This place has a very good alcohol selection but absolutely no tea at all…read more I wandered in one day literally wanting a cup of tea but ended up with a very nice gin! I'd go back of I wanted a drink in this area. It felt like the local watering hole but nicer than most and the staff was very friendly. There was a drinking Scotsman there but I guess that's the same as saying there was a Scotsman there. Perhaps there is always one there... Ok I'll go back again and report on that!

The Gypsy Tea Room is everything a good neighbourhood bar should be; unpretentious with a great…read moredrinks list and staff that treat you like you're a local, even if you're not. I've been to The Gypsy Tea Room a few times, normally in the afternoon. They've got great street-side seating with just the right amount of shade. The bartenders have a good knowledge of their wine list,as well as the hard stuff, and are friendly but in a laidback, casual sort of way. Although primarily a bar, they do have a short menu feat. bar snacks like olives, calamari and a couple of woodfired pizzas. Take note, the pizzas are small so if you're hungry I reckon you could polish off a whole pizza solo. I've never been here late at night so don't know what the vibe is like but as an casual afternoon watering hole, you'll struggle to find better.

Had a very nice experience. We got the garlic pizza and Camembert cheese with berries as an…read moreappetizer and the chix tortellini w/ ham and the veg fettuccine for dinner. Ambience was great with a nice dining room and we sat by the window. Would recommend if looking for a sit down Italian restaurant. Great food and wonderful service!!!

Devonport's Portofino restaurant has always been a favorite. With a beautiful interior- one of the…read morebest I've seen in Auckland- and a great bar area, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The food is wonderful. One of the best dishes I've ever had is their deep fried camembert cheese with berry sauce- exquisite! I'd go back for that alone, but to make the long drive to Devonport worth it you have to buckle down for the full Italian experience- don't worry though, its worth it. Like any italian restaurant, Portofino provides good portions, flavoursome food and thankfully, some very fresh and well-cooked vegetables to balance out your plate of pasta. For a delicious, year-round meal a little ways out of the city, Portofino is a great place for a pre-town dinner with friends or an intimate spot to take that special someone.

If you are looking for a "locals" place in Herne Bay, The Elbow Room quickly became my go-to place…read moreon Jervois. There are a lot of popular wine bars and places to get cocktails, but from the name and look, you can see that The Elbow Room is a local favorite for an after work drink or two. My first experience was a Friday afternoon and I was surprised at the small happy hour crowd. The second time was for the Sunday night wine special ($NZ 7 which exchanges to a bargain, particularly because tipping is not the norm) and, again, not a large crowd. Tuesday was a different story and the place is packed on Thursdays. Pigeons wander in the door looking for peanuts (a good sign, as far as I can see) and the locals wander in and out. The bar staff were more focused on their regulars - as it should be - but I felt welcome and recognized. Definitely a good stop for a drink and to hear the local conversation. A small menu is offered with pizza and some other bar food, but not really a place to eat. The Elbow Room has a vibe that fits the name and my expectations for a locals bar.

The Elbow Room is one of my dad's favourite bars. Situated on Jervois Road, it's handy to Ponsonby…read morenightlife as well as being a cheap taxi to town, so is a great place to begin a night out. Conversely, it's also a nice place to enjoy a few quiet ones with your parents on a Sunday afternoon. The Elbow Room is exactly how it sounds - small, cosy, friendly and locally oriented. Most of its patrons are regulars so there is a definite sense of familiarity and a very laidback vibe at The Elbow Room. The decor matches this homely intimate vibe, with heavy drape curtains and subtle lighting emphasising the cosy atmosphere of the bar. Serving a variety of wines, beers and spirits - you can purchase any drink you fancy at The Elbow Room, including delicious cocktails. An array of bar snacks is also on hand, and I was ecstatic to find Peroni, one of my favourite beers, is now available on tap at The Elbow Room! Tip: Not so good for dancing due to its small size!

What a gorgeous spot for a drink in the heart of Devonport!…read more As I am not a local, "Tiny Triumphs" was an unknown bar to me - until now. The bar is unassuming and set back from the street. Great seating outside, either bar stools around small and/or communal table, or comfortable European-style chairs: Al fresco drinking in style! They have beers on tap (not sure what as not a beer drinker), great cocktails, wine list or chilled water for teetotallers:) Fab service too. Not a lot of room inside by the bar, so you can network, while ordering your drink!

If you live in Devonport, Tiny Triumphs should be your new local hangout. As the name promises,…read moreit's tiny. So, it's best for a beautiful day when you can take advantage of the lovely porch. The ambiance is like an auckland villa porch with lovely rugs and vintage furniture. Cozy place with friendly faces and nice nibbles. They do NZ beers (saw mill), cocktails, and have some nice organic soda options for the teetotalers. Nice addition to the neighborhood, and a little hard to find - tucked in next to the stone bakery. Totally worth it!!

Great italian eatery in Auckland CBD - amazing setting, great drinks and the bruschetta's are just…read moredelicious. Service is great and prices are more than reasonable. We will return soon!

I was in the city on a mission to have a lunch date with my partner, and we decided on the Italian…read moreflavour of Bruschetteria, which was nicely situated at the front of the Elliot stables. If you're after a slice of Italy, this is 100% the right place to be seated. They have a Fantastic menu with over 15 selections of Bruschette. My pick of the day was Dal Fiume- Marscopone Cheese, Herbs, Salmon, Capers, Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil. Was sensational, and a pleasure to eat- just delicious. I was served my Bruchette so fast, that I was sure, they had mixed up someone else's order, but no, it was a quiet day, and the staff were in top form, as I am sure they always are. Coffee was Italian roasted and just smooth and silky. Service was friendly and fast, and the setting sophisticated and stylish. I really enjoyed my lunch date and will return to sample the crostini and ensalada's.

My first night in Auckland, I stopped by here for dinner when I saw they had a $42.94 NZ deal for…read moreSouth Island Lamb Rump. The interior was lively with plenty of seating. Found a quiet corner to dine solo. I ordered the Lamb Rump with garlic butter, which came with Bacon and Peas, and a side of Smashed Truffle Potatoes. This was absolutely delicious! The Lamb was cooked perfectly, melt in your mouth tender, well seasoned, with a nice crunchy skin. The Potatoes were satisfyingly crispy, mouthwateringly in a flavorful sauce and spices, featuring strong taste of true truffle. Garlicky peas with bacon was a wonderful combination. When I saw Sticky Date Pudding on the dessert menu, I just had to get it. This was served with butterscotch sauce, candied walnut, and ice cream. What an indulgent, sweet, mouthwatering masterpiece! The Sticky Date Pudding was chewy, moist, with notes of caramel and warm spices. Walnuts added a delightful nutty crunch. I poured the butterscotch sauce over both the Sticky Date Pudding and ice cream, which brought everything together beautifully. Service was good. Waitress was personable and everything came out in a timely manner. Such a wonderful meal here!

Great atmosphere! Great service!…read moreFriendly staff. Definitely a must go place. Only had drinks however the food looked delicious

Omg the food and service was sublime I can't fault it. The only thing I can possibly fault is the…read moreportion size. Perfect food excellent service

My coworker had a craving for pizza, so we decided to try out this place in Wynyard Quarter…read more It was dinner time, so the place was naturally busy. We slipped in and got a table, looking over the menu. I pointed out the number of pizzas they had available, then returned to see what items I could order (I'm trying to do the Paleo thing, so very difficult in Italian restaurants). I ended up ordering chicken cacciatore al forno (free-range chicken leg baked in fresh herbs, tomato, sage, mushrooms, topped with garlic sauce and served with "wet" polenta. Yes, I reread the menu). This was the first time I've had wet polenta, which is polenta with the consistency of slightly runny porridge. It was good, and hard to not consume all of it (Paleo). The chicken was lovely, herbs playing off of the garlic sauce very well. Stop here if you're into Italian. A bit hard for those trying to avoid the starchy carbs.

Group of us came here one Friday evening as we wanted to go somewhere close to downtown and that…read moreallowed BYO (they do, it's $10 a bottle). I had been here before, a few years ago and remember it being really nice if not a little expensive. This time round it was pretty much the same, the food and the service are amazing (like really really great) but the servings are smaller than you'd expect for the price - but I guess we are in the heart of the cbd here. The food I will talk about in more detail below, I do want to note that the service we received was perfect (in my opinion). The waitress made sure we were happy, came back only when she needed to and didn't bug us or ask us things unnecessarily. Observant, to the point and pleasant = perfect. The atmosphere of the cafe is cute, dark, and nice. It's a very small restaurant, so a downfall is that sometimes you do feel as though you are sitting on other people. I got the cheese gnocchi (which is a must try), the gnocchi melts in your mouth, and the cheese sauce has depth of flavour. Friends enjoyed other pasta dishes and the ones I tried were just as tasty. We all also grabbed dessert. These took their time coming out but we're OH SO worth it - so delicious and rich. Most of us got the self saucing pudding which was so so so good. I definitely recommend Covo for a date night or a small friends dinner if you are in town - I just wish they had another outlet not in the city that was a little bigger for bigger groups!

Had a nice lunch there the other day. Had to book a table because their $10 lunch deal is very…read morepopular, so this place is always busy during workday lunch hours. The service is very attentive and welcoming. Lunch was a great value for money as well. I had salad which was excellent and our table also had pizza and pastas, all looked yum. Would definitely stop by for lunch again and will recommend it to my friends.