MoveNorthShore.co.nz » restaurants

365 Days | #37 | The Internationalist

Pip White — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:15:37 +0000

That little block of shops at Rothesay Bay is a smorgasbord of eateries from Indian to organic. One that we seem to keep going back to is The Internationalist, a bistro and wine bar for grown up people, right on the corner of Beach Road & Lyons Ave. There’s a well stocked bar (they specialise in imported wines and boutique beers), a large indoor dining area, a big deck with views of the Hauraki Gulf, and a lounge area complete with comfy couches, piano, magazines and books for car enthusiasts. The owners hail from Montreal and Sth Africa, used to own Toto, and know how to run a lively operation.

Open 7 days, there’s something special on offer each day. Monday night is boys’ movie night (girls are welcome) – $20 gets you a burger, a beer and a movie at dusk. Tuesday is two-for-one main meal night. Wednesday, you can enjoy live music or art-house movie. Two pizzas for $25 has gotta be a great deal on a Thursday night. Friday lunchtime you can have a 3 course meal and house wine for $24.50. Saturdays, the kids eat free when there’s 2 big people eating. Sunday afternoons are for cruising with some live jazz. There’s also a happy hour (2 hours actually), 4-6pm everyday. Fri, Sat, Sun The I opens at 11am.

Check them out on Facebook to see what movies are coming up and any other newsy bits.

365 Days | #37 | Boss Yakitori & Bistro

Pip White — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:10:48 +0000

Recently opened in Milford, where a couple of incarnations of Indian restaurant used to be, Boss Yakitori & Bistro is something new and exciting for the area.

It’ll be a terrific place for sitting around on a sunny Friday evening after work, enjoying a Sapporo (on tap) and chowing down on the delicious assortment of skewers, tempura and other Japanese culinary delights (just need to encourage them to get some outdoor seating). The edamame beans are superb, and their Chef’s Selection of 8 skewers is a good way to try a variety of tastes from the menu. Good as a quiet place to go with your loved one, or for a group of friends and family. The service is excellent – very attentive and friendly in that inimitable Japanese way. They’re running a special deal from 18 – 24 December 2010: Free glass of tap beer orhot sake with your meal. Go there. Quickly!

365 Days | #31 | Jam Organic Cafe

Pip White — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:52:15 +0000

Busy lunch crowd at Jam Organic Cafe

I reckon if I were to open a cafe in Takapuna, it would just about look like Jam Organic Cafe in Hurstmere Road (behind Movenpick). We’ve had to follow owner Jules from her previous cafe in Milford, but it didn’t take long to find her, and her trademark blackboard menu, big pitchers of water brimming with chunks of seasonal fruit, and some of the best looking cafe food you’ll find on the Shore continue to draw a loyal following. Jam’s MO is to use organic and locally sourced produce where possible, and they don’t compromise on quantity, either. The Jam burger is massive (I could probably manage a half), packed with avocado, beef patty, bacon, lettuce, horseradish sauce, tomato, aioli (I think I got it all) – I’d defy anyone to get their gob around one of these monsters – Knife and fork required!

Jam has a liquor license and a fairly comprehensive range of wines (including some organic wine) and beer. The coffee roast is one of the best around (Toasted Espresso) and they have baristas that know how to do a good extraction. I have yet to be disappointed with a coffee from Jam.

This place is well patronised, especially by the road biking fraternity in the mornings. There’s plenty of seating, inside and out, including a big communal dining table with arty/foodie books to browse. Lots of fun, quirky details that will amuse, like getting a jar of jam to identify your table order, rather than a predicable old number.

365 Days | #21 | Sahara Restaurant Lounge & Bar

Pip White — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:00:56 +0000

They say “rules are made to be broken” and you certainly have to bend them occasionally, even if they’re just your own, self-imposed rules. So, while this blog mainly concerns the North Shore and its environs, I like to extend the boundaries once in a while….. We make a late getaway from the Shore on a Saturday afternoon, cruise up SH1 and turn left at Brynderwyn, continuing along the Kaipara Coast Highway until we reach the sleepy hamlet of Paparoa. The old BNZ bank, with its Category One Heritage status, is home to a fabulous restaurant.

Sahara has been in business for about 7 years; the original owners sold up and moved to Europe, and the current owners have continued to produce food of an extremely high standard that we believe is worth driving an hour and a half for. We relax with a wine in the lounge in front of the cosy fire, perusing the books in the library, until our dinner companions arrive. The decision about what to try from the menu is quick and easy – the selection on offer is short and sweet. We move into the dining room to enjoy the first round – tempura battered Kaipara oysters, seared scallops with black pudding, and “hocks in socks”. We all choose the Montieths Wild Food Challenge dish – pheasant and wild boar served with a creamy mash and a whold poached tamarillo, matched with Montieths Celtic Ale. The dish looks amazing and tastes divine. The beer match is inspired. We leave very happy with our meal, even happier with the reasonable price we paid for it, and book a table for the special mid-winter Christmas dinner Sahara will be serving next weekend! Go to their website to see opening hours and how to get there. As we have family living in the area, there’s always a bed for us just up the road. But the Paparoa/Matakohe area has a number of very good B & Bs available. Try The Pines or Petite Provence.

365 Days | #19 | Paper Moon

Pip White — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:24:25 +0000

Paper Moon - eat, drink and enjoy the sun

Continuing the theme of eating (particularly important when you’re so busy shifting house that you don’t have time or inclination to prepare anything yourself) I have always enjoyed Paper Moon in Mairangi Bay and have eaten there twice in the past week. A colleague took us out for breakfast, which was hearty and nicely cooked (the eggs were perfect), and I dived into Mairangi Bay for a quick takeaway lunch and a coffee to keep me going with all the house cleaning I was doing. I was impressed with the take-away hot food container which was made of recycled cardboard – good on you Paper Moon for this initiative.

The restaurant (in mainstreet Mairangi Village) has an adjoining deli ideal for your morning coffee or a bite to eat after a walk on the beach. There’s also a bar which is very popular with locals – the outdoor tables and bar leaners are packed on sunny days. Paper Moon has built up a loyal following over a number of years and they continue to provide a high level of service and very good food. Click here to visit their website and check out the menu.

365 Days | #18 | Kashmir Indian Restaurant

Pip White — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:30:10 +0000

Just moved house, and we’re exhausted, so we look for somewhere cheap and cheerful to have dinner on a Monday night. A quick stroll down the main street of Milford takes us to Kashmir of India. We’ve eaten here a few times before and always been happy with the food and the service. The decor feels authentically Indian, with lots of ornamentation, pink serviettes and carved mahogany dining chairs.

The owners are away and a couple of young women are in charge – they are quite attentive and friendly, and they don’t mind that we duck across the road to grab a bottle of BYO wine. A jug of water and complimentary poppadoms - smartly delivered to our table – keep our hunger at bay while we peruse the menu. Samosas, lamb cooked in a spinach sauce, and paneer with tomatoes, capsicum and onions are all delicious and satisfying. We take a doggy bag of leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. All this for just $37, plus the cost of the wine, makes for a happy evening. We’ll be back!