close button

The Engine Room (4)

Aug 18, 2012 Restaurants

The Engine Room " src="https://www.metromag.co.nz/images/uploads/5f1c6661-31e9-462c-8c92-ac68d85afb0b-MT0512ROTY_TheEngineRoom_DSC_02751.jpg" alt="Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year 2012 - The Engine Room" width="640" height="426" />15 Queen St, Northcote Pt.  Ph 480-9502.
engineroom.net.nz
Lunch Friday; dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

 

The winner of its category for six straight years since it opened, The Engine Room serves the best double-baked goats’ cheese soufflé in town. That’s also true, or as good as true, for its steak frites, veal schnitzel, churros con chocolate… in fact, so much of the menu is so popular that they find it hard to make room for new items. On recent visits, we particularly enjoyed the fish: a special of clams served in a divinely harmonious broth, and fish soup, chef Carl Koppenhagen’s tasty Mediterranean classic in which the balance of soup to fish — a thing which defeats so many chefs — was just perfect. Most suburban bistros have lost their spots in our Top 50: they might be good but they’re no longer good enough. The Engine Room shows there’s no reason that should be.

A favourite dish: Fish soup.
$$$$  |  V  |  FR  |  GB      what’s this?

WINNER
Best Upmarket Bistro

Latest

Latest issue shadow

Metro N°444 is Out Now.

Welcome to the new issue of Metro! The Top 50 restaurants in Auckland! What are New Zealand’s mad scientists up to? Ed Hillary and the (or perhaps a) Yeti! We catch up with the affable Jack Tame! As well as the 3-bodied Jess Hong. A studio visit with sculptor Yona Lee! Sam Brooks derides the dearth of arts criticism! What are the Take Out Kids up to when they’re not on TV? And more, much more.

Cover by Sarah Larnach

Buy the latest issue