Food Porn – Top Auckland Restaurants

A recent hobby is frequenting the top Auckland restaurants which appear on the Top 50 lists published by Metro and Cuisine Magazine. Here are the first few which have impressed me.

The Sugar Club

5.30 makes for an early for dinner but enabled us to watch night fall up the Skytower. The menu at The Sugar Club is based on small plates designed for sharing. All the dishes we ordered were amazing but the Inari Pocket Tempura, Fish and Watermelon Salad were the stand outs. The staff were hugely attentive and extra amuse-bouches kept appearing between courses. The Sugar Club’s location high up the Skytower makes it a lovely spot for a celebration.

Euro

We waited 20 minutes at the bar for a table when our party of two arrived without a booking on a Sunday evening at Simon Gault’s Auckland haunt Euro. Kim Dotcom and his newly formed Harem soon set up camp two tables away.

Euro is the type of venue where bubbles seemed the only appropriate drink option but I found it very difficult to order food given the number of yummy choices on the menu. All the mains were priced much the same and the staff were happy to help – even the most difficult question I could think of was answered immediately in a way I understood.

I thought Euro was quite reasonably priced at $150 for two mains, two sides and four drinks. My only disappointment was that I was too full for desert.We ordered Breads as a starter. I then had the Prawn and Asparagus Farotto (like a risotto of different grains). The veges of the day were Zucchini and Eggplant which was a welcome variety from the standard Broccoli, Carrots and Cauliflower you’re most likely to be served elsewhere, and I loved the Shoestring Fries with Parmesan and Truffle.

Baduzzi

The Potato and Saffron Gnocci with Goats Curd, Burnt Butter and Confit Figs was a small plate but it was delicious and about right for lunch. I haven’t been able to stomach supermarket gnocci (plain and rubbish) since.

The Tiramisu with Baileys and Amaretto Lady Finders and Chocolate Cream was an amazing, well put together desert. I am glad I shared and didn’t attempt to eat a whole one by myself.

Federal Delicatessen

The bar alongside the kitchen makes Federal Delicatessen is perfect for the solo diner not wanting to sit alone at a table.

Al Brown himself was serving on when I visited on a Thursday night in May and he took the time to chat to me about what I’d ordered. He also sparked up a conversation between myself and my neighbour, another solo female business traveller which I think we both appreciated.

I ordered the Salmon Latkes without entirely knowing what I was ordering but it was amazing and I don’t think you can go wrong here. Unfortunately my phone was too flat for my camera to open so I have no pictures.

For desert I ordered the Banana and Toffee Pie with Caramel Popcorn at the suggestion of the waiter. On a previous visit the bf and I had ordered the Chocolate Cherry Pie with Pretzel Crunch. When it came out it was apparently slightly undersized so we were bought an additional piece at no cost.

The Fed also a great spot for brunch with bottomless coffee and blueberry hotcakes.