Family dining in Auckland

“Popped in for some samosas and a beer. Fantastic service from a family owned business. Great food and great value prices.”

“I'm giving Portofino 5 stars all around as we absolutely loved the food, service, and atmosphere during our holiday in New Zealand. It was so good that we visited them again before we left...twice in one week for dinner! I definitely recommend dining at Portofino. All of the food we ordered were great from the Lasagna Al Forno, Fettuccine Di Pollon, Vegetarian Fettuccine Vegetarian, Cannelloni Casanostra. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. They even offered and opened the window and had fresh air while enjoying our meals. We forgot to take pictures of our food the first time we dined in...that's how great it was! The pictures below are of what we ordered on our second visit!”

“Excellent restaurant and friendly staff. I don't bother leaving reviews but their chicken dish, Pollo Capri is out of this world. A flavour explosion. I am very impressed!”

“The Tom Kha soup was beautiful, very authentic however the Thai Basil stirfry let them down, it wasn’t authentic Thai Flavours plus they used frozen beans which isn’t ideal. Really lovely service, friendly and helpful staff. Nice place for a quick reasonable meal.”

“BEST PAD THAI IN THE CITY! Joy Bong had recently moved to a more intimate location and some how the food is even better! Not only is it the best husband and wife combo in the city who have owned and operated this legendary business for 10+ years they will always make you feel like family. Service 10/10 and food is the best Thai you will find in Auckland, and trust me I eat out a lot. Jess, Kakapo Business Sales”

“Very well presented Thai food, always delicious.”

“My spicy seafood noodles was very tasty with large juicy prawns, squid & scallops. Priced a bit higher than street food/takeaway joints, it’s to be enjoyed seated dining inside the cosy traditional thai decor… Reminds me of how Thai restaurants used to feel… nowadays trendy canteen vibe is more common! Service is always casual & warm family style.”

“A favourite restaurant we like to return to. Lovely service and delicious food. The steak melted in the mouth, highly recommend. Wagyu tataki is a must. They also had yummy Halloween themed cocktails.”

“We had brunch on Waitangi Day (Thursday) and absolutely loved it. For the first time, I had a smoothie that was actually better than the ones I make at home—so thank you for that! We went back on Saturday, but this time, the smoothie had noticeably more spinach, which caused it to oxidize quicker. I don’t have a picture, so you’ll have to take my word for it—it was much darker in color and less sweet. That said, the breakfast quality was just as great as the first time.”

“I love this place!!! It may be on a main road but the atmosphere inside the courtyard walls is beautiful…. a feel of Italy. We were greeted warmly and found a lovely seat in the sun where we thoroughly enjoyed the coffee and delicious food brought to us. I ordered the beef burger without buns and my son had the fish salad… both were spot on! I can’t wait to come back on an evening and enjoy the courtyard, with the festoon lights and a glass of wine with another Del meal!”

“Xi Ann Food Bar is a cozy, small shop that punches well above its weight. They make their own noodles from scratch, which truly elevates the dish. We highly recommend trying their cumin lamb noodles—they’re delicious, packed with flavor, and the portions are huge, easily enough to share between two people. The unique, fresh quality of the homemade noodles and the well-balanced seasoning make for a memorable dining experience. One noodle cost about 15$.”

“Amazingly delicious Chinese food honestly priced. Portions are big so if you order onr main with one starter it would be sufficient for 2 We ordered one Black pepper beef with 2 steam rice and one plate veg spring rolls. Total spent 50 New Zealand dollars.”

“Awesome place to go, especially during the week for lunch $20 steak doesn't go a miss and it was a decent feed too quick service, ordered lunch, ate and left in 25mins, perfect for a lunch break”

“We have always wanted to try Manaia Seafood. From the moment I stepped out of the car, I could instantly smell the seafood boil. Our booking was set for 12pm. We ordered the Medium Lobster tray $135 with Fries $10 on the side. No amount of words can describe the beautiful taste of the Lobster tail, half cut crabs, mussels, prawns, sweetcorn and eggs. Everything was just divine.”

“I ordered food online on 10/11/2025 afternoon for our staffs . From the taste to portion everything was top notch. And definitely want to mention about Rara(sorry if I pronounce the name wrong) excellent communication, patience and customer service. Definitely visiting again. Thank you.”

“The lamb shank was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed their dinner. Hubby had the big steak & it huge! Very happy”

“Great bar and place to eat. Really good service by the staff and very good food. The older reviews placed on this establishment are not accurate.”

“Stunning views, beautiful atmosphere, excellent food. Staff was friendly.”

“I met a friend of mine for lunch. First time visiting this pub. Loved it. Fantastic customer service. Relaxing, environment with well thought out decor. Bathrooms worth a mention, very clean and lots of stalls. Loved the food!!! We shared a pizza, mac n cheese bites and truffle fries. I'll be back!!”

“This bar is really great. Heineken is only NZ$6 if you drink that. Also possible the listen to your favourite song on the jukebox. Best bar in Auckland. Staff is amazing to”

“Lovely ladies, very cheerful and smiley. Great customer service and had the tea that I was looking for. As well as variety of milk, if you seek lactose free.”

“Good place for family hanging out! We love the atmosphere and especially food. Some of the nicest tasting food I've had for a while. Recommend - egg Benedict, pasta, coffee.”

“One of the best dining experience. Food was delicious and the ambience of the place gave me the Christmas feeling well. Sure I will visit this place once again with my family. Thank you for all the people who served us in Circus Circus. Cheers.”

“Excellent experience overall. The food was delicious and well-portioned, pricing was appropriate, and the staff were very friendly. The space was clean and relaxing; the only minor downside was some noise from the nearby road.”

“For a sushi chain, this place is excellent. Sushi chef is ready to make to order, he and the team provide a friendly service too. Lovely seating area. Plenty of parking. Lots of options to fit your tastebuds. Make sure to pickup chopsticks though, they don't assume you want them so you need to pack them in yourself.”

“This was the first time i have been here. I had the green curry and pad thai, it was absolutely delicious , both full of flavour and lots of chicken. The lady serving im guessing the owner was very friendly and definitely had me leaving thinking you now have a new customer I can't speak more highly of this place, highly recommend”

“Got take aways for six people. Yummy food with a great range of spice levels. Was ready on time and a great temperature. Will definitely be getting taken away again!”

“My go to accommodation when I head up to Orewa. Always clean beautiful rooms.”

“If you're looking for the best local Italian restaurant, this is it! The atmosphere has an authentic old-school vibe that feels warm and welcoming. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, making the entire dining experience enjoyable from start to finish. The food is outstanding – from traditional pasta dishes to hearty mains, everything is cooked to perfection. And the pizzas? Simply amazing! Perfectly crispy crust, fresh toppings, and just the right amount of cheese. Whether you're out for a casual meal or celebrating a special occasion, this place never disappoints. Highly recommend it to anyone craving authentic Italian flavors!”

“Mint Leaf is great value and good quality, they give you a larger curry than most places. Lamb Korma is my go to and consistently good. The lady sometimes comes off as a little rude on the phone but it's not her intention (maybe just limited English), they are nice people. For the price and quality, this place really is great value.”