Auckland Diner's Diary: November 2015

Inner City Eats

• Major Sprout - Graham Street cafe from the team behind Dear Jervois and Little King, with a subtle Korean influence on the menu
• Frida Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar - Mexican kitchen in the Viaduct inspired by Frida Kahlo
• Mojo Coffee has opened a new cafe in Bledisloe Lane
• Miann - Fort Street dessert bar from Brian and Roselle Campbell, with a nod to Brian's Scottish roots
• Snowman Cafe - Korean dessert cafe in the Chancery, with snow ice and honey bread
• FruitLife 果-C100 - Hong Kong dessert franchise on Durham Street West
• [Added 1 January 2016: Miyaki Teriyaki - Japanese stall in Food Alley]
• [Added 30 January 2016: Carmen Jones - fusion of Mediterranean and Western cuisine, on K'Rd]

City Fringe Openings

• Pasta & Cuore - pastificio in Mount Eden opened by a pasta chef from Bologna
• Mr Toms - casual bar and eatery in Ponsonby, where United Kitchen used to be
• Long + Short - coffee and bites from a hole in the wall in Parnell
• [Added 1 January 2016: The New Zealand Coffee Company - cafe at this purpose built HQ on a Khyber Pass corner site in Grafton has a view of the roastery]
• [Added 1 January 2016: Namaste - Indian restaurant in Mount Eden]

A Little Further

• Peel to Pip - seasonal and sustainable cafe in Morningside
• [Added 6 December 2015: Icco - Japanese food where Sake Bar 601 used to be]
• [Added 6 December 2015: Hook Line & Sinker - fish and chips in Mission Bay]

Shore Things

• Artwok - restaurant offeing "diversely authentic cuisine from the different regions of China" in Takapuna
• Birkenhead Brewing Company - craft beer in Birkenhead Village
• Grill Depot - wraps, grilled meats, juices and smoothies in Takapuna (actually opened in October)
• The Cat Lounge has opened in Glenfield, bookings recommended

New in New Lynn

The new Brickworks dining lane in New Lynn has a bunch of new restaurants:

• Bodrum Kitchen - Turkish and Greek eatery from Alex Isik (Deco Eatery in Titirangi and Nomad in Point Chevalier), with hanging glass ornaments and food from his childhood
• Cleaver and Co - slow cooked BBQ hangout with all-you-can-eat ribs, sharing platters, burgers and salads
• Goode Brothers - second branch of the Barworks group establishment of this name, offering pizzas, pastas and beer
• Hansan - yet another branch of this Vietnamese eatery from the Chin family
• Meso - sushi and donburi, from the owners of Matsu Sushi in the foodcourt
• additional branches of Shaky Isles and Wagamama

[Added 2 March 2016: Also Elegance Chinese Restaurant opened near the train station.]

Other

• Scarecrow has re-opened in its renovated home on Victoria Street
• Whoopie & Co has now re-opened as Whoopi
• Gourmet Heaven - new specialty grocery store in Takapuna with local artisanal products
• Huckleberry - new branch of this organic store has opened in Belmont
• [Added 1 January 2016: Smile Dessert 酒窝甜品 - this international Hong Kong style dessert franchise has opened in Somerville]
• [Added 1 January 2016: Fresh Pots - tiny cafe with specialty coffee only, on the corner of Queen Street and Wyndham Street, from Wellington company Flight Coffee]
• [Added 2 April 2016: Akemi's Gyoza - market stall selling Japanese dumplings]

Coming

• Ben & Jerry's - this international ice cream brand will give kiwis a unique experience from its first NZ store in Ponsonby (Dec)
• Monterey Lunchbox - takeout food and coffee in Avondale, from the people behind Monterey in Grey Lynn, now home to vegetarian/vegan restaurant Big Sur

Closed

The block of shops on Wellesley Street containing Saika and Homeworld BBQ has been forced to close as cracks have been found in the building.

Events

• Victoria Park Market has re-launched its weekly Saturday market (again) from 7 November
• Food Space is setting up at Silo Park every Wednesday for the summer, from 2 December