Whispering sweet nothings over sublime sushi. Maybe Auckland’s very best smash burger. We have been eating up a storm all over the city this month – here’s the best of it.
Coconut Margarita, $22, at Bivacco
As a self-confessed marg connoisseur, I’ve tried a good few of the tequila-based
cocktails across Auckland. But the coconut margarita (fresh, not the one on tap) at Bivacco is the best of the best.
It’s got the perfect balance of creaminess and a touch of sweetness to complement the sting of tequila. It’s also served with multiple smaller ice cubes, instead of one gargantuan cube taking up most of your glass. A must try when soaking up the last of the Viaduct’s summer sun. – Jenni Mortimer
115 Customs St West, Auckland CBD
Self-serve sushi and sashimi from the Oki No Sushi Valentine’s Day buffet, $85 a head, at Ebisu, Britomart.
Oki No Sushi Valentine’s Day, $85 buffet, at Ebisu
Watch this space? Cross your fingers? Phone management and demand the permanent reinstatement of Ebisu’s Oki No Sushi Saturdays? The lunchtime buffet made a welcome return for Valentine’s Day. Possibly my only regret was eating two quite substantial plates of sashimi, nigiri and sushi before venturing into the hot mains section: katsu pork, teriyaki chicken thigh, sukiyaki-style beef and much, much more. Our waitperson wasn’t sure when the buffet might next return but, in better news, confirmed the yuzu and miso-glazed warehou – easily the best hot fish I’ve eaten in Auckland – is routinely available on the regular menu. – Kim Knight
116-18 Quay St, Auckland Central
Full Agnès, $32, at Agnès
Full disclosure: I didn’t order this, but I certainly grabbed some forkfuls as is my marital right. Agnès is Birkenhead’s newest all-day wine bar and bistro, and in the early hours, it does a great brunch. While I was trying to be a grown-up with my hot smoked salmon on sourdough (delicious, with whipped feta and cucumber, but a very small portion for $25), the less sensible love of my life was delivered a plate full of house sausage, eggs, mushrooms, toast, bacon and (yes AND!) dripping chips, which were, far and away, the best we’ve eaten in a long time. Worth the trip over the bridge for any potato fan. – Bridget Jones
98 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead
Desserts featuring mango and mashed taro from Aroma Dessert Studio on Auckland’s Dominion Rd.
Mango, sago, mashed taro (and quite a lot more), $16, at Aroma Dessert Studio
After a night that had included cocktails and fancy snacks at Cazador and a beer tower and chicken bits at Go Go Music Lounge, we were moths to the very bright lights of Aroma Dessert Studio. Sadly, 20 minutes before closing, it was impossible to order the french toast. Instead, four of us shared a giant bowl of mango, sago and mashed taro with sticky rice, ice cream, coconut and milk shaved ice and a creamy coconut pudding roll (with more mango). A textural symphony in mauve and yellow. – KK
666 Dominion Rd, Balmoral
Chicken Biryani, $59 for two, at Cassia
Cassia’s Biryani Thursday special must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. The gently spiced rice and claypot-cooked chicken is sealed under a flaky paratha lid (chicken pie but better?) and comes with three little ramekins: tomato, yoghurt and a tangy chutney on the night we visited. There was easily enough for two, but we did not regret our a la carte extras, particularly one of Cassia’s legendary lamb chops apiece and the surprise of the night: a $12 raw scallop. Green chilli is not the first thing I’d think to pair with such a delicate shellfish, but the heat stayed in the front of my mouth, and the sweet, cool scallop got the final bow. – KK
90 Federal St, Auckland Central
Schapiro’s cheeseburger.
Cheeseburger, $17, at Schapiro’s
On Schapiro Sports Bar’s Tuesday night pub quiz, I discovered what might be Auckland’s best smash burger. All their burgers punch far above their weight, but their cheeseburger is simple, yet perfectly executed with thick pickles, crunchy onions and a smash patty that’s juicy in the middle and crisp on the edges. Add lettuce to the burger for a balance of freshness, and a side of their signature seasoned fries if you want to toss balance out the window. – JM
224 Symonds St, Eden Terrace
Antipasto platter, $40, at Kingi
“Picky bits” by another name (and price tag), antipasto platters are often duds, either delivering not enough of the good stuff or not enough in general. This one from Britomart’s Kingi was a pleasant surprise. Ahead of Pulp’s quite simply transcendental show at Spark Arena, we were in town too early for dinner, but were too sensible not to eat. This pile of cheeses (a blue and a brie), charcuterie (again, two types), crackers, candied walnuts, thick slabs of still-warm kūmara sourdough and burnt coconut butter provided plenty for two and was the perfect foil for the bar’s spicy, briney pickletini. – BJ
Tuawhiti Lane, 29 Galway St, Britomart
Summery noodles at Udon Works, Balmoral.
Summer lunch special, $23.80, at Udon Works
This small but perfectly delicious place will absolutely ruin you for supermarket udon. Its thick, bouncy noodles are a slurp-and-chew delight that you can order hot or cold anytime, but – if you’re early enough to nab one of the 10 available special lunch sets – they’ll come with slivers of sashimi, assorted tempura veg (and one gorgeous prawn), a little wobbly bowl of chawanmushi and more. The humidity was high on the day I visited, and the udon was served, appropriately, cool. I loved the slippery noodle against the savoury broth; the extra tempura crumbs I dropped into it courtesy of poor chopstick technique were a crispy, airy bonus. – KK
633 Dominion Rd, Balmoral
Cod egg onigiri, $4, from Tsuru Tsuru, Newmarket.
Cod egg onigiri, $4, at Tsuru Tsuru
If you’re sensing a theme to my contributions, yes, I like to eat Japanese food. And if you, like me, have the occasional insatiable craving for convenience store-style onigiri, then I hope you’ve discovered Tsuru Tsuru in Newmarket. They do a lovely udon, but sometimes you just want to remind yourself how much more delicious cold rice is when it’s cleverly wrapped in a sheet of crispy nori. Follow the arrows, close your eyes and pretend you’ve just foraged breakfast in Tokyo. I’ve historically opted for tuna but have become a mentai (or cod egg) convert after discovering its richer, spicier and slightly salmon-like punch. – KK
Hosted
Crayfish tortellini at Craggy Range.
Crayfish tortellini with lemon butter, corn & zucchini, at Craggy Range Restaurant
On a glorious summer’s evening, my partner and I were treated to the Signature Table menu, $139, at Craggy Range Restaurant. The menu is a six-course journey, each perfectly executed, but it was the crayfish tortellini that had us licking our plates. The lemon butter and accompanying bright green sauce (which I can only assume fell from the heavens) made the dish sing. The crayfish pocket inside the tortellini was fresh, flavoured perfectly and paired with fresh vegetables from the garden we were overlooking. The meal was a culinary masterpiece from executive chef Casey McDonald and his team, who made the meal relaxing and delightful in every way. – JM
253 Waimarama Rd, Havelock North
Fancy a BYO steak dinner? Esther has you covered.
Bistecca Tuesday, from $55 (and $30 BYO corkage), at Esther
As Esther expertly proves, you really can’t go wrong with a glass of red wine and a good steak. Chef Sean Connolly has decided to elevate the traditional steak night experience with his new Bistecca Tuesday menu, offering premium Kiwi cuts and some sides with Esther’s Mediterranean twist. Not sure what kind of cut you’ll get? No worries, because the selection of raw meat is trolleyed to you ahead of ordering, with the head chef explaining what makes each one unique and where it’s from. I went for the 300g Speckle Park (Hawke’s Bay) sirloin, and having lived in the region, I can confirm those are definitely pastures you want your cows grazing on. I don’t usually eat fat, but the cooking was perfect and the meat so tender I just had to let it melt in my mouth as one. You’re also given a choice of sauce, and I wanted to keep drizzling that peppercorn brandy one over anything and everything, including my perfectly crispy duck-fat potatoes and leafy greens with hummus. And for those saving some of their best red wine for a special occasion, bring it along for a pretty luxe BYO. A $30 corkage fee per bottle sweetens the spot. – Mitchell Hageman
4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Auckland CBD
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