Auckland Diner's Diary: March 2018

City Eats - Cafe Classics

• Williams Eatery - Wynyard Quarter eatery from brothers Charles and Patrick Williams (Ceremony), with contemporary classics with hints of Japanese and Nordic influence from executive chef Reginaldo Richard (Odettes)
• Super - corner cafe in Britomart where Oaken used to be, from the Britomart Hospitality Group, with head chef Oliver Fitton (The Chamberlain, Beirut) and coffee from former Oaken barista Sai Okesene
• Brunch Cafe- Sale Street cafe from Annalise Poorter (Dizengoff), with classic brunch fare from head chef Kobi Hall

City Eats - International Flavours

• Poké House - salad bowls and burritos by Victoria Park
• Cinta Malaysian - third branch of the Malaysian eatery has opened at Shortland Street
• Zorro Bar & Gourmet Burgers - beer and burgers on K'Rd
• Royal Tea 皇茶 - Taiwanese tea franchise has opened a store in the Chancery, one of many in Auckland selling the latest trend of cheese tea
• Hulucat - more bubble tea, with a new branch on Queen Street where Swig Cafe used to be

Fringe Openings - Ponsonby, Eden Terrace and Newmarket

• Go Go Daddy - "Thai canteen" inspired by the streets of Bangkok and the night markets of Northern Thailand, in Ponsonby Central where Honeybear used to be, a quick turn around by acclaimed hospitality duo Mark Wallbank and Che Barrington
• Eat Mi - Vietnamese street food in Newmarket
• The Hideout Espresso Bar - cafe in Eden Terrace [added 7 April 2018: from Anderson Mar, with cabinet sandwiches, a short menu from chef Chloe Buksh, and sweet treats from Hayley Namgung of The Three Words patisserie]
• Coffee House Organic - certified organic coffee meets design, art, music, food, and Japanese hospitality in Ponsonby

Fringe Openings - Mount Eden & Kingsland

• Wu & You - head chef Cairan Flaherty (TriBeCa) brings inventive creations to the neon-lit Asian fusion eatery in Mount Eden, brought to us by Jonathan Rickard, the owner of Circus Circus and The Garden Shed
• Umu Pizza - handstretched sourdough pizza in Kingsland, perfected by owner Simon Murphy, made with 200-year-old starter and a 36-48 hour fermentation cycle, baked in a three-tonne white-tiled oven built by a third-generation Naples-born oven maker
• Garage Project Cellar Door - the Wellington-based craft brewery has "reimagined a bottle shop" in Kingsland, with beer on tap for flagon fills and tasting, a small food offering, as well as a "crowler", a contraption which fills one litre cans from the taps and seals them on the spot
• Miss Hotpot 壹小锅 - spicy Chinese hotpot in Mount Eden

New in the North

• Karavan Deli - eatery offering seasonal, local food with a Middle Eastern twist has opened in Devonport
• Snowman Cafe Albany - second branch of the Korean snow ice dessert shop has opened in Albany
• Holy Shot - coffee and vegan donuts from Doornuts in Takapuna

Further Food

• Tipene's Takeaways - burgers, fish & chips, and Classic English sides in Morningside
• Brother Nine Hot Pot 九哥串串 - spicy hotpot in Mount Roskill
• Stone Pot Fish Cuisine 巴乡石锅鱼
• Coffee Station has opened a stall at Panmure Train Station
• [Added 3 May 2018: Hinge & Co - restaurant in Clevedon]

Coming

• Love Exposure - garish Asian fusion(?) place in Mount Eden (opening 1 May)
• Teddy's - restaurant in Ponsonby where Moo Chow Chow used to be
• Proper Pizza - "Italian style pizza with German precision", from a Kosovar brand, on O'Connell Street where Al's Brewhouse used to be
• Tsujiri 辻利茶鋪 - 155-year-old Japanese traditional tea brand is coming soon to Lorne Street
• Hunger Burger - burger joint on K'Rd
• Panda Restaurant 熊猫小馆 - Sichuan cuisine in Browns Bay
• MorningCidery -  dedicated cider bar in Morningside, from the people behind the not-for-profit cafe Crave
• A bunch of restaurants will be opening at Queen's Rise

• Lowbrow. - fried chicken, smoked brisket, sandwiches and more from Jordan Macdonald and Kyle Street
• Ottoman Mezze Lounge - Ottoman cuisine from the Nazar Group
• Dantes Pizzeria & Casa Pasta - authentic wood fired Neapolitan pizza and fresh pasta
• Nourish Pod - super food bar from the Hamilton acai bowl business
• Jar Story - salad bar
• Tokyo Loco Bowl - Japanese donburi business from Australia
• Poké Bar - Californian poké bar
• Potato & Me - breakfast bar, potato joint and watering hole
• Grace
• Dolly Bird
• Panda

Closed

• [Added 3 April 2018: Il Buco has turned off its ovens for the last time after selling over 750,000 slices of pizza]

Other

• Ponsonby Central is expanding to include a three-storey basement carpark, one level of retail and hospitality space, one level of commercial offices, and a top-level residential penthouse
• Food trucks, seating and a 35m-long table will be appearing in the Viaduct
• Taste of Auckland will have a waterfront location this year

Events

• Crosstown Burger Spot (Friday 6 April) - The Bearded Clam pops up again at Goodness Gracious Parnell with their beers, burgers and chilli fries
• Auckland International Cultural Festival (Sunday 8 April) - food from more than 50 different cultures at the Mount Roskill War Memorial Park
• [Added 7 April 2018: Plant Magic x Satya: A South Indian Breakfast Pop-Up (Saturday 21 April) - second instalment of Satellites' breakfast series featuring two courses of South Indian favourites from Gemma Walsh of Plant Magic and Satya Chai Lounge's Samrudh Akuthota]
• [Added 3 April 2018: Plant Culture Pop Up Restaurant (22 - 25 April) - four-course vegan and gluten-free menu made with hemp seed]
• The Orphans Kitchen x Gatherings (25 - 28 April) - five-course vegan and vegetarian set menu as part of Roots-to-Petal week
• [Added 7 April 2018: The Josh Emmett Breakfast (28 - 29 April) - four-course Josh Emett X Nespresso degustation brunch at Ostro]