Wynyard Quarter is Auckland’s exciting new hospitality and entertainment precinct, situated west of Viaduct Harbour and north of Freemans Bay, in an area bounded by Jellicoe Street, Halsey Street, Beaumont Street and Fanshawe Street.
Historically known as the Western Reclamation or the “Tank Farm” due to its being reclaimed land used for liquid chemical storage facilities by the Ports of Auckland, the area has undergone extensive redevelopment in recent years, culminating in its rebirth as a focal point for restaurants and bars, in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
In the long term Wynyard Quarter will become a desirable waterside community in which to live, work and play promising a fantastic range of activities from a picnic at Victoria Park, to a café brunch to a leisurely stroll beside the nearby superyachts. With the spectacular backdrop of the Auckland skyline on one side and the Waitemata Harbour on the other, the area makes a great showcase for the city, and it will soon play host to some high profile events including Rugby World Cup festivities, an ITU World Cup triathlon and the Adidas Auckland Marathon expo.
The first, newly completed, phase of the Wynyard Quarter development is called North Wharf. North Wharf is billed as home to some of Auckland’s best dining experiences.
Many different countries are represented in the restaurants of North Wharf.
Gelatiamo offers a range of delicious gourmet desserts including traditional gelato and fat-free sorbetto, plus fresh-roasted coffee expertly brewed by trained baristas. Gelatiamo uses genuine Italian ingredients too, so you’re in for a treat!
For a taste of Asia with a touch of Japanese cuisine, try I Sushi & Yakitori. It offers an unusual and unconventional range of sushi fillings and accompanying homemade sauces including teriyaki chicken rolled in flaky paratha bread and stuffed with vegetables. The restaurant also has a high-tech, robotic Teriyaki griller – a first for New Zealand.
If kiwi cuisine and hospitality is more your thing, be sure to check out Jack Tar. A gastropub situated in a refurbished post-war goods shed, it offers a hearty menu of plates to share, gourmet pizzas, steaks, seafood and more. Its bar is generously stocked with a large range of excellent wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy with your meal.
For a genuine Hong Kong-style dining experience, you need go no further than Live Fish . It’s a family affair with owner Joanna Chen and her father running the kitchen. Mr Chan has been making his delicious black bean sauce since he first entered the kitchen in 1953 and he makes it today, at Live Fish, to exactly the same recipe. As a younger chef Mr Chan avoided artificial ingredients, and the food on offer does not contain msg. So, to taste the freshest from local waters and some rich Hong Kong flavours, visit Live Fish.
Over at Marvel Grill, the focus is on hearty fare made from high quality, traceable, sustainably produced ingredients. Among the offerings are tasty free range steaks, roasted baby beetroot with pomegranate glaze and goat’s cheese, grilled citrus marinated squid with pineapple salsa, and wasabi brown sugar glazed house smoked salmon with ciabatta croute.
Pescado Café and Tapas Bar brings the delightful tastes of the Middle East and North Africa to downtown Auckland with a convivial, social style of dining. The team here use excellent local produce to evoke the spicy aromas and taste sensations of the souk and the Kasbah.
Also on the wharf is Rushworth, the latest venture from MacGregor Brothers Limited, owners of two the city’s most popular cafés, Reslau and MacGregor Brothers Kitchen. Rushworth serves top quality espresso, a wide selection of home baking, plus sandwiches and paninis. Touted as “your living room in the city”, it offers a range of tasty café food, coffee and alcoholic beverages in a warm, intimate environment.
The Conservatory , as its name suggests, has a botanical theme, right down to the watering cans used as cocktail jugs. Its menu which features 18 inch pizzas, platters and sharing platters has been designed for group dining. If you like hearty, unpretentious food and a fun, laid-back ambience, then make sure you visit The Conservatory.
Urban Turban provides a taste of authentic street food from Mumbai and is based upon the same healthy eating principle – straight from garden to table – as Indian vendors adhere to. The menu ranges from more traditional dishes such as Tandoori Prawn Bhel to modern interpretations of Indian classics, like the Butter Chicken Burger. Urban Turban is open 7 days and until 2:00am on Friday and Saturday nights. Traditional English and Indian breakfasts are available at weekends.
Editorial by Nick Chidley
16 August 2011
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