I went to the States last year and tried one of the most American things I've ever eaten - the…read moreBloomin' Onion, a battered and deep fried onion that is fanned out onto a plate and served with an array of dipping sauces. The Bloomin' Onion is apparently an Australian dish (according to The Outback Steakhouse) - go figure! I came back to New Zealand raving about this hilariously fatty dish and told people that we needed to find a place that served this cardiac arrest inducer. After a little searching, we found Giggles! Nestled in the heart of sleepy Howick, this place has been here for years, serving the Bloomin' Onion under the name Onion Mum... okay, sure! I'm really glad we went there - the place is cute and the staff are really friendly and nice; it's one of those places in Howick that hasn't lost its small town charm. And it has the best/worst dish in the world! We'll be back (if we don't have a heart attack and die from all the oily, oniony goodness coursing through our veins).

Miss Clawdy has been on my foodie wishlist for so long! Having been to New Orleans for their take…read moreon South American food, I was more than keen to get some glorious Miss Clawdy in my belly. Much like the Creole influenced state of Louisana, this North Wharf eatery got my attention with the dark wood and warm red and yellow hues from the overhanging lanterns. We were lucky to be seated straight away at 6:30pm on a Saturday night, there was a constant row of diners coming in soon after us. The open kitchen took centre stage in front of us. I love watching the chefs at work. I don't know how they do it, constantly keeping the beat and moving so purposefully in such a confined space. There was great camaraderie in the kitchen too, genuine smiles while keeping each other entertained. So it was with great reluctance that I had trade seats to have my back to the kitchen, the cushiony sofa just swallowed up my petite frame too much! Almost as if we were watching the open kitchen show, we were given complimentary popcorn to start with. Sweet and punchy with a bit of paprika and cinnamon, it was addictive like my favourite Sweet and Salty popcorn. Priding themselves on soul food and bright colourful flavours, we chose tacos to start with. Whilst the taco was soft and meat was well cooked, it lacked the promised punch and attitude. That problem was taken care of with a generous dousing of hot sauce from the table. We chose the special of the night as a main to share and I'm so glad we did! The lamb was succulent and flavoursome with just enough gravy to soak up. Combined with the comfort of the roasted vegetables, it filled us up well and proper. A special mention goes out to the generous cocktail list. It was hard to nail down one to order because each sounded as enticing as the other. The two we tried were delicious and quickly went down before the ice had even melted and diluted the drink. What I looked forward to most in the evening was the dessert. Even more than usual because I spotted a chocolate and chilli pressed souffle running as their special. With my recent love for the dark chocolate and chilli combo, it could only be a match in heaven as a souffle. The night ended beautifully with this number. My high hopes were met and even surprised me a little with the strength of the chilli. It was chocolatey and dense, and should be shared between two people. Good thing the burn from the chilli stopped me from otherwise scoffing it down unnecessarily. Such decadence was the dish that meant the previous cookies and milk combo was quickly put to the side.. I loved dining at Miss Clawdy. The atmosphere was buzzing but comfortable. The name is inspired by Lloyd Price's 1952 New Orlearns hit single Lawdy Miss Clawdy. I'd recommend it for a girls night out, and being at Wynyard Quarter, extra points for easy parking.

Come here for the hush puppies, steamed veggies, and jambalaya…read more Decided to check out this Southern/Central American restaurant as I had passed it so many times. My friend was in town so thought this would be a good opportunity. She ordered the Cuban sandwich and hush puppies while I ordered the jambalaya, kumara wedges, and steamed veggies. The Cuban had skimpy amount of meat, but the hush puppies were AMAZING! I wish there were more kumara wedges, there only give you six. The jambalaya was SUPER filling, and the steamed veggies were spot on. If you're looking for shareables, I'd say stick with the hush puppies, but let people know if you have anything else that's a must-have!

I was a bit suspicious because of the name. Federal? I eventually realized that is the name of the…read morestreet they are located on. It was open at the time I was in the area and it did look inviting. I perused the menu and decided to give it a try. Walking in I saw the old-fashioned furnishings, metal chairs, display cases, wall shelves, big bar in the middle all in a long and narrow room. Yessss, this looks lie something out of the 50s and I like it. After a long hard look at the menu I opted for the Salami platter... Strangely enough there wasn't salami, but more like a smoked ham, prosciutto like meat. It tasted great, so what's in a name. Delicious heirloom tomatoes, capers, salami impersonator, cream cheese, capers, pickles and your choice of bread. I had chosen crumpets and regretted that . Not because they weren't delicious, because they were so yummy, but they were also so buttery that I couldn't get the cream cheese to stick and everything I tried to put on the crumpet just slid right off them. I got the bottomless cup of coffee and I must say, this is really good coffee and the refills kept coming also. I love the atmosphere in here and there are so many great choices on the menu. If I ever come back tot Auckland, I will definitely stop by this place again.

Busy place with a lot of indoor seating and limited outdoor tables. Service was good, never had to…read morewait. It's a popular place and they were crowded but we didn't have to wait for a table. There was plenty of food for each order. My wife had a street dog and fries and I had a Ruben. They were pretty decent. I wasn't as happy with the fries. They were like the bottom of a pile and mostly little pieces with very few full length slices. Prices were extremely reasonable. I would definitely eat there again.

Great place to start the night on the Viaduct, had a few drinks before heading out to other places…read more Nice view as well.

Great lunch burger and beer special. Location was perfect to enjoy a delicious burger, fries, and…read morebeer.

I was looking for a quick portable snack and stopped at Sal's. Can it be proper New York pizza?…read moreWe'll never know as I waited in the queue while the one worker behind the counter struggled mightily to serve customers. He was not doing very well, needing at least another helper. Come on back when there's no queue and you should do well. [Review 524 of 2024 - 170 in New Zealand - 21556 overall]

Legit NYC style pizza? Being from NY, I am always weary when I see a sign purporting to have…read more"Authentic NY Style Pizza". Every pizza shop back home in Colorado says this and I have yet to find one that actually does. That said, finding legit NY pizza in the exact opposite side of the planet is fantastic! Cheesy, with a just the right amount of grease! I've never found pizza outside of NY that has the exact chewy cheesiness that NY pizza has and this in no exception, but it's still good. Is it EXACTLY like a NY slice? No. Is it dang close? Yup! And good enough for this Queens boy to enjoy.

Probably the best Pizza I've had in New Zealand. Great service, friendly vibe, lovely discovery…read moreworth every penny.

If there is anything I like more than a good steak, it's a good piece of pizza & this is why I…read moredecided to come to Sal's Authentic New York Pizza. Speaking to the owner of the Parnell Store he tells me about his passion & desire to be his own boss and working with Pizza. Until recently Sal's Pizza was a family operation and not up for franchise. This has now slowly changed with the sale of Parnell & more recently the opening of their new store in Hamilton. I am told about how all their ingredients are shipped from New York and nothing is left to chance here, and If I do not like their pizza he will refund my money back every penny (at this point I thought about whether correcting him & telling him we don't do penny's here) but I thought better off since he will be cooking me a fresh pizza.. I've seen what happens on Gordon's Ramsay - Kitchen Nightmares when you talk back to the chef ;-). But I hardly doubt he would ever do something like I have seen on TV. I am presented with the menu in front of me of large 18″ Pizza's or by the slice.. with a cabinet of other foods to go with it, Garlic Knots, Pepperoni Pinwheels, buffalo wings & mozzarella sticks all of which look delicious! since I'm with a group of friends we decide to go for a large half pepperoni half italian meatball with a pitcher of beer to help wash it down, with a size of mozzarella sticks & buffalo wings. The wings & the mozzarella came out first followed by the beer. One thing I have noticed about this place is the decor - styled in New Yorker theme red brick & big screen tv's with NBA Live on ESPN. A good choice to come here during lunch I reckon. They really understand their customers needs. Pizza + Beer + Sport = WIN The pizza came out not long after we finished out wings & mozzarella, we were amazed at the size of this thing.. I am told they do eating competitions for the quickest person to finish a whole 18″ pizza, I am told a good time somewhere in the 30min mark. But I don't see how I could possibly do that - even after 5 mins the pizza is still incredibly hot to bite into. As you see from the photo, this pizza is awesome! taste wise - on a totally a different level than what you find with the likes of Hells & Domino's. I wouldn't even put them in the same league as them. This enjoyment does come with a price 4 times as much as a large Pizza from any other place out there. Is it worth it?? - I think so! The atmosphere as I mentioned before is styled for guys - who love their pizza with their beer while watching sports. Perhaps one night a week they should have lazy boys around the store pointed towards the big screen & charge people $40 for entry which grants them pizza & beer while watching the game.. could be a nice little earner for them. From the 18″ Pizza with three guys we managed to finish off most of the Pizza, I say most as I've left the crusts behind.. but I'm told I would be disqualified if I was in the competition as you have to eat the entire pizza, crusts & all. wow.. After all that I don't think I could move an inch & would gladly sit back for the next hour & watch the sport while the food settles down.. but alas I must get back to work. I now leave you with the following thoughts; Food 4/5 - Best Pizza out - although the sight of seeing oil dripping off, is a tad bit off-putting. Service 5/5 - Friendly & courtious Price - 3/5 $24 for an 18″ Pizza or $9 for 2 Slices.. Atmosphere -5/5 - Where are my lazy boy's?! Like i said before Pizza + Beer + Sports = WIN Overall 4.5/5 - I'm calling it.. Best Pizza Place out.. Hamilton.. prepare to be blown away.. You no longer will have to put up with average pizza from other places.. But with anything this will cost you in the end.

Spent the whole day walking around. Stopped by here to rest on one of their many sofas and enjoy…read moresome food and drink. The fried chicken and salad were definitely good and crispy. I could eat another one of those salads. It gave me life and some energy to continue the walk to the top of Mt. Eden. Laid back vibe. If you need help, they'll be at the bar/counter to take your order or answer any questions.

The Southern BBQ trend continues…read more.. I'm a fan of this new venue from the boys at Brothers. The vibe is the same but It's much larger than their City Works Depot venue and is kitted out with a full brewery and an authentic Texas BBQ. They've also got a killer outdoor courtyard with festoon lights - it's reminds me heeeeaps of Rainey St in Austin (google it). As for the food, it's pretty on point. It sounds like they did a couple of research trips to the States and it totally shows. Basically you choose you meat(s), add the trimmings (collard greens, burnt end beans, mac 'n cheese, tater tots, pickles, slaw and maybe a couple of others...) and sauces (there's too many to name). It's served canteen style out of bain maries - so pretty casual. All of the meat was pretty good but the standout for me was the pastrami, which was coated in a dry spice rub and deliciously tender. The pickles were also a highlight. They do all their own pickling and they're the perfect mix of sour/salty/sweet. When we went they didn't yet have their liquor license so it was soft drinks all round. I'm looking forward to a return visit complete with a crafty brew.

Our first time to purchase takeaway from this restaurant. We were so pleased with everything we…read moreordered. The food was delicious. All of our taste buds were happy! The website was easy to use as well. That is a plus when one is visiting from another country! A+++

Boy and Bird 09/09/20140 Comments…read more Boy and Bird is the great new venture from NZ Chef Michael Van De Elzen. I thought it was brave to open an eatery with a similar concept as Bird on Wire since, also just being down the road, its up against some strong competition. I was actually pleasantly surprised of the 'chicken kitchen'. Between two of us we shared everything, but the menu is versatile for sharing or individual portions. Boy and Bird is known for serving free range chicken which has been citrus brined, spice rubbed and rotisseried. The meal options are served with slaw and chunkies, with choice of a whole, half or quarter of a chicken. What I admire is the length that is taken to offer healthier options. Whether you want white or brown meat for quarter birds and no skin can be asked upon request. Everything we had was full of flavour, very light and grease-free. Oh except the Beef Krokets ha. Although you dont leave feeling stuffed or bloated. The salad was fresh and vibrant. Its a great portion size, and although its $14 and vegetarian, the ingredients in the salad are expensive such as halloumi and quinoa, so it all adds up to its value. The Chicken brioche roll was nice but to be honest the bun itself didn't taste anything special. If we hadn't been told their purple (they use a purple potato in the dough) and steamed, I would think its a pretty ordinary roll. The beef krokets are great, as the meat is pulled which we didn't expect so they were really tender, although they looked a bit overcooked from the fryer. I was really pleased by the great waiter, he was efficient and meal checked. So tick tick. Good Job Boy and Bird - keep up the good work. Rating Food: 7.5/10 Service: 8.5/10 Value for Money: Very Good 222 Ponsonby road, Ponsonby Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-Late

Popa's pretzels is a hole-in-the-wall style snackery, offering pretzels in all varieties and…read moreflavours. It's perfect if you're hungry but just want a snack and not a full meal. They have regular pretzels, pretzels with fillings and now pretzel pies, pretzel sandwiches, hot dog pretzels and pretzel banh mi. That's a lot of different ways to serve a pretzel. On my first visit I got the cream cheese& zaatar filled pretzel and it was so good I haven't been able to bring myself to try any of the others although I have sampled the apple & cinnamon and custard & berries which were also both really tasty. It seems I only go to Popa's when I'm in a savoury mood. Next time I think I will try the marmite & cheese, that sounds good. At $4.50 for a filled pretzel it's pretty good value.

Citizen Park is like a quirky, modern, all American diner. There are glowing neon signs, gingham…read morehalf curtains across the windows, giants shelves of kitschy Americana (think football helmets and model planes) and of course, baskets full of mustard and ketchup. Maybe it's because I've just moved home from America but I absolutely love it! We came here on a Sunny Sunday arvo to catch up with friends over a few quiets. The outdoor area here is huuuge and with several long tables with bench seats it is the perfect place to catch up with a group. It must also be said they have done a great job of making the outdoor area as sheltered as possible and they even have a retractable roof for when it inevitably starts raining (this is Auckland after all!). As for the drinks, both us girls where in the mood for a refreshingly, cold beer and opted for a jar of the Monteith's Pilsner ($8). I thought the list was pretty reasonable in both price and variety although I do think they could do with a few more boutique beers on the list as opposed to the usual mass produced varieties. The boys on the other hand were nursing rather significant hangovers and were in need of a drink of the non-alcoholic variety. ASAP. They ended up settling on a Sweet Alice; a strong cup of Kokako filtered coffee with condensed milk on the side. Heaping the rather generous serving of condensed milk into their coffee both of them seemed pretty chuffed with their decision. All in all this is a very pleasant way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon and I am looking forward to coming back soon to try their rather tasty looking menu.

I came here for the first time the other night, had been meaning to, always looks so inviting, the…read morebig brass gates to the private park for citizens dining under the strings of lights. It was, I liked it, plus they have outdoor heating. Often it can be hard finding places that accommodate groups of citizens, you can here. Large tables and a menu meant for sharing (depends how close your citizen friends are), Citizen Park would be perfect. Cool bar, good enough selection of drinks, they do coffee too. Don't be shocked when you see the beer missing from the menu, it isn't on there so ask the lovely wait staff. Gluten free options are available. Based on my experience you can request variations to menu items to fit your dietary requirements. I was impressed with my salad which not only looked good but tasted amazing. Greens with thin sliced mango, cherry tomatoes, micro greens and walnuts with a vinaigrette. Friendly staff, good surroundings, indoor and outdoor seating options and a decent menu. I'll be back, with a bigger crowd.