Clooney restaurant review
Metro Top 50 2018 restaurant Clooney offers fine dining on Sale Street in Freemans Bay
Owner Tony Stewart has bounced back from the much-publicised departure of chef Jacob Kear last year, having had a change of heart about initial plans to close the restaurant. He’s brought on board highly regarded Taipei-born, Tokyo-raised Nobu Lee, formerly of Australia’s Marque and Vue de Monde, who is creating some exquisite dishes with exclusively New Zealand ingredients – think bull horn pepper, kiwano (horned melon) and harissa, or Auckland Island langoustine and anglaise with leek and Matapouri banana. An à la carte option is now offered as well as the seven-course-plus-canapés dégustation. With spotlit tables and dramatic black-string curtains, the ambience remains moody and intense; the drinks list is excellent and the service is as polished and knowledgeable as ever.
What it offers Dégustation options / Good for vegetarians / Tea and non-alcoholic pairings / Free-range chicken and/or pork / Craft beer selection / Private dining room / Takes large groups
A favourite dish Tortellini with a light gnocchi dough, mushroom farce, pine nuts and truffle
Bookings Yes
Hours Dinner Tue-Sun
Price $$$
Seats 80
Chef Nobu Lee
clooney.co.nz
33 Sale St, Freemans Bay
Ph 358-1702
See here for all of Metro's Top 50 Auckland restaurants for 2018
