Iguacu Restaurant & Bar

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Address

269 Parnell Rd
Parnell
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Licence: Fully Licensed
Cuisine: A La Carte
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Contact

Phone: 09-358 4804
Fax: 09-358 0587
Website: www.iguacu.co.nz
Email: info@iguacu.co.nz

Open

Week days 12 noon Till late.
Weekends 11am till late

Make an instant online reservation in real time at www.iguacu.co.nz

Comments

Located in fashionable Parnell, Iguacu is a stylish but relaxed brasserie featuring Pacific-rim and traditional European cuisine. If you are after great food and attentive service, combined with an exciting buzzy atmosphere look no further! Comprehensive children’s menu and live jazz every Sunday from 12pm till 4pm. Lunch, brunch, dinner or tapas.

AWARDS

* Best New Zealand Restaurant 2007 & 2008 (Hospitality Association of NZ)
* Best Auckland Restaurant 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 (Entertainment Guide)
* People's Choice Award "Best Nationwide Restaurant 2008" (Corporate Events Guide)

Menus

1608_Winter_Menu_2010_incl_lunch_and_tapas.pdf

Overall DineOut Score based on 64 reviews

Total		7.4
Food		7.5
Dessert		7.7
Presentation		7.5
Service		7.1
Environment		7.4
Toilets		6.6
Child Friendly	Yes

Review by: KelvinS (9) on 27th June 2010

Total		8.6
Food		8
Dessert		9
Presentation		10
Service		8
Environment		9
Toilets		8

My partner and I visit Iguacu regularly for dessert as we love the quality and presentation of them. We usually order the Creme Brulee and rotate amongst the other items on the menu that are all generally wonderful.
Recently, we decided to have lunch at Iguacu and were not disappointed. I had a pasta (cannot recall the name) that was cooked to perfection with a sauce that was wonderfully creamy and aromatic. My partner had risotto (again cannot recall the name but contained seafood with a hint of lemon) that she loved for the balance of flavours. The serving size was very generous too!
We also had live music on this day that was a nice touch that complimented the environment very well. We love the courtyard-like feel of the place. The service is typically friendly and efficient.

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Review by: Micky (8) on 16th June 2010

Total		5.9
Food		5
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		5
Service		8
Environment		7
Toilets		6

Had a meal there last night and for me when I'm paying in excess of $40- for a main and @$20- for an entree I'd expect pretty good food. I was really disappointed - I had an oyster entree-fairly bland and unimaginative. The main I had - Hapuka- was dry and in my opinion as a chef a little overcooked, there was too much mash that was lacking flavour. The capsicum sauce was also fairly bland. On the plus side had a really friendly and helpful Argentinian waitress but for me after experiencing mainly Wellington retaurants eating at Iguacu was like stepping back into the mid nineties. I was with a group of @ 19 others - some enjoyed the beef fillets but generally I think we were left feeling a little let down on what was some fairly high expectations.

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Review by: bulloncina (16) on 15th May 2010

Total		7.7
Food		8
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		7
Service		7
Environment		8
Toilets		8

Tried the kangaroo that was delicious as the lamb that the other person with me tried.The environment is great,clean toilets and very friendly staff.Good experience

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Review by: Jason Durey (7) on 22nd April 2010

Total		7.4
Food		7
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		7
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		7
Child Friendly	Extremely

Had a brunch their on Sunday 4 adults and 4 kids (9,5,4 & 7month). I was very impressed with the kids menu it was big and varied and a great colouring book too. They had a room for them to play in which was great. I have the livers which were very tasty and my coffee was good too. The service was attentive and kid friendly they asked when we wanted the kids meals to come and were prompt to clear their plates.

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Review by: EmmaT (3) on 27th March 2010

Total		7.2
Food		7
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		7
Service		8
Environment		7
Toilets		N/A

I dined last night at Iguacu with my parner. His first time, i had been many years before and had always thought of it as being quite an upmarket place. On the whole it still is, i find the practise of using paper on top of table clothes a bit odd, i appreciate it means less laundry and so on, but perhaps glass or so would be slightly classier? In any case, the portion sizes were great, the food was pretty tasty if a little bland for the main, i found the noodles on the base of the pork belly slightly strange, a little on the cold side and clearly cut from a tray, but the whole meal was pleasant overall, good service environment etc. Now heres the part that i found odd. While waiting for my partner to finish up, i had a look at the quantas advertising stand on our table, and found customer survey forms. 2 glasses of wine down, i thought sure, why not, and promptly provided them with my views, i.e satisfied overall, but not so keen on the flavour of my main and the paper table coverings. the next day i recieve an email (having put my address down to win the advertised trip) from the restaurant management, essentially questioning why i thought what i did and justifying the choice in table covering etc. not offensive as such, but it did somewhat smack of confrontation somehow, not really what you expect when you dont really have any major complaints. It may just be me, but i found it a little strange and somewhat invasive. Its great to be concerned about the publics opinion, but i dont think the point of that is to then question/argue with everything they say.

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Review by: Black Jack (3) on 17th February 2010

Total		9.0
Food		9
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		8
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		8

I went there with my family and some friends, the service was very great the waitress welcomed us in a very nice manner!! We had some champaigne prior to dine which was very good, after we sat at the table and we were serviced very well, the waiter knew everything about to dishes and about the wines they had. My sister and I had Kangaroo which was VERY good, my mom and my dad had lamb and they told was veeery good as well and the other two friends and steak which was good too!! We had a bottle of very good Merlot, and coffes. The waiter was a German so kind that we left him 20 bucks tip!!! I say was because he told us that was his last day at that restaurant. But im pretty sure the other waiters are just as good as him. I really enjoyed my dinner at Iguacu, I would reccomend it to anyone who would as me about it! At the end of the day we haven't even spent that much money, I cannot remember because was nearly a month ago.

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Review by: Mr Lu [DineOut VIP] (383) on 14th February 2010

Total		7.1
Food		7
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		7
Service		7
Environment		8
Toilets		7
Child Friendly	Kind of

Iguacu occupies an enviable, wide frontage to Parnell Road, in the very heart of the cafe & restaurant precinct of this fashionable suburb. I can recall visiting this eatery many times a number of years ago when I had ongoing business in the area and never had reason to complain. Little has changed, apart from ownership, and I once again found their hospitality more than adequate for a brasserie.
At the time of my visit a wedding party group was holding a small reception at the rear of the premises, but Iguacu is large enough in size and smart enough in layout to comfortably have more than one activity in play at any one time. The south side of the building houses a chic bar which is always busy with the middle of the day and after work drinkers whilst the restaurant side offers many table choices both inside, and out on the terrace overlooking the street. There is also a fabulous mezzanine floor accessed by a curved staircase in the centre of the complex - my first thought, however, was that because that space was directly under the glass roof the heat would be unbearable at any time other than the depths of winter.
With a friendly sparrow or two on the seatback opposite me, I sipped an ice cold Stella Artois and quietly ruminated on the meaning of life. Ok, not true! I simply watched the girls go by, and believe me there were many, as I worked away on a Pacific Chicken Curry, served with fragrant rice, wrapped in leaf, Indian Roti and Mango Chutney. There’s not a lot you can do with a bowl of curry and a handful of rice but the presentation was fair and reasonable for a brasserie, the service fine and the venue very Auckland with the overhead sail/ shadecloth that is seen everywhere.
Iguacu is somewhere to go with a few friends for a relaxed lunch or dinner, a few drinks and to enjoy a vibrant, busy atmosphere. Always worth a visit when you’re in Auckland I would say.

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Review by: Eri (14) on 3rd December 2009

Total		3.5
Food		3
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		4
Service		1
Environment		7
Toilets		7

The manager and staff don't seem to know, that the moment a diner sits down, the experience and should be a good one. Perhaps this venue used to have good service, however I see that Iguacu has not won the any awards this year, like the previous years.
I dined for the first time for my birthday at Iguacu. I had main sized Tuna Nicoise which was mainly potatoes and not much greens. Someone else had the Game Pie which was like stew with an odd piece of pastry on the side. The Kangaroo was reportedly described as "gravy beef". It was mediocre food at 5-star prices, nothing too much disagreeable. However my partner ordered a medium scotch fillet which he was unable to eat. It was black on the outside and red on the inside. He said it tasted like a burnt barbecue that was undercooked. He told the waiter who took it away. Then the hostess came over and said, Sir it is a char-grilled steak, that is what you ordered. He disagreed that char grilled meant "burnt". The chef did not come over with the plate. In fact the staff did nothing until bill time when the same hostess insisted he pay for the steak. And no manager anywhere. Just the hostess insisting we pay for the steak. The hostess also claimed she did not have authority to remove the item and gave me a blank business card with no name to contact the manager the following day. A blank business card was not very helpful. I insisted we were not paying for a burnt steak, and she finally removed the $36.50 steak from the bill. Then I received these emails the next day from the absent manager:
From: Owner (name removed)
Inviato: Thursday, 26 November 2009 16.35.38
To: eri
Eri,
Further to this email I have just spoken with a number of my staff who have all said that the behaviour of a young man in your dining party last night was appalling. I even have a survey here from another table who overheard him yelling at the front desk and said that nobody should have to be talked to in that manner and that the gentleman was the rudest person they had ever come across. I don’t need customers like this in my restaurant being abusive to my staff and creating a scene.
I would appreciate it if you did not return to my restaurant in future.
Owner (name removed)
From: Owner (name removed)
Sent: Thursday, 26 November 2009 3:55 p.m.
To: 'eri'
Subject: Iguacu Restaurant Customer Feedback
Sorry Eri,
My apologies, I understand that it was last night that you dined with us and in talking to our Restaurant Manager the issue was with a chargrilled steak that your table refused to pay for. I understand that the gentleman at your table refused to pay for the steak even after it was explained what chargilled means. FYI to chargrill is “to cook meat on metal rungs directly over a heat source”. I understand that three staff members including our Head Chef and Restaurant Manager inspected the steak and it was perfectly cooked.
Regards Owner (name removed)
From: Owner (name removed)
Sent: Thursday, 26 November 2009 3:45 p.m.
To: 'eri'
Subject: Iguacu Restaurant Customer Feedback
Dear Eri,
Thank you for completing the Entertainment Guide customer survey when dining with us for lunch today. Every survey is read personally by me and feedback passed on to our staff and managers. It is only through your input that we can learn about what we do well, and what we need to improve upon, in order to ensure that every customer’s experience at Iguaçu is the best it can possibly be. On reading your survey I was sorry to note that you rated our food as “average”. Your survey concerned me greatly given our vision to “constantly exceed customer expectations”. I would like to follow this matter up with our Head Chef so would greatly appreciate any further information you could provide me with that led to your evaluation. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Kindest Regards
Owner (name removed)
---------------------------------------------------
That's some conflict resolution skills from the owner. I like it how she was not present and was told by the hostess that we were abusive when we said we weren't paying for something that was burnt and not eaten. Word of warning, better not say you don't like your steak! Or you will be banned like me for saying so. I see others on dineout have also been unhappy with the scotch fillet as well so we are not the first.

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Review by: Dihang (8) on 8th October 2009

Total		7.8
Food		7
Dessert		9
Presentation		8
Service		7
Environment		9
Toilets		7
Child Friendly	Yes

I went to this restaurant a few months ago but I thought I might add some feedback. I remembered ordering a main of Seared Salmon with Risotto and I would have to say that the Risotto with the peas in them tastes a little bit weird. But apart from that, the Salmon was well cooked and it was definitely fresh. I had their luxury hot chocolate for dessert and it was really nice. The restaurant had also a really warm and cousy environment to dine in and even though the food here is a little bit pricey it would still give you a wonderful dining experience whatever the occasion might be.

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Review by: norbert1 (9) on 4th October 2009

Total		9.3
Food		10
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		8
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		8

I had dined at Iguacu previously and was excited about taking my husband to eat here. When we made the reservation while having a drink at the bar two days prior to dining, my husband had to go to a separate area to make the booking. He was given the full head-to-toe inspection of his clothing, which made him feel uncomfortable and instantly less keen to dine here. However, when we arrived in our better atire we were greeted warmly by the French waiter, who later proved to be very chatty and helpful when discussing the French wines, and shown to our table.
We chose an entree and a main each. We found both courses exceptional and the flavours were more than expected from the menu description. The ambiance was warm and there was a buzz in the restaurant. While eating we had to think back a long time to when we had had a meal of this quality. The price was certainly balanced for the very high quality of the food.

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Review by: RoxieBaby (3) on 22nd September 2009

Total		7.6
Food		7
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		9
Service		8
Environment		8
Toilets		7

Hadn't been here for ages - so decided it was time to revisit as it always looks so inviting from the Road and we had an hour or so to spare the other evening. Great Choice as we certainly weren't disappointed, friendly greeting on arrival and a nice roomy table near the spiral stairs. I ordered a main course scotch fillet and it was probably one of the tastiest I've had in a long time. My partner went for the seared tuna salad nicoise (main size) and it was also extremely good as she was expecting the usual salad style presentation but this was so much more. Well worth a visit.

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Review by: Cuttsy (24) on 14th September 2009

Total		8.7
Food		9
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		8
Service		8
Environment		9
Toilets		9

I am from Wellington and had never heard of this place and literally walked in off the street. What a treat! Great ambience in a French/Italian style. Very friendly staff and food to die for (I am pretty fussy so it has to be something extra special for me to rave) All my colleague and I ate was the steak dish and it was fabulous and very filling. I recommend this place if you like good food and are prepared to pay for it

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Review by: Bee21 (5) on 8th August 2009

Total		9.5
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		5
Child Friendly	Very

I had wanted to try iguacu for awhile so I chose it for my birthday dinner. We were seated on the mezzanine level which was a bit quieter and more intimate which was nice. The service was attentive but not over the top, the best service in a restaurant I have experienced in a very long time. I had the olives as a starter because I wanted to leave room for dessert but I wish I had've chosen the chicken wontons instead, my partner did and being the birthday girl I got to taste a little of his and it was delicious. The mother in law had scallops which she said were perfect. For mains I had the lamb which was divine and my partner feeling adventurous had the kangaroo which was apparently was very good. We also appreciated that they had a comprehensive children's menu not all deep fried nuggets and fries like most other restaurant's, our 9 year old's meal was presented with just as much care as ours. Dessert was also exceptional, it was nice not to end the meal with a ho hum dessert which has been our experience elsewhere lately. It was quite expensive but for a special occasion I felt it was worth it, I'd love to go back again one day.

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Review by: Blakomen (2) on 26th May 2009

Total		7.8
Food		7
Dessert		9
Presentation		7
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		N/A

stunning food - though it comes at a price. went on a day before mothers day, about five of us - ordered kangaroo just for laughs but it was pretty tasty. portions were large and presented well. white chocolate brulee that i had for dessert was excellent!
my boyfriend and his mother ordered the same dish (pork belly), and first time around his was quite dryand tough (especialy compared to his mother's), so we told the waiter and they were very courteous about it and re-did it, no questions asked. manager came up after to apologize - great service all around.
while its definitely not cheap, it was delicious and a good experience overall.

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Review by: Temmy (1) on 25th May 2009

Total		3.9
Food		3
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		5
Service		6
Environment		3
Toilets		N/A
Child Friendly	Yes

I had high hopes for Iguacu because it always comes so highly recommended... I had phoned and booked for a Sunday dinner specifying to the person taking my booking that it was for our wedding anniversary and a special occasion so could we please be seated at a nice romantic table.
Upon arriving the girl who seated us had (it would appear) not bothered to check the booking for these details as she escorted us to the least intimate side of the restaurant. I think they were trying to seat people close to the windows so it looked busier. I was a bit annoyed that we were seated next to a table with four children under the age of 10 which is hardly intimate or romantic - and the place was very quiet so there were plenty of private tables elsewhere, but decided not to kick up a fuss. I had a full length coat on and it would have been nice if they had asked if they could hang it up since it draped over the floor at the back of my chair. Minor details yes, but for the cost of a meal here I expect it.
They left us with the menus and then came back to take our order. Would prefer that they took the wine order first, so that we did not sit there empty handed for ten minutes prior to ordering.
We ordered the oysters entree which was delicious. Although we specified that we were sharing it we were given no side plates and they put it down in front on my husband whereupon again we said we were sharing and still no side plates. A minor that we soon got over as the oysters were so yummy! I regretted that I did not just order a dozen for my meal.
Next up the mains: my husband ordered the 'game pie' and I ordered the 'Angus Scotch on corned beef hash with a cream/mustard reduction'. Neither of us got what we imagined and it is my pet peeve when restaurants try to be overly clever and serve you something that is very different to what the menu states. Husband got a plate half filled with stew and half with mashed potato and with two small pastry triangles poking out of the middle of it. He said it was nice although his initial reaction was that it was not what he had in mind.
I got a piece of steak on which there was a tiny bit of evidence of some cream sauce and a huge pile of cubes of potatoes with grated corned beef (I clearly got the wrong end of the stick of what has was - I would have described that as 'cubed potatoes'). The potatoes were nice, but the flavours were far too simplistic - I could not even taste the cream reduction and I left more than half the steak as it was the worst piece of steak I had ever eaten. It tasted not quite right, was tough as old boots - I could not even cut it with the steak knife I was given and half of it was a hunk of fat. I left most of my meal - something I never do. I also ordered it 'medium rare' and it came out 'well done'. I think I have only been to one restaurant in NZ where the chef managed to get the steak right, but I live in hope. I usually ask for steak 'blue' in order to get it medium rare. However, I digress...
When the waitress came back to take our dessert order my husband commented that my meal was not nice and the waitress went back to explain to the chef. She then came back and told us it was a very fatty cut of meat and that's just how it is. Oh well, mental note to never order 'Angus Scotch' again.
By this time the kids at the table next to us had decided to play a game of tag and run around the tables so we decided to flag dessert - again something we never do. The waitress gave us four chocolates and complimentary coffee and tea to make up for my meal, but frankly I will never eat here again.
The table service was fine, but it was an entirely dissappointing experience. Surely at $35 for a main we can expect things to be a little better than 'fine' anyway?

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