It seems Birkenhead is spoilt for choice when it comes to good coffee.

It's always a bit nerve-racking when an old favourite changes hands but thankfully this Grey Lynn tapas joint keeps it 'local'.

Knowing the system makes all the difference at a French eatery.

Good reports, including stories of people queuing on the footpath, kept reaching me of KK.

There is no need to wait until summer to enjoy the barbecue when visiting one of the city's best Korean grill houses.

I guess it's true that often you only see what you expect to see.

When did beetroot get sexy? I spent two-thirds of my life - which is a decent interval, I assure you - detesting the stuff, and now it's become chic.

We came here because we were driving past, hungry, and the sun on the outdoor tables made it look enticing.

I first tasted lahmajun on the same day in 1981 that I first tasted fresh coriander. My life was never the same after that.

The RWC will attract lots of hungry visitors. Virgil Evetts set out to see how well our main attractions cater for tourists food-wise.

A Ponsonby icon proves a sure bet for impressing transtasman visitors.

In my opinion, on a good day, little beats the view across Wellington Harbour.

The eatery is named for its founder, Masaru Morita, who was head chef at the late and lamented Ariake.

It's a hard task finding a good coffee north of the bridge, but a select few cafes do offer top-notch brews, and the Hinemoa Street Organic Cafe is one of them.

A new tapas bar on Dominion Rd satisfies the palate as well as the wallet.

It has everything going for it but Snapdragon proves to be a little temperamental as a dining experience.

Sometimes knowing what to expect is exactly what is called for.

MooChowChow brings modern Asian to Auckland.

Whether they are called tapas, mezze, dim sum or small plates, their growing popularity seems unstoppable.

Getting the piquancy just right in an Asian restaurant can be a challenge.

An award-winning pizzeria in One Tree Hill is worth travelling to, writes Nici Wickes.

An Irish pub ups the ante in Mt Eden with a gastro menu, writes Phoebe Falconer.

People who are cool will doubtless smile indulgently when I say that Tyler St Garage is almost apocalyptically noisy.

We came here because sometimes you don't want to risk an average brunch somewhere untried. So we decided on a sure thing.