Ortolana

I have dined here many times and it’s one of my favourite Auckland restaurants. It is gorgeous at night with the lovely lighting, but it’s equally attractive during the day. The food is just wonderful: fresh, beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and there’s something for everyone. I always go for the pasta as I’m vegetarian and the pasta is always fantastic. Recently I’ve had the tortellini and the gnocchi; both amazingly good. My friends always go for the Lamb or chicken and no one talks when the food arrives. We’re too busy devouring the deliciousness hoping no one asks to share! The staff are wonderful. Friendly, knowledgeable and interested. They all look like they are fashion models and they are all attentive and helpful. I had a sore knee and asked if they minded if I rested my leg on a chair. Not only was that encouraged, an ice pack was offered and delivered with genuine compassion. How’s that for service?
This ticks all the boxes. Consistently exceptional food, outstanding service, with an ambience of elegant chic.

Had the crayfish pasta and it was very good. Beautiful restaurant in a nice area. A little hard to find because the entrance isn’t on Tyler, the back is. Vibe is a little pretentious.

Ortolana was like the oasis of water you find after walking for hours through a blazing desert! It sounds dramatic, but after 17 hours of travel from San Francisco to Auckland (with a layover) and terrible airplane food, I looked on Unilocal for a great breakfast/​brunch spot as soon as we arrived in the city. The heavens parted to reveal Ortolana!
The order:
— 2 Flat Whites with almond milk
— Pine Nut Ricotta, Zucchini Omelette
— Garden Greens, Organic Grains, Poached Egg
All of it was perfection! A tasty, fresh, healthy, and refreshing way to recharge after the long travel days, and the perfect kickstart to our first time in Auckland!
Décor is absolutely beautiful, earthy, modern, bright, and airy. The interior is cozy while the outdoor patio is spacious, lively, and relaxing all at the same time.
Follow their Instagram account for inspiring and beautiful photos of their cuisine… it makes me miss it even more!

Amazing is the only word needed to describe this place.
Located in Britomart it’s so trendy and cute with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was really friendly and we were seated right away when we came here for breakfast.
We got the breakfast gnocchi and muesli and a flat white. The muesli was the best I’ve ever had — the yogurt was whipped and so light and fluffy and muesli had millet which was crunchy. The dish was topped with fresh passion fruit which really complimented the dish with its sweet yet tangy flavor. The gnocchi was also so so good. I wouldn’t think to eat gnocchi for breakfast but they were pan fried, smaller in size and light. The dish was mixed with pine nuts, arugula, and eggs and some other items that made it taste great.
Another nice perk is the free wifi so if you’re from out of the country like we were it’s a nice bonus.

After 17 hours of travel and some lack luster airplane food, Ortolana saved the day!
Located one block from the water in downtown Auckland we could’ve have asked for a better meal to start off a weeklong adventure in New Zealand.
From the start, the quaint brick building with high pitched ceilings and awesome décor instantly prepared me for an amazing brunch atmosphere and cuisine. Extremely friendly staff, all smiles and warm greetings. They found us a seat quickly and got us started with a couple of almond milk flat whites. Coffee was on point with a deep rich espresso flavor that paired perfectly with the steamed almond milk.
We decided on sharing some amazing brunch items. First, a delicious omelet with seasonal garden vegetables, fresh ricotta cheese, toasted pine nuts that was topped with a small micro green salad. Next up, a perfectly poached egg, garden vegetables with ancient grains topped with sunflower sprouts! Last but not least, two slices of 5 grain bread that was made in house paired perfectly with olive oil, sea salt and crushed black pepper.
Coffee cups empty, plates wiped clean with the last slice of bread and a sense of calmness after knowing we just had an amazing meal. We will be back for sure to check out their dinner menu before we hit the road. If you’re in Auckland this is a must, no questions asked!

We live in Brooklyn, NY. This was the best food we had in our month long visit to NZ. Our waitress Jennifer was very attentive and just totally awesome! Definitely hit their desert spot, Milse for take away on the way out. I highly recommend this place.
Cheers!
Sol

We ordered a pasta dish and a gnocci dish for lunch, as well as some drinks and desserts. Everything came out very tasty and aesthetically appealing. Service was rather attentive and fast. The décor is very nice and ambiance is relaxing but elegant.
Only downside was the size of one of the portions — it was rather tiny. So don’t get the gnocci if you are starving :) all else was amazing and macaroons are delicious!

Ortolana is one of my favourite Italian restaurants and I could not bare the thought of dining here alone, or in the wrong company. That might sound a little insane but the truth is, good food is only surpassed by the delight of eating it in good company.
I was willing to wait for the perfect moment or simply miss out. Thankfully, fate intervened and Chris and Mary were finally free to come along! :)
The wine list at Ortolana is simply sublime and the menu epitomizes what good Italian cuisine is all about.
It was a chilly night but we chose to eat under the stars. My friends sat with blankets draped around their knees — already appreciative of Ortolana’s attention to detail.
When the food arrived, every single element, of each of the dishes were carefully sampled and savoured with heart-​felt appreciation. We started off with the mushroom ragu, crostino and printanor garlic. Chris summed this dish up beautifully — a really harmonious layering of flavours and textures. Next, we sampled the raviolo yolk with dandelion and truffle. This is my personal favourite. A Michelin Star-​quality dish that won’t fail to dazzle. Break into the perfectly cooked raviolo and the warm, bright yellow egg yolk oozes out to combine elegantly with the caramelized onion, dandelion and truffle. If I was Shakespeare, I would have written a sonnet to show my appreciation! Our meal came to an end with the lamb shank pappardelle, with gremolata and bottarga — It was so damn good, Mary scooped every last drop out of the bowl!
We were well looked after by the very charming young Jonathan. I love listening to him explain the menu and the fact that he gets how wines work with different foods. Best of all, he organized a table for us at Milse and transferred our drinks and the bill over. His service was impeccable!
As I mentioned earlier, the fine food was only surpassed by the wholesome company in which I got to experience it.
Ps. Note to Mr Darcy; I would like very much to dine here with you one day…

Easily one of the top casual dining spots in the city and perfect for a quick meal or if you’d prefer, a long one. The menu is varied and changes with the seasons as a lot of the produce comes from their own farm. The food is always beautifully presented. Service is always top notch and the food is reasonably priced. I’ve been here many times and never had a bad meal.

I had a fantastic solo dinner sitting outside at Ortolano. Around 5pm on a Saturday, I basically sat right down and there were plenty of open seats both inside and out. My service was incredibly friendly, and efficient, minus the fact that my wine didn’t come and I had to go inside to hunt down a server to bring it to me.
I ordered the lamb with mint, zucchini and labneh for $ 27. It was… amazing. The lamb tasted fresh, was cooked perfectly and was so flavorful. The greens and sauce were amazing (sauce seemed to be some kind of pesto, which I normally don’t like but was fantastic). Quantity was good — a nice mix of quantity and quality for the price.
Also had the lardo roasted potatoes for $ 8 which were slightly disappointing. They were tasty, don’t get me wrong, but they just tasted like good roast potatoes — the lardo didn’t add anything except calories.
Finally, I washed it down (eventually) with a glass of syrah from Waiheke Island (the name of which I forget) for $ 15, which was delicious, flavorful, and just the right amount of spiciness.
The total came to $ 50 which was fair. I would return in a heartbeat and recommend no problem, but my two knocks are about the potatoes being slightly disappointing, and having to fetch my own wine.

I can’t believe it took me this long to try Ortolana!!!
Delicious, locally grown food right in the heart of the CBD, plus a restaurant serving desserts from MILSE, with the dessert bar literally only being a hop, step and a jump away — what more could you ask for?!?
It was a beautiful crisp night when we arrived on a Saturday and luckily there was no wait for a table (they don’t take reservations but have a waiting list system which they say proves to work well). We chose the cushion seats inside because they looked the most comfortable!
We were both leaning towards something refreshing to drink, so went with a citrus juice and a mango iced tea, which were perfect accompaniments to our meals! There is also a short drinks list consisting of wine, digestives, sodas, smoothies and speciality cold/​hot beverages (which all sound lovely).
The menu is European based, with all their produce either locally sourced or grown in their orchard out at Kumeu. There are some unusual names on the menu, but don’t fret (as we nearly did) just ask your waiter as they are quite knowledgeable. I ordered the gnocchi verde with cavolo nero, mozzarella and an egg yolk ($ 20). My friend ordered the crayfish ravioli with preserved lemon and garden herbs (also $ 20). Both meals were delicious and full of flavour, but not overly filling. This is the kind of food I like! It was still satisfying and yet we still had enough room for two desserts from Milse — bonus!
The service was great — staff were super friendly, water glasses were always topped up and we didn’t have to wait long for our meals. Dining at Ortolana was great and I can’t wait to go back!

I’ve been here twice and both times was not disappointed. The first time was for lunch, sat inside with a friend. We split the gnocchi and the pillus pasta. Both were soo delicious. I had the plum & peppercorn handmade soda, my friend had the cucumber one. Hers was very refreshing, mine was a bit on the sweet side. The bench was cozy with big plush cushions that they hand-​fluffed for us, and the ambiance was «industrial-​yet-​inviting.»
The second time here was for a glass of wine in the evening. It was a chilly night, so they sat us outside right next to a toasty heat lamp and gave us wool blankets to bundle up with. I felt so bougie and luxurious, but like in the non-​gaudy way. $ 9 for the house montepulciano, which seems like a great price compared to places in the area.
Definitely worth whatever it is you’re coming here for, especially if what you’re going here for is to feel fancy as while having something delicious.

Came here for breakfast with a friend (who had been before and thoroughly recommended it) and wasn’t disappointed. We’ll get the coffee out of the way — it was good (not great).
The food was fantastic — well presented, cooked to perfection, large portion sizes and tasted fresh and beautiful. I had the homemade sausages, folded egg and cherry tomatoes, and my friend had the granola. It was the best looking granola I’ve ever since — wish I took a picture but totally forgot. And by all accounts, it tasted as good as it looked.
The service was excellent too. Friendly, professional and charismatic wait staff. They actually forgot our breakfast order entirely and only when we asked did they notice. However, they were extremely apologetic for the mistake and gave us some complimentary coffee to make up for it. The mistake happened — but the five star service was admitting to having completely forgotten it, apologising and making it right. You don’t get much better than that — and it’s how it should be done. Ironically it was this that gained them 5 stars instead of 4 in my books.
The lunch and dinner menu looked great, so I’m going to be back here to try these out.

I am new to Auckland and a friend invited me to lunch at Britomart. Arriving a bit early and curious to check out the chique plaza, I walked past Ortolano and was drawn to it from a far. It has a wood and glass exterior with black wire chairs giving the place a casual and welcoming feel. The interior is bright and there is a cushion couch on the right of the restaurant with light oak tables and chairs that gave it a homey feel.
Seated on one of the corner cushion couches, I was excited to learn that I could get free WiFi. For someone who is accustomed to getting it free at most of the places back home this felt like a luxury. I was already in love and I had yet to sample the food! When my friend arrived we ordered a ‘Château du Breuil Cavazos’, and asked the waiter for their recommendations, he asked us a few questions and proceeded to list some options. The service and his knowledge of the menu was impressive.
For our starter we had the Crayfish ravioli, with preserved lemon and garden herbs. It was so delicious one could not get enough, it was so good I forgot to take a picture. He had suggested we order the larger portion of it and I wish I had, until our next dish arrived. I did not think our dining experience could get better but it did. Next we had the chicken with lemon and kale salad. Absolutely incredible the combination of the lemon with chicken and kale left a delicious after taste in your mouth. We were sharing each dish so we decided to have another one. At this point we trusted the waiter to just bring us whatever he thought we should try. He brought the Rare beef, green tomato, gazpacho Blanco. I did not want to share, the meat was cooked to perfection (at least for me, it was brown on the outside and slightly pink on the inside) so tender it melted in your mouth.
In case I did not mention the presentation was excellent for every dish, I still cannot believe I did not take pictures! Oh well a reason to go back. This was a fantastic way to kick off my Foodie experience in Auckland and if the cuisine is anything like this, I look forward to eating out much more.
From one Foodie to another this is a MUST visit.

Ortolana has been opened for some time now and although I eat out regularly its one place I still hadn’t been to. My significant birthday came up so I told my friends I wanted to go there. The food here is simply bursting with the fullness of life.
The word «ortolana» comes from the Italian word for «market gardener» and the chef here takes this to heart with the exceptional menu which takes full advantage of produce from the Kumeu farm and artisan growers.
It’s in the heart of Britomart and you can sit outside beneath a glittering canopy of lights which I had done in the past with my takeaway Milse Dessert.
The wine list is equally as exciting, as no one «owns» Ortolana’s list so I enjoyed some lovely Chianti.
The lamb shoulder was soft and crisped and perfect on all accounts.
Sides were of lively garden produce, minimally fussed with, complemented by splashes of oil or sprinkles of fresh herbs.
As dessert comes from Milse anyway but I had always wanted to dine in there and watch the Chefs, we managed to get a table as it was so late and skipped dessert in actual Ortolana.
Ortolana makes me feel proud of our city’s level of cuisine and professionalism. Eat anything here because it’s all good. I would have loved to try the crayfish Ravioli my friend had as that looked great.

This place is definitely on my 5-​star list, love the setting for starters. Auckland never looks prettier than sitting here and looking up at the city skyline. I love the huge planters outside filled with strawberries (yes, real). Not a French fry in sight, the food is delicate, fresh and pretty on the plate. Part of the Hip Group with a collection of stylish eateries, this place is a must. And don’t forget to pop into Milse (just next door, down the alleyway) and treat yourself to dessert.

One shouldn’t expect a 5 star experience every time. However, this 2^nd time validates that they still know how to deliver a very enjoyable dining experience. Regrettably downgraded to 4 stars.
There were a few little things that in sum caused a detraction from what we had experienced our first visit, and left us feeling that we didn’t get what we wanted. Of course, one cannot expect sublime dining experiences, consistently.
Service was fair-good…not great. Food was a tad off, both in temperature, and in preparation.
Will I return? You becha!

Still absolutely adore this place.
To me, Ortolana has a different vibe to the other Hip Group members. Can’t really put a finger on it, but whatever they are doing here, it works.
The service is always phenomenal. The servers have perfected the balance of attentiveness without being overbearing — making it a standout after some pretty mediocre service experiences in AKL.
I swear our server could have read the menu backwards in her sleep. She knew the details behind how each dish was prepared (and sourced). So for all the foodies out there, you’re in seriously good hands.
The most recent visit to Ortolana was for brunch, which I’m happy to report, they also do spectacularly. Also, you should really, really try the brussel sprouts (a single bite will LITERALLY convert you ‘sprout haters’ out there).

If you sit inside grab one of the tables with the sofa seats, the oatmeal colored cushions and pillows make you feel like you’re on a mini-​bed at brunch. «Feed me another grape and fan me, I’m hot!» If it’s winter, as in our case, a lovely feature are the wool blankets pitched on the chairs. If you need to wrap up from the Auckland winter throw one over your shoulders and be happy.
Our server was like an encyclopedia of the menu. She knew every single detail about the items listed such as how it was made, whether it was vegan friendly, what it tasted like and where it came from. I opted for the smoked fish, folded egg and capers. Delicous, delicous, delicous! The saltiness from the capers pair magnificently with the fish, which was shredded on top of the egg (think omlette).
My table shared a small side of the baked cauliflower and brussel sprouts. To be honest I abhor brussel sprouts — they are bitter, earthy and not the biz. No matter, I always sample them just to confirm I still hate them. You know our palettes change over time so maybe this could be the day. Ortolana makes out of this world brussel sprouts!!! Our server encyclopedia said they are blanched first (key!) then sautéed in olive oil, lime and salt. I was totally impressed. The cauliflower was excellent also. It was cheesy and crumbly with a firm crunch to the cauliflower — they were cooked perfectly.
My ladies chose to order dessert, but I was so full I had to pass. Ortolana offers a full dessert menu from Miels next door. Too bad this was my last meal out in Auckland, Ortolana would certainly be my new brunch hangout. After all we were there for nearly 2 and a half hours. What a superb place to go to end a great adventure!

OMG what a beautiful restaurant!!!
Ortolana reminds me of some top-​notch restaurants in South Kensington, London that I used to acquaint: flavoursome food and star-​service to match (ie Bibendum, Jo’s)
I had called in advance to see if I could book a table for 12 people, unfortunately no reserve bookings, so cross fingers and turn up early, more or less.
All the wait staff were pleasant, courteous and accommodating.
My guests arrived in drips and drapes, which they coped with extremely well.
The coffee was great, the food was exceptional: unanimous vote.
I had the lamb, others had salads, zucchini omlette, John Dory fish and asparagus main.
Stunning. Trippy. Delicious.
We then all had macaroons on the house, how lucky are we!
Thank you for making my birthday special:)