Taste of Takapuna

October is all about DINING and FOOD in Takapuna – we want to showcase just how many fantastic places there are to eat and drink.

So take a moment to explore our featured businesses, read about the Chefs, dishes and ingredients that make up their menus. Learn about the stories behind the businesses, the concepts or the culture. Take on the challenge of recreating some of their dishes yourselves! And then, take up some of the great deals and offers, to visit and experience their food first hand.

Taste of Takapuna’s Must-Try Dishes

October is Taste of Takapuna month, a celebration of all the wonderful places to eat and drink in Takapuna. This year, we’re issuing a CHALLENGE: can you try all of these must-try dishes? For every dish you try, you get the chance to enter to WIN a $250 Takapuna dining voucher to try more of the delicious options Takapuna has to offer. So what are you waiting for? On your marks … get set … EAT! HOW IT WORKS: Below is all of the Taste of Takapuna Must-Try Dishes, and a downloadable list that you can save to your device. Each time you try one of the dishes below, you get another chance to win! Each dish = one entry, so the more dishes you

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9 of Auckland’s best winter comfort food spots

The best thing about winter? It’s the perfect excuse for comfort food. A bowl of goodness that feels like a hug, a plate of warmth that banishes the cold.  So when the chill sets in, Takapuna’s eateries are ready to be your sanctuary. Let’s explore some of our favorite places. Flame up with fiery flavours at Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina This is the perfect spot when you want a mountain of delicious food. Get ready to conquer Rosie’s legendary nachos, a colossal feast of cheesy, spicy and perfectly crunchy goodness that’s meant to be shared. Or devoured alone, don’t judge. Recommended cold-buster: Monster Nachos – birria beef, corn chips, chilli, cheese and more. Relax in seaside comfort at St Marée St Marée is making a

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Where to go for the best foodie spots in Takapuna

With an outstanding range of hospitality venues, we know we’re pretty darn spoilt here on the North Shore. With summer now in full swing, what better excuse to get your friends and whānau together and explore more of what’s on offer? We have a smashing list of where you can get the yummiest grub in Takapuna. Enjoy the culinary odyssey, foodie friends. Where to go for… badass burgers We recently spilled the beans on many of our top burger joints in Takapuna and we know you love the suggestions. When you’re on a mission to wrap your chops around a burger, let us help you narrow down your options to find the holy grail that will satisfy that burger craving. If you’re after something a

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Whānau-friendly dining in Takapuna

Itching to get the family out of the house already? Have someone else do the dishes, treat yourself (and them!) and take them out to one of Takapuna’s buzzing family-friendly, kid-friendly and tastylicious dining establishments. We’ve got cafes, restaurants, takeaways and desserts for everyone in your whānau. Street Organics Healthy, tasty, whole foods from a place that caters to families not only with food, but parent’s facilities as well? Street Organics is a must visit these school holidays – or any day – with the family! I Love Takapuna recommends For the kids: Egg & Toast or LCHF (low-carb, high-fat) Pancake For the folks: SM’AVO with bacon, chicken or salmon Burger Burger Burgers. They’re the people’s food. The great gob-stopper that’ll have the kids occupied

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Behind the scenes at Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina

Meet Andy Ruzich. The highly respected food entrepreneur who brought us the glorious Regatta Bar & Eatery has now graced Takapuna with another outstanding venue: Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina. We caught up with Andy to discuss all things red, hot and yum.  Hi Andy, Rosie’s is looking awesome. Tell us what it’s all about! Rosie’s is the newest addition to the StarSocial hospitality network. We were looking for something else to fit into the North Shore, and we wanted to check out the Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina concept in Wellington. So we travelled down there and as soon as we saw it, we knew this was exactly what Takapuna needed.  Who is this Rosie character? She’s fictional, a free spirit and super cool. She found herself on

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Where to get dinner and a show in Takapuna

We’ve got the best spots to eat and drink when going out for a show in Takapuna! Takapuna boasts two quality performing arts venues with the Bruce Mason Centre and the Pumphouse Theatre keeping punters of all ages entertained.  If you’re planning your visit, why not make a memorable night of it by taking advantage of the best of Auckland hospitality right here in Takapuna. The centre even has its own two bars on the stalls and circle levels for your refreshment top-ups during the interval. The Pumphouse is tucked away in Killarney Park and has a lovely licensed cafe; the French Rendez-vous Café right next door. There is also a satellite bar, which is open before the show and during the interval for most

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The biggest & best burger bars in Takapuna

A burger a day will keep the hangry away and we’ve got you covered with enough suggestions to keep chowing down for at least a week. Elephant Wrestler (bottomless Fat Daddy burgers every Saturday) How many Fat Daddy burgers can you slam in 90 minutes? That’s right, every Saturday bottomless Fat Daddy burgers are available at the Elephant Wrestler. You can even wash it down with bottomless Export Gold or Prosecco. Check the Elephant Wrestler website for more details. Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina How about a burg from the hottest new spot in Takapuna, Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina? With four smashing options, each burger is served in a milk bun and comes with shoestring fries, ketchup and aioli. Plant-eaters are catered for with a hemp

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Recipes of Taste of Takapuna

We’ve arrived at the end of October, and the end of Taste of Takapuna 2023. Hopefully you got out and tried some of the incredible food Takapuna has to offer! If you’d like to take some of the flavour home with you, we’ve got three top recipes from some of our favourite North Shore restaurants to try at home. Enjoy! Tuna “Sinuglaw” Ceviche – Nanam Nanam is top quality cuisine, in modern Filipino style. Fresh and zesty flavours galore. Executive Chef Jess Granada shares the recipe for her tasty flash-grilled tuna ceviche. Ingredients: Method: Simple Carbonara – Botticelli Botticelli is famous for its incredible Italian flavours paired with live music and good times. This simple yet yummy Carbonara recipe is one way to take a

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The fascinating story of Regatta’s ultra-fresh seafood

Andy Ruzich, owner and chief joybringer at Regatta Bar & Eatery, has a connection with the sea that transcends into the heart of his restaurant. Growing up as an avid free diver, scuba diver, and fisherman, Andy’s love of the ocean inspired the seafood-centric essence of Regatta Bar. As part of our Taste of Takapuna celebration, we spoke with Andy about Regatta’s incredible seafood, and how it gets from the sea to a table on Auckland’s North Shore. Locally sourced seafood The seafood story starts in the ocean to the west of Leigh, a small town just north of Auckland, close to the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Regatta Bar & Eatery has a relationship with local boutique fishing company, Lee Fish, which supplies daily catch

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