The prestigious Metro/Audi Top 50 Restaurants of the Year list is widely recognised as a barometer of what’s hot on the Auckland restaurant scene.
They are the longest running restaurant awards in Auckland and each year foodies and restaurateurs alike wait with bated breath for the results.
Now that the results are in for 2012 they make interesting reading.
There has been a shift to more casual styles of dining and the “axis of power” has moved from Parnell and Ponsonby to the CBD.
One nominee that is sure to be a bone of contention is Auckland newcomer Botswana Butchery, which has just opened in the Quay Street space formerly occupied by Cin Cin.
The judges decided it deserved a spot on the list due to its high food and service standards and the excellent reputation the franchise has established through its Queenstown restaurant.
Many readers will be surprised to find that Auckland institutions, such as Sails Restaurant and SPQR, did not even figure. The restaurants of North Wharf, which enjoyed such great patronage during the Rugby World Cup, were also notable by their absence.
After much deliberation Metro magazine editor Simon Wilson and a panel of experts have come up with a list that represents the spectrum of cuisines and dining styles available in Auckland.
This year, youth and glamour appear to have edged out age and experience and there are some controversial inclusions and omissions.
New eateries like Al Brown’s Depot, in the Federal Street restaurant precinct, and District Dining, Roxy and Café Hanoi at Britomart feature prominently and reflect the overall flavour of the list.
Toto Restaurant has made the list again this year. It delivers consistently good, traditional Italian food and has fantastic ambience.
They have an enviable swag of other awards and nominations from Metro to their name including Best Italian in 2007 and 2010 and Runner Up Best Italian 2008 and 2009 and it would be great to see them add another to this haul.
The judges will award a supreme winner and winners in a number of categories including fine dining; smart dining; upmarket bistro; casual and Asian, plus awards for progressive restaurateur of the year; best chef; best service; best dish; best rural restaurant; best short and long drinks list and best new restaurant.
The awards will be announced at a special event at St. Matthew’s in the City on the 23rd of April and in the May edition of Metro magazine.
The complete list of nominees is:
• Price range for mains: $28 to $30
• Location: Parnell
• Cuisine type: French
• Regular nominee
See Antoine's menu
• Price range for mains: $40 and over
• Location: Newmarket
• Cuisine type: Basque/Spanish
• Past nominee in the Casual Bistro category, 2011
See Basque Kitchen & Bar's menu
• Location: Auckland City
• Cuisine type: African-influenced
• New entry
See Botswana Butchery's menu
• Location: Waiheke Island
• Cuisine type: Modern New Zealand
• Winner: Best Service in the Metro Restaurant of the Year Awards 2010
See Cable Bay Restaurant & Wine Bar's menu
• Price: $25 to $35
• Location: Britomart
• Cuisine type: Vietnamese
• Nominated 2011
See Cafe Hanoi's menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: Waiheke Island
• Cuisine type: Moroccan/Mediterranean
• Winner: Best Rural Restaurant Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011, Winner: Personality of the Year 2011, Runner-up: Best Casual Bistro 2011, Finalist: Most Progressive Restaurateur 2011: Cat Vosper
See a sample menu from Casita Miro
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: Parnell
• Cuisine type: Modern European
• Past nominee & Winner: Best Smart Casual Restaurant 2010
See Cibo's menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: Freemans Bay
• Cuisine type: Modern European
• Past nominee, Winner: Best Wine List 2010 & 2011, Restaurant Finalist: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
See Clooney's set menu
• Price range: $15 to $25
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Modern Japanese
• New entry
See Cocoro's dinner menu
• Price range: $25 to $30
• Location: Karangahape Road
• Cuisine type: Mediterranean
• Past nominee in the Casual Bistro category, 2011
See the menu for Coco's Cantina
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Freemans Bay
• Cuisine type: New Zealand French
• New entry
See Cru at Sale Street's menu
• Price range: $15 to $25
• Location: Grey Lynn
• Cuisine type: Italian
• Past nominee
See the menu for Delicious
• Price range: $15 to $25
• Location: Federal Street
• Cuisine type: New Zealand
• New entry
See Depot's menu
• Price range: $35 and above
• Location: Sky City, Federal Street
• Cuisine type: Asian, Pacific, New Zealand fusion
• Winner: Best Dining Room 2010
See Dine by Peter Gordon's degustation menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Britomart
• Cuisine type: European
• New entry
See District Dining's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Britomart
• Cuisine type: Japanese
• Nominated 2011
See Ebisu's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Birkenhead
• Cuisine type: Modern New Zealand
• Winner: Best New Restaurant & Best Smart Casual Restaurant 2007
See Eight.Two's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Mediterranean
• Past nominee, 2011
See Ella's dinner menu
• Price range: $35 and above
• Location: Princes Wharf
• Cuisine type: New Zealand/Modern European
• Past nominee in the Smart Dining category 2011
See Euro's menu
• Price range: $35 and above
• Location: CBD, Quay Street
• Cuisine type: Pacific Rim
• Past nominee
See Harbourside's a la carte menu
• Price range: $15 to 425
• Location: Fort Street
• Cuisine type: Israeli/Mediterranean
• Past nominee in the Casual Bistro category 2011
See Ima's lunch and dinner menus
• Price range: $20 and under
• Location: Queen Street
• Cuisine type: Japanese (Okinawan)
• Nominated 2010
• Price: degustation menu, $110
• Location: Mt.Eden
• Cuisine type: Modern New Zealand
• Supreme Winner 2009 and past nominee
See Meredith's menu
• Price range for mains: $25 to $35
• Location: Mt. Eden
• Cuisine type: European/Modern New Zealand
• Past nominee in the Upmarket Bistro category, 2011
See Molten's dinner menu
• Price range: $15 to $25
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Thai
• Past nominee in the Asian category, 2011
See Moochowchow's menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: City
• Cuisine type: French Japanese
• Past nominee in the Asian category, 2011
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Parnell
• Cuisine type: Italian
• Past nominee in the Smart Dining category, 2011
• Price range: $25 to $40 for a main meal
• Location: City
• Cuisine: Modern New Zealand
• Past nominee in the Smart Dining category 2011
See Number 5's dinner menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: City
• Cuisine: European/Bistro
• Winner: Best Smart Dining Restaurant 2011
See O'Connell Street Bistro's dinner menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Eden Terrace
• Cuisine type: Italian
• New entry
See O'Sarracino's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Waiheke Island
• Cuisine type: Italian
• Past nominee in the Casual Bistro category, 2011
See Poderi Crisci's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Modern British
• 2011 – Finalist: Best Service, Finalist: Best Wine List, Runner-up: Best Upmarket Bistro
See Ponsonby Road Bistro's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Italian
• Past nominee 2011
See Prego's dinner menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Herne Bay
• Cuisine type: Seafood, Modern European
• Past nominee 2010
See Pure's menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: Imperial Lane, nr Fort Street
• Cuisine type: Modern European
• New entry
• Price range: $20 to $30
• Location: Kingsland
• Cuisine type: Japanese
• New entry
See Sake Bar 601's menu
• Price range: $35 and above
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: Asian/European
• Winner: Best New Restaurant 2010, Best Dish 2011
See Sidart's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Viaduct
• Cuisine type: Seafood
• Past nominee in the Smart Dining category, 2011
See Soul's menu
• Price range: $20 to $30
• Location: Ponsonby
• Cuisine type: French bistro
• Past nominee in the Casual Bistro category, 2011
See Sunday Painters' menu
• Price range: $30 and over
• Location: Waiheke Island
• Cuisine type: Contemporary New Zealand
• Winner: Best Rural Restaurant 2011
See Te Whau's menu
• Price range: $20 to $30
• Location: Northcote Point
• Cuisine type: Eclectic, classic bistro fare and international favourites
• Winner: Best Upmarket Bistro 2011
See The Engine Room's menu
• Price range: $30 and above
• Location: Grafton
• Cuisine type: French
• Supreme Winner 2004, Best Fine Dining Restaurant & Supreme Winner 2005, Best Fine Dining Restaurant 2006, Best Service and Best Formal Restaurant 2007, Supreme Winner 2008
See The French Cafe's menus
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Federal Street, Sky City
• Cuisine type: Steakhouse/Contemporary New Zealand
• New entry
See The Grill's menu
• Price range: $30 and above
• Location: CBD
• Cuisine type: Contemporary New Zealand
• Supreme Winner 2010, 2011
See The Grove's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Waiheke Island
• Cuisine type: Contemporary New Zealand
• New entry
See The Shed at Te Motu's menu
• Price range: $15 to $25
• Location: Kumeu
• Cuisine type: Mediterranean
• New entry
See The Tasting Shed's menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: City
• Cuisine type: Italian
• Past nominee in the Smart Dining category, 2011
See Toto's full menu
• Price range: $35 and over
• Location: Parnell
• Cuisine type: Contemporary New Zealand/European
• Nominated in 2010 & 2011
See TriBeCa's a la carte menu
• Price range: $25 to $35
• Location: Mt Eden, Dominion Road
• Cuisine type: European
• Nominated in 2009, 2010 & 2011
See Two Fifteen's menu
• Price range: $35 and above
• Location: Herne Bay
• Cuisine type: European
• Past nominee in the Fine Dining category, 2011
See Vinnies' seasonal menu
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