close button

Sunday Painters (1)

Aug 18, 2012 Restaurants

Esther Lamb & James Kirkwood at Sunday Painters" src="https://www.metromag.co.nz/images/uploads/082d9dc5-f2df-4eb3-bc67-8526b49897c3-mt0512roty_MG_5749.jpg" alt="Metro Best Restaurants in Auckland - Esther Lamb & James Kirkwood at Sunday Painters" width="640" height="427" />185 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby. Ph 360-2001.
sundaypainters.co.nz
Lunch Friday; dinner 7 days.

James Kirkwood painted the walls. Notice the beautiful stemmed water glasses, the sense of a place that’s not like any other place. Kirkwood and Esther Lamb (that’s them above) dreamed it all up, complete with heavy patchwork curtains that spill onto the floor, a turntable on which they play albums, a wine list conjured with curiosity and love. And food, of course, French bistro food, peasant food, on a high-rotate menu from the extremely capable Beki Lamb, Esther’s sister. We’ve said before that their pork stuffed into duck-neck sausages and served in fat slices on a bed of lentils is the kind of dish every self-respecting bistro should offer, and we love it still. We’re also most partial to the roquefort tart with beets, a pumpkin and chevre soufflé served with parsley sauce, kahawai confit with blood orange and fennel salad, and of course the steak frites — scotch fillet, served, last time we checked in, with peppercorns and brandy butter.

A favourite dish:  Kahawai confit with blood orange and fennel salad.
$$$$  |  V  |  FR  |  PR  |  G  |  CL  |  GB  |  K      what’s this?

FINALIST
Restaurant Personality of the Year: James Kirkwood

Latest

Metro N°446 is Out Now shadow

Metro N°446 is Out Now

In the Autumn 2025 issue of Metro: Cheap Eats is back with the top 50 places to eat in Auckland for under $25. Delight your eyes with a bumper Contemporary Art Special including Emma McIntyre, Ann Shelton, Greer Twiss, Areez Katki, Bob Harvey's memories of The McCahon House parties and a scooter-load of reviews from Sam Te Kani. PLUS: The fall of David Grr, the recovery of Golriz Ghahraman, Anna Rankin spends an afternoon at St Lukes Foodcourt, Metro meets Awful Food Reviews and more!

Buy the latest issue