115 Queen Street,
Northcote Point
Auckland,
(09) 480 9502
The ViewAuckland Review
5 out of 5
You may struggle to get a table at The Engine Room which has become the hottest ticket in town after a flurry of rave reviews.
Co-owners Natalia Schamroth (formerly of Reuben in the New Gallery) and Carl Koppenhagen preside over the restaurant in the lovely art deco building (which was once the Northcote Post Office) opposite the Bridgeway Cinema.
The ambience is simple and the bistro-style menu—usually about six entrées and six mains—changes frequently. What's better is that the service is both informed and enthusiastic.
We ate there not long after it opened—when a table was still easy to get—and were very impressed. We started with a vichyssoise, a cold potato and leek soup, which turned out to be in an enormous bowl; and a tart of goat cheese served on a bed of red onion in a light, buttery pastry case.
They also did a brilliant steak frites—a scotch fillet topped with patties of lemon and parsley butter and accompanied by shoestring fries. This French classic is an acid test of a kitchen and The Engine Room passed with flying colours.
The other main dish was hapuku served with cockles in a tomato and fennel sauce, and it was delicious; a fish dish that became a soup once you had finished.
Our desserts on that night were a light peach and almond tart, and a wintry Asian-style sticky rice pudding. Fabulous.
Engine Room (The) has been reviewed by 10 users