Whispering sweet nothings over sublime sushi. Maybe Auckland\u2019s very best smash burger. We have been eating up a storm all over the city this month – here\u2019s the best of it.<\/p>\n
Coconut Margarita, $22, at Bivacco <\/p>\n
\n As a self-confessed marg connoisseur, I\u2019ve tried a good few of the tequila-based
\n cocktails across Auckland. But the coconut margarita (fresh, not the one on tap) at Bivacco is the best of the best.\n <\/p>\n
It\u2019s got the perfect balance of creaminess and a touch of sweetness to complement the sting of tequila. It\u2019s 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\u2019s summer sun. \u2013 Jenni Mortimer<\/p>\n
115 Customs St West, Auckland CBD<\/p>\n
Self-serve sushi and sashimi from the Oki No Sushi Valentine\u2019s Day buffet, $85 a head, at Ebisu, Britomart.<\/p>\n
Oki No Sushi Valentine\u2019s Day, $85 buffet, at Ebisu<\/p>\n
Watch this space? Cross your fingers? Phone management and demand the permanent reinstatement of Ebisu\u2019s Oki No Sushi Saturdays? The lunchtime buffet made a welcome return for Valentine\u2019s 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\u2019t sure when the buffet might next return but, in better news, confirmed the yuzu and miso-glazed warehou \u2013 easily the best hot fish I\u2019ve eaten in Auckland \u2013 is routinely available on the regular menu. \u2013 Kim Knight<\/p>\n
116-18 Quay St, Auckland Central<\/p>\n
Full Agn\u00e8s, $32, at Agn\u00e8s <\/p>\n
Full disclosure: I didn\u2019t order this, but I certainly grabbed some forkfuls as is my marital right. Agn\u00e8s is Birkenhead\u2019s 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\u2019ve eaten in a long time. Worth the trip over the bridge for any potato fan. \u2013 Bridget Jones<\/p>\n
98 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead<\/p>\n
Desserts featuring mango and mashed taro from Aroma Dessert Studio on Auckland’s Dominion Rd.<\/p>\n
Mango, sago, mashed taro (and quite a lot more), $16, at Aroma Dessert Studio<\/p>\n
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. \u2013 KK<\/p>\n
666 Dominion Rd, Balmoral<\/p>\n
Chicken Biryani, $59 for two, at Cassia<\/p>\n
Cassia\u2019s 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\u2019s legendary lamb chops apiece and the surprise of the night: a $12 raw scallop. Green chilli is not the first thing I\u2019d 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. \u2013 KK<\/p>\n
90 Federal St, Auckland Central<\/p>\n
Schapiro’s cheeseburger.<\/p>\n
Cheeseburger, $17, at Schapiro\u2019s <\/p>\n
On Schapiro Sports Bar\u2019s Tuesday night pub quiz, I discovered what might be Auckland\u2019s 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\u2019s 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. \u2013 JM<\/p>\n
224 Symonds St, Eden Terrace<\/p>\n
Antipasto platter, $40, at Kingi<\/p>\n
\u201cPicky bits\u201d 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\u2019s Kingi was a pleasant surprise. Ahead of Pulp\u2019s 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 k\u016bmara sourdough and burnt coconut butter provided plenty for two and was the perfect foil for the bar\u2019s spicy, briney pickletini. \u2013 BJ<\/p>\n
Tuawhiti Lane, 29 Galway St, Britomart<\/p>\n
Summery noodles at Udon Works, Balmoral.<\/p>\n
Summer lunch special, $23.80, at Udon Works<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 if you\u2019re early enough to nab one of the 10 available special lunch sets \u2013 they\u2019ll 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. \u2013 KK<\/p>\n
633 Dominion Rd, Balmoral<\/p>\n
Cod egg onigiri, $4, from Tsuru Tsuru, Newmarket.<\/p>\n
Cod egg onigiri, $4, at Tsuru Tsuru<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re 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\u2019ve 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\u2019s cleverly wrapped in a sheet of crispy nori. Follow the arrows, close your eyes and pretend you\u2019ve just foraged breakfast in Tokyo. I\u2019ve historically opted for tuna but have become a mentai (or cod egg) convert after discovering its richer, spicier and slightly salmon-like punch. \u2013 KK<\/p>\n
Hosted <\/p>\n
Crayfish tortellini at Craggy Range.<\/p>\n
Crayfish tortellini with lemon butter, corn & zucchini, at Craggy Range Restaurant <\/p>\n
On a glorious summer\u2019s 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. \u2013 JM<\/p>\n
253 Waimarama Rd, Havelock North <\/p>\n
Fancy a BYO steak dinner? Esther has you covered. <\/p>\n
Bistecca Tuesday, from $55 (and $30 BYO corkage), at Esther<\/p>\n
As Esther expertly proves, you really can\u2019t 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\u2019s Mediterranean twist. Not sure what kind of cut you\u2019ll 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\u2019s from. I went for the 300g Speckle Park (Hawke\u2019s Bay) sirloin, and having lived in the region, I can confirm those are definitely pastures you want your cows grazing on. I don\u2019t 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\u2019re 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. \u2013 Mitchell Hageman<\/p>\n
4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Auckland CBD<\/p>\n
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