I stumbled across this place after picking up a coffee from The Apothecary - we were looking for…read morecrackers and cheese to take down to Howick Beach for a picnic and nearly headed for the nearest supermarket before spotting this place. A grocer it is - you can buy a lot of really good quality fruit and vegetables here. They all come with poems on the stands that talk about not squeezing the nectarines or avocados to death; it's cute. But this place also sells a large range of artisan cheese, fancy crackers and imported items like Belgian chocolate and German Spekulatius biscuits. YUM! The most amazing thing about this place is the prices of the stuff - we were stunned to get a packet of pretty fancy crackers, a wheel of cheese and a massive container of semi-dried tomatoes for less than ten bucks. Eat your heart out, Nosh! This place is so cheap and so good - definitely check it out.

Bratwurst! If you have a mighty hunger for some fine European sausage then treat yourself to the…read moreepicurean delight that is Frankie's. There are 11 different flavours to choose from; from the basic frankfurter to the the Old Essex Banger, Spanish Chorizo and my personal favourite the Kransky, which is a mix of pork, herbs and Edam cheese. Not just the sausages but there are also a range of fantastic sides to get excited about. Potato salad, pickled gherkins (oh my gosh yum), mushy peas and chilli cheese fries! So you can really tailor your meal to your own personal tastes or a specific geographic area if the mood takes you. While I'm not really one for eating in food courts, the atmosphere and concept at Elliott Stables is really something quite different altogether.

The highlight of my day...no scrap that, the highlight of my week was discovering a cheesemonger…read morehad opened in my hood. I was heading to my local butcher when I noticed the bike, basket full of fresh flowers, parked out front and the glorious name, 'The Cheese Room.' Inside was even more delightful. Shelve upon shelve of delectable looking chutneys, artisan crackers and fresh herbs. Down the back there's a temperature controlled cheese room with big wheels of NZ made cheese. Hand-written descriptions of each cheese including the region and the creamery help you to choose from the exciting selection. There's also a separate fridge containing goodies such as Neudorf yoghurt and Clevedon buffalo mozerella... my idea of heaven. I had a quick chat with the owner on my way out the door and it turns out they'd opened for business that very day! Unfortunately I didn't catch his name but he told me that him and his son have been selling cheese at markets for years and decided it was time to open a store. Well, I for one am thankful they did and judging by how busy they were on their first day, so is the Milford community!

Gorgeous shop, located on Kitchener Road in the heart of Milford. They stock many local and…read moreboutique crackers, relishes, chutneys and other food items which compliment the vast array of artisan cheeses they sell. The owner sold me on a beautiful Nettle Gouda (I forget where it's from but DELISH) and also a Smoked Parmesan (from Tauranga which I haven't sampled yet but it smells devine). Like Alex stated, the store is beautifully styled which also boasts a climate controlled cheese room at the back of the shop complete with automated door. While writing this review I realised I should have looked to see if they sold cheese slicers, I saw a selection of good quality knives for sale so I am sure they would. Will definitely have to inquire on my next visit. If you love cheese this place is a MUST visit!! Street parking or park at Milford Mall & make the short stroll across the road.

I didn't know this place existed - just happened to stumble upon it in the heavily South African…read morepopulated capital of Highland Park. The owner, Isak, was especially nice, offering to describe each of the delicious meats that were on offer - everything from boerewors (cheese, garlic, etc) to spare ribs. He handed us a sample of their shop made snack sausages, which were delicious and clearly fresh as you can get. My eyes landed on their rusks (also shop made - basically these guys must have a small carbon footprint! haha) and a few imported snacks, such as fizzers and ghost pops. Truly a good selection of the best South African goodies. There's another branch out in North Shore if you can't make it out East, and really if you appreciate this sort of ethnic food, you will appreciate them.

The shop owner Roenen went out of his way for me ! At the moment the shop is spilt in two due to…read morerenovations and when I asked if they had any co-yo he went to the other shop and opened up for me , how nice is that ! Top marks for service ! The whole Highland park complex is being upgraded so shops maybe shifted around . The range of supplements this shop had avaliable was extensive , so much to choose from ! And with a lot is not seen in the ranges . I recommend this health shop whole heartedly .

Great selection of health/organic food and environmentally-friendly shopping choices. They stock…read moreeco-store products, organic and natural shampoos and soaps, various food items, all kinds of vitamins and natural supplements, all that sort of stuff. This is where you can find organic cotton tampons, non-chemical chapsticks, Comvita throat lozenges. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who don't think you're weird when you don't want a bag, and they have a loyalty card system. Conveniently located near a supermarket, post office, florist... it's a very handy place to stop in and pick up your naturally derived products. There's also a fruit and vege store owned by - I believe - the same people, just around the corner so you can also pick up your produce and free range eggs all in the same trip. Tip: Access/closer parking is easier if you drive in from the Highland Park Drive side, between the two Countdowns. (Yes, two Countdowns. It's ridiculous I know.)

For 12 years I was happy to buy American food and things like toothpaste with peroxide and baking…read moresoda not otherwise available in NZ from Martha's. During those 12 years one of the owners frequently went to America to buy the stock. And for many years they got special orders for me. But ever since the pandemic they have lost the plot. They refused to accept special orders and their shelves rarely offer me what I want. I have repeatedly asked them to figure out a new method of getting their supplies which they refuse to do. How they stay in business is a mystery without desirable stuff to buy. They're old and no longer seem to give a damn. I find it remarkable that they stay in business. Not worth the trip.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say 'get ahold of yourself now?' But…read moreyou can't and your smile is ear to ear. Well that's what Martha's Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star! Since the owner was clearly using her consumer... ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up. Martha's Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha's Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry's Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap'N Crunch cereal for under $40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

Our stop here was by chance. We were quite hungry and looking for a quick lunch on our drive from…read moreAuckland to Rotorua. We pulled into an unassuming building and were greeted by some wonderful smells inside. We tried a sampling cheese plate and a selection of other goodies. The inside was a bit spartan, but had everything we required. Service was a little on the slower side, but it was off-season. To be honest, it gave us just the break from driving we needed. Everything was delicious, service was friendly, and we bought a little cheese for the road.

Few food options for sale (it was fall there so maybe they put out more in the busier summer…read moremonths) but they do have foodservice options, great coffee and pastries...and oh so important - free wifi for which they give you a code on a slip of paper and once entered the code us good for an hour. Nice stop between Coromandel and Taupo.

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!

I love this place. Love it. Because I can eat almost everything in it. Being plagued with being…read moregluten and dairy free has its challenges when trying to shop at most supermarkets. But not this one. They have everything you need if you're on a specialty diet, or if you're just following the crowd and doing it anyways. It's really handy if you need something on your way home from work as it's open until 7pm on weekdays. And it also has a brilliant community vibe that makes me want to always go there because I know I'm helping a local business. I'm always surprised with what I find there, they make my life a whole lot easier as I know I can go there and come out with everything I need to make a meal that I can enjoy.

Lovely health food store in a nice neighborhood of Auckland. I enjoyed chatting with the friendly,…read morehelpful staff. Thank you!