Auckland Diner's Diary: December 2014

Happy New Year! Not as much seems to have happened in the last month as everyone prepares for the holidays, but perhaps I was just too pre-occupied with other things...

Asian Eats

• Tokyo Loco Bowl - casual donburi in Ponsonby, brought to us by Renkon
• Tokyo Bay - modern Japanese restaurant in Takapuna, with great views and operated by an experienced team
• Zool Zool - noodle house and izakaya bar in Mount Eden village, using a special variety of flour for their noodles
• Phnom Penh - Cambodian restaurant in Mangere Bridge

Other International Flavours

• Xacuti - Portuguese and Indian fusion food in Howick
• Miami Grill - American franchise offering such dishes as hot dogs and Philly cheesesteaks in Federal Street
• Italia Square - Italian restaurant, cafe, bar and marketplace in the Geyser Building in Parnell
• Ima Deli - Jewish style deli with Middle Eastern dishes and treats that also sells non-kosher food
• [Added 20 January 2015: Nomad - restaurant in Point Chevalier celebrating "the shared nomadic origins of New Zealand communities"
• Fika With Me - presumably Swedish cafe with custom made furniture, serving up bagels and fried poached eggs, amongst other things]

Cafes and Bars

• Franc's - Takapuna beachfront bar/cafe from the Barworks Group
• Onehunga Cafe - casual bistro food in Onehunga from the Maestro Group
• The White Rabbit - the historic pub in Britomart formerly known as The Crown has been transformed into a eatery and bar run by some big names
• [Added 6 January 2015: The Garden Shed - casual bistro in Mount Eden]
• [Added 1 April 2015: Fond(ou) - cafe on Hobson St with brick walls and French pastries]

Coming Soon

• Josh Emmett is bringing modern Chinese/Malay street style food in the form of Madam Woo to Takapuna
• Zap Thai is opening a new branch in Lorne Street
• Burger Burger is opening a new branch in Osbourne Lane in Newmarket (March)
• Buffalo Cafe is about to open in Remuera
• Gateau House is working on a larger venue a couple of doors down from their current Queen Street branch
• Apparently "something smoking" is coming to Parnell, but I am not sure what yet

Closing

• The Roskill Coffee Project has closed, but they plan to be back elsewhere in Mount Roskill
• [Added 1 March 2017: Sandringham Farmers Market had its last Market at Sandringham Community Centre]