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.

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.

Sweet little place reminds me of a little place in Dalston London, need a cool French radio station…read moreplaying in the background.

Big Breakfast - Eggs good, tomatoes good, bacon good, mushrooms good, potato gratin good, sausage…read morewas split cut & fried which was the disapointment 3/5 Crepes - 3/5 Flat White 3/5 Hot Chocolate 4/5 Americana - 3/5

It's the summer holidays in New Zealand, so my wife and I were fortunate to get a reservation. The…read morerestaurant was intimate and gave us the best culinary experience we've ever had. The service, ambiance, wine and food were all spectacular. We did a tour of the menu with wine pairings that exceeded all expectations. We can't say enough positive things about our experience and would recommend to anyone.

My fiancé and I had the pleasure of dining here for our Valentines dinner last night. We arrived…read moreearly and was warmly greeted by Ledio who arranged a beautiful table by the window with a spectacular view of the beautifully lit up Sky Tower. We had two waiters and one waitress who served us all evening. Hoped to have the dishes explained in more detail because of the busy rush this was slightly brushed off. However each dish certainly 'spoke for itself'. The night began with a glass of Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne with a fresh rose placed on the table which really set the romantic mood for our Valentines night out. Sourdough and butter: Mouse like browned butter on freshly toasted sourdough. Butter had hints of caramel, toffee yet still very savoury and it was fluffy to spread then instantly melted onto the bread just how I like it first thing in the morning. Snack Box: Dry ice number that transformed our table into a cloudy haze. Had an incredible olive that was so delicate as if it was merely the skin of the olive filled with olive jelly/oil almost, It popped and coated my entire mouth. Was morish. Next was a ginger something... paper thin slice of ginger with lace-like-looking something placed on top was refreshing. Lastly was a fried tuna? bacon? pork? thing have no idea what it was, waitress said it was bacon lol...(like I said nothing was explained) However I just put in my mouth closed my eyes and just let it speak to me. Kept looking at my fiancé like "are you tasting what I'm tasting" had a strong urge to snap my fingers a shout yaaaaaas queeeeen lol so yeah snack box 10/10 Wild mushrooms - swede - brown butter - oat milk tofu: I love me some good ol mushrooms on my steak but these mushrooms was a star on their own. Distinctly tasted like mushrooms but the best way to describe it would be like beef roasted to perfection...but it was mushrooms and tasted like mushrooms ??? the swede oooh the swede you could pour this on anything and it will make it taste good. A light flavoursome juice like gravy poured onto the dish. Tofu was creamy, light, bouncy and sweet that complimented the savoury dish. This dish could turn me vegetarian. Kingfish - strawberry gazpacho - cucumber - shiso: I had my doubts and was not too keen on fish with strawberries...ew. But of course it was delicious. Fish was buttery and simple, couple slices of really fresh raw fish with shiso (fish eggs) on top that gave little salty pops with the fish but once dipped in that strawberry vinaigrette it took it to the next level, perfect balance of flavour. Refreshing cucumber moments too. Skate - Apple - summer pine - daikon - ginger - Almonds: Texture upon texture. Roasted almonds that crunched so effortlessly. Sweet & spicy apples and ginger finely chopped together almost like a little salsa. Earthy radish. Firm skate fish. A little of everything on my fork Ka-Pow! an explosion of flavours fighting for the win but all cross the finish line together. Epic. wagyu deckle - carrot - coffee - cavil nero: Going back to my comment about how that mushroom dish earlier could turn me vegetarian...yeah nah..this dish threw that option out the door. A blanket of velvety, creamy, smooth carrot sauce to die for. Crunchy salty fried kale. Drooooooooooling cube of Wagyu beef myyyyyyyy goooooosh. I nearly cried it was so delicious lmfao! The sweetness of the velvet carrot the crunch of the salty kale and a slice of that fatty melt in your mouth Wagyu ohohohohooooo. I was transported to the gods. Amen. Sourdough ice cream - rhubarb - basil moss - chocolate: I needed this light refreshing dessert because I needed to be brought back to earth. Sweet and sour. I don't like very sweet things so for me I absolutely loved the strong sour punches from the rhubarb and the peaches. Wish I had more ice cream to go with the peaches I reckon because it did get a little too sour at the end. However very refreshing summery dessert that woke us up from our dreamy experience at Number 5. Cant wait to return.

Siostra is perched unassumingly in the middle of the Grey Lynn shops and has a lovely warm &…read moreinviting feel. The menu is full of small plates with simple, bold flavours (there are also a couple of full sized meals too). We loved the scallops with a creamy cauliflower puree and crispy guanciale (I know, I'd never heard of it either but it's cured pork - similar to bacon) and the octopus & chorizo skewers with Ouzo aioli, although the Ouzo was very subtle. The wine list also deserves a special mention. It's full of boutique NZ wineries with some interesting European reds and plenty by the glass (BIG tick)! We ended up playing it safe and ordering two glasses of Chard - one Mt Edward and one Man O'War - both were delicious but the waiter forgot which was which, which was a pity! My one teensy complaint was that we ordered several small plates to share between the two of us and they all arrived at once leaving us hardly any room on the small table for our side plates! Considering how fast we inhaled the delicious scallops it wasn't an issue for long but it would have been great to have had some time to enjoy our olives and skewers before the rest of the food arrived. Also, keep in mind that the portion size is generous. We definitely over ordered. All in all, Siostra is a charming neighbourhood bistro with equally charming staff.... I just wish it was in my neighbourhood!

Headed over here for brunch this morning after reading about it in the Denizen and following their…read moreFacebook page for a few weeks. It did not disappoint me one bit. I went for their twist on a veggie eggs benedict - a yummy hash brown cake with two poached eggs, asparagus, hollandaise sauce, and some incredible tomatoes that appeared to perhaps be poached to remove the skins and somehow infused with basil... oh my god. It was heaven! Those tomatoes, I could have eaten them all day!! It all came together to be fresh and delicious, and wasn't an overly heavy breakfast. They also had cold brew coffee - brewed from All Press. It was yummy, as cold brew should be! Most of us ended up getting the same thing, and we were pleased. Another friend got the salmon dish over a buckwheat waffle, which she wasn't as in to -- I had a bite of the waffle and it was interesting... it tasted very earthy and almost like patchouli. Perhaps it melded well with the other flavors of the dish, but I didn't love it on it's own. I was surprised on a sunday around noon there was virtually no one there! I wonder if it's more popular for dinner or if it just hasn't taken off yet. As well, don't jump straight for the seats out front - they have a beautiful patio out back that I wish we had gone for if we had known! The place looks deceptively small, as when you come in, it looks like there is just some counters for eating at, but there is also a dining room, and then out back the patio, plus seats out front. I'll definitely be back, maybe to try dinner (if they've got enough veggie options), but definitely back for brunch. It was a hit!

Several months before we started our cruise, we had already arranged to spend a few days in…read moreAuckland after disembarkation. I knew the location of our post-cruise hotel and looked up several nearby eateries and convenience stores in the CBD. I was fortunate to find Odettes Eatery, among other restaurants and businesses, across the street from our hotel at the City Works Depot. We had an early breakfast on board before disembarking. Still, when I mentioned eating lunch across the street at Odettes Eatery to my sisters and husband, they heartily agreed to the restaurant's Mediterranean and North African menu. It was peak lunch hour, but we managed to walk in, where we were welcomed and seated by a cheery hostess. Within a few minutes, our friendly and happy server, Jacob, came by to introduce himself, suggest thirst-quenching beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and describe menu items we weren't sure about, given the menu's limited descriptions. It took us a few minutes to decide on our meals while Jacob piqued our interest with his suggestion of their thirst-quenching Honey and Ginger Lemonade, along with glasses of iced water, giving us a little more time to decide. FOOD: -Flatbread Lunch Special (Gurnard with Romesco): two large strips of golden-fried panko-coated cod-like textured topped a wood-fired flatbread slathered with smoky, nutty, and slightly spicy Romesco sauce. The crisp, fried, panko-coated fish was complemented by lightly dressed, fresh, shredded cabbage and herbs. I asked Jacob to identify the type of fish used in this dish, as my family and I thought it might have been cod or monkfish, but Jacob said it was locally caught gurnard fish. My older sister practically single-handedly devoured this lunch special, but I was happy to have tasted a bit of the crisp fried panko-coated fish. NZ$29/NZ$39 incl beverage -Seared Snapper, Greens, Wild Rice, and Soy Green Goddess: The grilled pieces of fish were "buttery" moist, delicately sweet, and their firm white flesh flaked well. The mild-tasting fish was enhanced by a squeeze of freshly grilled lemon and lightly dressed greens. I preferred the grilled preparation to the deep-fried gurnard. NZ$46 -Chips: My husband and eldest sister zeroed in on the chips, AKA thick-cut, deep-fried potatoes, after reading their accompaniments of berbère, honey mustard, and curry leaves. Although I shared my seared snapper with them, I barely got two pieces of the crispy, on the outside and soft, fluffy, interior, deep-fried chips before my husband and eldest sister stuffed themselves. NZ$16 -Chargrilled Chicken Skewers: The three skewers of chargrilled, juicy, and tender chicken had been seasoned with paprika and turmeric. The chicken skewers were accompanied by toum, a Lebanese garlic sauce, and a few guindillas (Basque Spanish pickled chili peppers). My husband and eldest sister shared the chicken skewers and chips as their meals, exclaiming they'd return for more during our additional 3-day post-cruise stay. NZ$45 -Green Salad: This simple family-sized green salad of green leaf lettuce leaves, radicchio, and sliced cucumbers and radishes was lightly dressed with a semi-sweet, floral, and rich-tasting muscat vinegar and olive oil. This green salad was refreshing, healthy-tasting, and very shareable. NZ$16 Everything about Odettes Eatery from its flavors, food presentation, excellent and friendly service, comfortable ambiance, and value, to me, warrants a 5-star rating from me. They were so good that we returned for lunch with our New Zealand friends.

We just arrived into town and needed a quick bite for late breakfast…read more We were so happy to find Odettes because the food was fantastic. The flavors were outstanding and food presentation was unique. Staff were friendly and service was spot on. The outdoor seating was lovely. We noticed the indoor environment was beautiful as well. Definitely great place for food and coffee!

We decided to dine here in our first night in Auckland on recommendation of our hotel. It was just…read morea short walk from where we were staying. Ostro has a somewhat limited menu but several tantalizing options. We both opted for the nightly fish special (grouper with a lovely basil sauce) and for sides the Parmesan beignets (more aptly described as croquettes) and some broccolini. The fish was perfectly prepared and the the croquettes just melted in your mouth-I could have eaten a ton of those (an order was around 7 and was served with a chipotle mayo). Service was attentive with water and wine glasses filled on a regular basis. The petit four (dessert) was a bit pricey with 3 small one-bite mini desserts but they were all good and not too sweet. The restaurant has a lovely view of the harbor from their 2nd floor location. It's all glass looking out to the sea. We enjoyed the meal and felt well taken care of. Recommended

Dined June 27, 2014…read more What a happening place this is. The evening was most memorable. Four of us dined here, and were thoroughly enchanted by the food. Service was good, though we all commented that the scene is so busy, and the acoustics so lousy, that we were almost yelling at each other to be heard in an attempt to have a conversation across a narrow dining table. Starters to share for the table were the Kingfish Crudo, $18 & Pumpkin Ravioli, $24. The marinated and cured kingfish (citrus/ginger based) was filling, and the added chili provided some punch, but otherwise was lackluster. However, the ravioli was the star and we all commented that we each would order it as our own individual entrée. Mains that we enjoyed were Steamed snapper w/ assorted shellfish,$38, Beef filet, $38 and Pork belly, $38. While the portion size was very adequate for three of us (see photos), yet the gentleman who had the pork belly commented that it was more sizzle and substance, and felt unsated and desirous of more food. Flavors on everything were excellent, and the beef filet was perfectly cooked, with a seared exterior. Desserts were: Chocolate fondant, $16, Crème Brule, $16, and cinnamon donuts, $9 for the other gentleman. The gentleman who ordered the pork belly had the donuts, and was appeased by the generous quantity, if only it had the taste to enjoy. We all had an opportunity to sample one, and we all agreed it was the losing dessert of the night. Everything else was easily devoured. All in all, a positive evening. I would return, but only on a quieter night so I could hear my dining companions.

we decided to try this cute french brunch spot near our hotel in Auckland and I must say that it…read morehas esxceeded my expectation. the place looks really dainty. the staff were welcoming and very warm. the service is quick as well. the best french toast that I ever had. we also ordered the eggs your way with smoked salmon, it was good but the bread is a little too toasted for my liking. overall, I would highly recommend this place. it also turns into a French restaurant called Angeline for dinner. such a gem near Albert park.

Really really enjoyed Scarecrow! Extensive menu with incredible food and drinks, including a good…read moreamount of vegan options and ways to customize (nondairy milk). The inside of the cafe is so cozy and ambiance is chill and serene. Friendly servers and helpful for providing menu recommendations! Can order to carry out or eat in. Quite a few tables inside as well as some outside the cafe. Would definitely recommend for brunch, a bite to eat for lunch, or just grabbing a coffee and pastry. I'll definitely be back!