PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉ’S + RESTAURANTS GUIDE 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISH - 208 Jervois Road T: 09 361 5820 5 Loaves and 2 Fish have an interesting brunch menu and a variety of cabinet food to eat in or take out. A wide range of healthy heat and eat convenience meals such as lasagne, smoked fish pies, chicken cacciatore, coq au vin are available. Open 7 days.
We are spoiled for choice in the Greater Ponsonby area with some of the best cafes and restaurants in New Zealand says REBECCA JONES. Here is our latest guide to where the locals love to eat, drink and be merry.
7 CAFÉ – 576 Great North Road T: 09 376 6390 Situated in the heart of the Grey Lynn shops you will find Ricky and his team cooking up some of the heartiest meals around. If you can get your mouth around their generous and tasty hamburgers then you are in for a treat. They serve good strong coffee and the atmosphere is eclectic – a popular meeting place for many of Grey Lynn’s creative locals. AGNES CURRAN – 181 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1551 Facebook Agnes Curran has maintained its status as the place to go for morning or afternoon tea and cakes. Always gracious, the staff are engaging and ready to offer expert advice on the small but carefully selected menu. The regular friendly locals engage in light hearted debates taking place over the coffee machine and on the central table and it’s still the home of Ponsonby’s most decadent chocolate lamingtons! ALLPRESS COFFEE – 266 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4726 www.allpressespresso.com Passionate about coffee, this is a must-visit store to experience exceptional tasting coffee. Enjoy a perfect cup of espresso or discover single origin coffees and blends as a filter brew. A selection of fresh roasted beans is available for brewing at home. Handcrafted European style Biscotto biscuits are baked on site. ANDIAMO – 194 Jervois Road T: 09 378 7811 www.andiamo.co.nz Andiamo Head Chef Scott Smith says the most popular dishes are the fresh buffalo mozzarella with vine tomato and basil and the hearty braised oxtail and caramelised onion rigatoni. This winter, enjoy a glass of wine from our award winning list by the open fire. Open 7 days and nights and brunch on the weekend from 9am. ARCH HILL ESPRESSO – 333 Great North Road T: 376 1401 Delicious pies, sandwiches and cakes made fresh everyday on site in sunny Arch Hill. Open Mon-Fri 6am3pm and Sat 7am-1pm. AHSI ITZCALLI – 2 Surrey Crescent T: 09 376 0196 www.ahsi-itzcalli.co.nz Facebook A 100% family owned restaurant specialising in traditional Mexican cuisine. Ahsi Itzcalli use imported Mexican ingredients and have over 46 types of Tequila for you to try. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-3pm and 5pm-10pm. Take away available. BAMBINA – 268 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4000 Bambina is a casual, relaxed breakfast and lunch café where simple food, using only the freshest ingredients has been served now for over 14 years. Licensed for beer and wine, Bambina is an all time favourite that consistently delivers and is a fabulous place to meet friends for coffee, breakfast or lunch. Mon – Fri 6.30am-4pm, Sat and Sun 7- 4pm. Metro Top 50 cafes 2008, 2009, 2010 and Best Café in New Zealand 2005 - Café Magazine. BEDLAM CAFÉ – 2/104 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 0015 Facebook With Mediterranean influenced classic café food, this funky café is located in the heart of Ponsonby under the food court. Open 7 days 7.30am-4.00pm.
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CLOONEY BILL FISH CAFÉ – Z Pier 3/31 Westhaven Drive T: 09 379 9875 www.billfishcafe.co.nz This is Auckland’s best kept secret, alfresco seafood dining overlooking the marina. Bill Fish Café has live music on Sunday afternoons and is an ideal location for your special function. Open Tues-Fri 10am-Late, Sat and Sun 8.30am-Late. BISTRO 222 – 222 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 3222 www.bistro222.co.nz Facebook Bistro 222 offers a quiet and relaxed atmosphere to unwind after a hard day or just to meet friends. They describe their menu as New Zealand cuisine with a touch of Italian flavour, Prawn and Crayfish Cocktail, Calamari, Cannelloni and their Surf and Turf (Crayfish and Eye Fillet) to name a few. They also offer a kids menu and brunch on the weekends. Open Tues 3pm-Late, WedSun 11am-Late. BLAKE STREET CAFÉ – Corner Blake Street and Prosford Street T: 09 360 6261 www.blakestreetcafe.co.nz Facebook Relax, unwind and enjoy the ambience, wine and utterly delectable food. The menu includes all day breakfast, brunch and lunch. Try the Euro breakfast plate – meats, cheese, fruit and sourdough; Toulouse sausages, borlotti beans and roast field mushrooms or the blackboard specials. Open Wed – Sun 8am-4pm all year except Christmas day. No surcharge on Public holidays.
BOLLIWOOD – 110 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 6477 www.bolliwood.co.nz Facebook Bolliwood restaurant offers only the best quality food and this has been achieved by adhering to their policy of only employing five star chefs from India. Check out their special set menus that include a selection of entrees and mains; Vegetarian Banquet, the Maharaja Banquet and the Bolliwood Special Banquet. $10 mains on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and $10 lunch special 7 days. Delivery and take away are also available. Open 7 days 11.30am-2.30pm and 5pm-Late. BONA PIZZA – 286a Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 8866 Facebook With 12 years experience, owner Pedro Komai is pleased to offer a taste of fine Italian pizza and pasta. Bona Pizza is fully licensed and BYO with a happy hour from 4.30pm every day – $5 beer and glass wine. You can eat in or take advantage of their delivery service and they cater for private functions. BONITA – 242 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 5670 www.bonita.co.nz Bonita is a wine and tapas bar with an excellent wine list and cocktail credentials. Bonita’s relaxed atmosphere is the perfect place for a casual drink or tapas indulgence. Happy hour runs from 4pm-6pm daily, so come in and see us for a touch of European style. Open 7 days 4pm-Late.
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