Auckland Diner's Diary: April 2015

Cafe Culture

The St James Theatre is open after 8 years, and there is a cafe in the gorgeous foyer, run by the owner of Society and Nook, Chris Barron
The brick building which was the old Ponsonby fire station in St Mary's Bay (and more recently the Japanese restaurant Soto) is now a cafe named Mary's, set up by experienced cafe owner Tim Tohill
Crumb is is a little corner cafe in Grey Lynn, where the Ariki Store used to be, serving a small menu of classics. It is owned by Hugo Baird, who worked under Al Brown for two years.
[Added 15 June 2015: Tartine Cafe - rebranded cafe on Ponsonby Road, formerly known as Cafe People]
[Added 1 July 2015: The Strand Cafe - cafe in the Saatchi & Saatchi building in Parnell, run by the duo behind the former Grassy Knoll Cafe.]
[Added 15 July 2015: Yakety Yak - new cafe in Pukekohe

Carts in the City

Burgers and More

The Burger Bach is serving a wide variety of burgers in Takapuna
Better Burger has opened a branch in Vulcan Lane
The Spotted Pig - British gastropub where Squid Row used to be, with not just sandwiches and burgers, but also fish and chips, mussel pots, fried chicken and the like
[Added 27 May 2015: Meatery - grill and bar in Devonport with burgers, pizzas, steaks, ribs and more]

The Ponsonby Central of Takapuna

Market lane Fortieth and Hurstmere has opened in Takapuna, made from bricks reclaimed from the Christchurch earthquake. With a similar concept to Ponsonby Central, it currently contains the following stores:

Ethnic Eats

Everest Dine - first NZ branch (after UK and Japan) of this restaurant serves Nepalese and Indian food with a modern twist and was opened in Parnell with Lady June Hillary as the guest of honour
Nusantara Indonesian Tea Drop Cafe - maybe not so much a cafe as a monthly pop-up event in Ranui, where Shasha offers you a chance to taste vegan Indonesian food
[Added 1 July 2015: Greek Mamas - Greek takeaway and restaurant in Rosedale]
[Added 15 July 2015: Marrakech - Moroccan restaurant in Mission Bay]
[Added 15 July 2015: Sake Bar Tokyo 東京 - Japanese restaurant in Parnell]
[Added 15 July 2015: Manchuria - Indo-Chinese cuisine on Symonds Street]
[Added 31 July 2015: Avishan - home cooked Iranian food, delivered to your office]
[Added 1 December 2015: Mama June - Indonesian dishes from a foodcourt in Northcote]
[Added 30 January 2016: Rosso Pomodoro - Italian wood-fired pizzas in Grey Lynn]