Euro

Look I’m unsure it is worth the hype. I love coming here to people watch but the food is so tiny! You feel like a burger afterwards. Don’t get me wrong, the food is great but for the price you pay I’m unsure it is truly worth it. If you are having a business meeting and looking to impress or your date doesn’t eat too much and likes to go somewhere upmarket perhaps I would choose this. However, with an abundance of other restaurants at a more reasonable price and better view I would steer clear.

Our food here was delicious! The restaurant atmosphere was very modern from when we first walked in. Also a side note, I think the main entrance lets you in the back of the restaurant by the kitchen? It was weird for sure. There were six of us dining and out of that 5 of us ordered one of their steak options. I personally got the Savannah fillet — it was amazing. I substituted out the sweetbreads and opted for a side of the bone marrow mashed potatoes. EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS THOSE MASHED POTATOES ARE DELICIOUS. The other fillet option was good as well, although it was more marbled with fat (not my favorite part). The one that didn’t get a fillet option went for the sweet corn risotto. It was tasty! Although, I don’t know that I personally could have eaten an entire plate of it. It was a little to rich with the cheese and chipotle butter. The wine list was filled with better options than I’ve seen in Auckland — hard to find a good Cabernet in this city. They had a few options that were pretty good and our waitress was kind enough to provide us with a taste before we got the full glass. Lastly, out waitress Simone was phenomenal! She was super polite and extremely friendly. All around we had such a pleasant experience at this place!

Best meal yet. Had whitebait sliders. Shrimp Asian lettuce wraps and crab hush puppies. Heard they were the favorites and no doubt why! She good.

Had a business diner here. The location is great they have a good selection of wine. They even made gluten free tempura batter for me very impressive. I had the chicken with was very nice I would go back.

It’s quite rare these days to go to a degustation — let alone a Chef’s Table Degustation. Paying so much for a meal, there’s the expectation of stellar food — which sometimes explains the hefty sigh that would follow an overdone steak. Or the chance of having that knowledgeable but icy waiter who makes me mirror it in the most awkward stretched-​smile-​kind-​of-​way.
A super special occasion or a yearly treat would justify going. For me, it was to reward a hardworking momma who had been busy looking after an energetic ball of cuteness, otherwise as known as my nephew.
Euro had revamped their menu late last year into a gluten-​free dining experience that promises the same indulgent flavours without the dreaded food coma afterwards. This new food ethos echoes the recent food trends of healthy eating and people being more educated and aware of what they are ingesting.
I’m all for it, dining out and less guilt. We were seated on bar stools along an L shaped table around the kitchen, giving the allusion of watching a private chef at home. Our two chefs were brilliant — boisterous with happy energy that rubbed off on the 10 guests. Everything was explained as they cooked.
I could ramble on about each of the 10 dishes but you can check out my full blog for descriptions. At first I found the food almost bland, especially when I faced the greenness of the cucumber and kale sauce in the second course. But after my tastebuds adjusted, I realised I was used to the expectation of the overly salty and seasoned food when dining out. My first surprise was the red pepper egg in the Red Tomato Consommé which pops gently when you pop the whole thing in your mouth. These flavours were light but tasty — there wasn’t the overload of flavours, just clean and fresh ingredients.
As the courses went along, the flavours got more heavy and food more creamy and dense. We weren’t served any form of carbohydrates until the 7^th risotto course –although faux spaghetti was spotted before that, which was a dream accompanied with the quail breast.
The big perk of a Chef’s Degustation is that everything is well personalised. Before serving the wagyu, the chef promised one of our well-​built male diners that he will most certainly be full after the degustation, otherwise she’ll personally make him a burger. The wagyu, while looking tantalizingly small, had my taste buds going from the moment it started searing on the pan. I cannot resist it, I am a carnivore.
Eating at Euro, you’ll observe the use of fancy glass gadgets and liquid nitrogen smoking up the kitchen. It’s more like a show than any other dining experience I’ve had. Even when one of the irreplaceable expensive contraptions broke, the chefs were calm and made do with something else. Huge ups for keeping it together and thinking quick on their feet!
At the end of the night, we were even given an extra course — cake pops along with a personalised chocolate message to each of our guests. Whilst my sister in law’s one read «Happy Birthday», I got a cute one which said «Just Because». To round off the night, a mini burger was delivered to the male diner for being a good sport, even though he insisted he was full.
Needless to say, I loved it at Euro. Princes Wharf hasn’t got the pulse of Federal Street, or the glam of Britomart. But understated elegance has always been what attracts the business people that come here for their after work drinks. Don’t be intimidated, change up your dining scene and head down to this area for something special.

Heard so much about the new menu here and was excited to try something a bit different. Not even remotely impressed. I started with the prawn and crab entrée which had very very little seafood and lots of creamy sauce. I then moved to the chicken which was no different to a supermarket rotisserie other than it wasn’t ‘fall off the bone’ tender. The massive pile of coleslaw was tasteless and boring. I should have taken photos as the dishes don’t look like the ones on this site.
Dessert was the final letdown with a great carry on in the menu description of vodka pineapple, macaroons and sorbet. Goodness only knows what the green smear was but it was inedible and the pineapple was about the size of a baby carrot in 3 little sticks. The macaroon was a crumble of coconut and the sorbet nothing special. My dining companion had the superfood salad which was a massive pile of the inevitable kale which was left untouched and some exciting bits added to which were neither filling or anything different.
All in all it was an expensive meal with few redeeming features. I would not chose to eat here and won’t be visiting the establishment again.

Yet another one of those restaurants that I always pass by but need someone to go with. My friend flew in so this was my chance!
We stopped in just before the dinner rush (~5:30p) and got down to business. We started with the Sri Lankan Duck Tacos and the kale salad. So sad that there were only two tacos, as these were DELISH and could have been a main on their own. Well, if there were more than two tacos.
I ordered the 36-​hour braised short rib and my friend ordered the flounder. I brought out my knife out of habit, but found that I didn’t need it as I could just pull the short rib apart with my fork, as it was so tender. Placing that first bite in my mouth was decadent. «What sort of cheese IS that?» I asked, looking around the meat.
«There’s no cheese on that,» my friend replied.
«No, there’s DEFINITELY cheese. I can taste it.»
«That’s fat.» She takes a bite. «Yep, that’s just 36-​hour fat.»
UMG such amazing taste. It was creamy and the short rib and… OMG drooling just thinking back to it.
Her flounder was hidden within a forest of lightly sautéed kale, and while she admitted the flounder was good, it was just too buttery for her. Or perhaps that was because she added my buffalo butter when it was really for our side of vegetables.
We didn’t get dinner, as we were delightfully satisfied, and needed to acquire a toolbox of beer. Glad to have experienced you, Euro!

Euro is Simon Gault’s signature restaurant and he’s made it a personal brand statement. Recently he talked publicly about how being a judge on Masterchef he’d «added a few pounds»… Boom, Euro features a new super-​foods menu. He’s famous for personality catering and chef shows. Book yourself in at the chefs table and watch your degustation menu being cooked right in front of you.
Service reflects the name — European class. James the Maitre’d always remembers my name (well when he’s on, but they are all good) and will accommodate you no matter what you ask. I turned up late one evening and from a glass of vino for two — to a table for 10 for dinner — nothing flaps them, they find a way.
So, to the important stuff. Amazing new menu showcases the best of NZ fusion food and is the perfect place to take foreigners to sample our best fresh produce. Whether it’s whitebait, oysters, flounder or tuna the seafood is clearly bought from one of the best fish suppliers in NZ. Their signature rotisserie chicken and slaw still features and they do duck like the Peking !
The bar is lively and atmospheric and perfect for after work drinks, pick-​ups, and good fun. You feel like your back in New York sometimes — everyone is friendly and talking to the table next to you is almost expected behaviour.
Service is world-​class and the quiet servers (not your waiter) who bring your food and subtly explain what your eating and then disappear (I love restaurants with specialists), are the silent heroes of the service story.
It’s world-​class, fun, with sun. Bring on summer!

I will keep this short and sweet. Went there for a family birthday lunch on the weekend. The service was great, we had a baby with us and they were very accomodating which you don’t see often in fine dining places.
Between us we ordered nearly everything on the menu. Their rotisserie chicken was the best dish as voted by all 7 people on the table. I expected portions to be small, but for the price they charge the food was just above average and nothing memorable to bring you back to the place.

Service was a bit slow, we waited for 20 minutes before I went in to get someone to take our order… but other than that perfect munchies to go with a Pinot Gris

The menu was drab, and I can say the same for the décor. At these prices I have way higher expectations. Foodies will be disappointed. Others go for the image and fine dining service, which I’m not fussed about.

We’ve been to Euro a few times for lunches and dinners. Once we had a birthday lunch for a friend and kept going all afternoon until they started the dinner preparations so we stayed for dinner too. That was a while ago but I do remember it being a fantastic afternoon and the waiters were superb, keeping us well sustained with drinks and snacks.
Euro opened back in the day around the end of the 90’s when the wharf by the Viaduct first became the destination de rigueur Before that I had been to Simon Gault’s previous Viaduct restaurant «Gault’s on Quay» but Euro is a very different sort of place. Euro has a European feel to it. From the exterior it could easily be a restaurant in any European city, the point of difference being the NZ cuisine.
In winter they have a gorgeous fire going but don’t sit at a table near it because it’s way too hot and you’ll feel you are being roasted. On a fine day/​evening al fresco is lovely although there’s not much to look at — the side of the Maritime Museum isn’t that picturesque but never mind, there is usually a rich tapestry of humanity strolling past!
If you just want to have a glass of wine and some bar snacks they do great pizzas.
I have been to Euro for intimate dinners, for meals with friends and for business dinners and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently top notch; the waiters a joy to behold.

As visitors from the US (Los Angeles, CA), we were looking for some good eats in New Zealand. We had an absolutely amazing dinner at Euro. We arrived around 9:30pm on a weekday and were seated almost immediately. The ambiance was quite classy, most people were dressy/​business casual, but we were in jeans and hoodies and still received impeccable service. The best part however was the food.
We had the rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and peanut slaw. The chicken was succulent and flavorful, and the mashed potatoes were melt in your mouth delicious. We also ordered a prosciutto burrata pizza (which was pretty good, but we’ve had better thin crust pizza).
For dessert we had the warm chocolate pudding (i.e. chocolate molten lava cake with warm, gooey, chocolatey center) and it was DELICIOUS! It came with chocolate ice cream, which normally would be chocolate overload, but was perfectly balanced with an orange drizzle and freeze-​dried blood orange wafer :) So overall, it was one of the best meals we had in Auckland.

I never wanted to like Euro, but I really do. I don’t know what it is about it that irks me. Maybe it’s that it’s one of the original Princes Wharf restaurants and I feel like it’s dated, or maybe it’s all that time I spent at Lenin (I dated someone working there, it was YEARS ago, I promise) and I associate it with that… I can’t quite put my finger on it, so when I say that I like it, I feel like it really means something — because it’s begrudgingly.
Every time I go to Euro, the service is great. I’m not going to say outstanding, because I don’t think it’s as good as the French Café. It is, however, attentive, and there are some old dogs there who have been at Euro since day dot and they know that place inside out.
I love that it’s big and bustling, and the seating along the waterfront is beautiful. Sit there from about 5pm onwards and bask in the sunshine while you drink champagne and eat oysters — it is stunning.
Food wise it is also a treat. I went there twice in two weeks, the first occasion deciding to order the chicken as my main. I don’t usually order chicken, I’m pretty sure I can cook chicken at home, so I’m always hesitant… But I’d had the crayfish (ohemgee, delish) for entrée so fish didn’t interest me, and I didn’t want the heaviness of steak. Chicken it was, and I understand it’s their specialty. Yep, it’s worth it. When I was back two weeks later, I knew that’s what I wanted. The chicken is full of herbs, moist, tender, and juicy. It comes on a bed of creamy mash with a large side of the famous peanut slaw. It is an amazing meal, and you better be starving because it is large. AW had the eye fillet which came out beautifully smoky and cooked to perfection. I was so focussed on my chicken though, I didn’t even try to steal anymore of the steak — big praise indeed, I have terrible FOMO.
I’ve never had a dessert there, but I may try one next time. I will say that the cheese platter is quite good.
Parking wise, you could park behind the restaurant. They used to do evening parking deals, but they may not anymore. I’d recommend just strolling there, it’s super central.
This is a great restaurant for tourists and locals alike. Tourists will love the view and the people watching; locals will love how reliable good ol’ Euro is.
I really want to give it 4.5, but I can’t, so 4 it is.

Euro is one of my first picks for a special occasion, the food is always melt in the mouth yummy and there is always a nice ambiance especially if you get one of the outdoor tables.
When you can get the bluff oysters it’s a must super plump and creamy with some champagne before your meal is utter perfection.
The breads come with a smoked paprika pork cream in a tube which is something unique and if you don’t finish can take home with you.
Stand out dishes I have experienced are the rotisserie chicken, eye fillet, chicken risotto (best I have ever had) and pork belly.
Euro is also good for special events such as Melbourne cup day, where they pack out the place and serve a 3 course meal whilst having the races screening, TAB on site and dancing after, foods not quite up 2 standard on these days but understandable considering the large number of people.

I have been to Euro a few times in the past, but that was a long time ago and we decided to make another visit. I have ordered the eye fillet which was nice, but not spectacular, and my girlfriend had antarctic tooth fish (which we previously had in Cocoro and it was one of the best dishes we’ve ever had and certainly my favorite fish dish i have ever had). The fish was very average which was really disappointing, it was slightly overcooked and you could easily mistake it for any other white fish (at $ 35 for the starter — you expect it to be different). Overall food is okay, but this is definitely not a fine dining experience. With quite a high price tag the place feels quite cheap.

Really is one of the best spots in NZ. Price is good value if you enjoy fine dining. Always stop by when in town.

Ah Euro, my old friend!
Once upon a time I was in Auckland pretty much every 4 weeks or so over a period of several years, and have had occasion to eat here many times.
Remarkably, I was recounting my first lunch there, not long after they opened about 10 or so years ago, recalling a dish of seafood in a small copper frypan with jalapeño sauce and bonito flakes, to have a passing waitress tell me it was on tonight’s menu!
And so it started — one of those please, a nice steak, a desert to die for and of course the obligatory Central Otago Pinot Noir. In fact several.
These folks are masters at high quality dining, with lovely plates so big you could hold picnic on them, quality service and a wine list that is excellent.
We were a little early (once again no bookings) so warmed up with a nice smokey malt over one of those monster ice cubes that are made specially. The view over the harbour, not quite Sydney but nevertheless quite appealing.
Enjoy!

I was looking to try these guys out after being told how great the restaurant was. I attempted to book in for dinner and was unable to get a booking while I was still going to be in the country. I did manage to get a lunchtime booking which I decided to take up even with a slightly restricted menu.
The day I visited was the first day of them serving the bluff oysters and they were amazing. I went on to have one of their pizza’s (not very imaginative I know) but it was amazing.
The views over the marina are lovely and very relaxing. The service was exquisite and the staff were very organised, just what you would expect from one of the best restaurants in the world.
I know people have complained over the price and the ability to book a table but it is still worth every penny and the wait to get in to try their food.

Supposedly one of the best restaurants in New Zealand, well that’s what I have been told anyway, who makes those decisions? Part of the Simon Gault Nourish Group empire means expectations are high before walking through the door. The décor is clean but a little sparse and feels cold but comfortable. The menu is full of the sort of touches you would expect in a top end restaurant, but some of them come across as totally unnecessary, the ‘tomato dust’ on the onion rings being my personal favourite.
The fifteen dollar deal for a dozen oysters is a pretty good deal, if you like oysters.