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.

Very good food! I found them in the Air New Zealand in-flight magazine and the hunt-to-table story…read moreintrigued me. Very meat focussed menu, but everything was done really well and with very comfortable portions (I feared heaping piles of meat lol ). I would definitely recommend this place. It is in a restaurant-lined street as well, so there is a lot to explore if I had more time in Auckland.

Amazing pies at the deli. People were super nice and friendly. Ultimate Kiwi service!…read more Cute little venue.

Highly recommend! This place is rocking and is the place to go…read more Food was excellent! Staff was friendly. You order at the counter and they bring your order at your table. They buss the table after you eat. Ambiance was good. Lots of people so expect lots of chatter.

I was wandering in Newmarket and stumbled upon this Selera by chance. The restaurant was packed…read morewith all the tables occupied inside and out but I got lucky because someone was finishing up. I ordered nasi lemak for myself and a laksa soup noodle with fish collars. Both dishes were superb and taste exactly like what you'd get in Malaysia. The laksa soup was so comforting during cold days, like when I was in Auckland when they had their crazy rain storms. The food came out pretty quickly and the service was good. Overall a great place to have a Malaysian meal in the area.

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.

I enjoyed dinner here. It was Friday night and I hadn't booked, but I was early enough to get a…read moretable. Service is lovely. I enjoyed Calamari Salad for entree - that was delicious. Beautiful flavours, good balance, nicely presented and delicious. The pistachios give a really nice texture. My main course was grilled Hapuka fish. That was good too, with broccolini - very nice, I swapped the kumara for a side salad. It came super quickly which was a little irritating, but better than waiting ages for it. To be fair, I had told the service staff that I was starving, so fair enough. Overall, it was all good - I would definitely come back, thank you.

A few nights ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to dine at Aria Restaurant, where we tried 12…read moredifferent dishes off their new winter menu. I was super excited, not only because I always enjoy a foodie night out, but because I have walked past Crowne Plaza many times, but have never ventured in, so it was a real surprise! Upon arrival, I first noticed how large the restaurant was. It was fairly quiet for a Wednesday evening, but in a way, it was nice having the restaurant to ourselves! The ambience was warm and inviting and the seating very comfortable. The new winter menu offers an amazing choice of dishes, from seafood to meat to vegetarian meals. For starters, we were served the following: - Hot Smoked Akaroa Salmon with cauliflower and roasted beetroot (a perfect start to the evening); - Pan Seared Scallops with braised lentils and cherry tomatoes (the scallops cooked perfectly); - Shiitake, Button and Portobello Mushroom Salad (not a huge fan, but my other dining companions loved it); - Sweet Potato Tortellini with spinach, burnt butter and shaved parmesan (very flavoursome, especially with the burnt butter); and the - Pork and Beetroot Risotto with French goats cheese (my favourite). All the starters were beautifully presented; hence all the cameras came out at the table (I instantly felt right at home!). I particularly enjoyed the smoked salmon and the pan seared scallops, which were perfectly cooked. However, the pork (wrapped in prosciutto - heaven) was the dish that stood out the most. Sitting on a bed of dark red risotto, it was truly divine. The goats cheese also gave it that extra wow factor - creamy and delicious. We were then served four mains, which again were all well-presented and included: - Confit Duck with roasted pineapple, red curry and basmati rice (the pineapple made it sweet and the curry rich and creamy); - Lamb Shanks with cannellini bean puree and silver beet (the lamb was perfectly cooked); - Pork Cutlets with mushrooms and potato gnocchi (very tasty and I loved the addition of the gnocchi); and the - Pumpkin and Buckwheat Salad with onions, Brazil nuts and cherry tomatoes (I didn't try this dish because I loathe pumpkin, but my other dining companions said it was excellent). What I liked most about the mains were the excellent portion sizes. For example, it was nice to see two lamb shanks on the plate! Also the meals were quite filling, so well worth the money. My favourite main dish was definitely the lamb shanks - the meat was falling off the bone and it was incredibly tender! I also loved the addition of silver beet, which is not something I see often on a menu. And last but not least, dessert. Having heard great things about their Hazelnut Dacquoise (served with salted caramel, chocolate cream, smoked praline and berry sorbet), I was all set on ordering that. However, we ended up trying three desserts. Thank goodness because the Chocolate Melting Pot (made with dark Belgian chocolate) and the Black Doris Plum Tart were melt in your mouth! I couldn't decide on my favourite dessert, but I loved the berry sorbet (as part of the Hazelnut Dacquoise), as well as the Chocolate Melting Pot - oozing with chocolate goodness! I would love to re-create this at home! Also highly recommend the Black Doris Tart. I wouldn't normally order something like this off a menu, because, well, it isn't chocolate! However, it had wonderful textures - the plums were juicy, the pistachios gave it nice crunch and the crème anglaise was rich and delicious! As well as the amazing food, I thought the service was consistently great throughout the whole evening. Our water and wine glasses were always topped up - for the wine, we were always asked politely if we wanted more or not. The waiters were also friendly and I couldn't have asked for better service. Overall, it was a great dining experience for a hotel restaurant and definitely exceeded my expectations, with perfect company, wine and beautiful dishes. I will definitely be bringing my family and friends here - it was faultless.

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.

John and Rita Lim are the proprietors of this 11 year old establishment. Originally from Malaysia,…read moretheir restaurant has been a staple for Malaysian food in Auckland. The restaurant is typically Malaysian family style and therefore, each dish is sizable and is meant to be shared. Both John and Rita are very personable and it shows in the restaurant's efficient and friendly service. Being new to the area, Rita was quick to recommend the XO Chicken (of which she explains, stands for "extra ordinary"!), and Assam Prawns. I also added some curry puffs and an order of Mee Goreng. The food was very tasty and the portions were huge! We had it for dinner and breakfast/lunch the next day! In all, it was lots of fun having a chat with them, learning about the food, their restaurant and up coming holiday. Perhaps, I'll see you in Hawaii.

Great restaurant!! Everything was delicious. The roti canai was a hit! Curry was delicious and…read morenaan was fresh and flaky. The XO chicken was amazing and extremely full of flavor - be careful for bones though. Would love to try the XO shrimp next time. The house spicy noodle was amazing as well. Their portions are pretty big so it's best to go with a large party to taste a little bit of everything. They serve hot tea which helps with the heaviness of the food. Great food overall. Think I'll go back when I'm in New Zealand again! BYO alcohol btw!

We visited this winery as part of a wine tour. It was beautiful. The owners clearly have a passion…read morefor Spain and have brought a piece of the country to New Zealand. The glass house provided beautiful scenes of the rows of grapes and the colorful mosaics. The tasting was well done. Our wines were poured and waiting for us. The wine came with a small bite to eat as a way of experiencing both their delicious food and flavorful wines together. We tried two whites and three reds, including a sweet port style. Our wine guide was well versed in the history of the place as well as the nuances of each wine. The Miro was my fav. Great stop.

Absolutely YES!! Yes I will return. My taxi driver highly recommended this place & we were so happy…read moreshe did !! Everything about it was 10 stars. From the staff, the food, the drinks, the ambiance. I'll post a few pictures so you can see for yourself. A place I would Definitely go back to !