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8 French restaurants in Auckland that always got my attention

8 French restaurants in Auckland that always got my attention.

  • Deconstructed dessert
  • Canneloni of crab

Let’s see how people review this restaurant

“What else is there to say others have not already said? How about this? We were seated at the table right next to the pass and we were able to watch Chef Sid our whole meal. Great service and delicious food, a very pleasant experience all around. Great thing is that we happened upon this restaurant sort of by accident since it's hard to find on Yelp and did not come up in our search initially. Even better was that it was literally two blocks from our Airbnb. We ordered a la carte and were very pleased to be given four different amuse bouches to start. The service was impecable, food delicious and ambiance romantic. Great way to start a special anniversary trip!” — Betty C.
“Armed with a very generous gift voucher we arrived at 'Sid at the French Cafe' to be greeted by a group of welcoming staff . Our table was in the gazebo area of the restaurant facing an internal garden court yard warmed by a fire and gas heaters. The waiting staff were amazing their polished appearance matched their attentive polished performance. We chose the four course meal after discussing portion sizes as the aim was to enjoy the food but not to excess. Each course contained the elements of taste , texture , colour freshness and in true Sid-Art style huge visual appeal. Good use was made of the on-site vegetable/ herb garden to enhance the plate. The whole experience was amazing and we could see the care , time and thought that went into every dish. Fine dining at its best. Wine selection was huge and international however we chose NZ, appropriate at this time. A place to go for a very special occasion.” —Sandra H.
“I ordered their tasting menu. The snacks  are all good and I like the lettuce the most. The sauce for kingfish ceviche and butter poached crayfish is a little salty. The lamb was perfectly cool, right enough pink, juicy, yummy yummy~~” — Vivian Y.

Restaurant Info

5. The Grove

The Grove is a modern New Zealand restaurant that offers degustation dining that changes frequently with seasonality and market availability. It offers full vegetarian and vegan options and can accommodate any dietary requirement. It is an award-winning restaurant where food and wine come together passionately.

  • Prawn with chorizo
  • Fish rubbed with black garlic, sweet corn puree, charred corn, and a clam
  • Stone fruit dessert course

Let’s see how people review this restaurant

“Huge kudos to the Grove's groovy team for going above & beyond, especially the kitchen team working hard behind the scenes & Megan(?) the sommelier. They have a great passion in each of respective fields, are knowledgeable & observant without being overbearing or pretentious, particularly when it came to explaining the dishes coming out of the kitchen. A warm ambiance, well balanced & presented dishes & a wine list that will make you feel like a child in a candy store- everything you want. My partner who doesn't like meringue, feijoa or licorice loved her absinthe flamed dessert, assembled at the table. The chef's choice petite degustation was flavoursome, exciting, filling & accompanied by delightful amuse-bouches. Thank you for making us feel extra special on our anniversary weekend, we will definitely return.” — Te Rangi R.
“Perfect place to celebrate an occasion with your loved one. The grove is more of an experience rather than a restaurant. We sat at this place for around 3.5 hours mainly due to the way they serve food here and the type of degustation we chose. We went for the the full degustation was which was 7 courses. The courses were small so we didn't feel fed up by the end of it which was good. Between each course you should expect to spend between 5-10 min for the next course which is why I'm saying it's more of an experience here rather than a restaurant. Our favorite dishes were the fish (6th course) and the steak (7th course) plus the soufflé which was one of the three desserts we got. A bit pricey but worth it if you have a special occasion” — Khaled A.
“THEIR BEEF FILLET IS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD! Extremely tender and fresh. The service here is just excellent. We felt the pork belly is of too much fat and they quickly replace it with another off menu dish. Food here makes you feel the nature. They present you with the fundamental taste of each ingredient. Overall a very good experience. Will definitely come again.” — Yubo Z.

Restaurant Info

6. Le garde-manger

Le Garde Manger Queen street opened in January 2010. Situated near the top of Queen, it is ideal place to go for a meal before a concert at the Auckland Town Hall or Aotea square. They do a prompt and efficient service, usually entree and main or main and dessert with drinks within an hour. Bookings is recommended for diner, they are getting busy when the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra or the New Zealand Symphonic Orchestra are on. Breakfast is served from 9am Saturday and Sunday. The dining room upstairs can host up to 45 guests, set menus are available for groups. A vegetarian dish can be added. They appreciate one set menu for the whole group, but payment can be split.

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