Aug 8, 2025 Metro Eats
Kia ora,
There’s something particularly magical in the air around this city when film festival season rolls in. For a fleeting week and a bit, the city, in particular the central city, glimmers with waves of activity as crowds spill in and out of cinemas in between screenings. I love the pace of it all: darting between same-day showings, the anticipatory hush that takes over right before the film begins, the unified stillness of strangers staring toward the same giant screen lit up with moving pictures. I love to be reminded that I should watch more films, because even bad movies are better viewing than my social media feed.
I especially love seeing a film at The Civic, which, with its immense and fabulously glittery flamingo curtains and faux-twinkling night sky and strange little nooks in the foyer, is without a doubt the most wonderful building interior in this entire city. Based on the number of “oohs” and “aahs” I overhear and the many delighted-looking people I see every time I’m at The Civic, I’ve come to think that it would probably be very good for the collective spirit of this city if there were more places where we could immerse ourselves in weird details and whimsy and wonder.
Anyway, what I love less is the logistical challenge that is trying to eat after a screening that ends sometimes between 9pm, 10pm or even 11pm in a central city that has a very early bedtime.
There are a few more days of the film festival to go, meaning a few more days of late-night, post-film dinners, so here are three solid options near The Civic that stay open later than most, are ideal for solo (or duo) dining and where you can eat for under $25.
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Mali Thai
14 Darby St (three-minute walk from The Civic)
11am–10.30pm
A reliable place that is open so reliably it almost feels like they’re open too often (everyday from 11am to 10.30pm — when do they get a break!?). At this time of the year, I’d suggest their khao soi which is essentially a rich, somewhat spicy, coconut-based noodle soup topped with chicken, onion, crispy fried noodles and mustard greens. If you’re two, add the mussel omelette.
PotXPress Hotpot Buffet
6 Kitchener St (six-minute walk from The Civic)
11.30am–11pm
Particularly good if you’ve parked near the art gallery. For $32.90 you get your own personal pot of broth (spicy, bone broth, tomato, chicken) and 90 minutes to fill it as you like with ingredients from their buffet selection: prawns, various cuts of meat, greens, fish balls, tofu, lotus root, mushrooms, noodles… I could go on and on. You can also get a beer here!
Hazy Tiger
22 Durham St West (eight-minute walk from The Civic)
4pm–12am/1am
Dishes here largely fit into the broad genre of ‘Modern Korean’ and are grouped into three price categories: $8, $11 and $16. For example, a bowl of deep-fried chicken skin for $8, or kimchi tuna rolls for $11, or steak frites for $16(!!). It’s a dimly lit, modern spot that’s ideal for debriefing with friends over the emotionally devastating film you just witnessed, or simply for sitting in silence, eating something warm and good. Personally, I’d skip the cocktails here and go for a beer or soju instead. They also do very nice desserts if you’ve already done dinner.
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Hei kōnā mai,
Charlotte
Comings and goings.
I like the look of GENZUI RAMEN BAR which is a recent addition to Birkenhead, doing mostly ramen, but also donburi and little sides of takoyaki, mackerel and shishamo (smelt). Though they’re temporarily closed this week, they’re returning to regular hours (11.30am–2.30pm and 5–8pm, Tues–Sat) from Tuesday 19 August.
Ockhee , which closed last month, has been reincarnated (sort of, at least) as DOUBLE DOG. From the sounds of it, it’s essentially the same team of people in the kitchen doing a rejuvenated, takeaway-focused menu — with emphasis on japchae and yes, you guessed it, hot dogs.
Karangahape Rd’s perpetually sold-out pie shop PIE ROLLA’S now has branches in Newmarket (on Osborne St) and in the central city (on Commerce St) too.
Some suburbs have all the luck! The fortunate dwellers of Eden Terrace have once again acquired another very good cafe. This one’s called PARABLE HOUSE and it looks like an exemplary third space with its big shared dining table, cosy low-seating nooks and outdoor deck area. The focus is coffee but they also serve bowls filled with things like granola or meatballs. Open 7am–3pm, Monday–Saturday.
I was pleased to glimpse “coming soon” signage for a new outpost of UNCLE MAN’S on Lorne St last week. Nearby, it looks like there’s a new Chinese bakery on the brink of opening at the corner of Lorne St and Victoria St East. If you keep heading along over to High St, you’ll also find that COCO LANE has officially opened.
If you’re on the market for a burger shop or Mexican restaurant, both Parade Burger in Pononby and Provecho in Birkenhead are currently up for sale.
All good things must come to an end, including, apparently the inimitable ELIM BAO BAR which is set to close at the end of this month. Head to the gem of industrial New Lynn before 29 August for a final braised pork or jackfruit rendang bao.
Same with delicious Dominion Rd cake shop NEAT CAKES, who have also announced that they’ll be closing this month — with their last day of trade on Saturday 23 August.
Where we’re going.
SIDI BOU, a Tunisian street-food pop-up, will be taking over the kitchen at VONDEL for the next three Wednesdays (August 13, 20 and 27). Dinners will be served banquet-style, with evolving menus across the three evenings. Doors will open at 6pm each night. Tickets are $50 per person and can be booked HERE.
KELMARNA COMMUNITY FARM and OZONE COFFEE are hosting Edible Conversations on Wednesday 13 August and Thursday 14 August. Curated by Ozone’s head chef Dean Lewis, the collaboration explores the potential of local, sustainable food systems and low-waste kitchen practices through a four-course dinner utilising seasonal produce and pasture-raised organic meat sourced directly from Kelmarna Farm. The event will also help raise funds to support Kelmarna’s work in the community, with 50% of proceeds from the dinners going to the charitable trust. Dinners will take place between 6.30–9pm each night at Ozone Coffee in Grey Lynn. TICKETS are $140 per person (including a welcome drink, snack, entrée, main and dessert) and Pot Luck readers can use the discount code METRO15 at checkout for a 15% discount and an additional complimentary drink.
Head to MAGDA on Saturday August 16 for PICKLETINI AND LECHON — a one-off evening of food, cocktails and disco. Tickets are $88 per person and include two cocktails, a shared dinner feast plus exclusive access to their “winter disco inferno party”. Dinner tables available at 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm. The disco starts at 9.30pm.
Viaduct Harbour: By the Fire is a month-long activation taking place till the end of August involving a bunch of events around the Viaduct — including a bunch of limited-edition menus inspired by fire and smoke at establishments like Esther , Bivacco and Hello Beasty . For more info head to their WEBSITE.
