48 hours in the city of sails
If Melbourne is Australia’s culinary giant, then surely Auckland is New Zealand’s premier foodie destination. The folks in Wellington may debate it, but Auckland’s breadth and depth as a foodie fun factory is hard to rival.
Lunch Magazine decided to test it out during a recent whirlwind 48-hour tour to the City of Sails.
Here’s a few of the gems we discovered:
Cassia
90 Federal Street, Auckland
Now in its second carnation after previously being housed at Fort Lane, prior to a misfortunate flooding closed it down, modern and slick Indian restaurant Cassia has re-found both its home and its way at the Federal Street location, just across the lane from the far less appealing Sky City Casino.
Owners and restaurant veterans Sid and Chand Sahrawat have seen what the good times look like – winning chefs hats and even restaurant of the year during their previous Fort Lane tenure – and whilst they took a little while getting it back to its best after arriving at Sky City back in 2023, it is now thankfully humming yet again.
Sit at the bar and grab a Kingfisher beer off the tap or a crisp Chardonnay from the well stocked wine list, and marvel at the open kitchen going to work. While there, perhaps try the magical tandoori taco, inspired by a nostalgia for kati rolls, or have a Fish Finger, with Tamarind and Garlic. Both are small bites. Both are delicious.
Head chef Sid has always matched the best and freshest New Zealand ingredients with his Indian flavours masterfully and the Hawkes Bay Lamb Chops, with Leek Ash and Dry Korma is a fine example of just that.
For dessert, try the palate cleansing Yoghurt & Lychee Sorbet, Cashew, Coconut, and Kaffir Lime.
Signature dish:
The lamb cutlets are superb, but be warned there are only three, so if two of you are dining, prepare to fight over the third!
What to drink:
The Kingfisher beer on tap is some of the coldest and best ‘fisher’ you will find outside of India.
skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/cassia
@cassia_auckland
Amano
68 Tyler Street, Auckland CBD
Lining up in a long queue for breakfast? It would want to be darn good right!
Amano, situated at Tyler Street on Britomart is just that. The Amano team are slick at what they do – from home baked breads and pastries all cooked on the premises, to the funky and slightly off centre breakfast creations, this place works and houses a wide mix of diners varying from tourists to business folk, as well as a regular soirée of locals.
A beautiful site serving beautiful food all day and evening long. But breakfast is arguably when things really rock at Amano. Try Avocado with sourdough, poached egg & almond, or for the more adventurous the smoke warehou pate, with poached egg, salsa verde & sourdough.
Fancy meatballs for breakfast?
Dose up on protein and get amongst the smashed meatballs with salsa rosso, poached egg & sourdough.
For those wanting to keep it simple and sit at the bakery with a sneaky little espresso? Perhaps a Croissant or Pain au chocolat may do the trick?
Whichever way you go, you won’t be disappointed.
Signature dish:
The meatballs are a tad different for brekkie, but who doesn’t love meatballs at anytime of the morning, day or night!
What to drink:
A wee tipple to start the day? Why not. Perhaps a Bellini with rockmelon, prosecco, brandy, acqua di cedro and lemon. Now that’s how to kickstart things!
Ebisu
116 Quay Street, Auckland CBD
Fresh Japanese seafood a stone’s throw away from the busy Auckland harbour. Yes please.
Ebisu is an Auckland institution. The Omakase Sashimi or chef’s selection of fresh market fish is as good as you’ll find and hardly surprising considering the surplus of fresh seafood stocked in the plentiful Auckland waters.
The eggplant dengaku is outrageously good. With Tama miso, spring onion, sesame and bonito flakes, this is a taste sensation – who knew eggplant could taste so good?
The steamed prawn dumpling are a long-time house favourite. With ginger soy, house made chilli oil, shaved almonds & crispy shallot, they leave you wanting much more than the four pieces served up.
For main, hard to go past the A4 Kagoshima black wagyu served with truffle sesame ponzu, Momiji oroshi soy & grilled bamboo shoot. It is rich, it is decadent. And it is super tasty.
Signature dish:
The eggplant. You won’t taste better eggplant. Anywhere.
What to drink:
Try a bottle of Mates Chardonnay from Kumeu River. Not cheap, but worth every cent and perfectly matched with the fresh seafood.
Stonyridge
80 Onetangi Roa, Waiheke Island
Want quality food and outstanding wine served in a rustic, charming verandah style winery restaurant? Head to Stonyridge, but be quick, because post May it is set to undergo a massive multi-millionaire refurbishment from its new Singaporean owners.
Some will be excited about the fine diner it will evolve into, with glass and stone everywhere no doubt, but others will bemoan the sameness of just another modern clone of a winery restaurant. Long term locals on the island love the relaxed nature, the familiar friendly service and the quality rustic food matching the quaint venue which overlooks the rolling hills, but as Bob Dylan famously sang, the “Times they are a changin.”
For those heading from Auckland on the ferry and then a 15minute taxi ride when you hit the island, try the Burnt Trevally with Apple & fennel consommé, buckwheat crumb and herb aioli. A superb dish.
And please don’t miss their special side dish of Potato skins with Tucker aioli – not trimming, but oh so tasty.
Signature dish:
Hard to split the trevally from the potato skins. Both are musts. But be quick, they are unlikely to last the new incarnation.
What to drink:
Owner Stephen White produced the first vintage at Stonyridge Vineyard back in 1985. Two years later, he made the great 1987 Larose that rocketed Stonyridge to national and international stardom.
The Stonyridge Larose is now a known showstopper – or a first equal with Chateau Petrus, Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Cheval Blanc in Grandes vins rouge du Monde (Les Editions du Bottin Gourmand).
It’s not cheap at a couple hundred bucks a bottle but it’s so good.
With White having been rumoured to have sold Stonyridge for in excess of $70million, one can only hope the Singaporean interests keep the soul and charm which has made the place what it is.
stonyridge.com
@stonyridgevineyard
Bellini Bar Hilton Champagne and Opera
147 Quay Street, Auckland
Fancy finishing a Friday afternoon with champagne and opera?
There’s something so special about sipping a glass of Pommery while watching local opera group The Pioano Traders come to life in the chic Bellini Bar, overlooking the stunning Auckland Harbour.
Great to see the Hilton team trying new and different things and this works a treat. Now to fix the Fish Restaurant and bring the room service up to edible standards.
What to drink:
Champagne of course. And Pommery goes down a treat.
