PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFES + RESTAURANTS GUIDE THE ITALIAN JOB, 242 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2937 For over 23 years this family owned and operated restaurant has been serving delicious, authentic Italian food in a welcoming, cosy and rustic atmosphere and whether it’s a large group or it’s an intimate dinner for two, you will always experience warm, friendly service. Takeaway pizza and pasta. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 6pm-10pm. THE LATE NIGHT DINER, 152b Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 2320, www.latenightdiner.co.nz A Jewish-style American diner, they make everything in-house such as all their pickles, and freshly baked buns and breads. Try the roasted bone marrow with short rib marmalade or Grandma’s chicken soup and dumplings. Open Monday-Wednesday including Sunday 5pm-midnight, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-2am. THE PONSONBY SOCIAL CLUB, 152 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 2320, www.ponsonbysocialclub.co.nz Just like the RSA, but without the asparagus rolls or pokies. Live music and DJs throughout the week, check the website for details. Open 7 nights, 5pm-late. THE RAW KITCHEN, 267 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 3062, www.therawkitchen.co.nz The Raw Kitchen is a popular choice with an ever-growing fan base for their signature raw cakes and sweets. The Ponsonby space is also home to their busy kitchen, cold -pressed juicery, office and test kitchen! Open Monday - Friday, 7am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am-4pm. THE STATION BAGELRY AND BAR, 2 Beresford Square, T: 09 300 5040, www.stationbar.co.nz The Station Bagelry and Bar serves New York-style bagels all day in sunny Beresford Square. At night it converts to serving all the best craft beers from around New Zealand, gourmet pizzas and is available for exclusive functions on weekends. With regular live music, DJs and events there is always something going on @ TheStationAKL. Open weekdays 7.30am-late, weekends 8.30am-late. THE STREET FOOD COLLECTIVE, Lot 3, 130 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 4075, www.thestreetfoodcollective.co.nz Sixteen operators are rostered for appearances in the Street Food Collective, a shared food and drinks space in central Ponsonby. Stop by for lunch, dinner or a fancy-pants dessert, and enjoy some of the best street food vendors Auckland has to offer. Open 7 days. THE SURREY HOTEL, 465 Great North Road, T: 09 378 9059, www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz This local pub has a cosy atmosphere, friendly service and food available all day. There is a breakfast buffet, brunch, lunch and dinner menu as well as bar snacks and wood-fired pizza. Open 7 days, 7am-9.30pm.
THIRTY NINE, 39 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 5008 Thirty Nine has been serving delicious all day breakfast and lunch since 2005. They use Fairtrade Allpress coffee and you can enjoy it in their lovely courtyard. Open 7 days, 7am-4pm. THREE BEANS COFFEE ROASTERS, City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley Street, T: 09 366 0973, www.threebeans.co.nz They are a boutique coffee roaster, serving only a handful of cafes. Each batch is hand picked by owner Jonny McKessar, roasted to order and delivered fresh. This busy coffee roaster is a great place to get that quick fix on the run or sit in at the communal table for a meeting with colleagues or a catch up with friends. TIGER BURGER, 549 Great North Road, M: 027 847 5020, www.tigerburger.co.nz Opening mid June, Tiger Burger promises a new and delicious collision of Korean cuisine and Western street food. Having spent the past year operating with a van across the Auckland market scene, Tiger Burger has now settled into a permanent home in the heart of Grey Lynn. Making everything from scratch and staying true to traditional Korean flavours, the team behind Tiger Burger seek to introduce Kiwis to the many mouth-watering flavours of Korea. TOKYO CLUB, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 8016, www.tokyoclub.co.nz Tokyo Club is ‘yokocho’ style Isakaya restaurant located in the heart of Ponsonby Central. Their Japanese family team includes well-known front of house manager Sarasa Shimura and Tokyo master blowfish-sushi chef Chikara Sato. They serve quality, affordable cuisine and beverages. With Asahi and Sapporo beers on tap and their own sakes brewed in Japan, this place has quickly become very popular. TOM TOM BAR & EATERY, 27 Drake Street, T: 09 377 5737, www.tom-tom.co.nz Elevated above Victoria Park with north facing views through the treetops across Auckland, Tom Tom Bar & Eatery is a great place to meet for drinks and experience their unique cuisine. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11.30am-late. TOMO JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 334 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 4757 www.tomojapaneserestaurant.co.nz Tomo has been serving delicious Japanese food for more than 12 years. They are fully licensed with 10 different sakes or wine and beer to enjoy with your food. Their popular takeaway Lunch Box includes salad, tempura, rice, miso soup and your choice of meat or fish. BYO wine only. Open Monday, 10.30am-5pm and TuesdaySaturday, 10.30am-10pm. TOO GOOD ESPRESSO, 54 Brown Street, T: 09 390 1533, www.toogoodespresso.co.nz Purveyors of exceptional coffee with delicious treats; mid week chocolate fix - caramel, hazelnut slice or almond, cranberry brownie. A tough decision. Don’t forget to pick up your take home Millers Beans for your weekend coffee fix. Open Monday-Friday 8am-3pm. TURKISH CAFE, 294 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0468, www.turkishcafe.co.nz The Turkish Cafe serves fresh wholesome, halal food inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with a strong Turkish influence. There are set menus or they can tailor a menu to suit your tastes and the occasion you’re celebrating. Takeaway is available too. Open Monday-Thursday, 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm. TURKO CAFE, 22 Drake Street, T: 09 213 9528, www.turko.co.nz Nestled between Sale Street and Victoria Park Market, this is a nice spot for meeting up with friends or colleagues for breakfast or lunch. You can choose from their Mediterranean-inspired menu or try their daily roast vegetable salad or feta and spinach filo from the cabinet. Open Monday-Friday, 7am-4pm. URBAN JUNGLE, 571 Great North Road, T: 09 360 8470, www.urbanjunglecafe.co.nz For more than 14 years, in the heart of Grey Lynn, Urban Jungle has been turning out consistently good food. They are fully licensed and BYO wine. Open 7 days, 7am -4pm, Thursday-Saturday, 6pm-late.
Jonny Rudduck, il buco
56 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2016
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)