The Engine Room (4)

15 Queen St, Northcote Pt.  Ph 480-9502.
engineroom.net.nz
Lunch Friday; dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

The winner of its category for six straight years since it opened, The Engine Room serves the best double-baked goats’ cheese soufflé in town. That’s also true, or as good as true, for its steak frites, veal schnitzel, churros con chocolate… in fact, so much of the menu is so popular that they find it hard to make room for new items. On recent visits, we particularly enjoyed the fish: a special of clams served in a divinely harmonious broth, and fish soup, chef Carl Koppenhagen’s tasty Mediterranean classic in which the balance of soup to fish — a thing which defeats so many chefs — was just perfect. Most suburban bistros have lost their spots in our Top 50: they might be good but they’re no longer good enough. The Engine Room shows there’s no reason that should be.

A favourite dish: Fish soup.
$$$$  |  V  |  FR  |  GB      what’s this?

WINNER
Best Upmarket Bistro