Viva restaurant awards

Back by hot demand, Viva’s dining out editor Jesse Mulligan and food influencer/writer Albert Cho select this year’s best places to have dinner, crowning a supreme winner, and choosing a top 10.

Jesse Mulligan

Summer is here and if you weren’t already excited, this list of Auckland’s truly great restaurants will get you there.

Why add another list to the excellent awards nights and accolades that are already out there? Because our top 50 is different — it’s a bold, directional, unashamedly subjective collection of the restaurants Albert and I are excited about this minute. Whether you follow @EatLitFood online or read my reviews in Viva each week, we hope you’ll get inspired by this annual collection of Auckland’s best, as judged over a year of indulgent eating.

Albert has his favourites, I have mine. But we rarely disagree on the very best. Each restaurant on this list has been tested, discussed and occasionally squabbled over until we reached a list of 50 that we both love. From there, we chose 10 we couldn’t live without, and one Supreme Winner that we think is the most exciting room in Auckland right now.

The food is the most important thing, but it’s not the only thing. We know that, a few weeks after a meal, you’ll likely remember the feeling you had on the night more than exactly what you ate. This list recognises that good food in a vibey restaurant sometimes trumps (or at least matches) incredible food in a dull restaurant. Occasionally a big name has dropped off the list on one of these criteria and, look, if you’re an owner of one of these restaurants, know that we’ve felt heartbroken over some of the tough choices we’ve had to make.

Because we both love restaurants, and love the people who run them. Though this list is for our readers, it’s also for the people working hard to create the dining scene we’re so proud and privileged to be writing about. This list says: Hey! Auckland is a city with some of the greatest restaurants in the world! Now go out there and give them your love, and of course your money.

Albert Cho

Last year, Jesse and I wrote a list of Auckland’s top 50 restaurants as a fun activity as we came out of lockdown. I knew people would take an interest in it but I distinctly remember Neenum, the owner of the dairy on the corner of my road, telling me the New Zealand Herald containing Viva’s Top 50 Restaurants special had sold out when I went to pick up a copy. Now, that was unexpected, and I’m so happy to be doing it again in 2022.

This year, Jesse and I made sure we bought ourselves a lot more time to eat at as many places as we could. More time meant more arguments and that’s what comes with a partnership when both parties are so different, yet passionate about the same thing. We have no chef or restaurateur credentials. We just love to dine out, like most of the people reading this. Jesse cares about the food a lot more than I do. While he is chewing slowly and quietly as he thinks about the flavours hitting his palate, my neck is turning in all directions, soaking in the ambience of the restaurant — but we think our preferences come together to make a well-rounded list.

Putting our different styles aside, we both agree this list is about the places that make us excited for dinner. The restaurants that make us pull up the menu on our phones hours before arrival and search on Instagram for photos of food, influencing our ordering decisions. Several months of eating, together and separately, and endless amounts of texts and email chains have brought us to this list that we’re incredibly proud of. Please, eat your way through it and enjoy our local dining scene because it’s doing some wicked stuff for us and deserves to be appreciated.

WATCH THE JUDGES VIDEO

What Jesse said

At the pointy end of judging, Albert and I were each visiting a restaurant a night, sometimes fitting in more than one if we could. On one particularly intense Friday evening I visited Ada, Candela and Bar Celeste, which makes it even more impressive that Candela stood out — not just as another great restaurant but as a restaurant that might be the greatest of the lot.

I thought I knew this excellent Karangahape Rd tapas bar, but with the addition of more tables and a dedicated function space, Barcita, this is a new proposition — a cantina with the capacity to serve a lot of people, to offer something to groups and to corporates but which can simultaneously feel like the best place for a secret date night too.

Chef/owner Matt Ross and co-director Leola King do Spanish versions of some stone-cold classics (the beef tartare and ceviche are unmissable) but then also dishes that could only have come from their kitchen — an intense prawn risotto where the rice, after absorbing the seafood stock, sticks just hard enough to the metal pan that you get a little burnt-on caramelisation with each bite. The cabbage dish is bold — with charred edges and a bit of crunch left to the half head, that fine heat of the raw brassica is mollified with crushed almonds and a sweet chilli jam.

Beyond the food menu, this is my favourite cocktail list in town, their green chilli martini having recently replaced a good negroni as my desert island drink. At the time of writing, this martini is paused while they wait for a new shipment of pickled chillies, but the replacement, a classic martini twisted with manzanilla sherry, is almost as good.

Aside from food, drinks and service, what does it take to beat 49 incredible restaurants to the number one spot? A little bit of magic. That’s what we felt in this room and it’s why, if you want a restaurant meal to feel excited about, this is the first call you should make.
— Jesse Mulligan

What Albert said

The team at Candela have crafted something really special. Whether it’s spectacular food you’re looking for, or the first stop for a long, fun night out, Candela is a restaurant that can provide both.

Spanish cuisine is their speciality and they serve classics that everyone will inevitably love (like the patatas bravas) while pushing the boundaries with unique dishes like the lamb belly pintxos and cabbage. Yes, cabbage. A dish I was offended by when it was recommended to me but that I was so glad I was too drunk to argue against.

Trust me when I say it is unlike any cabbage you’ve ever had. There’s chilli jam smothered over it and that condiment alone sets it apart from all other cabbages.

Despite the sensational food, Candela’s energy makes it our Supreme Winner. You feel yourself going on a journey with the restaurant from beginning to end. It starts off as a delicious dinner and a few drinks, not to mention one of the most gorgeous dirty vodka martinis in Auckland — ice cold and rudely potent.

As you digest the food and the liquor gets to your head a little, the music changes to a more upbeat playlist and the volume turns up a notch. The lights dim and you’re suddenly hunched over the table with your dining companion straining to hear each other in the midst of chaos. Good chaos.

Dinner becomes incredibly intimate and you don’t want it to end here. The waiter asks if you want another drink, which you should reject but you go ahead and say yes anyway, preparing yourself for what’s ahead. Suddenly, our city seems bigger, the night becomes endless with possibilities and you rally anyone who’s out to join you.

Come to Candela, this is where it all starts.

— Albert Cho

WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE SUPREME WINNER

Jesse and Albert’s top 10 Auckland restaurants are the kinds of places that make you excited to go to dinner, and that you want to visit again and again. Presented in no particular order.

Ada - Top 10

It’s safe to say this is the only city restaurant that used to be a nunnery, and the sense of history is strong in this boutique Grey Lynn hotel. A drink in the lounge is highly recommended (they operate a pretty good reduced menu there too) before convening to the dining room for the pasta dreams are made of. Even on a quiet night, the vibe is strong here, and Ada would make a pretty good claim as the best place to take an out-of-towner: this is Auckland at its exciting best, with great food and hip service in a room that is as interesting as what’s on your plate. — Jesse

Ada's ricotta and anchovy fried pizza. Photo / Babiche Martens

Pasta is one of my favourite dishes but I wouldn’t necessarily say Italian food is my cuisine of choice. Authentic Italian cuisine is quite simple which I can appreciate but it’s 2022, we’re hitting a recession and I don’t want to pay for simplicity. Why have stracciatella on bread when you could have it mixed into Brussels sprouts that have been grilled in aged balsamic vinegar? Ada is situated inside the Convent Hotel in Grey Lynn, which is definitely haunted, but The Shining is one of my favourite films so I think this makes the experience that much better. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Italian. Address: 454 Gret North Rd, Grey Lynn. Contact:}_{Adarestaurant.co.nz}

Ada's ricotta and anchovy fried pizza. Photo / Babiche Martens

Milenta chef Elie Assaf. Photo / Babiche Martens

Milenta - Top 10

Special category winner: Best new restaurant

It’s about time someone tried to revive Victoria Park Market and the newly opened Milenta is the first beacon of hope the area has had in a long while. I took one of my best friends here when she was home from New York — one of the biggest dining capitals of the world — and knew the food was special when she was raving about it. Although it’s the coal fire kitchen that is highlighted on their social media, I come here for the raw dishes, especially the beef picanha which comes with a quail egg and potato sticks for crispiness. — Albert

Smoked oysters with habanero mignonette. Photo / Babiche Martens

This stunning open-air restaurant inside Victoria Park Market is a triumph of imagination. As the weather warms up there’ll be no better table in the city than this one, under an ancient tree and, beyond that, the bright stars of a clear Auckland night. The chef, Elie Assaf, is a certified genius, adding a South American sensibility to familiar proteins, and serving them in ways that delight visually as well as on the palate. General manager Vinci Gin-Nen is one of Auckland’s best operators and somehow manages to keep everybody happy when it feels like half of Auckland is trying to get a table. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: NZ-South American. Address: Victoria Park Market. Contact:}_{Milenta.co.nz}

Smoked oysters with habanero mignonette. Photo / Babiche Martens

Tagliatelle with mushroom, pancetta and poached egg. Photo / Fiona Goodall

Amano - Top 10

In Auckland, we seem to have a habit of disliking anything when it becomes too popular. Amano is an Auckland icon and rightfully so. You don’t see restaurants of that scale in this country and they’ve been consistent for almost half a decade now. We also must pay credit where it’s due as this is the only restaurant in our city that provides breakfast, lunch and dinner at a quality as high as Amano’s. There was talk of its potential downfall since changing ownership to Savor Group but my recent experiences of demolishing their beef shin agnolotti have proven that they’re doing better than ever.
— Albert

To call it the most reliable restaurant in town sounds like faint praise but there are times when you need everything to be perfect, and on those occasions, you should eat at Amano. Service is outstanding, the handmade pasta is genre-defining and though it’s one of the biggest dining rooms in Auckland you never wait for anything. It’s also a lovely place to spend a couple of hours, the architecture blending Britomart history with modern design to create one of the best-looking dinner spots in Auckland city. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Italian. Address: 66-68 Tyler St, Britomart. Contact:}_Amano.nz

Cassia - Top 10

This might be the best Indian food on the planet, and it’s matched with service so good that Cassia is a perennial contender for (and previous winner of) the best restaurant in Auckland. Housed in a sleek subterranean room off Fort Lane, it’s not a restaurant many will stumble upon but once you’ve eaten there, you’ll remember it forever. Suitable for a fun friends’ dinner or a more formal tasting menu experience, Cassia does a great job of being all things to all people, while maintaining its own integrity as a brave, peerless creator of taste experiences. — Jesse

Roasted cauliflower with makhani and ginger. Photo / Babiche Martens

When you have a restaurant located in the CBD where it’s inconvenient to park and the restaurant itself doesn’t have any phone reception, the food can’t be just fine, it has to be damn divine. In Cassia’s case, the food is some of the best you’ll find and each plate takes you straight to flavour town. In all honesty, there really would be no point in Cassia being located somewhere like Karangahape Rd [where an after party beckons] because the chances of me doing anything after devouring their Goan lamb chops and pork vindaloo are zero to none. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Indian. Address: 5 Fort Lane, central city. Contact:}_{Cassiarestaurant.co.nz}

Roasted cauliflower with makhani and ginger. Photo / Babiche Martens

Bar Céleste - Top 10

If I’m choosing, this is where we go. I love the energy and excellence of this busy Karangahape Rd restaurant, where the vibe is casual but the food is taken incredibly seriously. On a busy summer night the long hot dining room spills out onto the street and there is no greater feeling of happiness than sitting at an outdoor table, drinking a glass of natural wine the waiter recommended while snacking your way through a menu of delicious Aotearoa-Parisian delicacies. — Jesse

It’s hard to believe that Bar Céleste is Emma Ogilvie and Nick Landsman’s first restaurant and they were both in their mid-to-late 20s when they opened it but perhaps that’s why it has such an authentic and fun spunk. Most tables are getting a bottle rather than a glass and nobody is going light on the food-ordering front. You can promise yourself you’ll stop at some snacks, but get one whiff of that café de Paris butter atop steak on the other side of the restaurant and you’re all game. — Albert
_{Cuisine: French-NZ. Address: 146b Karangahape Rd, central city. Contact:}_{Barceleste.com}

The 'Gilda' skewer with anchovies and pickled pepper, and the tomato martini. Photo / Babiche Martens

The 'Gilda' skewer with anchovies and pickled pepper. Photo / Babiche Martens

Alma - Top 10

I love to eat here, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. Chef Jo Pearson helped build the Hipgroup empire with her consistent and outstanding food, and now she’s doing her own thing at this beautiful waterfront restaurant, which has just enough of traditional Spain to make you nostalgic for your OE, while occasionally pushing the culinary boundaries into new and exciting places. Though it’s an all-day eatery it feels flash at night, so it’s well worth booking in for a date or a quick table of tapas before a show. — Jesse

This a prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a restaurant based on its first few months of opening. I went to Alma not long after they entered our dining scene and was not a fan. After almost two years, it was time for a revisit and I was blown away. I wouldn’t usually talk about the drinks before the food but the tomato cocktail is nothing like a Bloody Mary, it’s more of a tomato martini and absolutely incredible. The food lives up to the beverages as the menu is both approachable and unique — there are cheesy empanadas for the fussy and beef tongue for the curious. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Andalusian. Address: 130 Quay St, Auckland. Contact:}_Alma.nz

Hotel Ponsonby - Top 10

When we wrote this list last year, Jesse considered Hotel Ponsonby more of a bar than a restaurant which led us to leave it off the top 50 entirely. To a certain degree, I seconded Jesse’s opinion but come the end of 2022 and head chef Ed Baillieu has made us swallow our words, along with his food. From a seasonally changing menu to “Burger Night Tuesdays” to Sunday roasts, the team at Hotel Ponsonby has truly put in the hard yards for the food to have the same recognition as the coconut margarita. — Albert

Trevally sashimi. Photo / Babiche Martens

This restaurant is so much fun to visit and who knows where an afternoon of wines in the partyish courtyard could lead. But youthful revelry aside it’s the kitchen that makes Hotel Ponsonby a top 10 star: the chef heaps flavour upon flavour, like an artist who keeps painting when others would stop but then knows the perfect moment to step away and call it a masterpiece. The trevally, octopus and Eton Mess are recommended but really this is the sort of menu where you can’t go wrong: arrive early and see where the evening takes you. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Casual bistro. Address: 1 Saint Marys Bay Rd, St Marys Bay. Contact:}_{Hotelponsonby.co.nz}

Trevally sashimi. Photo / Babiche Martens

Mr Morris - Top 10

Category winner: Best special-occasion restaurant

Our Supreme Winner last year and still consistently exceptional to this day. Where Mr Morris truly shines is the front-of-house staff as the team provides a quality of service that is hard to come by in Auckland, particularly after the pandemic. The menu hasn’t changed much over the past year but it could be a case of simply not fixing something that isn’t broken. Seriously, I don’t know how they could improve their steak any further. It has the perfect meat-to-fat ratio, it’s juicy, succulent, decadent and unbelievably raunchy, to the point it’s inappropriate. — Albert

Fish, eggplant, shitake and a fried oyster. Photo / Babiche Martens

Our Supreme Winner in 2021, the standards haven’t dropped at all since a predictable change of key staff post-lockdown. The food is incredibly exciting, and you should be sure to order some “snacks” — possibly some of the more expensive mouthfuls of food in the country but worth it to be, for a moment in time, transported into your own metaverse. It’s lovely to eat at a table but consider a seat at the bar to watch the busy team of chefs creating foods and flavours that shouldn’t really be possible. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern. Address: Cnr Galway and Commerce St, Britomart. Contact:}_Mrmorris.nz

Fish, eggplant, shitake and a fried oyster. Photo / Babiche Martens

Pasture - Top 10

It’s not quite enough to call this an international restaurant — maybe a restaurant from Mars. Chef Ed Verner has an insatiable imagination and lets nothing come between him and his vision. This is the most exacting, high-concept (but also wonderfully tasty) food you’ll ever eat and, if you’re serious about food, Pasture in Parnell must be on your bucket list. Verner’s singular vision has attracted criticism in the past, and it’s been encouraging to see him spend the last couple of years working hard to build a personal reputation that matches his undeniable culinary genius. — Jesse

Pasture chef Ed Verner. Photo / Supplied

If this was a list that was judged solely on food, Pasture would take the crown, no question about it. Ed Verner has given my palate the most memorable experiences and I’m sure he has done the same for everyone who has eaten at his restaurant. However, I’d be lying if I said three hours and $300 per person was a commitment that everyone could afford. But then again, for a world-class dining experience that is unlike anything in New Zealand, it’s an investment that’s worth every single penny and second of your time. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Modern rustic. Address: 235 Parnell Rd, Parnell. Contact:}_{Pastureakl.com}

Pasture chef Ed Verner. Photo / Supplied

In alphabetical order.

Tahr tartare atop compressed Yorkshire pudding. Photo / Babiche Martens

Tahr tartare atop compressed Yorkshire pudding. Photo / Babiche Martens

Ahi

Special category winner: Best restaurant when someone else is paying

Chef Ben Bayly’s empire continues to expand but, for me, Ahi shows him at his best — clever, cheeky, New Zealand-flavoured fine dining that’s delicious and visually spectacular. Service is flawless and, despite technically being in a shopping mall, the location works beautifully — the far corner table gives you one of the city’s best restaurant views. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern fine dining. Address: Commercial Bay, 7 Queen St. Contact:}_{Ahirestaurant.co.nz}

Azabu Ponsonby

Special category winner: Best restaurant for a first date

The best word to describe Azabu is ‘sexy’. The Nikkei-influenced Japanese food is light yet full of flavour, the sleek space is dimly lit and the drinks all have a strong punch to them. It’s also home to the tuna tostada which I will be serving at my wedding and funeral. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Modern Japanese. Address: 26 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_{Azabuponsonby.co.nz}

Baduzzi

Restaurateur Michael Dearth never misses. This Italian-American kitchen turns out deceptively fancy food inspired by the cuisine of the eastern seaboard. Every plate is perfect and the drinks list goes deep, a good thing when the comfy leather booths lend themselves so well to a long night pouring wine and telling stories. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Italian. Address: 10/26 Jellicoe St, North Wharf. Contact:}_{Baduzzi.co.nz}

Bar Magda

An ambitious restaurant that really pushes the boundaries, which I have nothing but respect for. Owner and head chef Carlo Buenaventura has given it his all for his first restaurant and I’m excited about its evolution over the years to come. As long as the lamb ribs stay on the menu, because these are some of the best lamb ribs you’ll find. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Modern Filipino. Address: 25b Cross St, Auckland CBD. Contact:}_{Barmagda.co.nz}

Beau

I love what Beau brings to this list. It flies the flag for independent, local, personality-filled restaurants and though it might look a lot like a wine bar, the food is brilliant too. This is the sort of place you’d make your local even if you lived 40 minutes away. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 265 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_{Beauponsonby.co.nz}

Crayfish tail with nasturtium. Photo / Babiche Martens

Crayfish tail with nasturtium. Photo / Babiche Martens

Boxer

Special category winner: Best restaurant before a big night

The place to take your best foodie friend, especially if they think they’ve seen it all. Part cocktail bar, part restaurant, part science lab, it’s an experience unrivalled in New Zealand, with incredible dishes created and served by people who take food very, very seriously. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s also a lot of fun. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern. Address: 235 Parnell Rd, Parnell. Contact:}_Boxerakl.com

Fish head curry. Photo / Babiche Martens

Fish head curry. Photo / Babiche Martens

Bunga Raya

Whenever someone asks me where to get the best Malaysian food in town, Bunga Raya is my answer. Aunty Rita holds the floor so well that I think she has eight arms and her sense of humour will brighten your mood instantly. That is if the Hainanese chicken on rice didn’t beat her to it. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Malaysian. Address: 2a/3062 Great North Rd, New Lynn. Contact: (09) 827 8666}

Cazador

Perhaps no restaurant inspires as much love in its customers — love for the food, for the unique room and for the wonderful people who’ve turned this 1980s icon into a dining room perfect for right now. Enjoying a range of interesting meats cooked in interesting ways, you won’t regret a dollar you spend at this family-owned restaurant which is truly like no other. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 854 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden. Contact:}_{Cazador.co.nz}

Cibo

Special category winner: Best service

For some, it's a reliable favourite, where they've been eating for 30 years and know exactly what to expect. But for countless others it remains a new discovery: an absolutely beautiful garden restaurant with flawless food and wonderful service, tucked into an industrial Parnell block. The waiters wear shorts but there's no better restaurant to dress up for, and enjoy being indulged by a team who still treat dinner as a special occasion. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 91 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. Contact:}_Cibo.co.nz

Roasted asparagus on walnut puree. Photo / Babiche Martens

Roasted asparagus on walnut puree. Photo / Babiche Martens

Cotto

Probably the busiest and happiest dining room on K Rd, Cotto pioneered the modern Auckland pasta restaurant. Their menu leans on the tastiest traditions of Italian cookery, with the occasional modern or local flourish. Book early or take your chances by walking in off-peak. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Pasta. Address: 375 Karangahape Rd, central city. Contact:}_Cotto.co.nz

Depot

Fish sliders, bone marrow, pork hock, clam linguine, cookie on a skillet, ginger loaf — the list of star staples goes on when it comes to Depot. They’ve also re-introduced their three-item breakfast menu (but let’s be honest, it’s a list of two since nobody is getting the granola) which is worth getting up early for. — Albert
_{Cuisine: NZ bistro. Address: 86 Federal St, central city. Contact:}_{Depoteatery.co.nz}

East

East specialises in vegetarian and vegan cuisine but you don’t have to be either to enjoy it. The lack of meat has made the chefs overcompensate with all the other elements, making East’s food some of the tastiest in Auckland. We all have that one friend with dietary requirements and this is a place nobody feels neglected. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Pan-Asian vegetarian. Address: 63-67 Nelson St, central city. Contact:}_{Easteats.co.nz}

Ebisu

Rock melon in sushi. I know. It feels so wrong but tastes so right — Ebisu’s ebi mayo roll has a place in my heart as my favourite sushi ever, including the ones I had in Japan. This is another bite that will be served at my wedding and funeral. If it’s a special occasion, specially request the premium sashimi platter and be prepared to be blown away. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Japanese. Address: 116-118 Quay St, central city. Contact: (09) 300 5271}

Leigh snapper with pistou and baby vegetables. Photo / Babiche Martens

Leigh snapper with pistou and baby vegetables. Photo / Babiche Martens

Esther

Hotel dining is easy to get wrong and hard to get right. Importantly at Esther, you never feel like you’re in a common area for paying guests, but instead like you could be anywhere in the world. The food is officially high-end Mediterranean, and it’s good enough that you’ll consider changing your plans, buying another bottle and staying over. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 4 Viaduct Ave, Viaduct. Contact:}_{Estherrestaurant.com}

Gao

Special category winner: Most underrated restaurant

Located in bum f**k Idaho (Albany), Gao is a restaurant that has made me a better person. This is because I don’t lose my temper anymore when my friends who live on the North Shore ask if we can grab dinner from somewhere that’s close to them. If my night includes their Peking duck pancakes, I will be beyond satisfied. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Asian fusion: Address: 198/200 Dairy Flat Highway, Albany. Contact:}_Thegao.co.nz

Gochu

One of the first restaurants in Auckland to put a modern spin on Korean cuisine and now, there are several popping up around town. Gochu’s leading the way when it comes to Asian fusion fare and it’s always a good sign when it gets the nod of approval from my very traditional Korean parents too. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Korean. Address: Commercial Bay, 1 Queen St, central city. Contact:}_{Gochugotyou.co.nz}

Hello Beasty

This is a restaurant that I have recommended to multiple people over the years for its New Zealand fusion cuisine with flavours from Japan, Korean and China, and not one person has reported back with a single negative remark. Hello Beasty is one of Viaduct Harbour’s best establishments and is just as enjoyable with the family as it is with a group of friends. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Asian fusion. Address: 95-97 Customs St West, Viaduct. Contact:}_{Hellobeasty.co.nz}

Hugo's vegan beetroot dish. Photo / Babiche Martens

Hugo's vegan beetroot dish. Photo / Babiche Martens

Hugo’s Bistro

Head chef Alfie Ingham is unbelievably talented at reinventing classic bistro dishes in a modern setting and the CBD is lucky to have a restaurant as fabulous as Hugo’s Bistro in its vicinity, while neighbourhood eateries might be relieved it’s in the city, as it would be game over for a lot of them. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 67 Shortland St, central city. Contact:}_{Hugosbistro.co.n}_z

kingi

kingi is top of the list for seafood lovers, serving not just every fish but every body part to enthusiastic city diners. From hard-core kina-lovers to pan-fried snapper fillets, there is something for both ends of the pescaphile spectrum, along with plenty in the middle to surprise, delight and occasionally challenge. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Seafood. Address: Tuawhiti Lane, 29 Galway St, central city. Contact:}_{Kingibritomart.com}

Octopus with braised fennel. Photo / Babiche Martens

Octopus with braised fennel. Photo / Babiche Martens

Lilian

Expect to wait for a table for at least 20 minutes at Lilian, as good things take time. Lilian is renowned for its pizzas but I strongly suggest you take a minute to read the entire menu before making any decisions because their lamb ribs, eggplant, cucumbers and crudo are not to be missed. — Albert
_{Cuisine: European. Address: 472 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn. Contact:}_Lilian.co.nz

Lillius

A fine dining restaurant from a couple who seem too young for it, the Lillius kitchen has great energy and is working hard to keep customers happy while innovating wherever they can. Choose three or six courses and leave your fate in the hands of the chefs — this is exciting, clever food from a team who could be cooking something much easier, but continue to shoot for the stars. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Fine dining. Address: 19 Khyber Pass Rd, Grafton. Contact:}_{Lillius.co.nz}

Madame George

Having eaten here, it’s impossible to drive past without smiling and then, inevitably, slowing down to look for a park. The service is personal and memorable, with great drinks and unique, South American-inspired cuisine combining with inner-city buzz to create a special Auckland destination. Eat outside for the full K Rd experience. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern. Address: 990 Karangahape Rd, central city. Contact:}_{Madamegeorge.co.nz}

Air-dried wagyu with truffled potato foam, poached egg and olive oil. Photo / Babiche Martens

Air-dried wagyu with truffled potato foam, poached egg and olive oil. Photo / Babiche Martens

MoVida

For 20 years MoVida has defined the tapas genre for happy Melburnians, and now we get our turn. Rather than rehashing a formula and rolling it out, MoVida’s owners have worked with our best local operators to create something truly New Zealand. Expect wonderful seafood dishes, precise plating and one of Auckland’s great dining rooms. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern Spanish. Address: 52 Tyler St, central city. Contact: (09) 302 9888}

Ockhee

Special category winner: Restaurateurs of the year (Paul and Lisa Lee)

It took 2021 years for Ponsonby Rd to see a Korean restaurant and kudos to Ockhee for being the first. I wouldn’t even call this a fusion restaurant, it’s more so a contemporary version of classic Korean cuisine and I’m proud to see it succeed among locals. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Korean. Address: 171 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_{Ockheedokey.com}

Woodfired carrots with whipped ricotta and pistachios. Photo / Babiche Martens

Woodfired carrots with whipped ricotta and pistachios. Photo / Babiche Martens

Ooh-Fa

Best enjoyed with a fun couple of friends, this is a party bar where they just happen to take pizza very, very seriously. It pays off in a sourdough base which has been fermented for days, topped with a spectrum of flavour-packed ingredients from the traditional to the more cutting-edge and blistered up in a white-hot oven. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Pizza. Address: 357 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden. Contact:}_Oofha.co.nz

Omni

The quiet, neighbourhood feel of this Dominion Rd restaurant contrasts with the kitchen’s intense passion for flavour. The deep-fried aubergine and oyster mushroom dishes are vegetarian heavens, but it’s the grilled chicken people flock for — each morsel of the bird sizzled to perfection over hot coals and served with a sauce that best suits it. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Japanese. Address: 359 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden. Contact:}_Atomni.co.nz

Onslow

A restaurant that just gets better and better with each visit. Some might look at Onslow’s fried chicken and caviar as obnoxious but I see it as purely awesome for both Instagram and tastebuds. There’s also a martini trolley which gives it a place in the top 50 by default. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Modern bistro. Address: 9 Princes St, central city. Contact:}_Onslow.nz

Paris Butter

Special category winner: Restaurant to watch

Home of the hardest working kitchens in Auckland, Paris Butter serves up beautiful fine dining food and is the perfect special-occasion restaurant. Sustainability runs through the menu but it never feels worthy — in fact, the chefs’ determination to put everything to good use creates flashes of inspiration and deliciousness you won’t find anywhere else. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Fine dining. Address: 166 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay. Contact:}_{Parisbutter.co.nz}

Pici

Special category winner: Best restaurant for dining alone

I despise using the words ‘cheap and cheerful’ to explain a restaurant but sometimes, there’s no better explanation. Pici is exactly that, cheap (if you don’t get carried away with the wines) and cheerful because that cacio e pepe will make you smile from ear to ear upon the first bite. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Italian. Address: Shop 22, St Kevin’s Arcade, central city. Contact:}_{Picipasta.co.nz}

Seafood pancake, fish roe and rice, pork with roast garlic, and salmon crunch chicken. Photo / Babiche Martens

Seafood pancake, fish roe and rice, pork with roast garlic, and salmon crunch chicken. Photo / Babiche Martens

Pocha

The late-night kitchen we deserve, Pocha is busy at all hours, serving delicious, shareable Korean food to a grateful city audience. The portions are massive so the more of you the better — try the almond-crusted fried chicken for the definitive version of this East Asian classic. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Korean. Address: 50 Kitchener St, central city. Contact:}_Pocha.co.nz

Poni

You can make magic happen but not miracles, unless you’re David Lee. What used to be The Poni Room has now transformed into Poni and every aspect of the restaurant has been immensely elevated. Tastier food, more creative menu, quicker service and it still provides one of the best views of our city. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Asian fusion. Address: Commercial Bay, 172 Quay St, central city. Contact:}_{Poniakl.co.nz}

Prego

Whenever you’re short on ideas for where to go, Prego will always be there for you. Whether it’s a quick bite with your colleagues during your lunch hour or a longer affair on the weekend, the Prego family will make it happen how you want it to, making it one of the most reliable restaurants in Auckland. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Italian. Address: 226 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_Prego.co.nz

Satya Chai Lounge

If you love Indian food but need some atmosphere too, this is the place for you. Deep fried, heavily spiced and proudly served alongside a deep range of craft beers, this is the sort of food best enjoyed with hungry friends who don’t want formality to get in the way of a decent catch-up. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Indian street food. Address: 271 Karangahape Rd, central city. Contact: (09) 377 0007}

Sid at The French Cafe

It’s no secret that I am not the biggest fan of fine dining but there is a time and a place for it. My visits to Sid at The French Cafe might not be regular but when I do go, I never regret it. It offers exceptional service and anyone can appreciate the effort, presentation and flavour of the food. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Fine dining. Address: 210 Symonds St, Eden Terrace. Contact:}_{Sidatthefrenchcafe.co.nz}

Kingfish with yuzu, chilli and coconut. Photo / Babiche Martens

Kingfish with yuzu, chilli and coconut. Photo / Babiche Martens

Sidart

One of the most exciting “take-overs” in recent years, Sid Sahrawat’s famous Three Lamps restaurant has now been taken on by his former protege Lesley Chandra. The flavours of India are just a starting point for a menu that is artistic, sometimes experimental but always wonderful. Bookmark it for your next special occasion. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Fine dining. Address: 283 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_Sidart.co.nz

Soul Bar & Bistro

Special category winner: Best restaurant for a long lunch

Get into your most sparkly dress, put on your biggest sunglasses and highest stilettos, and nobody at Soul Bar & Bistro will bat an eye because they’ve seen it all before. Jazziness aside, it’s the quality of food and service that has made Soul one of our city’s longest-standing restaurants. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: Lower Hobson St, Customs St West. Contact:}_{Soulbar.co.nz}

The Blue Breeze Inn

By no means is The Blue Breeze Inn a cool restaurant but it’s not trying to be. After being in the game for almost 10 years, it has established itself as one of Ponsonby Rd’s most reliable restaurants and I have never left here without feeling incredibly happy and satisfied. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Chinese/Pacific. Address: 146 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Contact:}_{Thebluebreezeinn.co.nz}

The Engine Room

The only reason I go to Northcote Point is because I get an uncontrollable craving for The Engine Room’s pork schnitzel — Holstein-version, always. For those who are unfamiliar with the Holstein, it’s an addition of a fried egg and anchovies, which makes anything taste better. — Albert
^{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 115 Queen St, Northcote Point. Contact: (09) 480 9502}

The Grove

No other Auckland restaurant aims quite this high when it comes to fine dining food, and though the head chefs move through comparatively quickly (it was a starting point for Sid Sahrawat and Michael Meredith, among others), the standard is consistently stratospheric, with wine and service that act as a benchmark for all other top-end restaurants. — Jesse
_{Cuisine: Modern. Address: Saint Patricks Square, Wyndham St. Contact:}_{Thegroverestaurant.co.nz}

The Lodge Bar

Having a restaurant beside a clothing store is not a concept us New Zealanders are very used to but I appreciate The Lodge Bar leading that charge. Matt Lambert has created a solid menu of bistro classics but it’s the battered oysters that linger in my mind the longest after each meal here. — Albert
_{Cuisine: Bistro. Address: 7 Queen St, Commercial Bay. Contact: (09) 884 4200}

_{Team credits}
_{Judges / Jesse Mulligan and Albert Cho}
_{Producer / Johanna Thornton}
_{Portrait photographer / Mara Sommer}
_{Photographer's assistant / Josh Szeto}
_{Restaurant photographer / Babiche Martens}
_{Stylist / Dan Ahwa}
_{Videographers / Britt Walton and Tom Dyton}
_{Shorthand designer / Paul Slater}
_{Special thank you to Sunset Bar for the filming location and cocktails, and East for the food.}