Address: Corner Ponsonby and Richmond Rd
Phone: (09) 376 9929
Web: goldendawn.co.nz
Cuisine: Dishes to share
Rating: 8/10
In the brick building at the crossroads of Ponsonby Rd and Richmond Rd you'll find the Golden Dawn bar. They're doing food, a whole menu of it, not just bar snacks to go with your drinks, as had been my misguided impression.
Pushing back the heavy forest green wooden gate, you may feel as though you're dropping in on the neighbours' backyard but instead you'll find yourself in the relaxed garden bar of this hipster hangout. The concrete courtyard catches the blazing late afternoon sun and there's a string of old-school coloured lights draped haphazardly over the area to add to the ambience after sundown. Big communal tables are thickly coated in the palest blue paint and offset with bright red chairs and each table is prettied up with a vase of fresh flowers. For one of the coolest bars in town, it is delightfully unpretentious. The staff make it so with their genuine friendliness.
We didn't mess around and ordered eight dishes from the "victuals" (which if you look it up means "a source of materials that nourish the body"). At Golden Dawn it means a menu put together by chef Beckie Pilley (of Scoff catering) listing a total of 15 dishes. We started by tucking into a tray of cute mini brisket pies. They were nothing like the soggy staff room savouries you get at a work leaving do. These were golden nuggets of gloriously crisp buttery pastry, encasing a dark meat filling of peppery brisket and gravy.
Chargrilled bruschetta was served salty, warm and oily and piled high with beetroot and a vivid green broad bean, pea and parmesan smash, with freshly toasted walnuts.A terracotta dish of soft butter beans and tender pork, topped with sharp cheddar and black sausage, were all irresistible. A bowl overflowing with fried potato and corn balls - krokety - spiked with cumin and coriander came alive with the squeeze of lemon juice we applied at the last minute.
