Really wonderful food. I was impressed. The snapper was delicious, the roasted corn it was…read moreresting on was sweet n flavorful w a hint of spice that I loved. The grilled focaccia was delicious! And the martini w passion fruit--excellent. I sat in this little alleyway w 3-4 tables. Nice sea breeze. Go to this restaurant. You will enjoy it!

Convenient, easy location to find with a cozy interior…read more Service was amazing. Waiter was very helpful when I asked questions about dishes and when I ordered something, he made sure I knew what I was ordering. I ordered the Short Rib Agnolotti.. Think of a really soft piece of short rib in a pasta shell, very similar to ravioli. We also ordered the bruschetta, spaghetti, and risotto and those options are also really great, but that Agnolotti was the star of the show. Keep in mind, this is a pre COVID-19 review and I still cannot get over how delicious this meal was. I absolutely cannot wait to go back and introduce more friends to the best pasta of my life.

If you want to have authentic Greek food in Auckland then Niko's Pizza on the North Shore is…read moreperfect for this occasion. Located on Anzac Street a short walk from the busy Hurstmere road, is this awesome eatery that brings you tasty Greek food with flair. The happy and charming Niko was at hand for my first ever experience, full of laughter and entertainment. As my partner and I were the only inside diners that evening, he recommended a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir which was accepted. I really wanted to try the Greek Special Pizza- and accompanied by a Greek salad- I was happy to sit, and sip wine and eat pizza for a while. I felt like I could have been back in Greece, I was surrounded by Greek food, music, decor, and great service. I had to try the Kataifi for dessert and this recipe I was told came directly via Athens. A delicious Greek pastry filled with almonds, walnuts and pistachio. Just divine. I know there are not many places in Auckland like Niko's Pizza, you have genuine service from the owner, and you can sense his passion for what he does and the love of his home country.

I almost gave Niko's four stars because the owner (Niko maybe?) is so lovely but at the end of the…read moreday their pizza isn't amazing and it's quite expensive ($25 for a plain Napoletana) given the quality of the ingredients and the size of the pizzas. Don't get me wrong the pizzas are tasty - super thin crust with liberally applied, fresh ingredients but my Napoletana had way too much Oregano (which was dried, not fresh) and not enough basil pesto. Plus when we called to order our takeouts we got the answering machine, which told us to leave a message with our order but when we called back 15mins later to confirm they say they never got it. Plus we wanted delivery and they simply said they weren't doing delivery tonight. Perhaps it was too busy, it was a Friday after all! Judging by the wait time and how busy the restaurant was when we picked up our pizzas at 9:45pm, it's clear that Niko's is a local favourite but for me, i'd rather make the hike across the bridge to Dante's or Toto's!

Truffle Spaghetti was so delicious & the garlic pizza bread absolutely gorgeous…read more Used to eat here a lot, so glad I returned. Quick service time .

Good, quick and affordable Italian food…read more I had the chicken fettuccine and other than it being slightly overcooked it was quite good. The service is quick and the staff are friendly. All in all a pretty solid experience.

Went there for dinner during weekday/public holiday. Great atmosphere and semi-dark yellow lighting…read moremade the place feel more cozy and candle-light vibe. Clean layout, great staff and prompt service. I ordered crisph pork belly from the main and it was delicious. Great portion, very crispy skin and tender/tasty pork. Perfectly cooked. My friends have spaghetti bolognese as main and the portion size is very substantial and meaty. Recommend this if you are craving for simple italian tomato based spaghetti. Main size was so substantial and delicious, forgot to leave some space for dessert. Waiter also mentioned, every monday, they do $10 pasta special, so you can get main size pasta for $10. If you are after bargain and same time decent meal, check this place as trial on monday~

Spaghetti bolognaise was too dry no sauce what so ever. I hope the chef reads my reviewread more

Our party enjoyed attentive service and superlative food. I had the pan-roasted snapper, as did a…read morefriend, and both dishes were beautifully cooked and presented. My only gripe is that the new courtyard lacks the rustic charm of its predecessor. I especially miss the water feature.

Excellent food and service. Cute place right on the main strip in Parnell. We had some sandwiches…read moreand a beer and just enjoyed relaxing in a comfortable setting with good friends. The sandwiches were absolutely fantastic! Next time I'm in the area, despite all the other great looking places to try, I'm returning here!

Casa Tua is a thriving Italian restaurant in the main Farm Cove shops - it's pretty much the life…read moreof this little group of shops that otherwise consists of a dairy, a fish and chip shop, a bottle store, and a dress shop. Casa Tua recently expanded to take over the area where the pharmacy previously was, and the business always seems to be booming. It's a popular place for larger groups and has a lively, noisy atmosphere. I've only ever had takeaways from here, which was pizza, and I can't say it was amazing. On the other hand, it was about a million times better than most takeaway pizza places. It's about on par with Hell I reckon, although completely different - Casa Tua offers a much more traditional, thinner based pizza, with a more conservative range of toppings. There's nothing better than simple food done well, but still, I was a little underwhelmed. I'd still be keen to check it out for a dine-in experience though.

Our party of four enjoyed a fantastic meal at this local authentic Italian restaurant…read more There's an extensive menu with all the Italian favourite you'd expect to see. Pizza of course - the proper Italian kind with the crispy thin base and simple toppings. Rich delicious sounding ragu but we couldn't go past the authentic chicken masala with its rich creamy slightly sweet sauce and the crispy pork belly served on a medley of farm cut roasted vegetables. The servings are generous but not enormous. The food was tasty and delicious and our waitress was delightful and attentive. The atmosphere is vibrant and buzzing if perhaps a little noisy, but it's an authentic experience and one which I intend to repeat!

Orphan's Kitchen was really good and a great way to see Ponsonby during our time in Auckland…read more Thanks to our friend, Mark, that recommended that place to us. There were interesting options on the menu that I've never tried before. I ordered fried eggs with kumara tortilla, sauerkraut and chili. My husband ordered soft boiled eggs with meyer lemon, anchovies and a side of hash browns. He was equally pleased. The service was prompt. I highly recommend making an advanced booking if you can. Even though we booked in advance, the restaurant was already full with a Saturday 8:30am resy. The ambiance was also very cozy. There was a back patio and upstairs that were closed off, I believe due to the rain but I could only imagine how much more enjoyable it would be on a sunny day. Thankful for our friend's recommendation. Must stop in for brekkie or lunch when in Ponsenby.

A tiny little spot for breakfast or coffee, serving delightful toasts topped with everything from…read moresautéed mixed greens (my fav) to bolognese to peanut butters and jams. The coffees are top notch, but note there is whole milk or non-dairy options (but no trim milk). Ambiance is casual and mostly high top seating.

When you are around Takapuna area and have no idea what to have for dinner, then Botticelli is a…read morenice option. As an Italian food-holic, I must say that this won't let you down except you should possess great patience while waiting for your food to come. Just sit down, have a sip of some Prosecco or Peroni, set your nerve at ease. If you are starving, then better not come here. From the entree to Pasta and Pizza, even the main course, all the items on the menu is quite Italian. Calamari with veggie salad is delightful to start, something chewy by the tongue, something not too guilty for your stomach. As for the pasta, which is what we are here looking for, I always choose the basic but classic one-Spaghetti Bolognese. Dense flavor from the beef mince, combined nicely with tomato sauce with a bit of Parmesan cheese and parsley, just hearty on both the taste bud and mind. It warms you up! And what is more, Fettuccine alla panna is a choice never go wrong. Smoked bacon, mushroom, cream... That's the rule of being delicious. Al dente is for the fettuccine, savory is for the sauce, homey&simple is for the whole plate. Well, Tiramisu is just left for next time's imagination, and Pizza Margarita as well. Or maybe try every pasta on the menu. Just wish next time they put on some proper music for the scenery. It will be more helpful for the ambience.

I have been dying for some good traditional pasta for ages! And this place does not disappoint…read more Service was so quick and the pasta was so fresh and well cooked. The scallops were cooked perfectly in the seafood pasta and the pasta sauces were so unique from each other!! Will definitely be coming back!