In this fortnightly series, Viva’s resident dining-out editor shares advice on where and what to eat.
Do you have any restaurant-related questions or dining-out dilemmas? Jesse Mulligan is here to help.
Email Jesse at Viva@nzherald.co.nz and tell him what you need. Where and what do you like to eat?
Here are some questions he’s been asked lately and his answers.
Hi Jesse,
We are four former business partners who have a tradition of enjoying a long Friday lunch together every 3-6 months.
We graze through the afternoon, exploring the many menu options, pairing with wines, usually from midday to about 5pm and have been doing this for 8-plus years now and are looking for a new venue with great food and wine choices.
We take it in turn to select a restaurant and pay. The next lunch is on me.
The restaurants we have visited so far are (I may have missed a few):
Ahi; Bossi; Baduzzi; Cassia; Clooney; Cibo; Ebisu; Esther; Euro; First Mates Last Laugh; The Engine Room; Mr Morris; Mudbrick; Moxie; Onslow; Origine; Sails; Soul Bar.
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Advertise with NZME.Jesse, if you could recommend somewhere I would really appreciate it. I did wonder about Cocoro, based on a comment you made in Viva.
Thanks for any help.
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve,
What a fantastic tradition. Congrats to you and your friends for coming up with such a great idea and sticking with it – I’m sure the restaurateurs appreciate your long and lavish sessions as well. Yes, Cocoro is perfection, though I’m not sure quite as well suited as some of those other places to the lunch that never ends. Let me add half a dozen other ideas to your list:
- Gilt: Josh Emett at The Chancery, our pick for best business lunch in Viva’s Top 60 Auckland Restaurant awards
- Prego: the original long-lunch spot and still the same as it ever was. Get a spot in the courtyard and enjoy the lack of judgment from the staff, who’ve no doubt seen it all
- The College Hill Wine Room: you could really stretch out here and though the menu is a short one, I feel sure you could talk to the chef and arrange something special in their beautiful private room.
- The Grove: shutting down sadly (in March), but what a great way to say farewell!
- Trivet: a flash new hotel restaurant that doesn’t feel like a hotel restaurant. The food is brilliant and the staff eager to please.
- The French Cafe: One of the most beautiful lunch spots in the city – I’m surprised it’s not on your list already!
Let me know how you go and let’s catch up in a year or two when you’re ready for some more ideas.
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Advertise with NZME.Hi Jesse,
My partner and I are both ‘high risk’ category and wear our masks in busy indoor settings, and this limits our dining experiences.
With a special occasion coming up, what restaurants in the city do you recommend where we can dine outside, not on a footpath on a busy road or in a wind tunnel as is often the case?
Thanks,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Have you considered a trip out to Bracu, a lovely rural restaurant on the outskirts of Auckland city near Bombay? The chef there is ambitious and highly regarded, the setting among olive trees is very appealing and there are loads of outdoor tables, many of which wrap around the deck of the restaurant. If you were still worried about it, you could request a table down in the olive grove – I’m sure the wait staff won’t mind the extra few steps.
If you’re confident in the weather, head west instead to The Butcher Baker in Helensville. It’s a restaurant like no other, with personal service, an open fire oven and some of the best food you’ll experience in Auckland. And they have a courtyard which works well so long as it’s not raining.
Most waterfront restaurants have outdoor tables – Soul for example would be perfect for a special occasion. Have a look at Hello Beasty too – perhaps less of a “celebration” restaurant, but if you like Asian-style food you won’t do better in the city.
Hi Jesse,
I just read your top 50 restaurants. I know there’s always going to be someone bleating about why wasn’t restaurant x in your list, but why wasn’t Cave A Vin in Milford on your list?
In my humble opinion this hole-in-the-wall Melbourne-esque natural wine bar with sensational seasonal food and a small posse of the most dedicated passionate staff one could ever ask for blows some of your other top 60 restaurants out of the water.
In some ways I’m glad you didn’t publish it otherwise the other foodies of Auckland might discover my secret!
Massive shout out to chef Zane and the rest of the fabulous crew. :)
Naera
Naera,
We love getting feedback on the list and I think of all the restaurants people have suggested for inclusion, Cave a Vin might make the strongest case. I reviewed the restaurant in 2023 and scored it a very respectable 17/20 (18/20 was the informal cut-off for the top 60 this year, though we made exceptions in each direction). I loved the food, the service and the wine list – perhaps the only thing counting against it is that the menu really says “wine bar with food” rather than “dedicated restaurant”. Nothing wrong with that, but when you have a limited list and too many names to squeeze on to it, small things can become deciding factors.
Anyway, I’m glad you’re loving it and I’m excited about the Milford renaissance – more news on that in my weekly restaurant review, arriving this Wednesday.
What you’ve asked, and what he’s shared.
The Best Auckland Restaurants For Peace & Quiet. Plus, where to take a child with food allergies.
Where To Find Japanese Food You’ll Love & What To Do About The Bill. Plus more on pet-friendly dining.
Where To Take A Vegetarian & Accessible Eateries. Get out of the city centre to find some of the best accessible eateries.
Great Chinese Food & Where To Go To Impress A Chef. A restaurant packed with heart, soul and a lifetime of experience that is surprisingly fun too.
Where To Go For An After-Work Drink; The Strangest Things I’ve Found In My Food. Plus, news from a beloved bar in Karangahape Rd.
