Jun 21, 2018 Restaurants
The French Café restaurant review
Note: The French Café has changed ownership since this review was published.
Metro Top 50 2018 Restaurant The French Café is a contemporary French fine dining restaurant in Eden Terrace.
Everything about a night out at The French Café is polished, crisp and considered down to the finest detail. In its 35 years of operation it has survived and thrived in Auckland’s fickle dining scene, and since 1999 has maintained a wonderful sense of occasion under the management of Creghan Molloy-Wright and Simon Wright. The staff, in uniforms tailored by Helen Cherry and Crane Brothers, are confident and engaging as they assist in navigating the lengthy wine list, school you on the origins of Kurobuta pork, and interpret your needs without hovering. On the menu, classics such as beetroot tart with goats’ cheese and figs remain, but it’s Wright’s more playful dishes, like buttermilk-fried quail and the crispy, creamy, sweet toffee-apple parfait, which will no doubt ensure another generation of diners continues to walk through the doors.
What it offers Free-range chicken and/or pork / Good for vegetarians / Good seating outside / Takes large groups (two private dining rooms available) / Craft beer selection
A favourite dish Butter-poached crayfish, sweetcorn, bacon dashi and seaweed
Awards Runner-up, Best Service; Finalist, Best Wine List
Hours Lunch Fri, Dinner Tue-Sat
Bookings Yes
Price $$$
Seats 70
Chef Simon Wright, executive chef; Gideon Landman, head chef
thefrenchcafe.co.nz
210 Symonds St, Eden Terrace
Ph 377-1911
See here for all of Metro’s Top 50 Auckland restaurants for 2018
