Dish Cult Dines: All you can eat at Paldo Korean Buffet
16 Jan 2023
16 Jan 2023
In 2021 we welcomed a variety of new restaurants, cafés and bars into the big smoke.
It was another tumultuous year, with Auckland experiencing more than 100 days in lockdown. But we’re here to focus on all the good that came out of 2021, like the incredible new eateries that opened up. Here are a few of our stand-outs from the past year that we’ll be visiting all throughout 2022 too!
From the masterminds behind The Parasol and Swing Company comes The Broken Lantern, located in dear-old Ponsonby. The modern tavern offers delicious comfort food, an extensive selection of local craft beer and expertly crafted cocktails. Twice a year, The Broken Lantern will introduce seasonal changes for the kitchen, bar, and artwork. The menu is designed to share and each dish has us salivating; we can’t resist the buttermilk fried chicken, the mac and cheese croquettes or the cheeseburger spring rolls – literally heaven. The smashed patty comes with cheese, pickles, onions and burger sauce. The cocktail menu reads like a love letter with options we wouldn’t have even dreamed of, from the mandarin negroni to the frontier sour (created with scotch, bourbon, port and a spiced Guinness reduction.)
The latest newcomer to the Viaduct is making big waves with the London-inspired décor and British cuisine. The Fox has all the charm of a classic London pub and the grub to back it up. Kick back to a playlist dedicated to British bangers, catch a game on one of the many big screens or take the family out for a hearty dinner. On the menu, you’ll find fish and chips, toad in the hole and an indulgent chicken and truffle pie. The true show-stopper is the weekend roast, pairing the roast of the day with duck fat potatoes or creamy mash, Yorkshire puddings, roasted root vegetables and gravy. The selection of British themed cocktails doesn’t disappoint; a personal favourite is the delicious Jammie Dodger.
Bar Magda is a fresh and exotic Filipino-inspired restaurant, the subterranean venue is the perfect spot for intimate nights out with its dark and cosy interior. The Filipino cuisine incorporates local seasonal produce; every dish will have food lovers swooning. Opt for the Magda Feast; the banquet-style dining showcases a spin on cult-classic dishes and is great for bigger parties. Otherwise, enjoy the indulgent a la carte menu; start with the house-made garlic focaccia before you move on to something cold or something hot. The former includes mouth-watering options like the green-lipped mussel escabeche with green garlic and fennel. While the latter offers beautiful dishes like charcoal steak with soy butter and scallions.
Take a trip across the sea when you dine at Bali Nights; experience the authentic Indonesian roadside fare with a decidedly Balinese twist. Prepare for an evening filled with unforgettable flavours, spice upon spice and more sambal than you could shake a stick at. Bali Nights menu consists of sharing, not-sharing and sambals; making this an ideal restaurant for bigger groups. Get yourself a generous bowl of Mie Goreng tektek; the fried egg noodles come with chicken satay, fried egg, vegetables, pickles and crackers. Or dine upon grilled beef ribs (Iga Bakar), vegan rendang and grilled chicken skewers (Sate Ayam). Wash your meal down with an Es soda gembira, combining soda water, coco pandan syrup and condensed milk.
Picco Eatery is your one-stop spot for homely cuisine with Turkish elements incorporated throughout, the family-run business is serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, 6-days a week. For brekky, treat yourself to the classic eggs’ benny or Turkish menemen; a one-pot dish of eggs, onion, tomato and spice. For lunch, the Picco beef burger is hard to beat. And finally, the meal we’ve all been waiting for, dinner. With eye fillet, lamb cutlet, cannelloni and shish kebab on the menu; you’ll be spoiled for choice. Picco also has a separate menu dedicated to pizza; there’s a flavour to keep every member of your family happy.
