Mar 18, 2025 Metro Eats
Kia ora,
About a month ago, I made the spur-of-the-moment but necessary decision to delete a trio of social media apps from my phone: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, haere rā. I’d long felt besieged by their persuasions to post, to scroll, to watch, to like, to reply to perpetual private message conversations, to loiter around their online spaces in the hope of a fleeting dopamine boost. As it turned out, the push I needed to tune out once and for all (or at least for now) was witnessing the swarm of tech executives (including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk) in attendance at the inauguration of Trump. These days, I am taking fewer photos of food, I am reading on the train, I am getting my current affairs direct from news websites. It is really, really nice.
As lovely as this is, I do sometimes worry that without the connection of these apps, I’ll find myself completely out of the loop, particularly — for the sake of this newsletter — when it comes to the world of food. Potentially, I will miss online things, but I also find myself more present in the real world, spotting new openings and closings, and hearing about goings on through the grapevine.
There is also a certain liberation that comes from not being entirely in the loop. Between Te Matatini and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, this week I watched the first two episodes of The White Lotus. Without social media, I have no insight into the critical consensus and internet discourse about this season of the show. This is not necessarily a good thing, but I’m enjoying having an experience unmediated by the opinions of the world wide web. On that note, here are two food-related reflections related to the new season. One is that I wish there were more food shots at the hotel restaurant — I am desperate to know what this Thai-inflected wellness menu entails. And second, I’ve been thinking about how the claustrophobic dread of the show is amplified by the choice to have characters in these exciting culinary destinations seemingly confined to eating every single meal at the hotel restaurant — a nightmare way to travel.
Hei konā mai,
Charlotte
Comings and goings.
HENG ZONE, a new restaurant in Burswood, looks fascinating. Alongside a range of very affordable cocktails and glasses of wine, they’ve got one of the most variegated Asian fusion menus I’ve ever seen — roast duck quesadillas, Korean fried chicken, Hong Kong-style curry fish balls, tempura, siu mai, Vietnamese filter coffee and Thai red curry. Phew. Even more incredible, these dishes, representing countries all over the continent and beyond, for the most part fall under $11 each.
It looks like BROKE BOY TACO will be bringing their hugely popular birria tacos to the North Shore. They’re gearing up to open a second location in Birkenhead.
In what could be considered the final chapter in the story of SPQR, JACUZZI, a new bar and bistro helmed by Bronwyn and Jessica Payne (the duo behind Elmo’s and Hoppers) opened its doors in the iconic location over the weekend.
I’m unsure why exactly, but there’s something jarring about the idea of smokehouse barbecue in the heart of the city. Clearly, not everyone feels the same, because SMOKELAND, a low-and-slow takeaway barbecue joint has just opened on Albert St. It’s located in the Park Central Food Court which until recently housed just one lone food stall, Thai Time — so I’m really pleased that they’ve now got company.
Patch Cafe in Hillcrest has recently opened a SUBSIDIARY in the central-city allotment that formerly housed the Gilli Cafe location on Lorne St. The menu, for the most part, will be familiar to regulars of the original cafe, with lots of aesthetically pleasing cabinet fare and brunch dishes, but some surprises — most of all, the open burger served in a pool of melted cheese on a hot plate.
While wandering up to Albert Park on Sunday I spotted a new hotpot restaurant on Kitchener St nestled inside the Wilson’s carpark building (a fantastic, industrial location for a restaurant like this) called POT XPRESS HOTPOT BUFFET. The prices look very reasonable, especially if you go at lunchtime, when it’s $26.90 per person.
There’s a new patisserie shop in Commercial Bay called J’AIME, which began its life in Christchurch specialising in macarons.
Daruma Ramen in Epsom has transformed into an eatery specialising in katsu dishes called Katsu-Tei. It’s the second ramen-to-katsu metamorphosis I’ve heard of recently, with Mt Eden ramen restaurant Zool Zool rebranding as Katsu Bay last year. Perhaps it’s something to do with the economics of making the dishes, or the weather-dependent nature of ramen eating (climate change!), or just our love for deep-fried things.
Starbucks Mission Bay is closing down on 9 March after 26 years. It is somewhat surprising that it lasted this long.
In sad news, Karangahape Rd restaurant ROSES, with its purple dining room, rotating resident chefs and dinner-party-like atmosphere, will be closing in late March after a two-and-a-bit-year run. I reckon it’ll live on in this city by way of its influence; as proof of the imaginative, community-minded, beat-of-your-own-drum potential of restaurants.
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SkyCity Golden Hour X Metro.
Foodies, rejoice! GOLDEN HOUR has returned to SkyCity with a range of bespoke set menu specials, all of which can be paired with a glass of Church Road wine at some of your favourite spots: The Grill, MASU, Metita , Cassia , Huami , Orbit, Fed Deli and Depot .
From now until 30 April, treat yourself to a little culinary indulgence with a swish evening out, as well as the chance to win a $3,000 private dining experience at Metita with Metro’s 2024 Best Restaurateur chef Michael Meredith. This is the perfect excuse to plan that early date night, after-work catch-up, pre-show bite or dinner with friends — BOOK your Golden Hour experience now.
Metro’s Golden Hour picks!
Cassia: $60pp, 5–6pm
Two courses from Sid Sahrawat’s sparkling new autumn menu and a glass of chardonnay.
Metita: $60pp, 5–6pm
We just had to include Metro’s Best New Restaurant of 2024 with Michael Meredith’s two-course menu celebrating the best of the Pacific with a glass of chardonnay to accompany it all.
Fed Deli: $60 for two, 5–6pm
Two of Al Brown’s iconic chicken sammys, poutine, cheesecake and a glass of chardonnay? What a dream. Add another glass of chardonnay for $14 and make it a date!
Huami: $68 sharing (minimum two people)
Indulge in Huami’s modern Chinese flavours via five dishes designed to share, plus a glass of Church Road McDonald Series syrah.
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Where we’re going.
A reminder that you have until 4pm on 5 March (this coming Wednesday) to cast your snack or meal nominations for Iconic Auckland Eats. This celebration of local kai is back for its fifth year, showcasing the top 100 dishes across Tāmaki Makaurau, as voted by the public. To celebrate the initiative by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited in partnership with Restaurant Hub, five nominators will each win vouchers worth $500 to be redeemed at their favourite Iconic Auckland Eats food businesses. Make your nomination HERE.
It’s Paris Butter ’s ninth birthday and they’re celebrating with two evenings of collaborative dinners by chef Nick Honeyman (Le Petit Léon), Zennon Wijlens (Paris Butter) and Will Goldfarb (World’s Best Pastry Chef 2021) on 7 and 8 March. The menu features signature snacks from each restaurant, two courses from Le Petit Léon and two from Paris Butter, two desserts from Will Goldfarb and two curated beverage pairings. TICKETS from $350 per person.
QT Auckland has partnered with Whispering Angel Rosé for a series of PRETTY IN PINK LUNCHES. Enjoy an exclusive menu on the rooftop, served Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 3pm, with a glass of Whispering Angel Provence Rosé. From $68 per person; on now till 29 March, 12–3pm.
