Auckland Diner's Diary: May 2017

Trailer Food

• Yeah Naan - trailer serving crispy breakfast naan at Cox's Bay in Westmere, from former Breakfast host Nadine Higgins, her husband and two friends (opened 29 April)
• The Macho Mini - these cupcake sellers have got themselves a trailer and are also now stocked by Farro Fresh
• [Added 4 October 2017: Philippe's Poutine - food truck with Poutine Québécoise]

New in Town - Viaduct Harbour

• The Nightingale - live entertainment pop-up open for 6 months over winter at The Original in Viaduct Harbour, with a food menu centred around beer, from John Hennessy and Matty Yates, former owners of Cassette Nine and Queenstown's World Bar
• HeadQuarters - Viaduct restaurant with a menu based on smoke and fire and nothing pretentious, from executive chef Darren Lim
• The Lula Inn - "slice of Pacific paradise", with "playful Kiwi cuisine" using local produce from head chef Sam Clark, where The Crew Club used to be (opened 1 June)

New in Town - Other

• Hugo's Bistro - European-style bistro on Shortland Street, characterised as the older brother of Odettes Eatery, also from husband and wife owners Clare and Joost van den Berg
• The Seafood Kitchen - fusion of Kiwi, European and Island flavours at Elliott Stables
• The Pie Piper & Doornuts - the mother-daughter team behind the American pies at local markets has a permanent home on K'Rd, not only branching out into handrolled donuts, but also serving savoury items at the new store, including Southern American breakfast biscuits, fried chicken, and Philly cheesesteak
• Altezano Brothers - latest branch of the espresso bar is the first new opening on Snickel Lane
• [Added 2 July 2017: Chiway Chinese Restaurant 有姿有味 - stir fries, hot pot and desserts in Durham Lane, basically Fruitlife dessert shop relaunched with food]

Fringe Openings

• Barulho - the team behind Maldito Mendez has relocated to Parnell, creating a new venture, a Euro-Latino neighbourhood bar with weekly changing menus, house made pastries and traditional sweets, tapas and takeout
• Urbanaut Brewing Co - Kingsland craft beer brewery with onsite tasting room, off-licence store and brewery tours, from three friends from provincial New Zealand who have travelled the world
• Hero Sandwich House - New York-Italian hot sandwiches in Eden Terrace, from Huri Neill (Drummer Boy) and Matt Stewart (Melt)
• Once Strangers - Eden Terrace cafe with conversation cards to help people connect
• Marllie's - child-friendly Mount Eden cafe on the corner of Dominion Road and Onslow Road
• The Zing - "fine Indian fusion" restaurant in Kingsland (opened 26 April)
• [Added 8 July 2017: Grato - little cafe in Grey Lynn]
• [Added 31 March 2018: Bella Verona - Italian stall at the Ponsonby International Food Court, using recipes from Nonna's kitchen]

Hungry Up North

• Hemingways - garden bistro in Devonport with an outdoor area and craft beer on tap
• Sugar N Cup - cafe in Browns Bay
• [Added 16 September 2017: Espeto Charcoal Kitchen & Bar - South American flavours in Browns Bay, with cooking over an open charcoal fire]
• [Added 1 November 2017: Bond of Breads - Filipino bakery in Birkenhead from joint owners Robin Bautista & Jun Unlayao and head patisserie baker Dandrib Valencia]
• [Added 30 December 2017: Miss Mimi 眯眯眼 - little Chinese eatery in Takapuna
• [Added 30 December 2017: Vincent's Chinese Restaurant 客满堂 - Chinese cuisine in Albany]

Other Suburban Eats

• [Added 1 July 2017: Oak Eatery - cafe on the upper level of the Royal Oak Shopping Mall, from the people behind Cafe Mont]
• [Added 2 July 2017: Ice'n Fire - burger and ice cream parlour in Sandringham, including cold stone ice cream on the menu]
• [Added 4 July 2017: Rockys - restaurant and cafe in Mount Albert, where Cosset used to be]

Coming

• Feriza's - "kitchen, bar & gozleme" at North Wharf, a gift from restaurateur Alex Isik to his sister Feriza
• Mark Wallbank and Che Barrington (MooChowChow, The Blue Breeze Inn, Chop Chop and Woodpecker Hill) are opening a brand new restaurant at Ponsonby Central
• Fry Baby - traditional Belgian fries at Snickel Lane
• [Added 7 August 2017: Krispy Kreme will be opening its first NZ store in South Auckland]

Other

• The Nosh store in Mairangi Bay is converting to New World
• More video game urinals (already at Auckland's Little Easy) will be coming to bars around the country
• Beirut has launched a new menu, created by new Head Chef Alexandre Vallee (formerly of The Grove) and new Executive Chef Sam Campbell
• Gather N Feast - this former Silverdale kitchen has opened in the city, then mysteriously disappeared, removing its website and Facebook page too
• [Added 3 September 2017: The Cocktail Collective has launched a nationwide cocktail delivery service so you have fresh produce, portioned small batch spirits and a simple-to-read recipe card that will make between 10-15 serves] 
• [Added 6 January 2018: Baking Passion is taking orders for Filipino cakes and bread]