I absolutely love a good Poke Bowl…read more Poke is the Hawaiian word 'to slice' and is essentially a raw fish salad. It consists of raw marinated fish (like tuna or salmon) and is often served by itself, but also on sushi rice with vegetables. Many Poke eateries have been popping up around Auckland recently, so I thought I would go out and try a few, and also share with you my favourite one - Poke Poke in Newmarket. Here are five reasons why I love Poke Poke and why you should visit pronto. 1. The Poke! All of Poke Poke's ingredients and sauces are prepared in-house and taste delicious, fresh, and healthy, plus you will feel great after eating. There are two options available - you can choose from their 'Poke Poke Bowls with Purpose' menu or build your own poke bowl. Do the latter as it is more fun! Here is a lowdown on how to customise your own: Step 1: Base: Offerings include white rice, purple rice and salad or choose to have half and half. I usually go with half purple rice and half salad. I absolutely love the purple rice as it is high in fibre and packed with antioxidants. Step 2: Protein: If you choose the $13.90 poke bowl, you get to choose two proteins. If you choose the $15.90 poke bowl, you get to choose three proteins. If you are want a huge bowl, you can add an extra scoop of protein for $3. I usually go with the $13.90 bowl as this is enough to pleasantly fill me up. They offer many proteins which include sashimi-grade tuna and salmon, plus prawns, sous vide chicken, organic tofu and a seasonal special - on most occasions this has been squid. Step 3: Toppings: I love that Poke Poke's toppings are super fresh and colourful. Toppings include spring onion, cucumber, edamame beans, seaweed salad, seasonal fruit (love the pineapple!), Japanese pickles, surimi crab salad, pickled ginger, plus the following at an extra price: scallops, masago (roe of capelin fish), avocado or mushroom salad. You can choose as many toppings as you want. Step 4: Sauces: Finally, pick a sauce... which can only be one, so choose wisely! My favourite is the Korean gochujang sauce (which I always overdose on when eating bibimbap), but they also offer shoyu, ginger miso, sriracha aioli, kimchi aioli, wasabi mayo, lemon yuzu mayo, beetroot mayo and toasted sesame kewpie. You can also add garnishes to top it off. Lastly, choose to eat in or get takeaway. If you can, eat in, as I find the serving size is more generous and there is plenty of seating available (see below). 2. The fact that they are open for dinner: How many places can you think of that are open for dinner Monday to Saturday in Newmarket, serving possibly the healthiest meal? I love that Poke Poke is open until 8pm six days a week. I often go to Event Cinemas on Broadway, and on one occasion, a group of us had dinner at Poke Poke before watching a film. It is a great place to have dinner, as you know you are getting a healthy, delicious and affordable meal. While they do not have a liquor license, they serve a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages (see below), plus we took a beer into the cinema anyway, so no worries there! 3. The Decor and Layout: Walking in, the space is clean and light. The design is minimalist, with white washed and tiled walls, hanging plants and modern lights. I love the life-size print of the orange Combi van and a blue neon sign with the words 'What good shall I do this day?'. There is also plenty of seating - wooden bar stools and tables at the front, a long table plus couch seating at the back which is perfect if you are dining in a group of more than two. 4. The Drinks: Do not even think about sitting down without ordering a cup of their miso soup. At $2, it is super cheap and goes perfectly with your poke bowl. There is also a wide range of drinks to suit everyone's tastes, including green tea (also $2), Karma Cola drinks, organic kombucha, organic juices, coconut water and bottled water. 5. The Location: Situated on Remuera Road, Poke Poke is in a prime location. It is right opposite Newmarket Train Station (so easy to get to if you are coming from the city), there is a bus stop right outside and loads of street parking nearby. It is also close to Nuffield Street and the many shops on Broadway, so it is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner after a morning/afternoon of shopping. If you are looking for a healthy, delicious and good for the 'gram meal, plus welcoming and friendly staff, then no doubt you will be dreaming daily about your next visit to Poke Poke.

Beautiful and affordable. If you are eating a veggie meal you don't need to add any protein and can…read moreget edamame (instead of tofu) and it's $10.99. Really fresh food!

This casual and airy cafe with a Beach vibe serves up some amazing curated menu items that are…read moreanything but causal and simple. With vegan and gluten feee options, this was a great spot for lunch. We tried their tacos for lunch and I have to say it was one of the best vegan and gluten free tacos ever hands down! The tortilla was soft yet crispy with a beet hummus done to perfection with every texture imaginable from crispy chickpeas to the beet chips and the softness from the hummus and slight spiciness. The dish when plated looks like it belongs in an upscale Michelin style restaurant. This place packs a ton of flavor! We also shared their hand cut fries which were large and satisfying. They have the feel of potato skins with the crunchy exterior and a soft and supple interior and the taste is unbelievably satisfying when dipped into the spicy aioli that accompanies it or just plain ketchup if that's your jam. The chicken tacos were also pretty dense and crunchy and fried to perfection. The sauce is sweet and tangy and makes for a filling lunch! This place is a must try for sure! Service is also superb and everything comes up in a timely fashion and fast! Staff is very aware of dietary restrictions which is very helpful!

Finally came to try this place! It's a great place for team lunch or friends catch up or even…read morebusiness meeting in my view, very spacious and location on Nuffield street in the heart of Newmarket , I would not hesitate to come for a coffee or lunch after shopping near by. Had the 2 taco lunches , as you can see from my photo... looking very fresh and delicious, they are very good indeed! Don't go pass on the soda, they are my favorite sodas...This is the best cafe on Nuffield I reckon.

Ate at Archie's twice in a row and found the food excellant. Pasta the first night and pizza the…read morenext. I can see why the reviews are so good. Manager is friendly and attentive to customers. Highly recommend this place.

The service and staff are wonderful, small quaint place with absolutely divine food. They did not…read morehave the ingredients to fix a drink that I wanted. They went out to the store and purchased them in May. The tree just perfect. The owner is very helpful and nice.

Came in for lunch for their lunch special $13.50 for calamari. Which was very nice!! The only…read morecomments I have are as follows. Service was alright even though it was quiet. They were pleasant and friendly. The food as mentioned was very nice. However value for money. Questionable. 3 pieces of calamari with a large portion of rocket salad. Would of expected 6 pieces for that value. More like an entrée than a main.

This is one of my favourite places in Newmarket. Often I come here for late night caffeine fixes as…read morethey are open until late (the only place to get Allpress at 9:30pm) though I have been for breakfast and dinner. Being a carb fiend I really enjoy the bruschetta and the pizzas here but there is a great selection of food available on the menu and on Sunday nights they have an Albanian barbeque for $20 a head if that's your thing. The food is fantastic here, the staff are very attentive and you don't have to wait long for anything, plus they have free wifi! On a sunny day you can ditch the indoors for an seat outside on the tree lined sidewalk which is a really nice way to spend an afternoon or evening.

Aaaaaaaand I'm back! With a foodie review this time!!…read more Lemme just say this first, their flat white is superb!! Well, for my taste anyways, I like smooth mild coffee with aroma :) Came with another friend this time, ordered some simple lunch, an Aubergine Panini and Chicken Filo, tried both, loved both. They're definitely up to standard, not your average café food. Is it just me or have they gotten better?! I'd be satisfied with this quality at a fine dining restaurant! You know how most café side salads are just too horrible to even try? ( I know I'm picky) this is not the case! I actually enjoyed it!! Well worth the money and experience!! If you're coming by Newmarket, this would be the café I recommend!!

Bambina Newmarket was looking amazing on Sunday afternoon. The interior was clean and simple with a…read moregreat wide space. I started with the Bruschetta which had tomato, avocado, basil and bocconcini (small mozzarella cheese balls) which was absolutely delicious. The bread was crispy and bocconcini so fresh and soft! Prawns in prawn risotto ($21.50) were huge and tangy and the seasoning was perfect. Mediterranean eggs with bacon ($15.5) was average while Rare grilled tuna salad ($20.5) was slightly too bland. I didn't try the Grilled salmon ($20.5) but everyone else seemed to enjoy that dish. We also tried the Muesli which was the chef's special. This was the first time I've actually tried a muesli and it was amazing. Fruit toppings (a generous amount of grapes, strawberry and blueberry) went well with the soya milk and yes, I will come back here to have more of this. What was extremely surprising was how delicious their ice mocha was! It was blended with an ice cream so had a very thick texture which was enjoyable. Also the bread that came with salads was absolutely crispy and fresh - I could have eaten the whole thing.

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.

Revive is one of my favourite lunch places in Auckland's CBD. I have been coming here for about…read morefive years now and I love their delicious vegetarian salads, dahl, curries, soups and many other dishes! Here is a taste of what you might find on their menu: - Revive Raw Salad with beetroot, carrot and mint - Israeli Couscous with pumpkin, homemade aioli and green beans (I am not a pumpkin fan, but this salad makes it surprisingly taste good!) - Moroccan tagine with chickpeas on brown rice - Leek and feta frittata with potato and free range eggs - Mexican 'not chicken' and bean stew on brown rice... and so much more! Revive also sells smoothies and great lunch box snacks which you can purchase at the counter - their bliss balls are moorish! And, if you fancy recreating Revive's dishes at home, the owner, Jeremy Dixon, has released five cookbooks, which you can purchase in most stores or on Revive's online website. Note: They now have new eco-friendly packaging, which is used for dine in and take out (see picture). Also, if you sign up to Revive's newsletter, you will receive a recipe each week, great tips for living a healthy lifestyle and printable $4 off vouchers - bonus!!!

Best healthy choice restaurant in the CBD (central business district)! I was visiting for 2 weeks…read morefrom the US and could not seem to find a healthy mixed green salad for lunch anywhere. Also seemed difficult to find steamed or sauted mixed veggies either. I am not a vegan but decided to search vegan restaurants in the CBD. Revive came up so I tried it. Wow, they can make roasted and sauted veggies taste fantastic with the different spices and seasonings and dressings they use. Daily offering of 4-6 cold salad choices, 2 hot dishes (curries or stews) and soup. I went several times once I found them. I definitely recommend them!

Cute little French restaurant. I lived there decor. The server was super nice and really wanted to…read moremake sure our meal was perfect. I would highly recommend this cute little gem in Auckland, NZ by the university.

We were out walking looking for a place for dinner on a Friday night, and were pleased that our…read morepath took us here. We ordered 2 different savory crepes, which were delicious and reminded us of the crepes we have enjoyed in France. We enjoyed cider, who is available sweet or dry, served in stemless bowls. For dessert we shared a Martinique crepe, delicious! A lovely meal with excellent service.

I first tried Tasca at the end of last year when we had a staff function. We tried most of the…read moretapas (my favourite being the patatas bravas) and had a buffet set up complete with paellas, salads and Turkish Pide bread. It was a great night - the restaurant had a lovely ambience, the service was good and most importantly, the food was delicious!!! So delicious that I really wanted to come back and try their lunch menu. When a recent Grabone deal popped up, it was the perfect opportunity! I booked a table for two ahead of time and I'm so glad I did! We arrived at 1pm on a beautiful sunny Saturday and the place was absolutely packed! Our table was right by the huge windows that open out onto Nuffield Street. They have ample seating, with a great indoor/outdoor flow and it definitely felt like we were in a European city - such a cool vibe! We ordered a Mojito ($14.50), the Mussels ($18.50) and the Moorish Eggs with Turkish Pide Bread ($17.50). The mojito was very refreshing on the hot summers day and instead of being overly sweet, it was minty and had a good amount of lime in it. My Mum had the mussels and she thoroughly enjoyed them - the flavours were a perfect balance of garlic, chilli and lemon. The Moorish eggs were delicious as well. After seeing many Instagram photos of the Moorish eggs, I just knew I had to order them! At $17.50, one would think it is too steep, but it was actually very filling! The dish consists of 3 eggs and 6 meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, plus Turkish Pide bread on the side. It was very yummy and it would make a great comfort meal in the winter! The service was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Highly recommend Tasca - it's a great place for all occasions whether it be a function, a birthday, a date night or best of all, a lazy Sunday afternoon!

We have our book club here every month . Such incredible good service and hospitality…read more Great menu and excellent cocktails .scallops perfectly cooked. Hadn't been for a while before joining and was like coming home.

After our hike on Mount Eden, we went to the Garden Shed for lunch as they offered gluten free…read moreoptions. I had the "creamy mushrooms" (garlic butter mushrooms, cream, toasted sourdough) and my sister and husband had burgers. My mushrooms on toast were delicious, but my sister and husband didn't think the burger was anything special, especially not for nearly $30. (The food was very expensive!) I did love the decor and ambiance though. The restaurant had a covered seating area that was bright and full of plants, and made you feel as if you were in a plant nursery, or, a garden shed. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023]

@thegardenshednz is the most perfect place to celebrate all your important moments and events we…read morecelebrated a family engagement here this past month and this place is just WOW the atmosphere makes you literally feel like you're in a garden the staff is the sweetest, and go above and beyond food was absolutely stunning it is a closed space, so rain or shine , the location is perfect definitely a place to check out in the future for your events or just for some drinks and dinner with your friends #gardenshed #engagementparties #cocktails #mocktails #drinksdrinksdrinks #nztravel #nzfood #aucklandeats #aucklandcity #newzealandfinds #newzealandguide #aucklandfoodie #foodandtravel #travelingtheworld #travelinggram #foodstagram