3 Totara Avenue,
New Lynn
Auckland,


(09) 826 1906

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3 out of 5

With half the whanau based out west, New Lynn seemed a good compromise for us city slickers last Friday night.

A belated birthday celebration was the occasion, and drinks and a meal were the order of the day. A trip to Lone Star would kill two birds with one stone and seemed as good a place as any—particularly because it could accommodate the ten of us without too many problems.

With branches all over the country, and more than a couple in Auckland, Lone Star seems to have done rather well for itself. By the end of the night, I was to discover why.

Walking into this busy New Lynn venue, Lone Star is divided into two quite separate areas; a large dining area and a smaller bar space. Like our party, the majority of the drinkers at the bar on this night were waiting for their tables so we pulled into a booth and joined them.

We were served by an over-enthusiastic young thing that brought a smile to our faces every time she blurted out a sentence.

When told of the July birthday celebration, she proceeded to comment “Yeah, it’s really funny that everyone’s having birthdays in July and August at the moment”—in this case, the less said the better! She was a gem all the same.

There’s a distinct Tex-mex type theme running throughout, yet with the odd bit of kiwiana (including a print of Elvis amongst a Kapa Haka group), you realize you’re in New Lynn and not Nebraska.

As far as a drinks menu was concerned, I was a little disappointed. Yes, the usual suspects were on offer, however, there was little to get excited about. I wonder, does this reflect more on the bar or as I suspect, its clientele?

There were no TVs on display, the music whimpered along, but both the bar and restaurant soon became packed.

And the meal: therein lies the secret for Lone Star’s popularity. Huge meals (Lasso of Pork … very nice) leave even the biggest appetite satisfied and are obviously the main draw card.

Don’t expect anything too sophisticated or ‘grown-up’ from this New Lynn venue. Lone Star is a self-confessed “fiercely child-friendly” venue, yet if you’re just coming off a lentil and alfalfa sprout diet, then do pay Lone Star a visit.