507 New North Road,
Kingsland
Auckland,


(09) 845 5321

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4 out of 5 stars

Kingsland’s manna from heaven for a busy restaurant and bar reviewer. Every visit there seems to reveal a new eatery or newly named spot. Pizza-spot Kalooloo has morphed into a Mexican restaurant called El Camino, and a big tarpaulin is currently announcing the impending arrival of a new Turkish restaurant, (with existing outlets in “Istanbul, London, Auckland and Dunedin” apparently). More on those eateries in the future, but this week the focus is on one of Kingsland’s café stalwarts.

The Fridge has been around for a few years now, and original owner Angelo Georgalli has left to run The Chiller in St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. His great home-style pies are being now devoured by Parnell’s advertising fraternity, but the good news is that the new owners of The Fridge have maintained the high standards of pie-making back in Kingsland. Varieties like Thai Red Chicken Curry have always been worth driving across Auckland for, and now you can add Bacon and Egg with Mozzarella and Creamy Mushroom and Chicken to the ingredient-packed list.

Previous visits to the rambling wooden villa that The Fridge occupies have been for weekend brunch, and while the food’s always been good, service has sometimes been a tad slow. For a weekday lunch though, there are no such problems and we’re served delicious pies ($6 each) and a Moroccan lamb wrap ($8.50) in good time. It’s Kingsland so you know the coffee, (from Karajoz), will be good, and it shapes up effortlessly next to the caffeine fiends running the near neighbours Roasted Addiqtion and the Shaky Isles Coffee Company.

With a superior (and up-to-date) array of magazines available, The Fridge is a great central suburbs option to clear the head during a busy workday, or for an impromptu, if public, business meeting on the large shared table. Healthier palates are catered to with a range of takeaway salads from The Fridge’s delicatessen section, and if your after-dark behaviour is not so healthy, you can still come in for breakfast until 3pm.

Since opening, The Fridge has expanded to include the back garden and the shop next door. They’re obviously doing something right, and some of Auckland’s best pies are just one tasty reason.