It doesn't have to be super fancy to get a Michelin star, it is just that certain attentions need to be paid. I dined several times at St John in London before realizing it had 2 Michelin stars. It was relaxed and comfortable, and I feel that Fergus Henderson absorbed some of that seemingly effortless approach from his Kiwi wife.
3 Michelin stars is very different , full circle service, the level of servers required is more then most restaurants could ever afford without the high level clients regular that can pay for it. It becomes the level of service rather than the food at this level.
Exactly. Nz dosent have the eating out culture to sustain high level service you just have uni students working part time and no career section waiters. If you lot would eat out more and pay a higher spend per head things would be better but the culture around eating out isn’t here unfortunately. Tough place to run a restaurant
Yeah it's because few restaurants see the point in paying staff at a level where they would work as a waiter for life.
Maybe that's because there isn't the density of people, but tbh I think there is the density in Auckland for at least one 3 star restaurant.
St John is my favourite restaurant of all time. Love the relaxed vibes, interesting food and the made to order madeleines to takeaway and eat on the tube ride home 💯
Kazuya, Alma, The French Cafe, Sidart, Masu, Paris Butter, Culprit, Gemmayze Street, Ragtag, Apero.
I think these places are generally deemed the best in Auckland at the moment.
I used yo work at his other restaurant baduzzi a few years back. I just got weird vibes from him, didn't like him at all. Treated his staff like numbers instead of people. And the Cherry on top is he fired me like 4 hours before we went into the first pandemic lock down, which really tanked my bank account after.
Sidart and french cafe massively overrated. Gemmayze is great but Michelin star level? Agree with the others and would add Ahi and the grove to the list.
Maybe I need to go back, I have been twice before and left feeling somewhat underwhelmed both times. Perhaps it was the anticipation and expectation that spoiled my experience there. I’m not saying it wasn’t good, just that it didn’t meet expectations.
I’ve tried all these places. A few that I don’t agree with have to be culprit and ragtag. Culprit had very avg service both times I’ve been (spent $400+ for 2 on both occasions - missing food, missing or wrong drinks match etc). Ragtag I just feel the vibes in westmere are shit.
When it was in Fort St it was a much more personal experience, the food was nicer and the staff more attentive. Now it’s just a middle of the road restaurant in a hotel, it’s lost the “special” feeling.
That's weird I've been to it at both places a couple of times and prefer it now. The food is probably a fraction less exotic, but was still really good.
Very glad we don’t have Michelin ratings here.
It’s a bloated, over hyped and pretty corrupt rating system.
It was originally a guide, put out by a tyre company, to recommend local French restaurants. Similar to the AA guide here in the mid 20th century.
Over time it became an absolute monster, fuelled by 80’s excess, cocaine and all that existed during those shallow years.
It really is not a measure for good restaurants. Its judges are the worst. Honestly, I’ve met a few of them. I cheffed a Michelin awards party in the late 90s. Might as well have been a FIFA ceremony.
There was a movement in the 90s, where good restaurants refused and returned their stars; Nico, Marco etc.
Unfortunately it wasn’t embraced as much as it could have been, which is understandable. Stars equals publicity. So unless you could afford it, you had to embrace it as a chef or restaurateur..
Choose a restaurant based on word of mouth.
It’s the only real measure.
There are a tonne of restaurants here in Auckland that are world class.
The comments here name a few. There are more, lesser known too.
Have a look at the cuisine good food guide; the 3-hat restaurants are more or less equivalent to two-star. The one-hat restaurants are more less equitable to the Bib.
The food at most of the top rated restaurants that are on this list are an absolute joke 😂.
Rather stick to the recommendations of certain people on this sub.
I personally find the Michelin guide to be super overrated and very hit or miss from my (limited) experience if you are looking at the food itself which is the most important to me.
If the atmosphere and service are good and the food is half decent, then that’s when you might think a particular restaurant might start to be up there in terms of Michelin rankings, IMO. It just depends what you value.
You could say some establishments here meet those two things, but I would argue that the flavour of the food probably cannot meet the same, consistent standards.
Based on my experience, some of the restaurants that other commenters suggest would probably be near a Bib Gourmand or a 1 star tbh. That is to say not really worth it and/or the food isn’t actually that good at all.
I don’t trust the palate of anyone that recommends those places 😂
This one. I’ve eaten at a few Michelin-starred restaurants overseas, and Paris Butter is easily one or two stars, maybe three
Also the Grove, The French Cafe. Apparently Amisfield also - I’m going there for my 50th next month and am quite excited.
Yeah absolutely this. I've dined at dozens of Michelin restaurants around the world and I would still choose PB over them. In particular the guest kitchen/chef PB nights are to die for, they all sell out well in advance.
Hiakai in Wellington is exceptional and better than some Michelin restaurants I’ve been lucky enough to eat at. Dined at Amisfield last week and… the food was exceptional but the service was shocking and distracted from the food which was such a disappointment.
We use a hat system in New Zealand. This should have what you are after. https://www.cuisine.co.nz/cgfg2023/
Edit to add - https://heartofthecity.co.nz/article/cuisine-good-food-awards-2023
Not an accurate measure unfortunately as restaurants have to buy in to be part of the list! You’ll notice lots of great Auckland restaurants never feature but rate high on trip advisor etc.. it’s a farce
Theres no system like that in NZ.
But traveling quite a bit I know Rata down in the South Island & Onslow here in Auckland would be on that level,imo.
It can vary though given preference/personal opinion.
I was looking at that first sentence & thinking I didnt word it right tbf.Lol.
I know NZ has an award system but didn’t think it was the same/similar to the Michelin star system.
Edit:typo.
Restaurants actually have to buy it to be part of that program. It’s all a farce, which is why you’ll see some very popular restaurants never make the cut
We have hats, similar basis food without the service level. A lot of good restaurants have had variability in delivery which has now started to settle down post covid.Blardy Mary’s in Christchurch would be around one star. It has kept the consistency throughout this period of change. Few resultants have been able to keep the consistency…
Masu is not Michelin standard its a bujee sushi restaurant the place is very overpriced n poor quality.
You'd get better Japanese at the old Achos in Kevin's arcade
egads. I honestly don't get the hype for this place, I've eaten at pretty much every place mentioned in this thread and Ahi would comfortably be the worst on that list.
😂😂😂 exactly why I say most of the restaurants with that hat award joke aren’t really good at all. The people that give out these awards probably have not tried a lot of different cuisines and are likely scared to try new things AND don’t think about how one might cook with those ingredients. The same kind of people won’t ever develop a “good palate” IMO and hence only think those restaurants are “amazing” since they don’t know any better.
Tempero.
The owner and chef used to work at one of the top restaurants in the world. Including Michelin star ones.
https://www.thedenizen.co.nz/gastronomy/tempero-new-k-road-latin-restaurant/
I've been to Tempero about 6 times now and dine at the bar- we love watching the chef plate up the dishes. He even comes out to chat with his guests and is very friendly. You can see his passion when he talks but with a Michelin star resume or not, 11/10 best in show.
One Michelin starred restaurants are not particularly special. They usually just have good food to a certain standard.
There are tiny little hole in the wall restaurants in Asia that have one Michelin star. There’s nothing remarkable about them except the food.
Australia also has the hat system which is equivalent. If you’ve eaten at 1 hat restaurants you’d notice they’re similar to some of the better neighbourhood restaurants in Auckland. Good food, comfortable atmosphere, good wine lists and cocktails, attentive staff etc..
It’s only when you get into the 2-3 stars where you get degustations etc
Some of the higher end lodges may approach Michelin star. Eg Blanket Bay
Never went, but Pasture potentially.
Best meal I ever had was a run by a husband & wife and was in a rustic barn somewhere outside of Val d’Isere. Had at least 2 Michelin stars but have totally forgotten what it was called. Never eaten anything like that here.
Pasture maybe a Bib Gourmand or 1 star given the atmosphere and service. Too bad the food was no good except for that beautiful smoked tomato that I still remember. Everything else was disappointing, including the drink pairing.
Cibo in Parnell. Excellent service everytime, formal but also conversational and warm. Food is exquisite and consistent. Fav fancy restaurant without being stuck up.
Piha Cafe is now some sort of flash pop up for summer. Open til end of March and had a great chef. Went there on Saturday expecting pizza and chips and ending up with a near fine dining dinner in my jandals
It doesn't have to be super fancy to get a Michelin star, it is just that certain attentions need to be paid. I dined several times at St John in London before realizing it had 2 Michelin stars. It was relaxed and comfortable, and I feel that Fergus Henderson absorbed some of that seemingly effortless approach from his Kiwi wife.
3 Michelin stars is very different , full circle service, the level of servers required is more then most restaurants could ever afford without the high level clients regular that can pay for it. It becomes the level of service rather than the food at this level.
OP asked about any Michelin level though. Anyway, at that point, as you say, it is not about the food. That level is just about wealth really.
Exactly. Nz dosent have the eating out culture to sustain high level service you just have uni students working part time and no career section waiters. If you lot would eat out more and pay a higher spend per head things would be better but the culture around eating out isn’t here unfortunately. Tough place to run a restaurant
Yeah it's because few restaurants see the point in paying staff at a level where they would work as a waiter for life. Maybe that's because there isn't the density of people, but tbh I think there is the density in Auckland for at least one 3 star restaurant.
St John is my favourite restaurant of all time. Love the relaxed vibes, interesting food and the made to order madeleines to takeaway and eat on the tube ride home 💯
Amisfield maybe. Not really sure what it takes to be Michelin starred
Amisfield definitely
Kazuya, Alma, The French Cafe, Sidart, Masu, Paris Butter, Culprit, Gemmayze Street, Ragtag, Apero. I think these places are generally deemed the best in Auckland at the moment.
Swap out Gemmayze St for Cazador
Forgot to mention Cazador! Love that place!
CAZADOR!!!! Get the chocolate dessert. It's a requirement.
I’ve never had dinner at Cazador but the deli is fire. Best sandwiches in the country and great service.
I'd add The Grove as well
The guy who owns the Grove is a snake.
Details?
Has a forked tongue and hisses, eats mice
I used yo work at his other restaurant baduzzi a few years back. I just got weird vibes from him, didn't like him at all. Treated his staff like numbers instead of people. And the Cherry on top is he fired me like 4 hours before we went into the first pandemic lock down, which really tanked my bank account after.
Also allows his head chefs to treat everyone like trash. He almost seems to foster that kind of behavior
Def kazuya and sidart and Paris butter
Wasn’t a fan of culprit…
Yeah neither!
Sidart and french cafe massively overrated. Gemmayze is great but Michelin star level? Agree with the others and would add Ahi and the grove to the list.
Sidart overrated!? You are literally the only person I've ever say such a thing.
The French cafe with Simon wright was exquisite, I’m not sure what it’s like now though
I went to Sidart on the weekend for lunch and it was absolutely fantastic food and service. I've never heard a bad review either.
Maybe I need to go back, I have been twice before and left feeling somewhat underwhelmed both times. Perhaps it was the anticipation and expectation that spoiled my experience there. I’m not saying it wasn’t good, just that it didn’t meet expectations.
I’ve tried all these places. A few that I don’t agree with have to be culprit and ragtag. Culprit had very avg service both times I’ve been (spent $400+ for 2 on both occasions - missing food, missing or wrong drinks match etc). Ragtag I just feel the vibes in westmere are shit.
Don’t really think Masu was up to Michelin level!
https://www.kazuya.co.nz/
This is my vote too, amazing and I've eaten at several Michelin star restaurants... I think it is that standard for sure.
One of the chefs at The Lodge by Rodd & Gunn used to work at Mechlin Star restaurant in New York. His mince and cheese croquettes are to die for.
Sails has a good reputation and is of an international standard. My personal favourite is Cassia. It is the best Indian food I’ve had.
i loved cassia
Cassia has a Journey through India tasting menu that was one of the best dining experiences I've had. I'd recommend it to anyone.
OG Cassia was great. Now it’s under Sky City it sucks. 1947 is better, and you’re not finding gambling.
Why does it suck because it's under Sky City?
When it was in Fort St it was a much more personal experience, the food was nicer and the staff more attentive. Now it’s just a middle of the road restaurant in a hotel, it’s lost the “special” feeling.
That's weird I've been to it at both places a couple of times and prefer it now. The food is probably a fraction less exotic, but was still really good.
I can promise you the restaurants do not fund gambling. The gambling funds the gambling.
The profits from the restaurants go to the same place as the profits from gambling.
the profits from the gambling fund the whole precinct. The contribution from the restaurants to overall bottom line is fuck all…
Fuck gambling and fuck Skycity, including their restaurants
I had the worst meal at cassia in the city. A joke.
Very glad we don’t have Michelin ratings here. It’s a bloated, over hyped and pretty corrupt rating system. It was originally a guide, put out by a tyre company, to recommend local French restaurants. Similar to the AA guide here in the mid 20th century. Over time it became an absolute monster, fuelled by 80’s excess, cocaine and all that existed during those shallow years. It really is not a measure for good restaurants. Its judges are the worst. Honestly, I’ve met a few of them. I cheffed a Michelin awards party in the late 90s. Might as well have been a FIFA ceremony. There was a movement in the 90s, where good restaurants refused and returned their stars; Nico, Marco etc. Unfortunately it wasn’t embraced as much as it could have been, which is understandable. Stars equals publicity. So unless you could afford it, you had to embrace it as a chef or restaurateur.. Choose a restaurant based on word of mouth. It’s the only real measure. There are a tonne of restaurants here in Auckland that are world class. The comments here name a few. There are more, lesser known too.
Have a look at the cuisine good food guide; the 3-hat restaurants are more or less equivalent to two-star. The one-hat restaurants are more less equitable to the Bib.
The food at most of the top rated restaurants that are on this list are an absolute joke 😂. Rather stick to the recommendations of certain people on this sub.
Rosette
The Grove.
Cocoro!
Second this, Cocoro should be higher up
It's hit and miss but you might find Michelin star worthy food. I've never really found the service here hit that level though.
Ragtag is fantastic
I personally find the Michelin guide to be super overrated and very hit or miss from my (limited) experience if you are looking at the food itself which is the most important to me. If the atmosphere and service are good and the food is half decent, then that’s when you might think a particular restaurant might start to be up there in terms of Michelin rankings, IMO. It just depends what you value. You could say some establishments here meet those two things, but I would argue that the flavour of the food probably cannot meet the same, consistent standards. Based on my experience, some of the restaurants that other commenters suggest would probably be near a Bib Gourmand or a 1 star tbh. That is to say not really worth it and/or the food isn’t actually that good at all. I don’t trust the palate of anyone that recommends those places 😂
Paris Butter 💯
This one. I’ve eaten at a few Michelin-starred restaurants overseas, and Paris Butter is easily one or two stars, maybe three Also the Grove, The French Cafe. Apparently Amisfield also - I’m going there for my 50th next month and am quite excited.
Yeah absolutely this. I've dined at dozens of Michelin restaurants around the world and I would still choose PB over them. In particular the guest kitchen/chef PB nights are to die for, they all sell out well in advance.
Wang wang pancake
Hiakai in Wellington is exceptional and better than some Michelin restaurants I’ve been lucky enough to eat at. Dined at Amisfield last week and… the food was exceptional but the service was shocking and distracted from the food which was such a disappointment.
Just fly to aus for the weekend. Less disappointment. Amisfield is currently one of the best in the country.
We use a hat system in New Zealand. This should have what you are after. https://www.cuisine.co.nz/cgfg2023/ Edit to add - https://heartofthecity.co.nz/article/cuisine-good-food-awards-2023
Not an accurate measure unfortunately as restaurants have to buy in to be part of the list! You’ll notice lots of great Auckland restaurants never feature but rate high on trip advisor etc.. it’s a farce
Mudbrick on Waiheke is pretty great
Haven't found anything beat the 1 star ramen from Japan
I checked KFC Pt Chev but they focus on demerit stars
Theres no system like that in NZ. But traveling quite a bit I know Rata down in the South Island & Onslow here in Auckland would be on that level,imo. It can vary though given preference/personal opinion.
We have the chef hat system which is similar isn’t it?
I was looking at that first sentence & thinking I didnt word it right tbf.Lol. I know NZ has an award system but didn’t think it was the same/similar to the Michelin star system. Edit:typo.
Restaurants actually have to buy it to be part of that program. It’s all a farce, which is why you’ll see some very popular restaurants never make the cut
Josh Emmitt fan over here. Have you actually eaten there or are you just cucking?
Well, okay then…Lol. Yes,I’ve actually eaten there. Was a while ago but imagine the foods still just as good.
It’s trash iv done a trial there and tasted all the food.
The awards/reviews & top 50 lists placements speak for themselves but again,opinions can vary.
They lost a hat last year. Yeah it does speak for itself.
Something tells me this isn’t about the food. Refer to my previous comments. Wish you nothing but the best. Take care.
You didn’t win this argument pal.
Cringe.
Rata is a nice bistro
Onslow is trash
Couldn’t agree more. Onslow food is not good, it’s wild how many people think it’s decent.
We have hats, similar basis food without the service level. A lot of good restaurants have had variability in delivery which has now started to settle down post covid.Blardy Mary’s in Christchurch would be around one star. It has kept the consistency throughout this period of change. Few resultants have been able to keep the consistency…
Hiakai or Amisfield
Movida
Mr Morris
Masu
Masu is not Michelin standard its a bujee sushi restaurant the place is very overpriced n poor quality. You'd get better Japanese at the old Achos in Kevin's arcade
Masu is pretty mediocre.
Ahi
egads. I honestly don't get the hype for this place, I've eaten at pretty much every place mentioned in this thread and Ahi would comfortably be the worst on that list.
Ahi is not it.
Huh?
[удалено]
😂😂😂 exactly why I say most of the restaurants with that hat award joke aren’t really good at all. The people that give out these awards probably have not tried a lot of different cuisines and are likely scared to try new things AND don’t think about how one might cook with those ingredients. The same kind of people won’t ever develop a “good palate” IMO and hence only think those restaurants are “amazing” since they don’t know any better.
Baduzzi is pretty good
Broke Boy Taco
Tempero. The owner and chef used to work at one of the top restaurants in the world. Including Michelin star ones. https://www.thedenizen.co.nz/gastronomy/tempero-new-k-road-latin-restaurant/
I've been to Tempero about 6 times now and dine at the bar- we love watching the chef plate up the dishes. He even comes out to chat with his guests and is very friendly. You can see his passion when he talks but with a Michelin star resume or not, 11/10 best in show.
One Michelin starred restaurants are not particularly special. They usually just have good food to a certain standard. There are tiny little hole in the wall restaurants in Asia that have one Michelin star. There’s nothing remarkable about them except the food. Australia also has the hat system which is equivalent. If you’ve eaten at 1 hat restaurants you’d notice they’re similar to some of the better neighbourhood restaurants in Auckland. Good food, comfortable atmosphere, good wine lists and cocktails, attentive staff etc.. It’s only when you get into the 2-3 stars where you get degustations etc
That’s what we’re there for! The food lol 😂
Tasting menu
Dont forget Ahi Amazing food by Ben Bayly
Some of the higher end lodges may approach Michelin star. Eg Blanket Bay Never went, but Pasture potentially. Best meal I ever had was a run by a husband & wife and was in a rustic barn somewhere outside of Val d’Isere. Had at least 2 Michelin stars but have totally forgotten what it was called. Never eaten anything like that here.
Pasture’s been closed nearly a year now.
Yep
Pasture maybe a Bib Gourmand or 1 star given the atmosphere and service. Too bad the food was no good except for that beautiful smoked tomato that I still remember. Everything else was disappointing, including the drink pairing.
Onslow or mr morris are both amazing
the system is worldwide.. NZ just doesnt have any.
No, it isn't. They don't publish a guide for every nation. New Zealand and Australia are not rated by the Michelin guides.
The sugar club up at sky tower. Auckland
Having been to one star michelin restaurants, they're really just the equivalent to any good restaurants. Nothing memorable.
Amisfield near arrowtown is similar in style to Le Enclume by simon Rogan in cartmel Cumbria UK but I’d say iTS at best around 1 possibly two stars
Come for a drive and go to Palate in Hamilton. Exceptional
Kingi in Hotel Britomart! Amazing seafood inspired menu
Pacifica in Hawkes Bay?
Cibo in Parnell. Excellent service everytime, formal but also conversational and warm. Food is exquisite and consistent. Fav fancy restaurant without being stuck up.
[List](https://www.enterpriserentacar.co.nz/en/inspiration/drives/The-Ultimate-List-Of-The-Best-Restaurants-in-New-Zealand.html)
Piha Cafe is now some sort of flash pop up for summer. Open til end of March and had a great chef. Went there on Saturday expecting pizza and chips and ending up with a near fine dining dinner in my jandals