1st Floor, Viaduct Harbour,
Level 1/204 Quay Street,
Viaduct
Auckland,
1010

(09) 304 0454 

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4 out of 5 stars

There wouldn’t be a better setting for a restaurant specialising in fresh seafood in Auckland than the one Kermadec has secured at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour.

Situated one floor up in the main building at the entrance of the Viaduct, this restaurant has some of the best harbour views in town. The spacious main dining area creates a lofty experience and with many of the tables on the perimeter of the dining room every seat has a great view across the harbour where some of Auckland’s more expensive yachts are docked.

Kermadec is named after the Kermadec Islands found half way between New Zealand and Tonga. The islands have often been described as a good example of how life used to be in New Zealand.

The restaurant was opened in 1994 after two America Cup regattas were hosted in Auckland and is dedicated to serving up the freshest food from the ocean which is selected from Auckland’s fish market every day.

You will be hard pressed to get a table at Kermadec without booking, which is exactly what I did and only then managed to sneak in for an early sitting. When we arrived there were more empty tables than full and were guided to a table with a terrific view looking down at the people coming and going along the waterfront bars on a busy Thursday night. It had been a hot day, but it was cool in the restaurant and the windows were open with a refreshing breeze coming through.

The staff were very attentive and efficient. Water was poured; drinks orders taken and fresh twice daily baked bread ($13 for two servings) ordered and delivered quickly without being too rushed.

Browsing the menu took a little longer because many of the dishes weren’t immediately recognisable or easy to pronounce. We got there in the end – as did the table of four middle aged men next to us who reminded the waitress they could have just called one of the unrecognisable names a ‘surf n turf’ to avoid confusion.

A complementary tasting dish of yellow fin tuna with avocado spread arrived shortly after we’d made our main dish order and was quickly devoured. My taste buds had jumped to attention ready for the main course.

Although there are other options on the menu that are not fresh from the ocean, my partner and I both went with fish dishes to get the full effect of Kermadec. He had the John Dory ($36) while I went with “Idea of the Moment”, snapper ($40). Both meals came with in-season vegetables you wouldn’t cook at home, like courgette flowers, and both meals were equally as appetising and definitely fresh.

My taste buds were not disappointed.

As well as the main eating area at Kermadec there are private dining rooms and a bar to cater for intimate meals and larger bookings.

Since opening Kermadec has often been called one of Auckland’s classier restaurants, and it still is, however it also comes with a price tag. Our bill came in just three dollars short of three figures for two mains, bread and a beer.