Herald rating ***
Address: 33 Sale St, Victoria Park Precinct
Phone: (09) 358 1702
Open: Mon-Fri for lunch from 11am, Mon-Sun for dinner from 6pm
KEY POINTS:
We arrive at: 7pm on the wettest and windiest night of the year so far. It's a bit of a struggle to find Clooney under these circumstances but we eventually struggle through its glass front doors to find warmth and serenity.
Are served our first drink by: An immaculately dressed barman who expertly whips us up a couple of fancy cocktails, after his immaculately dressed colleague takes our coats. Actually, all the staff here look great. I opt for the Whatever Happened to Rudy Huxtable? which features Seven Tiki Aperol, fresh basil leaves, peach bitters, and feijoa and ginger compote ($16), while my friend has the Anatomy Artistocrat - Hennessey vs, Creme de Gingembre, Nectar Framboise, and ruby red grapefruit juice ($18). Both are delicious.
The decor is ... Industrial-minimalist. You walk in to find a smallish drinking area with lush leather couches, wall heaters, exposed brick walls with steel beams bracing them, and concrete floors. The lighting is great - round globes in a row illuminate this area, while a giant low-hanging semi-circular shade lights up the bar.
... and the ambience: Is muted, but that's probably because at this time of night, people are just in this small drinking area waiting for their friends so they can dine in the lush restaurant at the back. It turns into more of a destination later at night - there is a swish nightclub downstairs that opens later for diners and people in the know.
The house chardonnay is: Black Barn unoaked, $9 a glass.
It smells of: Food from the restaurant, which is a bit torturous to be honest. We contemplate dinner but decide to wait and come back with a group.
The beers on tap are: You're kidding, right?
The music is: Non-descript jazzy house.
Why you should go: This is one of those Auckland restaurants that demands a place on your must-dine-at list. And that nightclub is a nice add-on for diners, it apparently heaves late in the evening.
Bottom line: A stylish pre-dinner bar, but make sure you're wearing your best frock.
