I liked this place because I was still jet legged from coming in from America and it opened before…read moreall the other cafes! The mocha and americano we had was good as well as the scone we got! Good vibe and cute inside

Amazing food, great drinks, I suggest the wagyu burger it is amazing. I would say this is one of my…read moretop picks for getting something to eat.

We went to Mecca Devonport for brunch in the weekend, I was looking for a nice cafe that actually…read morehad a view of the water (not too many do) and this was it. We sat outside in one of the lovely spots and we quickly received our menus from the friendly waiter. I had the Vegetarian Breakfast and my husband had the Home-made Venison Burger, we were both very satisfied with our meals. The cafe has a European feel and I had the feeling I was somewhere in France or Italy - I was dreaming about it anyway. I would definitely recommend this cafe and will be back again.

Excellent food that is worth the wait (it took approximately 30 minutes for the food to come, after…read moreordering). Every item on every plate was delicious - my family and I had the lamb shoulder (which had a large portion of meat), the catch of the day, the chicken liver entrée/ appetizer, and the bouillabaisse (fish stew). The wait staff was not highly attentive, however - one male server chatted with someone at the bar instead of checking up on us. We had to work hard to get his attention to get the cheque/ bill.

My next stop on a day exploring Devonport was out of being hungry and thankfully I found Manuka…read moreRestaurant at the right time. A cute and cozy cafe on a corner, it fit in so well with the other businesses nearby. A chalkboard sign of the specials caught my eye and it was settled. The interior is exposed brick and wood floors. Restrooms are to the back near the kitchen and clean. The staff was immediately welcoming and very attentive through my visit. I had a pilsner beer and the special chicken pie with salad - one thing I absolutely love about New Zealand is the fresh produce and vegetables, everything has amazing flavor. There were many happy groups, talking and enjoying the sunshine on that day; I loved the big windows overlooking the street and people walking by. Prices were reasonable for the super flavorful food. They had a dessert counter but I left without caving to any of those. If you're exploring Devonport, it's worth eating here.

The food is good there, I love the desserts many of there mains are very nice but I'm not sure…read moreabout the burgers.

I had the opportunity to eat dinner here twice while staying at the Hilton, and both were…read morephenomenal experiences. First of all, the ambiance is spectacular, with gorgeous views of the harbor. My first night, dozens of sailboats were out, singly and in groups. The staff was welcoming - a sense of formality, but not pretentiously so. The first night, I had the Signature West Coast Whitebait Fritter, Kūmara Fries, and Mango and Mānuka Honey Cheesecake. The second night, I had the Signature Mediterranean Crab Cakes and the Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon. All were wonderful. The small plates were the Whitebait Fritter and the Crab Cakes. New Zealand Whitebait is a real delicacy, and they were perfectly cooked in what would better be described as a thin omelette rather than a fritter, topped with a deliciously rich buerre blanc and fried capers. Stunning! The Crab Cakes were served with a crayfish lemon mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar. Quite tasty with a nice crunch - use the lemon, it really helps bring out the flavor. Of the two, I would recommend the Whitebait Fritter hands down. It's something I will remember. I got the Kūmara Fries (New Zealand's sweet potato) as a side, and they are delicious. Coated with some parmesan cheese and served with black garlic mayo! So good. And it's a large serving - from looking around, all of their sides are designed for more than one person. That said, I did a pretty good job with the fries by myself. The Herb Crusted Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is another New Zealand-centric dish. The dish is exquisite and overwhelming. The salmon itself was perfection - perfectly cooked and rich in flavor. Then add the delicious pickled fennel, the red capsicum marmalade, the horseradish cream, herb oil, and the saltiness of fish roe? Explosions in your mouth. The Mango and Manuka Honey Cheesecake was rich and delicious with a nice crust. They also had a nice selection of New Zealand beers, wines, and liquors.

I'm staying the the Hilton and a long day of touring I decided to stay and eat at Fish. Positives:…read more I wanted to try the lamb in New Zealand. In the US, it's iffy and I've had some great lamb and some not so good. The lamb cutlets here was delicious. Not regretting eating the lamb here vs. some other place. The manager took my order and prompted me to order a side dish. I hesitated since I wasn't starving and the lamb came with some vegetables. Still he recommended the Greek salad. Yes, a weird recommendation. While it was good to have the acidic salad to cut the richness of the lamb, it was too much food and I wasted most of it. Also, as a solo diner, I wasted most put in the sauce of the restaurant that had a great view of the outside walkway instead of the other side that had views of the harbor. Maybe that was kept for romantic partners since I also noticed they had candles on their table. It was a nice restaurant but I wish I had the better side. Had to take a star off for that.

What a wonderful dinner experience! Visiting from the US and wanted to splurge on one nice night…read moreout to celebrate Valentine's/Anniversary/Boyfriend's birthday in one swing, and this was perfect. As strangers to fine dining, we found the servers to be welcoming and kind and more than happy to explain the menu and ingredients of the dishes. We each got the Chef's Tasting Menu and were treated to 7 small courses that left us more than stuffed and extremely satisfied. The service and food was perfection and with only 11 tables it was incredibly cozy and intimate. Money well spent!

Some perspective, have been coming to O'Connell Street Bistro for many a year now. This was a…read morereturn visit after a number of years living overseas. The food is a real delight, rich complex flavors and beautifully prepared. To be honest I think what brings them down is that they rest a little too much on their past successes and awards. The service is stiff and stand'offish. We tried a number of times to start a conversation and just got stared at blankly. It got to the point it was uncomfortable. I have seen managements responses on another review site to this sort of feedback and they are not accepting of it in any way. A very sad return for us. It has lost something along the many years of success and should look carefully at how it can bring that real warmth of personality back into play.

Absolutely positively outstanding! I'm not a fan of buffets but this restaurant is superb! I ate…read morebreakfast and lunch there on two different days. They have a huge selection of meats, seafood, vegetables, salads, Indian food, sushi and sashimi, so many desserts with both white and dark chocolate fondue machines. I tried everything that I could. I enjoyed a pot of hot tea with my meals. Their staff was very friendly and accommodating with anything that you need. I highly recommend eating here when in the area of the Cordis Hotel or guest of the hotel.

We had breakfast. Lots of choices and everything was nicely displayed and very clean. We enjoyed…read moreit. It is nicer than typical hotel restaurants.

My husband and I chose Auckland for our milestone anniversary celebration trip coupled with a…read moredinner degustation meal at The Grove. We opted for the 8 course (no drink pairing) and were absolutely wowed. Coming from the US, we didn't know what it meant to start a meal with "snacks" - this included venison roasted on natural charcoal with pine dusting, pacific coast oysters, large clam shells with a mouthwatering soup, and another whose name escapes me shaped like star anise. This was just how the meal began, the it was a journey through the flavors, textures, smell, and tastes of New Zealand, my favorite being the horse mussel. We ended the meal (after 2.5 hours) with dessert snacks of various textures and flavors. I was beyond stuffed and impressed. I was also surprised that we had to pay for our meal where we checked in and weren't given a bill or check. In the US, one rarely leaves the table without paying, but the trust and care shown to customers is unparalleled. As my husband and I were heading out, the owner, Michael who knew we were Americans, wished us a Happy Thanksgiving and shared that his wife had prepared pumpkin pie at his other restaurant in honor of the holiday, if we were interested. So kind. So full - both stomachs and hearts. Please visit if you're in the area.

One of my favorite places in Auckland for a fine dining experience. The dishes were great as was…read morethe service and wine pairing. In particular, the dishes were beautifully presented and not heavy, which was key for a tasting menu. For anyone looking for a high-end meal in Auckland, this would be my first recommendation.

Absolutely amazing doesn't cut it. I've been to Michelin star restaurants all over the world. The…read morefood here is superior. The cocktails are sublime. I would, and will, fly back from America just to eat here again. By far the best lamb and duck we have ever eaten. Bloody well done.

We went here for our last "splurge" date night after a 2 week stay in New Zealand. Scallops and…read morefresh Bluff oysters were great starters. For our mains we got the Hawkes Bay lamb and 600g Bone-in steak. Sides were "fancy" potatoes and green beans. Food was excellent as they were all fresh, delicious and garnished with exotic ingredients. The only caveat for me was the service. There were times throughout the evening where I felt our servers forgot about us. Our main server didn't check up on us and even ask us how we were doing or if our steak was cooked correctly. The clincher was when they dropped the check- I immediately put my credit card in their check presenter indicating we were ready to go but the waiter again disappeared and it didn't get processed until another waitress came by to service the table next to us and noticed it that she picked it up nearly twenty-five minutes later! The food alone was good enough for me to recommend One Tree Grill to others who don't mind paying a little more for the great grub you'll get here. I just hope you get better service than we did.

I was surprised by my husband with a date for two and a six course degustation menu at Mikano. How…read moreexciting I thought, but how am I going to be able to eat six courses I thought. I arrived to a very unique restaurant location, right alongside a helicopter landing pad, where they search and rescue along the coast, as well as a very busy Auckland port, with containers being transported in and out. I liked the go and energy of the outside, and knew that what I was arriving at was going to dramatically contrast that. The interior was a complete contrast to the exterior as I had thought, and a immaculate staircase to a door that opened into a reception area that overlooked a very large dining space. Large ceilings and beautiful glass lighting pieces, highlighted an elegant room, with the kitchen up a bit higher overlooking the dining room. The floor to ceiling glass windows allowed for dreamlike gazing at the waterfront and also the busy port. So the highlight of my six course meal was that every piece that we were served also was accompanied by its very own wine, picked to compliment the food, and even when we got to the dessert, this was paired with a dark beer. I loved the french onion soup served in a miniature soup ramekin with lid, and served with the sweetest pieces of croutons I have ever laid eyes upon, the flavour was so memorable. I also really enjoyed the Yorkshire beef pie, also a petite form, but so perfect in every way. Honestly, I could rave about each and every one of the pieces we devoured in this visit. Simply put, the chefs know there food, they enjoy cooking a classy and traditionally inspired dish, and with the great attentive staff to add, its a win!

I'll start by saying the food was great - delicious, cooked perfectly and well presented…read more On the converse side, it took me two days to get anyone to answer the phone and take my booking. The front desk staff were pre-occupied and not particularly welcoming. Our waiter was clearly young, nervous and inexperienced - having said that it was a Wednesday. Would I eat there again? Maybe, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

The Floating Pavillion is an event space which literally floats just off the Hobson West Marina in…read morethe Viaduct - you walk along the waterfront towards Te Wero Island/the Wynyard Crossing and the pavillion is the floating grey building on the left. It's aimed at the business launch/wedding/ball crowd, so it's well kitted out to deal with a crowd of around 300. There's two levels so space for sit down dinners on the ground floor, as well as a large dance floor up top. For our inaugural UoA Architecture/Planning ball we hired out the Floating Pavillion, and can report the night went off without a hitch - food wasn't amazing, but the space was perfectly sized and well kitted out for the occasion.

This place right here it the place to have all your events, from your wedding to your engagement…read moreparty, a meeting or even a birthday party. Everything you need is there, all you have to do is call the business, arrange a tour then let them know exactly what you want. After that you can either send them pictures of your ideas or just leave it to them and their creativity. It is a great place for any events as it is located on the waterfront, guaranteeing great views and amazing pictures to upload on to instagram hash tagging aboutthatlife!