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.

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!

Excellent veggie burger. Easy to sub gluten free and vegan. My youngest son loved his pepperoni…read morepizza. My oldest made the mistake of getting 2 feet of the hot honey pizza, so he'll be enjoying it for days! I had the ipa which was solid, and the view and vibe are spectacular! Quick, friendly service!

We stopped here for a late lunch. With time zones all messed up on our first day here, we wanted to…read moresplit something and keep it light. We chose the Caesar salad with chicken. It came with a hard boiled egg, bacon, grilled chicken, Romain lettuce, garlic bread and a yummy dressing. It was so good and really hit the spot for healthy and hearty. When we arrived, we were handed 2 menus and instructed to sit anywhere we chose. Lots of seating, both in and outdoor. The outdoor patio had a cover which helped those patrons as it was drizzling on and off most of the day. I had a nice sauv Blanc. We got a pitcher of water. Everything was well done and absolutely delicious. Plus, we got to watch some Sunday night American football as we had lunch.

I was looking for a quick portable snack and stopped at Sal's. Can it be proper New York pizza?…read moreWe'll never know as I waited in the queue while the one worker behind the counter struggled mightily to serve customers. He was not doing very well, needing at least another helper. Come on back when there's no queue and you should do well. [Review 524 of 2024 - 170 in New Zealand - 21556 overall]

Legit NYC style pizza? Being from NY, I am always weary when I see a sign purporting to have…read more"Authentic NY Style Pizza". Every pizza shop back home in Colorado says this and I have yet to find one that actually does. That said, finding legit NY pizza in the exact opposite side of the planet is fantastic! Cheesy, with a just the right amount of grease! I've never found pizza outside of NY that has the exact chewy cheesiness that NY pizza has and this in no exception, but it's still good. Is it EXACTLY like a NY slice? No. Is it dang close? Yup! And good enough for this Queens boy to enjoy.

Probably the best Pizza I've had in New Zealand. Great service, friendly vibe, lovely discovery…read moreworth every penny.

If there is anything I like more than a good steak, it's a good piece of pizza & this is why I…read moredecided to come to Sal's Authentic New York Pizza. Speaking to the owner of the Parnell Store he tells me about his passion & desire to be his own boss and working with Pizza. Until recently Sal's Pizza was a family operation and not up for franchise. This has now slowly changed with the sale of Parnell & more recently the opening of their new store in Hamilton. I am told about how all their ingredients are shipped from New York and nothing is left to chance here, and If I do not like their pizza he will refund my money back every penny (at this point I thought about whether correcting him & telling him we don't do penny's here) but I thought better off since he will be cooking me a fresh pizza.. I've seen what happens on Gordon's Ramsay - Kitchen Nightmares when you talk back to the chef ;-). But I hardly doubt he would ever do something like I have seen on TV. I am presented with the menu in front of me of large 18″ Pizza's or by the slice.. with a cabinet of other foods to go with it, Garlic Knots, Pepperoni Pinwheels, buffalo wings & mozzarella sticks all of which look delicious! since I'm with a group of friends we decide to go for a large half pepperoni half italian meatball with a pitcher of beer to help wash it down, with a size of mozzarella sticks & buffalo wings. The wings & the mozzarella came out first followed by the beer. One thing I have noticed about this place is the decor - styled in New Yorker theme red brick & big screen tv's with NBA Live on ESPN. A good choice to come here during lunch I reckon. They really understand their customers needs. Pizza + Beer + Sport = WIN The pizza came out not long after we finished out wings & mozzarella, we were amazed at the size of this thing.. I am told they do eating competitions for the quickest person to finish a whole 18″ pizza, I am told a good time somewhere in the 30min mark. But I don't see how I could possibly do that - even after 5 mins the pizza is still incredibly hot to bite into. As you see from the photo, this pizza is awesome! taste wise - on a totally a different level than what you find with the likes of Hells & Domino's. I wouldn't even put them in the same league as them. This enjoyment does come with a price 4 times as much as a large Pizza from any other place out there. Is it worth it?? - I think so! The atmosphere as I mentioned before is styled for guys - who love their pizza with their beer while watching sports. Perhaps one night a week they should have lazy boys around the store pointed towards the big screen & charge people $40 for entry which grants them pizza & beer while watching the game.. could be a nice little earner for them. From the 18″ Pizza with three guys we managed to finish off most of the Pizza, I say most as I've left the crusts behind.. but I'm told I would be disqualified if I was in the competition as you have to eat the entire pizza, crusts & all. wow.. After all that I don't think I could move an inch & would gladly sit back for the next hour & watch the sport while the food settles down.. but alas I must get back to work. I now leave you with the following thoughts; Food 4/5 - Best Pizza out - although the sight of seeing oil dripping off, is a tad bit off-putting. Service 5/5 - Friendly & courtious Price - 3/5 $24 for an 18″ Pizza or $9 for 2 Slices.. Atmosphere -5/5 - Where are my lazy boy's?! Like i said before Pizza + Beer + Sports = WIN Overall 4.5/5 - I'm calling it.. Best Pizza Place out.. Hamilton.. prepare to be blown away.. You no longer will have to put up with average pizza from other places.. But with anything this will cost you in the end.

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.

Our first time to purchase takeaway from this restaurant. We were so pleased with everything we…read moreordered. The food was delicious. All of our taste buds were happy! The website was easy to use as well. That is a plus when one is visiting from another country! A+++

Boy and Bird 09/09/20140 Comments…read more Boy and Bird is the great new venture from NZ Chef Michael Van De Elzen. I thought it was brave to open an eatery with a similar concept as Bird on Wire since, also just being down the road, its up against some strong competition. I was actually pleasantly surprised of the 'chicken kitchen'. Between two of us we shared everything, but the menu is versatile for sharing or individual portions. Boy and Bird is known for serving free range chicken which has been citrus brined, spice rubbed and rotisseried. The meal options are served with slaw and chunkies, with choice of a whole, half or quarter of a chicken. What I admire is the length that is taken to offer healthier options. Whether you want white or brown meat for quarter birds and no skin can be asked upon request. Everything we had was full of flavour, very light and grease-free. Oh except the Beef Krokets ha. Although you dont leave feeling stuffed or bloated. The salad was fresh and vibrant. Its a great portion size, and although its $14 and vegetarian, the ingredients in the salad are expensive such as halloumi and quinoa, so it all adds up to its value. The Chicken brioche roll was nice but to be honest the bun itself didn't taste anything special. If we hadn't been told their purple (they use a purple potato in the dough) and steamed, I would think its a pretty ordinary roll. The beef krokets are great, as the meat is pulled which we didn't expect so they were really tender, although they looked a bit overcooked from the fryer. I was really pleased by the great waiter, he was efficient and meal checked. So tick tick. Good Job Boy and Bird - keep up the good work. Rating Food: 7.5/10 Service: 8.5/10 Value for Money: Very Good 222 Ponsonby road, Ponsonby Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-Late

Popa's pretzels is a hole-in-the-wall style snackery, offering pretzels in all varieties and…read moreflavours. It's perfect if you're hungry but just want a snack and not a full meal. They have regular pretzels, pretzels with fillings and now pretzel pies, pretzel sandwiches, hot dog pretzels and pretzel banh mi. That's a lot of different ways to serve a pretzel. On my first visit I got the cream cheese& zaatar filled pretzel and it was so good I haven't been able to bring myself to try any of the others although I have sampled the apple & cinnamon and custard & berries which were also both really tasty. It seems I only go to Popa's when I'm in a savoury mood. Next time I think I will try the marmite & cheese, that sounds good. At $4.50 for a filled pretzel it's pretty good value.

Citizen Park is like a quirky, modern, all American diner. There are glowing neon signs, gingham…read morehalf curtains across the windows, giants shelves of kitschy Americana (think football helmets and model planes) and of course, baskets full of mustard and ketchup. Maybe it's because I've just moved home from America but I absolutely love it! We came here on a Sunny Sunday arvo to catch up with friends over a few quiets. The outdoor area here is huuuge and with several long tables with bench seats it is the perfect place to catch up with a group. It must also be said they have done a great job of making the outdoor area as sheltered as possible and they even have a retractable roof for when it inevitably starts raining (this is Auckland after all!). As for the drinks, both us girls where in the mood for a refreshingly, cold beer and opted for a jar of the Monteith's Pilsner ($8). I thought the list was pretty reasonable in both price and variety although I do think they could do with a few more boutique beers on the list as opposed to the usual mass produced varieties. The boys on the other hand were nursing rather significant hangovers and were in need of a drink of the non-alcoholic variety. ASAP. They ended up settling on a Sweet Alice; a strong cup of Kokako filtered coffee with condensed milk on the side. Heaping the rather generous serving of condensed milk into their coffee both of them seemed pretty chuffed with their decision. All in all this is a very pleasant way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon and I am looking forward to coming back soon to try their rather tasty looking menu.

I came here for the first time the other night, had been meaning to, always looks so inviting, the…read morebig brass gates to the private park for citizens dining under the strings of lights. It was, I liked it, plus they have outdoor heating. Often it can be hard finding places that accommodate groups of citizens, you can here. Large tables and a menu meant for sharing (depends how close your citizen friends are), Citizen Park would be perfect. Cool bar, good enough selection of drinks, they do coffee too. Don't be shocked when you see the beer missing from the menu, it isn't on there so ask the lovely wait staff. Gluten free options are available. Based on my experience you can request variations to menu items to fit your dietary requirements. I was impressed with my salad which not only looked good but tasted amazing. Greens with thin sliced mango, cherry tomatoes, micro greens and walnuts with a vinaigrette. Friendly staff, good surroundings, indoor and outdoor seating options and a decent menu. I'll be back, with a bigger crowd.

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.