Most Authentic Spanish cuisine in Auckland. Great service,wine and Food…read more Muy Bien!!!

A cool little bar and eatery..it used to be Ruby and El Toro from memory. We stopped in for a…read morecouple of drinks. We were greeted with smiles and even though the kitchen was closing they were more than happy to open for us. Nice. We ended up just drinking and were very pleased with the friendly table side service. All staff seemed to be Spanish, happy and welcoming. We drank Spanish beer and wine. Good reasonable prices. Although we didn't eat, we definitely plan to next time and I can recommend the cold drinks and excellent service. I'm sure the food would follow suit. Seating options are tables and leaners and outside there is a courtyard with seating. Decor is pleasing and I'm looking forward to heading back in to see those smiling faces.

Tapas sounded good so we checked it out and ended up getting the lamb with roasted veggies a cheese…read moreplate and some wine. All were delicious and the service was excellent. Spoke to the owners for an hour or so while we ate - one from Christchurch and the other is from Madrid. Super nice people. Everything was excellent and authentic Spanish - the cheese, olives (free), wine and bread. It's in the alley with seating outside. People from the neighborhood stopped by just to hang out. Very cool spot.

The reviews I read were right. The food and drinks were delicious at Madriz. The Sangria was a fun,…read morerefreshing choice and we enjoyed everything we ordered. The tapas plates were so nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked and fun to share. The charcuterie plate was decadent with melt in your mouth Iberico ham. The little alley the restaurant is located in makes you feel like your in a small cafe in a European location and makes for fun people watching.

Genuinely, one of the greatest , and maybe most understated, gems in Newmarket. Be transported away…read morefrom the bustle of traffic and pedestrians, behind the fountains and summer cicadas and small knolls of Lumsden Green, and enjoy a sample of the Mediterranean under a flock of bright red parasols. Above the reasonable prices, the great food and the wine selection, the service is impeccable- testament to why Safran has been here for over 20 years. Staff comfortably approach you before you enter, without looking like the starving hyena that is often encountered walking past a restaurant. Even though I had only stopped in for a summery Pinot Gris this time around, I had a tall glass of ice water almost before I sat down with the wine, followed by a smile, not long after. A positively enjoyable restaurant for their lunch time specials, a hot date or a small group of friends for dinner.

When I worked in Newmarket we came to Safran at least every 2 weeks, there were many other…read morerestaurants/cafes in the area which we also tried, however we always preferred Safran. When we first started going they had a $10 menu, then it was $12 and now its $14, oh inflation and rising prices. Anyway the lunch meals were always good and tasty, I think over the time I tried every lunch meal and they were all good and they had around 12 or so lunch specials. Probably the most popular one would be the Safran sandwich which is like a gourmet sandwich and very good. The food has a Spanish/Mediterranean influence. The service was always very good, somehow much better than all the other nearby places.

Loved it!!! Had our first meal at Depot after arriving in…read moreAuckland, New zealand. The food was absolutely delicious. Every bite is unexpectedly delicious. We had falafels and the roasted eggplant. The sauces are amazing. We ended up ordering more of the same dishes as they were so good. We are going back for dinner tonight with friends as we have to try more of their dishes. The service was warm and friendly. The atmosphere was relaxed and dining al fresco was great at lunch time.

My friends and I went there for my last day in Auckland. We went around lunch time and we were able…read moreto get seated very quick. The ambiance was still so chill and not as packed because it was early afternoon, which was nice. The staff again were super friendly and answered any questions we had. Sadly, we didn't get the fish sliders because they were sold out! But we did get some of the same dishes I had ordered before but got oysters as well. The oysters were fresh and tasty, especially with their vinegar sauce. My friends also loved the charred eggplant and a couple of them don't really eat eggplant. The crispy potatoes were so good! The truffle wasn't too overpowering and they were perfectly crisp. The steak was super tender and juicy and the wedge salad helps cut the fat and compliments the steak as well. Can't wait to come back to Depot. Already miss it so much!

What a disappointing dining experience!!!…read more Limited menu I could deal with. But then, I expect excellent, or at the very least, very good execution. Sadly, this wasn't meant to be, at least not this night. My wife and I shared four tapas, of which only one was properly served at an acceptably hot temperature. The Octopus (pulpo), $12, was served on sliced potato, and was decently flavored, without being rubbery. The Berenjena (eggplant served crostini or bruschetta style), $5.50, similarly served cold. The Piquillo, stuffed capsicum, was the only positive of the evening. This was served hot (temperature), and had a sweet taste with no heat, $14. The calamari, $11, was heavily breaded, and served cold. Even the white creamy sauce didn't help with the flavor. This completed the meal. See photos. The Avaniel tempranillo, $14/gl, was a full-bodied wine, and was enjoyable. Service was fair. All in all, a sorry evening, I won't be going back.

I stopped going to Bellota after my favorite dish of Prawn and risotto disappeared. However a…read morefriend wanted to go for a Shangria and there we were, as Bellota makes the best red wine Shangria - not too sweet and not too heavy. There were some new dishes which caught our eyes. Black rice w squid & prawn ($13) reminded me of the old dish so we ordered it to try. Way too salty. Garlic Prawn ($13) and Dessert platter ($10.5) tasted average nor impressive while rest of the dishes were fantastic. Gratin of Piquillo w fish & prawns ($14) was delicious, Cassava chips ($8) were bulky and crispy, Calamari ($11) tasted like heaven.. You may have noticed that there are too many dishes mentioned here. Yes, I went twice in a week to try out the menu... Yes this is very unlike me but I am not regretting it as I know what I will have next time!

We have our book club here every month . Such incredible good service and hospitality…read more Great menu and excellent cocktails .scallops perfectly cooked. Hadn't been for a while before joining and was like coming home.

I first tried Tasca at the end of last year when we had a staff function. We tried most of the…read moretapas (my favourite being the patatas bravas) and had a buffet set up complete with paellas, salads and Turkish Pide bread. It was a great night - the restaurant had a lovely ambience, the service was good and most importantly, the food was delicious!!! So delicious that I really wanted to come back and try their lunch menu. When a recent Grabone deal popped up, it was the perfect opportunity! I booked a table for two ahead of time and I'm so glad I did! We arrived at 1pm on a beautiful sunny Saturday and the place was absolutely packed! Our table was right by the huge windows that open out onto Nuffield Street. They have ample seating, with a great indoor/outdoor flow and it definitely felt like we were in a European city - such a cool vibe! We ordered a Mojito ($14.50), the Mussels ($18.50) and the Moorish Eggs with Turkish Pide Bread ($17.50). The mojito was very refreshing on the hot summers day and instead of being overly sweet, it was minty and had a good amount of lime in it. My Mum had the mussels and she thoroughly enjoyed them - the flavours were a perfect balance of garlic, chilli and lemon. The Moorish eggs were delicious as well. After seeing many Instagram photos of the Moorish eggs, I just knew I had to order them! At $17.50, one would think it is too steep, but it was actually very filling! The dish consists of 3 eggs and 6 meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, plus Turkish Pide bread on the side. It was very yummy and it would make a great comfort meal in the winter! The service was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Highly recommend Tasca - it's a great place for all occasions whether it be a function, a birthday, a date night or best of all, a lazy Sunday afternoon!

It's a crime that this location doesn't have a Yelp presence. Pedro's is well established in New…read moreZealand, but it's not typical. I can honestly say it's one of the best take away (takeout) experiences you can have. I like small menus, and Pedro's menu is literally one item. A whole lamb shoulder slow roasted to tender perfection, complimented with garlic and rosemary, and served with a generous side of scalloped potatoes. It's serves 2 (with leftovers) and is $45 NZD. That's it. That's all she wrote. It's a flat out delicious meal that shames more expensive lamb dishes at other restaurants. Order in advance and put the pots and pans away tonight.

New Zealand lamb lovers - look no further, Pedro's House of Lamb is delicious. The restaurant…read moresmells delicious! You can takeaway or eat at the few tables. Very nice service and amazing high-quality food, at an excellent price point to boot. Very impressive - thankful that someone recommended this spot to me!

Wow - amazing fine dining in Ellerslie. No need to go all the way into the CBD! Very, very,…read moreimpressed indeed. We particularly liked the smaller portions - which meant we could sample a wider variety of offerings - rather than being too full after larger servings. And a nice atmosphere too - especially if you get in quick (or book) one of the 1/2 round upholstered alcoves.

Bonita is a cute little bar that has existed in Ponsonby for decades. With a very relaxed…read moreatmosphere and a deck out the bar, it is the perfect place for after work drinks. Bonita rewards its regular patrons by having loyalty nights on Wednesdays, and also hosts live music on Thursday nights. I recently met friends for a catch up and, due to having a big night the previous night didn't want anything alcoholic. Though the mocktail I ended up having was yum and only cost me $5, I was a little disappointed at their lack of juice and ingredients options. Further, we were a bit unimpressed with the bathroom situation - there is no lock on the door, so make sure you have someone standing guard! Despite these slight shortfalls, in all my Bonita experience was pretty good and I was impressed by how attentive the staff were. As soon as we'd finished our drinks they were at the table asking if we wanted another.

Tasty churros and friendly service. Love the caramel sauce and the drizzle option is my favoriteread more

This little stand in the city center (centre) is a must-visit for me whenever I come to Auckland!…read moreThe lady who works there is very nice and friendly. I just love that the churros are made to order, so they come out nice and hot. Get the orange chocolate sauce. It will change your life! I'm going there again today after trying it for the first time yesterday.

Unfortunately I have to give it a score if 2 out of 5. I was…read morereally looking forward to try this place because I have heard good things about it. The evening started on a high note with my main being pretty good - I ordered the baked chicken with mozzarella. However the wait for the dessert was atrocious... From when we finished eating till someone collected our plates.. And when the dessert was placed in front of us.. Was probably 1hr 15mins. I had to remind the waitress we were still waiting.. Sad to say the desserts were not worth 1hr and 15mins wait...

The restaurants of Princes Wharf seem to get a little overlooked these days as the crowds go to the…read moremore newly developed spots nearby like Wynyard Quarter and the Britomart Precinct. Still, Princes has a few decent eats to offer, and Limon is certainly among those. It's about halfway up the wharf on the west side , and can be spotted by its distinctive red awnings. It's all about Mediterranean/Spanish cuisine so that means lots of tapas-style dishes on offer, as well as some heartier stuff. First time here I booked it out for my partner's birthday and we found the atmosphere nice and cosy, the service pretty good, and the food decent for the price. I had a lamb chop dish which was tasty but perhaps a little light portion-wise. Second time a group of mates came on a GrabOne deal which offered a seafood platter and wine for a pretty good price - fun times! Finally, the Spanish vibe really adds something - there's often live music, and they do tango nights - so come ready to move!