Auckland - where to eat and drink

By Mark Sukhija

Please mention MarksTravelNotes.com when dining / drinking at these fine establishments. I have visited all these establishments.

Restaurants - Recommended

Orbit Revolving Restaurant (Sky Tower, Cnr Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland, New Zealand) - Not my usual selection of restaurant as it's obviously geared for tourists. The Orbit Revolving Restaurant is 192 meters up the Sky Tower and affords excellent views across Auckland and region. For what is obviously geared to tourists and visitors - the food is actually pretty good, certainly better than many non-touristic places. Outstanding wine list which, bar a couple of Ozzie wines, is drawn exclusivly from New Zealand . Service on my visits was excellent. Touristy? Yes - but all the other boxes are very firmly ticked for a great evening out.

The Occidental Belgian Beer Cafe (6-8 Vulcan Lane, Auckland Central) - on repeated visits to Auckland the Occidental Belgian Bar has been a must visit place for good Belgian beer served in appropriate glassware. Leffe Blond, Leffe Bruin and Hoegardeen are all on tap with many other classic Belgian beers available bottled. While the Occidental is well known for its mussels, it also does an excellent Lamb Shank. While much food is otherwise nuked - the excellent beer list makes up.
Northern Steamship (122 Quay Street, Auckland) - Handily located close to the Quay, the Northern Steamship boasts an excellent array of Mac's beers, a good selection of meals and, handily for a gadgeted traveller, free wifi. Good place for a light evening meal, pint of beer and checking that all important email.

Dine by Peter Gordon (Sky City Grand Hotel, 90 Federal Street, Auckland) - Usually I'm very hestitant to give a recommendation to a hotel restaurant as they tend to have all the atmosphere of outer space. Dine by Peter Gordon is no exception to that. While the staff could have, and should have, greater knowledge of the wines they serve (especially with the degustation menu) - the degustation menu is excellent, food well prepared and the wine well matched to each course.
The Original Tony's (27 Wellesley Street, Auckland 1010) - On my solitary visit the food was actually pretty good. Service, however, was the major downfall. Aside from the general impression that customers were a a mere hinderance, service staff didn't know what "corked" meant (it doesn't mean bring me the cork or glare at your customers like they just arrived from outer space) - the manager shouldn't then tell you it isn't corked when he admited he hadn't tried it (that only results in me telling him to!) Shame really, kitchen obviously know what they're doing but are let down by front of house. Haven't been back since. Won't be either without serious persuasion.