Auckland Diner's Diary: April 2015

Cafe Culture

• The St James Theatre is open after 8 years, and there is a cafe in the gorgeous foyer, run by the owner of Society and Nook, Chris Barron
• The brick building which was the old Ponsonby fire station in St Mary's Bay (and more recently the Japanese restaurant Soto) is now a cafe named Mary's, set up by experienced cafe owner Tim Tohill
• Crumb is is a little corner cafe in Grey Lynn, where the Ariki Store used to be, serving a small menu of classics. It is owned by Hugo Baird, who worked under Al Brown for two years.
• [Added 15 June 2015: Tartine Cafe - rebranded cafe on Ponsonby Road, formerly known as Cafe People]
• [Added 1 July 2015: The Strand Cafe - cafe in the Saatchi & Saatchi building in Parnell, run by the duo behind the former Grassy Knoll Cafe.]
• [Added 15 July 2015: Yakety Yak - new cafe in Pukekohe

Carts in the City

• Viet Sandwich now has a permanent spot near AUT
• Serious Hippo Wheelcake now has a home opposite the central city library

Burgers and More

• The Burger Bach is serving a wide variety of burgers in Takapuna
• Better Burger has opened a branch in Vulcan Lane
• The Spotted Pig - British gastropub where Squid Row used to be, with not just sandwiches and burgers, but also fish and chips, mussel pots, fried chicken and the like
• [Added 27 May 2015: Meatery - grill and bar in Devonport with burgers, pizzas, steaks, ribs and more]

The Ponsonby Central of Takapuna

Market lane Fortieth and Hurstmere has opened in Takapuna, made from bricks reclaimed from the Christchurch earthquake. With a similar concept to Ponsonby Central, it currently contains the following stores:

• Dantes Pizzeria - VPN certified Neapolitan pizza, also at Ponsonby Central
• Bird on a Wire - largest branch yet of this chicken rotisserie store
• El Humero - new Colombian barbecue restaurant (not sure if it's open yet)
• Kombi Coffee - coffee with a Kombi theme, and stocking Best Ugly bagels

Ethnic Eats

• Everest Dine - first NZ branch (after UK and Japan) of this restaurant serves Nepalese and Indian food with a modern twist and was opened in Parnell with Lady June Hillary as the guest of honour
• Nusantara Indonesian Tea Drop Cafe - maybe not so much a cafe as a monthly pop-up event in Ranui, where Shasha offers you a chance to taste vegan Indonesian food
• [Added 1 July 2015: Greek Mamas - Greek takeaway and restaurant in Rosedale]
• [Added 15 July 2015: Marrakech - Moroccan restaurant in Mission Bay]
• [Added 15 July 2015: Sake Bar Tokyo 東京 - Japanese restaurant in Parnell]
• [Added 15 July 2015: Manchuria - Indo-Chinese cuisine on Symonds Street]
• [Added 31 July 2015: Avishan - home cooked Iranian food, delivered to your office]
• [Added 1 December 2015: Mama June - Indonesian dishes from a foodcourt in Northcote]
• [Added 30 January 2016: Rosso Pomodoro - Italian wood-fired pizzas in Grey Lynn]

Random Bits

• Jadan Supermarket (中區亞洲超市) has opened diagonally opposite the Tai Ping on Dominion Road, selling roast meats, fresh vegies, and other Asian groceries.
• STK in the Rydges Hotel has rebranded to The Cut on Federal
• Al Brown's Federal Delicatessen and Depot Eatery are open again after a fire in the extraction hoods
• Also, I just discovered that Farm Fresh Milk Taupaki has been selling raw, unprocessed Jersey milk from a vending machine since August last year
• [Added 2 October 2016: Simon Gault's Sous Chef chef supply business has opened a deli store in Takanini]

Coming Soon

• Gourmet Burger & Brew Kitchen on Quay St
• Riodo 桂林米粉- on Mayoral Drive
• Jamie Oliver is apparently going to open a restaurant in Auckland next year.