Live jazz & BBQ is one of my all time favourites combos but until recently there wasn't really…read moreanywhere in Auckland doing both on a nightly basis... that was until Hog Heaven opened a couple of months ago and started serving plates of smokey barbequed meat lathered in sauce. Yum! A group of Yelpers and I went for the first time on Sunday night, just in time for the live jazz at 6:30pm. Turns out it was also the NRL final so they had the warm up game (maybe the Junior Warriors) playing on a massive pull-down screen behind the singer....take note sports lovers. I couldn't go past the pulled pork with coleslaw and green beans. It took a little while for our meals to come out and when they did most of us noted that they weren't that hot but it didn't bother me too much as the pork was tender, drenched in sauce and super flavoursome. The coleslaw was ok - it reminded me of KFC coleslaw and the green beans were cooked well. The serving size was smaller than I expected but I am probably just used to the HUGE serving sizes in the States. What was a little off-putting though, was the filthy fish tank on the bar counter and the greasy finger marks all over the front door... I'd imagine it'd be difficult to keep the glass clean with half your customers demolishing ribs but I think these little details are important! I might wait a few months but i'd like to go back and try some of their other New Orleans dishes like gumbo and cornbread.

Hog Heaven is a fairly new restaurant that has opened up in Newmarket. They are a 'traditional…read moreLouisiana smokehouse' serving up smoked meats, seafood and freshly made pizzas. Three of us went to Hog Heaven a few weeks ago on a Tuesday night after seeing a 'cheap Tuesday' movie across the road at Event Cinemas. We had bought a Grabone voucher for Hog Heaven and and looking forward to dinner. Upon walking in, we first noticed the decor and really liked it. Although the lighting was dim, the wall decor really made up for it - think American wall prints, drink posters, plus fresh flowers on picnic style wooden tables, and condiments served in glass coca cola bottles. Hog Heaven immediately reminded us of the diner in the True Blood series - it had a similar feel to it. Another cool aspect was the open kitchen at the back - you could only see some of the food preparation and cooking, but it was nice that it was all open plan. All the chefs were women, which we thought was unusual compared to most restaurants in Auckland. We first started with an entree of 'Corn Bread Loaf' stuffed with corn and jalapeños ($6.50) which we shared between three of us. We all agreed that it was extremely sweet, almost like pound cake. We also could not taste any corn or jalapeños. It definitely tasted more like a dessert rather than an entree. We then ordered mains - 'Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo' with celery, okra pepper, bacon, onion and white rice on the side ($15). I have never tried gumbo, so was unsure what it was meant to taste like. It was quite a small portion, but the meat was very tender. However, it was far too rich for me and I almost couldn't finish it. I would not order it again. My other friends ordered the 'Pulled Pork Sandwich' served with fries ($12) which was average and the fries were overcooked. Lastly, the 'Smoked Beef Cheeks' ($21.50), which were the highlight of the night. They were cooked well, the meat tender and had a nice flavour. We were all too full for dessert, but were okay with that. Usually, I am excited about dessert, but nothing really stood out. We were hoping for some Pumpkin Pie or something similar, but they only serve 'American' brownie and ice cream... On a higher note, the service was good. We did not have to wait long for our meals, our water glasses were always topped up and asked if we were enjoying our meals. These simple things lifted my rating up for Hog Heaven. Overall, a few hits and misses. Personally, not my style of food, but a certain type of person would enjoy it. I am unsure yet whether I would dine at Hog Heaven again, but in the meantime I will continue to try out other new restaurants that are opening up in Auckland...

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!

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.

My daughter wanted some more "Americanized" food while we were visiting. Vons is in the Elliott…read moreStables food court. Food came out quickly and piping hot! The chicken is white meat and well seasoned served with fries "chips" and a nice small salad. Very tasty!

While I did not try anything from this restaurant, my friend who took me to the upscale food court…read morethis restaurant is located in kept telling me that out of all the offerings, she ALWAYS hits up Bonz because their Cajun fried chicken is what dreams are made of. If you say so! The chicken did look friend to perfection and if you have ever been curious as to what heaven smells like, then you must take a whiff of this chicken, that includes you too VEGANS!

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.

Just checked in the hotel and came here before it got too late. The Depot had good reviews on Yelp…read moreso I tried it. It's about 15-20 min walk from the warf. It was busy so I was seated outside. They had overhead heat lamps so I was comfortable without a jacket one (this is in June). The menu is geared for sharing dishes so ordering for one is a challenge. I had the local Lagar on tap, 1 of each of the 2 oysters offered, and the NZ green-lipped mussels with chiriso. They also gave me a complementary pita triangles with hummus. Overall, everything was delicious. I could have gone for more oysters, but didn't want to overdo it. The mussel dish had 7 good size mussels so I was satisfied without feeling stuffed. Glad I came to the Depot.

My friends and I went there for my last day in Auckland. We went around lunch time and we were able…read moreto get seated very quick. The ambiance was still so chill and not as packed because it was early afternoon, which was nice. The staff again were super friendly and answered any questions we had. Sadly, we didn't get the fish sliders because they were sold out! But we did get some of the same dishes I had ordered before but got oysters as well. The oysters were fresh and tasty, especially with their vinegar sauce. My friends also loved the charred eggplant and a couple of them don't really eat eggplant. The crispy potatoes were so good! The truffle wasn't too overpowering and they were perfectly crisp. The steak was super tender and juicy and the wedge salad helps cut the fat and compliments the steak as well. Can't wait to come back to Depot. Already miss it so much!

Really poor service from an overrun and understaffed Lone Star team. 40mins for water to be offered…read moreand arrive at the table, and hour and a half before dinner orders taken. Our waitress had a learner that seamed to just follow her around, not allowed to carry anything or be useful at all... I ordered the Ribs (what Lone Star is famous for) the small stack that should of been 9 ribs was only served 8 ribs. I didnt complain, by that stage I was happy to eat anything... and at 9 rib per serving there was no way I was going to finish the meal. Lone Star if you are going to offer a smaller serving size it would be great if it actually was smaller and reasonably priced. could of done with a four rib option for $25 instead of 9 ribs for $33 or 12 ribs for $38. I really wish I could say I wont be back but as this is a firm family favorite, I'm sure I will be back here next year celebrating one birthday or another.

I'm the biggest fan of anything to do with Texas (Spurs, Mavericks, cowboy boots, Beyonce), so Lone…read moreStar is always a great place for me with a southern feel and a decent meal. Only a two-minute drive from town, Lone Star Newmarket is perfect for a dinner away from the hustle and bustle of town. I've slowly made my way through their menu over the years and the standouts have to be the Johnny Cash Stash, the Rockin' Ribeye, Prawn Star and the Redneck Ribs. As for their starters, they do a pretty good seafood chowder, but their buffalo chips and Lone Star Loaf are absolute classics- must haves for me at every visit! During my last visit I tried their caesar salad for the first time and it was great and big in portions (as they do) for price aswell. I really enjoy the service here and its probably better than other Lone Stars I've been to in Auckland. They cater well for groups and they were happy to split the bill between a group of six we had, which seems to be an effort for some places these days. On the downside, I'm not big on their "mood lighting"- it gets just a little too dark in the restaurant to fully enjoy (or see) your meal after 7:30pm. I also wish they'd switch up their booking system, I'd really like to make a reservation here and know that I'd be seated once there, but there's often a long wait for tables whether you call in advance or not.

I had the chicken bowl and it was very flavorful. The service was quick too. It was comfort food…read morewhen getting off the plane.

I don't think I have the right words to describe how amazing this food is. Cheeseburger bao, just…read moreto start, is amazing. The beef brisket ramen was otherworldly. Note if you go: it's down that hall on the right side, not directly on the street.

We were so pleasantly surprised with Harbourside! We went blindly after a morning of travel and…read morereally didn't know what to expect, but the food was delicious and service was great. They have a nice upscale and classy vibe and our table was perfect overlooking the harbor. Standout dishes for us was the seafood chowder and silver snapper. The seafood chowder was perfectly creamy and so good. The snapper was seasoned perfectly with unique flavors and spices that were so well balanced. We would definitely visit again when in Auckland.

We were there on a night they had a huge private party in the bar area and it was very loud. Our…read moretable on the window overlooking the harbor could have been intimate and romantic but we could barely hear each other. Unfortunate. The food was great. I chose the beef fillet and Husband had the fish of the day which was snapper. Mine came with fries and the other with mashed potatoes. Both meals were beautifully presented and tasty. We also ordered bread to share which was crusty and delicious. We had the crème brûlée for dessert which had a green apple sauce. Very nice twist on a common dessert. Service was excellent.

This is a real gem. Found this place when going to the supercheap next door. The full rack is a…read moredecent size and cooked to perfection.