Amazing local spot with a great outdoor seating area! We came here because this restaurant had good…read moreratings on New Zealand's version of Yelp. I was not disappointed with the food, customer service, or the view from the outdoor patio. My friend and I both ordered the grilled prawns dish, and it was extremely flavorful and yummy! Great portion size and great presentation. I also really liked that I didn't have to peel the prawns. I'm a real lazy eater so A+ for that haha. Would definitely recommend dining here when visiting Waineke!

My friends and I were searching for a breakfast spot before a big day of exploring and settled for…read moreWai Kitchen.. it literally looks over Oneroa beach.. Well.. a few tables do as they make the most of their awkwardly shaped cafe. Staff were friendly and engaging.. a few laughs and general chitter chatter while noticing their interesting decor. We got some coffees which were ok.. Pancakes.. Eggs Bene (w bacon).. Mushroom on toast.. The pancakes were amazing! I asked for an extra which is highly recommended if you're hungry. The bene toast was a bit chewy and didn't do the plate justice and mushrooms good if you not hungry as it's just 3 small pieces of toast. Overall we had a nice time but waited too long for our meals which apart from the pancakes, was totally worth it. Worth a try as it's conveniently located in the middle of the main township and close to all the action.

The Oyster Inn is a totally fine option located in the main village close to the ferry (~5 min bus…read moreride). We ordered the grilled broccolini and cos salad, Mac and cheese, fish and chips, and half a dozen oysters. The oysters were massive, maybe the largest I've ever eaten, which was interesting because our waiter described them as medium sized lol. The food was decent and with huge portion sizes - in retrospect we could have skipped the Mac and cheese. Our food was quite slow to come out to a point where we had to speed through the rest of our visit to make the ferry in time. This plus the average food made it a totally ok stop, but I'd likely pass if I visit the island again.

Super great great Little island love the menu. The people that work. There were great places really…read morecute. It's right in the middle of town doubt many people are gonna make it to this place cause specifically to get to. Make the attempt is worthwhile. Don't forget to have an espresso and dessert too bye

I love love love Poderi Crisci…read more Situated on Waiheke Island, about a 25 minute drive from Kennedy Point Wharf, you will find Poderi Crisci, a vineyard and Italian restaurant owned and run by Antonio Crisci and his family. Surrounded by rolling hills and immaculate gardens, together with a stunning setting including an Italian style kitchen, displays of Italian cheeses and cured meats, and copper pots and utensils, you will feel like you are in Tuscany. I dined here for my birthday with my family and it was a very memorable meal... and day overall. Everything was exquisite - from the surrounds and views, to the alfresco dining and beautiful food and wine. The service is also very welcoming, professional and friendly. For starters, we enjoyed a glass of prosecco, accompanied by three platters, all of which were beautifully presented and each dish was savoured: - Pane & Olio (selection of homemade grissini, Italian inspired bread and olives with Poderi Crisci olive oil) - Contorni (selection of Antipasti style side dishes, including free range egg frittata, braised capsicums with smoked olives, chargrilled eggplant and garden zucchinis) - Affetato (traditional Italian selection of cured meats, Mozzarella cheese, olives, grissini and truffle paste) For the main course, I loved their Gnocchi alla Norma - Homemade potato gnocchi with buffalo mozzarella, garden eggplant, cherry tomatoes and basil. It was dreamy and melt in your mouth. My parents also enjoyed their mains, which included the Agnello - Hawke's Bay lamb rump served with potato and sage, zucchini, garlic sauce and jus and the Salmone Marinato - Home-marinated King Salmon served with almond and rocket pesto, mustard dressing and garden herb salad. And of course, dessert. You simply cannot dine at an Italian restaurant without ordering tiramisu. I think Poderi Crisci makes the most superb Tiramisu in all of the land - think Savoiardi sponge fingers with espresso and Italian liqueur, layered with mascarpone sabayon and dusted with rich dark cocoa powder. Dreamy...! And the best part? It arrived at our table with a lit candle, while all the staff sang 'Happy Birthday'. The Tiramisu was divine and it made for a very memorable lunch and birthday. Food aside, service was excellent - the waiters were attentive, welcoming and very knowledgeable about the menu and wine. I would happily re-visit Poderi Crisci in a heartbeat... and I think you should too! Note: If you can't get over to Waiheke, head to Non Solo Pizza (NSP) in Parnell as it shares the same owners as Poderi Crisci. Their food is heaven.

Honestly. I was shock....I went because I check some reviews in Yelp. I am not a fan of Italian…read more Because I always feel the food doesn't really fill the stomach hahaha. Anyway I am amazed by the food and wine they offer in here. The only think I needed to complaint is 1. The road to drive in is terribly bumpy 2. The Menu we toke is dirty as now the COVID-19 Pandemic we are very caution of anything we touch ! But the food the service and the environment will melt you and the love one you bring along :) just go and you won't regret

Located on the Mudbrick vineyard this bistro has amazing food…read more The staff is so helpful and kind. Shoutout to KENNY!!!!! Always ask for him! The butter for the bread and the bread itself was divine . The duck meatballs was worth every bite. Cocktails, wine all a delight. Make sure you make a reservation.

Came here with my parents and kids as a special occasion to mark the new year and their visit to…read moreNew Zealand. Came here expecting a lovely lunch a la carte (vs the white table cloth formal pice fixe menu), but left fairly disappointed by the experience. Agree with others, portion sizes are anemic - especially for the prices. They were also out of the duck leg and the oysters, with no replacement. It's $30-40 for starters, and $55-60 for a main (which doesn't include any vegetable or side). While food was good, definitely didn't justify the prices. You also are unable to taste wine while dining, but can go next door to the cellar door for $40 per person. I personally wasn't a fan of the tannin forward reds, but depends on your style. The service wasn't that great either - we had two kids with us and one of their dishes (pasta and red sauce) didn't arrive until everyone else was done eating (~15 min after). No reason other than "the kitchen was busy". The view is lovely but the bistro has the second hand view versus the more formal restaurant. The day we were there they also didn't have any tables set up outside. Next time, I'll probably opt for one of the other wineries with great food as there are many other spots with nice views on the island.

Arcadia is a hidden gem :) I have visited this spot twice and have thoroughly enjoyed both my…read moreexperiences here. All of their breakfast dishes are absolutely delish and my favorite is the eggs Benedict. I will say that if you are eating here, then plan to spend between 25-35$ for your meal, which may seem pricey but not uncommon for Waiheke and the food is worth it! The outside seating is lovely on a sunny day and the indoor cafe is adorable as well. The location is perfectly located next to beautiful palm beach so it is the perfect breakfast stop before a swim or perfect for lunch and a drink after a Long Beach day. Very kind staff as well. Love it here :)

Such a great setting for a cafe/restaurant! Palm beach is a stunning beach on Waiheke but…read moreunfortunately our experience at Arkadia was not and especially if you want food that matches it's surroundings.. We had been riding around the island stopping at most bays which requires coffee and food! I chose here (as suppose to next door) because I remember having a great time and meal here last time. We ordered the Pork belly burger, spicy chicken and breads and dips.. The "chicken" looked nice but was more like nuggets/pieces as suppose to "chicken".. plus it wasn't even spicy?!? Confusing on so many levels. Burger was ok.. interesting having pork belly with crackling in a burger - the pork was nice but not so in the burger. Staff were friendly enough but not engaging. I think we got more engagement from other customers. It was a beautiful day and we were having fun - just wished we had a great experience with the food to match the day and Palm beach.

We had a nice lunch here during a wine tasting tour. My wife enjoyed her gnocchi and I my snapper…read morewith a gazpacho sauce -- and we shared the green bean and lentil salad, which our wine tour guide recommended. Having had all too much alcohol on our tour, we decided to skip the drinks, but I did have the non-alcoholic ginger beer - as Nancy remarked, her homemade version is better Very nice view of the beach from where we sat, and service was friendly and efficient

Beautiful ocean views and fast friendly service. The plant-forward food is innovative and…read moredelicious! Such a creative menu which is great for vegans and vegetarians. Highly recommend!

Excellent pastries and solid bread…read more The selection was a bit slim after a busy Sunday morning, so I recommend going early on the weekend if you want to have the best choices. We got focaccia, along with ricotta and nuttella pies (like a cupcake). Both were delicious! The focaccia went well with the local olive oil, and the pies were amazing. Really moist, send perfect with a cup of coffee. Excited to see what is available tomorrow, when we plan to go early! Note they are closed on Tuesdays.

Sorry if you are gluten free because that means you cannot sample the most delicious breads and…read morepizzas on Waiheke Island, probably in the world! The fresh aroma of baking lured me in on this Saturday and I was warned that the bread buns still may be hot as they'd just come out of the oven. Well they were still warm when we got home and simply stunning with our lunch fillings. Their pizza and foccacia breads are 'to die for' and sold in slabs like back in the old country (Italy I'm talking about). If you want great artisan bread, shop here because it is the real deal. Watch the bakers in full action as the stoves and workers are in full view of the cash register.

I loved my crepe! I visited this cute little stand at the Saturday Ostend market and I had an…read moreoverall lovely experience. The crepes were reasonably priced for what you were getting. Mine was 16$ but I chose a savory one and it was stuffed with cheese, tomatoes and rocket- it was delish! The service was also fantastic. His name is escaping me, but the man working at the stand was extremely kind and friendly! I had such a nice, genuine conversation with him as I was waiting for my crepe. Highly recommend supporting this local business with such nice staff and even better food!

Just before getting on the ferry back to Auckland and the airport, my friend and I stopped for a…read morecoffee. I saw I Love Crepes right next to the coffee shop. One look at the menu and I hoped that there would be a vegan option. The owner and chef, Keerti Ji, assured me that his crepe batter is always vegan and promised to set me up with a healthy breakfast for my long day of travel. I had a lovely chat with Keerti while he made me a delicious crepe - fresh avocado, rocket, tomatoes, basil and garlic, plus a drizzle of tahini at his recommendation. The result was a hearty and healthy crepe that was like avocado toast but way better! Very tasty and satisfying! I hope to return my next trip to Waiheke Island - and highly recommend this place for a delicious savory (or sweet!) crepe!