The service was welcoming, with a bit of banter to take the edge off the obvious fact that the 5-month-old cafe was empty.

Strange spices seduce Unfamiliar elegant creations are a far cry from tikka masala.

On offer is a small selection of about half a dozen different, delectable sandwiches. There's also a selection of sweets from Meola Kitchen.

Corelli's has a great location on the corner of Rattray St and Devonport's main drag.

Getting invited out to dinner by a restaurant reviewer is not as good as it sounds. Frank Bruni, the erstwhile restaurant critic at the New York Times, made all the ordering decisions and his companions had to pass their plates clockwise on instruction.

The menu is a collection of freshly made raw meals, snacks, sweets and smoothies all on show behind a glass cabinet.

While the Rendez-Vous has a more takeaway/bakery focus, Le Chef is where you come for a meal.

Eclectic array of flavours and inviting, decor make for an entertaining night out at new 'Asian barbecue' eatery Woodpecker Hill

The menu had us from the word go, when we spotted the instructions, sweetly cheesy, to “brunch and relax” or “best ugly bagel and smile”.

The newest restaurant in Parnell achieved something special before even opening for business. Supplanting a pub charmingly called The Bog, it reduced by one the number of Irish bars in the world.

Ima’s soul food and convivial atmosphere will help transport you to downtown Tel Aviv.

The menu was exciting. Loads of dishes you won’t find elsewhere, as well as some of the standards, but with an interesting twist.

East meets east in the kitchen of the latest addition to the small eating-out precinct at the eastern end of Fort St.

Extracting morsels can be troublesome but it’s all part of the fun

A Wellington restaurant specialises in temptingly priced small plates of authentic Italian fare.

A Welcoming cafe in Mt Wellington offers a menu and coffee worth a trek across Auckland.

i never read the reviews on those dining-out sites. The opinion of a random, usually anonymous, stranger just doesn't cut it for me.

Regatta drops anchor with one of the best views in town complemented by a nautical theme and satisfying seafood.

Howick has a good number of eateries on the main strip but we liked the open space of Basalt, and the modern menu.

Restaurants do write some dreadful tosh about themselves. "Quality ingredients" are always "freshly sourced" and "expertly prepared" (as distinct from second-rate stale crap carelessly chucked together, presumably).

The Otago restaurant and its host are world famous — the seafood for its freshness and the host for her good humour.

The look is the big drawcard for The Garden Shed. As the name suggests there's a botanical, rustic theme throughout the establishment.

Succulent steak, beautifully cooked every time, is one of life’s simple pleasures — and a tradition for the patrons at Jervois Steak House.

The appeal of the crab eludes me: it's great food if you are lost in the wilderness and eating to survive, but at dinner it's less a dish than a test of one's dexterity and perseverance.

Marooned and without a captain, the evening is rescued by perfectly cooked grilled turbot and delectable buttery sauced flounder.