Gemmayze Street

Photos

Reviews

1. Simon Upton (Simon G Upton) ★★★★★

   Fantastic experience, incredible food and wonderful staff. Recommend the 4 course menu, allows for a relaxed time. Accompanied this with the Bekaa valley B-Qa white wine, outstanding. Felt that the lamb shoulder portion was a bit small for 2 but overall left feeling replete. Will go again

   almost 3 months ago
2. Isabella Clague ★★★★★

   Two of us came here on a Saturday night for dinner and the place was absolutely packed. All the staff looked extremely busy and a bit stressed, but despite that the atmosphere was still great, and the view of the Sky Tower made it feel special. We ordered a lot of dishes: • Housemade pide bread with golden kūmara, za’atar • Hummus with roasted garlic and paprika • Falafel with pickled green chilli, tahini and coriander • Malfouf grilled cabbage with muhammara and onion jus • Habaq with white asparagus, basil mayo and crispy sujuk • Fetteh fried eggplant with tahini yoghurt and brown-butter cashew • Fetteh djej — chicken thigh, yoghurt, crispy bread, pinenut, brown butter • Ghanam lamb shoulder, charcoal rib and kataifi belly with courgette and toum The standout for me was the pide. It was honestly some of the tastiest bread I’ve ever had—golden, airy, buttery the whole way through, with a crisp base. Paired with the hummus, it was perfect. I genuinely wish they sold whole loaves; I’d order them online in a heartbeat. My favourite dish overall was the Fetteh eggplant. It was almost dessert-like: crunchy, sweet eggplant with a creamy yoghurt dip and brown-butter cashew crumble. From a distance it even looks like an apple crumble and cream. It nailed the balance of crunch, sweetness, saltiness and creaminess. The falafel were hot, crunchy on the outside, not oily, and worked so well with the fresh green sauce. The three-way lamb was also very unique, and I liked how each cut came with its own condiment. The pickled courgettes were a smart touch to cut through the richness. The only downside of the night: we couldn’t stay for dessert. We were told the table needed to be turned over for the next booking, which is understandable on a packed Saturday night, but surprising that we couldn’t even order dessert to take away. I’ve never had a restaurant stop me from spending more money! Still, the food was exceptional and the experience overall was memorable. I’d probably come back on a weeknight next time when it’s less frantic so we can stay a bit longer. Gemmayze St has definitely moved into my top spot for Auckland restaurants. I’ve already recommended it to so many people and can’t wait to return on my next visit.

   almost 4 months ago
3. Zaria Walking ★★★★★

   Gemmayze Street offers one of the most imaginative and delicious menus I've had the pleasure to encounter. Chef Samir Allen amplifies the possibilities of Lebanese culinary traditions and showcases Polynesian and New Zealand ingredients, such as kūmara, in imaginative ways. This multifaceted approach is echoed in the ambiance of voluptuous jewel-tone blown-glass lights that reimagine mosaic lamps along with warm wooden tables, and sleek Sky Tower views. Menu highlights include the Foule (green asparagus, fried onion, coriander) and Shish barak (potato and chard dumplings, yoghurt, cheese, chilli). A feast for all of the senses. Highly recommended.

   almost 5 months ago

1. Lunny ★★★★☆

   Recommended!!! A lovely Lebanese restaurant run by a family with a long history from Lebanon. Although I’ve tried many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, this one still impresses me and brings pleasant surprises! Great food, friendly and super nice staff. P1. Hummus 5/5 Creamy and savory hummus served with crispy herb bread. The spiced oil tastes like a mild chili oil — aromatic and flavorful without being spicy. Together with the crunchy peas, it’s simply delicious. P2&3. Jazar – Roasted Carrots 2/5 The roasted carrots are soft and juicy, paired with sweet and sour pickled carrot shreds, crumbled nuts, and a special white sauce on top. It’s tasty, though not my favorite dish. P4&5. Pan-Fried Fish with Spinach and Brown Creamy Sauce 3/5 The fish skin is perfectly crispy, while the meat inside is tender and delicate. The brown creamy sauce has a slightly sour and savory flavor that complements the fish beautifully. P6&7. Kenef – Dessert 5/5 The orange blossom syrup is wonderfully unique, carrying the fragrance of refreshing orange peel and blooming flowers. It’s transparent and the consistency is clear and light. The kataifi pastry is crispy and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, it’s an absolute delight.

   almost 5 months ago
2. Vanessa J ★★★★★

   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Now I understand why Gemmayze Street was voted No.1 — this place is outstanding! The chicken shish is hands down the best I’ve ever had: juicy, full of flavour, and perfectly cooked. The saffron rice with raisin, walnut, and a touch of sour creamy sauce is absolutely delicious — a perfect balance of sweet, nutty, and creamy. The hummus is also a standout. It has a flavour that reminds me of Sichuan chili, but without the heat — super unique and addictive. The lamb was decent, pretty standard compared to everything else. I also tried their new dessert — it was okay, just not quite my taste. Overall, a fantastic experience and a must-try if you’re in the area!

   almost 10 months ago
3. Rebecca L ★★★★★

   Amazing food. Loved the grilled chicken with rice, lamb tortellini and fish tartare. These 3 dishes were to die for!

   almost 2 years ago

1. Laurence Ho (Bluegray) ★★★☆☆

   We have been meaning to try for a while and had high expectations. Food was tasty however portions were very small for the price and service could have been much better. We ordered "Shish Barak" (lamb tortellini with octopus) $32NZD and "Samke Foule" (market fish with white bean, cumin oregano and brown butter) $34NZD. We had to order 2 extra flatbreads since portions were small. (We are just 160cm female...)

   almost 2 years ago
2. Nik Krause ★★★★★

   Tucked into the lovely bustling St Kevin's Archade, Thursday was super busy. Gorgeous menu, loads for vegetarians/vegans. We tried half a dozen dishes, and beer. Lamb was excellent. Definitely going back

   almost 2 years ago
3. B Kim ★★★★★

   Great food and service. HOWEVER if you are seated in arcade(most seating) it is loud. I knew this before going. Not a quiet place. Mostly share plates so better to go with few friends. While I ate lamb and fish tonnes of veg options. Great food and buzzing atmosphere. And view of sky tower.

   almost 3 years ago

FAQs