8 Of Our Favourite Dinner Places For A Lowkey Night

One of our ultimate chilled dining spots is the award-winning Kiss Kiss, the scrumptious Thai-inspired eatery has easily stolen the hearts of Aucklanders. The cuisine is packed with flavour, fresh ingredients and intricate spices. Get your hands on delicious bao buns filled with Thai-style pork belly, lemongrass fried chicken or fried tofu. Kiss Kiss is also renowned for its noodle selection; the bang bang beef noodles are unbeatable, and the satay pad Thai will have you dreaming about  your night at Kiss Kiss for days.  

Hello Beasty’s tapa-style menu is perfect for sharing with friends and allows the whole table to try a little bit of everything. The cuisine is contemporary New Zealand fusion with influences from Japan, Korea and China, showcasing the freshness, flavours and simplicity found in the fare. A few of our favourite dishes are the wagyu beef and mushroom potstickers, the beasty sashimi selection and spicy Sichuan noodles. The latter pairs mustard greens, crispy pork mince, sesame, chilli, roasted peanuts and black vinegar.

Mid-week catch-ups are reserved for good friends and even better food; at Coco’s Cantina, we can guarantee the latter. The home-style Mediterranean cuisine is hearty and rich in flavour. Visit Coco’s between 4 – 6.30 pm, Tuesday – Saturday and bask in the glory of pasta happy hour; the specials change weekly; diners can experience new and exciting flavours on every visit. The truffled potato ravioli is divine with wild garlic and sage brown butter. You can also get your hands on pizza, tasty sides, antipasti and desserts. 

Plan your mid-week escape to somewhere tropical; Bali Nights transports you to the warm shores of Indonesia. Your tastebuds will rejoice at the unforgettable flavours showcased in the authentic Indonesian roadside delicacies. Order a handful of tapas to share at the table; the sate ayam always goes down a treat; the 10 grilled chicken skewers are doused in satay peanut sauce with kecap manis, and crackers, pickles and rice. Other irresistible options include grilled beef ribs, fried market fish, grilled butterflied prawns and fried egg noodles.

What better way to end the day than with a BBQ? Smokin Cole BBQ is superior when it comes to cooking meat and purveyors of fine American BBQ. The laid-back eatery prioritises flavour, tenderness and everything delicious. The menu is designed for tables to build their platter board, great for groups with differing tastes. Options include BBQ wings, Memphis dry rub pork ribs, the infamous pork jowl meat candy, reverse-seared smoked tomahawk, and much more. There are also sides like truffle mac and cheese, waffle fries, and creamy potato and gravy.

Nanny’s Eatery is the place to be on a laid-back weeknight; the food is delicious, the rum strong, and the people are friendly. Experience the authentic, aromatic fare from the islands; the Jamaican and Mexican fusion is food for the soul. Enjoy signature dishes like the jerk Jamaican spice-rubbed grilled chicken wings and jerk pork belly. You cannot visit Nanny’s without sampling the rum; our go-to is the Plantation Pineapple.

If baos with your besties sounds like your thing, head down to Chinoiserie. The laid-back restaurant serves up a variety of Asian street food, specialising in flavoursome boas like coconut-crusted squid, braised pork belly, karaage chicken, satay sauced tofu and fish boa. The latter pairs Panko crumbed Hoki fillets with a Tzatziki sauce, gherkins, carrots, daikon and house-made Nok Chum sauce. The rest of the menu is designed to share, making dinner with friends an exciting experience packed with flavour.

A beer and a slice of pizza are our happy place, and after a gruelling day at work, there is nothing we want more. Dishing up the best Italian cuisine on this side of Milan is little old Non Solo Pizza. The deliciously crispy base is slathered in rich tomato sauce, a generous layer of gooey cheese and all the toppings your heart could desire. Our favourite pizza is the Nerrano, with marinated zucchini, asiago cheese, chilli, whipped Stracciatella and lots of basil. Wash dinner down with a pint of beer, a glass of vino, or a Non Solo special, the Aperol spritz.