Harbourside

Ferry Building, 99 Quay St, City. Ph 307-0486.
harboursiderestaurant.co.nz
Winter: Lunch Sunday-Friday; dinner 7 days. Summer: Lunch & dinner 7 days.

The old Ferry Building on Quay St is one of the city’s most beautiful landmarks and Harbourside — the upstairs restaurant it houses — has one of the primo spots. A long, elegant room with an equally long terrace verandah outside, this is the place to go to watch the ferries — and to eat fish. Co-proprietor Jimmy Gerard is one of the most respected fish buyers in Auckland, chef Phill Spathis is an expert fish cook, and the menu is bursting with the ocean’s bounty. There’s an excellent New Zealand wine list, with many bargains by the glass, an entire Japanese à la carte menu to accompany the Pacific Rim/European one, and a lively programme of special deals and menu offers: look out for the special crayfish lunches, which are one of the very best deals in town. And yes, they do a fine steak too.

A favourite dish: Whole baby snapper, boneless and pan-fried, with sauce vera cruz and green rice.
$$$$  |  V  |  FR  |  PR  |  G  |  B  |  BM  |  CL  |  GB  |  K        what’s this?