amazing flavor. There were many happy groups, talking and enjoying the sunshine on that day; I loved the big windows overlooking the street and people walking by. Prices were reasonable for the super flavorful food. They had a dessert counter but I left without caving to any of those. If you're exploring Devonport, it's worth eating here.

The food is good there, I love the desserts many of there mains are very nice but I'm not sure…read moreabout the burgers.

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.

What a wonderful dinner experience! Visiting from the US and wanted to splurge on one nice night…read moreout to celebrate Valentine's/Anniversary/Boyfriend's birthday in one swing, and this was perfect. As strangers to fine dining, we found the servers to be welcoming and kind and more than happy to explain the menu and ingredients of the dishes. We each got the Chef's Tasting Menu and were treated to 7 small courses that left us more than stuffed and extremely satisfied. The service and food was perfection and with only 11 tables it was incredibly cozy and intimate. Money well spent!

Some perspective, have been coming to O'Connell Street Bistro for many a year now. This was a…read morereturn visit after a number of years living overseas. The food is a real delight, rich complex flavors and beautifully prepared. To be honest I think what brings them down is that they rest a little too much on their past successes and awards. The service is stiff and stand'offish. We tried a number of times to start a conversation and just got stared at blankly. It got to the point it was uncomfortable. I have seen managements responses on another review site to this sort of feedback and they are not accepting of it in any way. A very sad return for us. It has lost something along the many years of success and should look carefully at how it can bring that real warmth of personality back into play.

It's quite rare these days to go to a degustation - let alone a Chef's Table Degustation. Paying so…read moremuch for a meal, there's the expectation of stellar food - which sometimes explains the hefty sigh that would follow an overdone steak. Or the chance of having that knowledgeable but icy waiter who makes me mirror it in the most awkward stretched-smile-kind-of-way. A super special occasion or a yearly treat would justify going. For me, it was to reward a hardworking momma who had been busy looking after an energetic ball of cuteness, otherwise as known as my nephew. Euro had revamped their menu late last year into a gluten-free dining experience that promises the same indulgent flavours without the dreaded food coma afterwards. This new food ethos echoes the recent food trends of healthy eating and people being more educated and aware of what they are ingesting. I'm all for it, dining out and less guilt. We were seated on bar stools along an L shaped table around the kitchen, giving the allusion of watching a private chef at home. Our two chefs were brilliant - boisterous with happy energy that rubbed off on the 10 guests. Everything was explained as they cooked. I could ramble on about each of the 10 dishes but you can check out my full blog for descriptions. At first I found the food almost bland, especially when I faced the greenness of the cucumber and kale sauce in the second course. But after my tastebuds adjusted, I realised I was used to the expectation of the overly salty and seasoned food when dining out. My first surprise was the red pepper egg in the Red Tomato Consomme which pops gently when you pop the whole thing in your mouth. These flavours were light but tasty - there wasn't the overload of flavours, just clean and fresh ingredients. As the courses went along, the flavours got more heavy and food more creamy and dense. We weren't served any form of carbohydrates until the 7th risotto course -although faux spaghetti was spotted before that, which was a dream accompanied with the quail breast. The big perk of a Chef's Degustation is that everything is well personalised. Before serving the wagyu, the chef promised one of our well-built male diners that he will most certainly be full after the degustation, otherwise she'll personally make him a burger. The wagyu, while looking tantalizingly small, had my taste buds going from the moment it started searing on the pan. I cannot resist it, I am a carnivore. Eating at Euro, you'll observe the use of fancy glass gadgets and liquid nitrogen smoking up the kitchen. It's more like a show than any other dining experience I've had. Even when one of the irreplaceable expensive contraptions broke, the chefs were calm and made do with something else. Huge ups for keeping it together and thinking quick on their feet! At the end of the night, we were even given an extra course - cake pops along with a personalised chocolate message to each of our guests. Whilst my sister in law's one read "Happy Birthday", I got a cute one which said "Just Because". To round off the night, a mini burger was delivered to the male diner for being a good sport, even though he insisted he was full. Needless to say, I loved it at Euro. Princes Wharf hasn't got the pulse of Federal Street, or the glam of Britomart. But understated elegance has always been what attracts the business people that come here for their after work drinks. Don't be intimidated, change up your dining scene and head down to this area for something special.

Yet another one of those restaurants that I always pass by but need someone to go with. My friend…read moreflew in so this was my chance! We stopped in just before the dinner rush (~5:30p) and got down to business. We started with the Sri Lankan Duck Tacos and the kale salad. So sad that there were only two tacos, as these were DELISH and could have been a main on their own. Well, if there were more than two tacos. I ordered the 36-hour braised short rib and my friend ordered the flounder. I brought out my knife out of habit, but found that I didn't need it as I could just pull the short rib apart with my fork, as it was so tender. Placing that first bite in my mouth was decadent. "What sort of cheese IS that?" I asked, looking around the meat. "There's no cheese on that," my friend replied. "No, there's DEFINITELY cheese. I can taste it." "That's fat." She takes a bite. "Yep, that's just 36-hour fat." UMG such amazing taste. It was creamy and the short rib and... OMG drooling just thinking back to it. Her flounder was hidden within a forest of lightly sautéed kale, and while she admitted the flounder was good, it was just too buttery for her. Or perhaps that was because she added my buffalo butter when it was really for our side of vegetables. We didn't get dinner, as we were delightfully satisfied, and needed to acquire a toolbox of beer. Glad to have experienced you, Euro!

One of my favorite places in Auckland for a fine dining experience. The dishes were great as was…read morethe service and wine pairing. In particular, the dishes were beautifully presented and not heavy, which was key for a tasting menu. For anyone looking for a high-end meal in Auckland, this would be my first recommendation.

We chose the 8 course experience and thoroughly enjoyed it…read more We snagged a last minute reservation based on online reviews and an in person confirmation from a couple that I met on a tour. I will warn you, the experience isn't cheap, but if you're a foodie and you enjoy food experiences go ahead and take the plunge. The total experience takes about 3 hours as you are being presented with individual courses and a palate cleanse. We didn't opt for the wine pairing but I'm told it's a great choice. I thoroughly enjoy food but rarely venture outside of my comfort zone when it comes to consuming certain animals but I did and was quite surprised. I'd definitely say add this experience on your list if visiting New Zealand.

Awesome experience. The staff were super awesome and so was the food. The portion sizes were…read moredeceptively good. The service exceptional.

I was fortunate to be taken to lunch the other day at Cibo. I hadn't been for some time so I was…read moreinterested to see if they have maintained their consistently good service and food The service was definitely up to expectation - and the food sublime. The oysters - bluff luckily - were great au natural although my host had the tempura ones which looked just as good. For mains, I had the fish special which was perfectly cooked but I also liked the look of the sashimi stack As usual Cibo delivered high quality and I look forward to my next visit

I was surprised by my husband with a date for two and a six course degustation menu at Mikano. How…read moreexciting I thought, but how am I going to be able to eat six courses I thought. I arrived to a very unique restaurant location, right alongside a helicopter landing pad, where they search and rescue along the coast, as well as a very busy Auckland port, with containers being transported in and out. I liked the go and energy of the outside, and knew that what I was arriving at was going to dramatically contrast that. The interior was a complete contrast to the exterior as I had thought, and a immaculate staircase to a door that opened into a reception area that overlooked a very large dining space. Large ceilings and beautiful glass lighting pieces, highlighted an elegant room, with the kitchen up a bit higher overlooking the dining room. The floor to ceiling glass windows allowed for dreamlike gazing at the waterfront and also the busy port. So the highlight of my six course meal was that every piece that we were served also was accompanied by its very own wine, picked to compliment the food, and even when we got to the dessert, this was paired with a dark beer. I loved the french onion soup served in a miniature soup ramekin with lid, and served with the sweetest pieces of croutons I have ever laid eyes upon, the flavour was so memorable. I also really enjoyed the Yorkshire beef pie, also a petite form, but so perfect in every way. Honestly, I could rave about each and every one of the pieces we devoured in this visit. Simply put, the chefs know there food, they enjoy cooking a classy and traditionally inspired dish, and with the great attentive staff to add, its a win!

I'll start by saying the food was great - delicious, cooked perfectly and well presented…read more On the converse side, it took me two days to get anyone to answer the phone and take my booking. The front desk staff were pre-occupied and not particularly welcoming. Our waiter was clearly young, nervous and inexperienced - having said that it was a Wednesday. Would I eat there again? Maybe, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.