The French Cafe

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Address

210 Symonds St
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Licence: Fully Licensed
Cuisine: French
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Contact

Phone: 09-377 1911

Comments

Finalist: Cuisine Magazine 'Restaurant of the Year' 2004/5

Overall DineOut Score based on 100 reviews

Total		8.7
Food		8.8
Dessert		8.8
Presentation		9.0
Service		8.7
Environment		8.1
Toilets		7.8
Child Friendly	Kind of

Review by: book (3) on 28th August 2010

Total		9.8
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		8

We seriously cannot fault this restaurant. From the moment our feet entered the door, the service was first class, the food beyond exceptional. Mt first taste of escargot, even though I have lived in France, and was not disappointed. It was worth the 3 month in advance booking. Would definitely recommend. We have dined amongst some of the highest rated restaurants in the world, and this one definitely is the leading favourite so far for fine dining. Will return for the dessert platter, and the escargot!

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Review by: leefetrees (19) on 6th August 2010

Total		8.9
Food		9
Dessert		8
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		8
Toilets		8
Child Friendly	Not at all

Wow, is all I can say. Dined from the a la carte menu and left it to the restaurant to pick a bottle of wine that would suit all our courses. They picked well. The food was fantastic in both taste & presentation & the service exceptional. I'm definately going back for the tasting menu or the degustation.

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Review by: diamond23 (2) on 22nd May 2010

Total		8.1
Food		8
Dessert		8
Presentation		9
Service		8
Environment		8
Toilets		8

Have been meaning to give a review for this place, we had lunch a few months ago, the service, food and enviroment was fantastic, my steak was overcooked but still was great. Good work French Cafe

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Review by: Renee Atkinson (29) on 19th May 2010

Total		9.7
Food		10
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		9
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		N/A

Visited french cafe 3 weeks ago (so forgive me for the late review) and what can you say. Words cannot express how delighted I am that the French Cafe is only "just" a hop, skip and jump over the harbour. I am constantly amazed at how great this place is. Why? Because it just is. Simple without being overbearing.
And for me, its the food, service and quality. And plus, its the small things that are done well.
Done right and with conviction. Not because the Waitress is paid to do it. Because she wants to make you feel welcomed. Warmth. Oh and not forgetting the food. Its up there with the best. And these are the reasons why people go there.

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Review by: theironchef (3) on 2nd April 2010

Total		8.5
Food		9
Dessert		8
Presentation		9
Service		8
Environment		8
Toilets		N/A

Was looking forward to our lunch at the French Cafe last Friday, and wasn't disappointed... Great classic French food. We both had duckling with orange sauce and kumara puree,- was beautiful. Panna cotta with plum sorbet was delicious. Great service, nice coffee, going back for dinner some time soon!

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Review by: marlee08 (3) on 26th March 2010

Total		8.3
Food		8
Dessert		9
Presentation		8
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		7

My husband and I came here for my birthday and we loved everything about it. Great food and service. We had to wait a bit in between some courses but I guess that happens when there are so many other diners to feed, so I say enjoy the company and have another drink in the meantime!

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Review by: JohnT (8) on 12th March 2010

Total		9.9
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		9

Was here for my birthday in February. It was the best meal of my life and I’ve been places…!
From start to finish it could not be faulted. Food, wine, competent and friendly staff. I loved everything about the place. Waited years to come here and read all the reviews in Metro during that time…why did I wait. Will be back soon…..brilliant.

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Review by: RB (11) on 10th March 2010

Total		9.9
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		N/A

We dined for the first time at The French Cafe last night and chose the 6 course tasting menu with wines. What a stunning evening.
The food was just beautiful, with lots of textures and intense flavours. I won't go through what we had apart from to say the menu consisted of fish, duck, and a couple of amazing desserts; my descriptions would never do the food justice - view their website instead. The wine was so well matched you felt you were drinking the flavours of the dish - which of course is the point.
Service was excellent, we had a very friendly Waitress from Dublin who looked after us for the majority of the evening. There were always 2 waiters to serve the 4 of us at exactly the same time, no one reached over you whilst serving or clearing the table. The knowledge base was superb and very friendly, each course being introduced and explained in full before enjoying. It is the attention to detail which makes the difference between an excellent restaurant and an exceptional one, I believe this to be the latter.
The environment received a 9 because of the obnoxious group of loud 40 odd year old customers (who should know better) bellowing at each other across their table, ignorant of other diners. Nothing the restaurant can do about that, I was just glad when their mouths were filled momentarily with beautiful crusty rolls!! We will be back.

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Review by: LunchGirl (53) on 9th March 2010

Total		8.9
Food		9
Dessert		9
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		8
Toilets		9

We dined at The French Cafe two weeks away. If you arrive before your reservation time, they have a very pleasant bar that you can kill some time in.
There are two tasting menus - a 6 course and a 10 course. We decided on the 10 course with wine matchings as we wanted to experience the chef's whole range. It wasn't a disappointment! They were very accommodating in swapping out one of my courses for me (I'd seen a dish on the 6 course menu that appealed).
Each course was delicious, gorgeously presented and beautifully paired with its wine match.
The dining room is of a size that you are not on top of the next table, which is appreciated.
All in all, a very enjoyable night out at a top New Zealand restaurant!!

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Review by: Mr Lu [DineOut VIP] (383) on 21st February 2010

Total		8.9
Food		9
Dessert		9
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		8
Toilets		N/A

Amidst the seemingly endless, everpresent rampage of irksome, all pervading societal ills, disconcerting Grub Street media headlines and an outstanding proliferation of cockroach infested substandard food outlets, I took matters into my own hands. Each of us must strive, in his or her own way, for that essential quantum of solace, be it through escapism, education or, in my case on this particular day, by dining at The French Café on Symonds Street, Auckland.
The City of Sails was pumping out more than its fair share of humidity, familiar clouds were audaciously blocking the sun above and the taxi driver graciously used the most direct route to deliver me to my destination.
I was the first of the restaurant’s lunch guests to arrive and a small uniformed company of staff were on hand to greet and seat me, with the seamless style and ease I had anticipated.
As I was dining alone, I was placed at one end of the room, with my back to the windows, giving me an excellent view of the entire room and, subsequently, each and every other guest. Very entertaining indeed!
My waiter, Craig, was quietly confident in his descriptions of menu items when questioned, fair in his recommendations and very professional in all aspects of service throughout the two hour lunch.
On Craig’s advice I started with a glass of chilled Rinquinquin, peaches & peach leaves marinated in white wine(an entirely inadequate description & gross oversimplification!). This was a wonderful way to relax and settle; a chance to take in the surroundings, watch the odd television celebrity arrive for lunch and, of course, consult the menu and comprehensive wine list.
There are several dining rooms here and it’s clear that they like to fill one room before opening up the other(s). The rear space, which overlooks the outdoor area (currently not in use due to nearby construction noise & dust)is itself overlooked by the kitchen. This enables you to have one eye on the chef and his staff if that is your wont; I didn’t find this distracting or at any time irritating but then my table was at the other side of the room. If you were seated close to the kitchen it might be another matter…
The space was a pleasant one, not oozing opulence or an excess of prestige. Perhaps ‘understated elegance’ might best describe it and my thoughts at the time were that it wasn’t unlike Boutereys in Richmond (Nelson) and this should be taken, unequivocally, as a compliment.
Two tasting menus are on offer here at FC, the Chef’s 10 Course which takes you approximately three and a half hours to enjoy your way through and a 6 Course for which you need to allow two and a half hours. These can be consumed with or without matching wines and I must say I was very tempted but will save this treat for my return in a couple of months with a small group.
The A La Carte menu isn’t longwinded in any sense but does embrace a more than adequate selection of fare catering to most diners’ tastes and proclivities. Of course, should your eating habits and requirements be far from the norm then have a look at the menu online before making your reservation!
The a la carte courses are categorized as First, Second, Third and Side Orders (excluding dessert) and there is a modicum of flexibility in how you may approach this. For instance, I wanted the Scallops as a second course and this was absolutely no problem at all. My request was unflinchingly accommodated.
Seared Scallops, cauliflower puree, truffle butter, porcini jelly with a glass of superb Loire Valley Domaine Vieux Preche hailing from the lovely Sancerre region. Truly a moment to cherish; suffice it to advise that the scallops represented a small lunchtime step for me but a giant leap forward in my search for that quantum of solace. The wine aided and abetted the advance.
As I swirled and sipped the balance of my glass of elegant Sancerre, my now empty plate was quickly, quietly and unobtrusively removed, appropriate cutlery for the next course skillfully placed and my expectations soared.
I knew that within minutes I would be the ever so grateful beneficiary of a 300 Day Grain Fed Beef Fillet. For carnivores like me this is not a dish that you merely eat; it is a dish that encourages full immersion in its flavour, its texture and its abundant, treasured succulence. Of course, the aforementioned does entirely depend upon the expertise of the master in the kitchen and, to a lesser extent One might argue, the hand of God.
I wish I could tell you who was captaining the ship on this day, but, alas, I was too preoccupied with the exuberance of the moment to ask and even forgot to do so before leaving . Unforgiveable? Yes, but I am confident in thinking that the level at which this restaurant operates and the affluence of its clientele suggests that there is an unwavering consistency in standards. Those with the disposables and plenty of discretionary income are not slow in voting with their feet if quality and adherence to world-class, competitive excellence is in any way compromised. Auckland has many fine restaurants to choose from!
My fillet was of a very high standard and I am fortunate in being able to compare it to hundreds of others consumed over many years. This particular piece hailed from Waiheke Island and had clearly been treated with the utmost respect by the chef; it was more than a melting moment for me, it was a re-affirmation of trust in the value of using an expert to undertake the duties of an expert. God forbid that this fillet had found its way to a local barbeque for char-grilling.
I did so want a 2001 Chateau Haut-Brion 1er Cru Classe from Graves to pair with this course. Samuel Pepys, all those years ago, kept a stock of Haut-Brion in his cellar and he would have been pleased to add this one were he alive today.
However, at $900.00 a bottle, a purchase of this would be taking the concept of outrageous extravagance a little too far for a man dining on his own so I went down that well-trodden path of ‘just a glass’. However, it couldn’t be the Haut-Brion, it had to be the Chateau De La Cour, 2005, from that most alluring of Appellations, St Emilion, so I was not at all disappointed, you might say, in the final analysis.
Let me at this point advise the reader that, at carefully calculated intervals throughout my dining experience at the French Café, I was treated to tasty complimentaries, from an amuse-bouche at the start to other tidbits in between courses. These much appreciated bites effectively maintained a ‘connection’ between courses and kept the symphony alive.
A journey of this nature would not be complete without one final indulgence; dessert.
I’ve lost count of the number of crème brulees I’ve sampled in recent times and over the decades but the quest goes on for that perfect one. Does it exist? Maybe…
Apple Crème Brulee portrayed as “caramelised apple, apple jus, green apple sorbet, butterscotch & pain d’epices” was visually beautiful, gently aromatic and superbly executed. A soft and sensuous, very fitting end to a dining experience worth repeating.
The French Café has aspired to a place on the country’s list of top restaurants and, based on my own encounter, it has every reason to feel comfortable in these aspirations. It has earned its reputation and, like all eateries, lives and dies by its daily performances. There’s no doubt that because of its adherence to best practices, finest quality ingredients, excellent service, competitive pricing and exquisite food it will continue to excite and more than satisfy all who pass through its doors.

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Review by: duckface (7) on 17th January 2010

Total		9.2
Food		9
Dessert		9
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		7

I have been to French Cafe several times, and each time the food and service is absolutely flawless.
Usually I order the duck confit for mains. It is really delicious.
I have also had the degustation. I would highly recommend the degustation. I am not a big eater and I didn't find it overwhelming. Many of the 8 or so dishes were flavourful such as a caramelised onion tart with goats cheese (the pastry was perfect), tuna caparccio, duck confit and a fantastic gelato berry sorbet.

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Review by: MelTaylor (30) on 10th January 2010

Total		9.3
Food		10
Dessert		9
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		8
Child Friendly	Not at all

My partner took me to French Cafe for my birthday in Oct 09, from the minute we stepped in the door I knew were in for a treat. Our waiter was attentive without being in the way, and certainly knowledgable about wine, and more than happy to assist with wine choices. We did the 11 course tasting menu and asked our friendly waiter to recommend wine matches, one for a red drinker and one for a white drinker.
From the first to last bite the food was outstanding, the tasting sizes were perfect, although I must admit after 3 hours if perfectly timed and portioned plates I was chocka block.
The atmosphere was a mix of couples and groups, so there was some nice lively background noise without being overly loud.
I am keen to get back here again soon! If you want a really special fine dining experience in Auckland this is my number one choice!

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Review by: Renee Atkinson (29) on 17th September 2009

Total		9.5
Food		10
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		N/A

Came for dinner and all I can say is this place is right up there in terms of service, decor and most important - food. We settled for degustation as I'm always interest to see what combbinations a restaurantt comes up with and it was amazing (I knew the hubby wouldn't be satisfied with the tasting so I also ordered the pork belly [slow cooked]). The waiter was great without being too overly attentive and I thought he did very well considering how full the place was.
I also feel I should mention that you pay for what you get - I would pay more to experience this amazing feast by a masterful chef than anything ever (the dedication and commitment going into each dish presented that night was simply superb)
A+ (love, love, love it!!!)

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Review by: jaimieg (12) on 11th September 2009

Total		9.4
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		9

This was our second visit to the French Cafe and we decided to try the 6 course tasting menu. Good choice! Every dish we had was delicious, and the matching wines were a great complement. The portions were just right so that we were able to fit in all 6, and not leave feeling stuffed, but not hungry either.
The highlights were the goats cheese and beetroot tart, the chicken liver parfait and both the desserts. Last time we went to the French Cafe we had the dessert tasting menu, which I also highly recommend.
The service was fantastic. The one thing that I would change is how full and noisy it can sometimes be on a Fri & Sat night. If the tables weren't so close together or there was a bit more privacy, the experience would have been a 10/10 for me.

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Review by: JamesC (2) on 1st September 2009

Total		7.9
Food		7
Dessert		8
Presentation		9
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		9
Child Friendly	Not at all

We went recently for my girlfriends birthday and had 11 courses, it was a wonderful place to dine but the food wasnt as great as the hype, it was certainly well executed but nothing really stood out and it all seemed a little old fashion but i guess thats what the French do, you could puree all their food and it would taste like cream and parsley with nice stocks. Dont get me wrong we loved our night out but for $535 it will be a VERY 'medium rare' visit.

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Review by: Ditzy_M (3) on 24th August 2009

Total		9.7
Food		10
Dessert		9
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		10
Toilets		N/A

Absolutely loved eating here! This was our first time dining here, so had no expectations at all. Even though we did Google it (Gen Y right here) and found out about the Metro awards, we reserved judgment until AFTER the meal. The waiters were friendly and funny, never missing a beat. We were even served a complimentary amuse bouche (which was quite possibly the best thing I have ever tasted). I had the baby squid as an entrée, the lamb as a main, and finished with the rice pudding for dessert. My only quibble was I personally did not think the donut was needed in the dessert - but it was still brilliant. The restaurant was full, but not overly loud - and our parents (who joined us) were amazed the music wasn't louder than the crowd (which often stifles a conversation if it is). All in all, we felt that this was fine dining at its best!

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Review by: LiseyLu (7) on 18th August 2009

Total		8.6
Food		9
Dessert		9
Presentation		8
Service		9
Environment		7
Toilets		7

good news: dining at its finest - if you enjoy decadence this is the place to come
bad news: book well in advance!

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Review by: BrownEyedGirl (52) on 7th August 2009

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

When I knew we would be in Auckland last weekend (this was a couple of months ago) I immediately booked The French Cafe for dinner, and as always, was very happy that I had.
This is food, wine and service at it's very best. After the amuse bouche we had a seared scallop each, with cauliflower puree and truffles. It was delicious and prompted me to a decision about my main course (more on that in a minute).
For an entree I ordered the duck cannelloni which was superb - great flavours and textures. My partner's dish of Japanese inspired tuna with dashi jelly and wasabi cream was divine - he let me have a little to try and I could see why he was so happy !
He wasn't 100% pleased though with his choice of main - the organic wagyu beef with accompaniments. He felt that calling it braised wasn't quite right, as it certainly wasn't fall apart tender. He did love the flavour though.
I, on the other hand, was more than happy with my choice of pork belly with scallops and cauliflower puree with black pudding crumbs - gorgeous food. The pairing was so good for the appetizer that I had had to repeat it.
Our waiter was impeccable in his service and advice and I was more than happy to leave a tip - he more than deserved it.
We will definitely be back at French Cafe the next time we're in Auckland.

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Review by: Bex (10) on 11th July 2009

Total		9.7
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		8
Toilets		8

We came here for my partners birthday, bit of a surprise for him as he is a big fan of their food and has their cookbook. We had a fabulous night, lovely lovely food and a great waiter, who was really attentive. We ordered the tasting menu with wine match, and it was brilliant value for money. The food is melt in your mouth and very well presented. Of course the problem with tasting menu is that you always want more! We left feeling very satisfied and very very impressed! Its well worth the money and you will not be disappointed!

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Review by: Zebro (6) on 17th June 2009

Total		9.9
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		9

I came here for my 21st Birthday dinner with my partner (he's very picky) and older sister,
It was definitely to become a favourite eating experience,
To start we ordered a bottle of No.1 family estate, luckily I was in the company of a wine fiend who could order for me as I am not a drinker.
Food time so a new bottle of wine - Pallister estate good choice thank you waiter
Appertizers
- For her Butternut Pumpkin Cappuccino, after watching the El Bulli DVD we had to order that I had a try and it was what it stated :smoked bacon, pumpkin custard, maple foam, hazelnut. It was strange definitely not bad just interesting
- He had Seared Sea Scallops,
It was great he let me have a try, scallops were cooked perfectly seasoned well.
- Myself, French Fries, haha don't ask I'll just say I like potatoes and I was leaving space for the main event.
- THE MAIN EVENT, Next time you are at French Cafe, order
SLOW COOKED PORK BELLY, I still talk about it all the time at home and have told all my friends this as well, it was perfect down to a tee, they looked like nutty brown custard squares a crispy layer then the most tender meat I have ever tasted oh god haha I am hungry as I type thinking of it and it is 2.20am almost two weeks since we ate here.
He had Wagyu beef and that is what is just very nice steak cooked well not much else to say on that. Can't remember what she had but no complaints.
By this time having flown all the way in from London that morning she was now feeling the effects of a 24+ hour flight, the waiter came over and promptly fetched a double shot espresso. But there was no way I'd call it a night before sampling the dessert menu,
Everyone was glad we stayed, I ordered the tasting plate for two and the Handmade Petit Fours, It was all amazing highlights for me being Apple Creme Brulee, Feijoa Sorbet, and Salted Caramel
I'LL BE BACK DEFINITELY THANKS FOR MAKING MY BIRTHDAY DINNER SPECIAL
- Service was friendly yet professional and the kitchen seemed absolutely silent considering how much would have been going on back there, everyone seems to know their stuff.

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Review by: Arnie (2) on 6th June 2009

Total		6.7
Food		7
Dessert		8
Presentation		7
Service		4
Environment		6
Toilets		6
Child Friendly	Not at all

We have been wanting to go to French Cafe for ages and finally got there on Friday night. The food was generally good - the portions were fair and the flavours were interesting. We were a bit disappointed by the atmosphere and the service. The restaurant was quite noisy, and we were very close to the people next to us. Not particularly intimate. The service was certainly friendly but we sat with empty wine and water glasses for at least 10 mins at the beginning of the evening before having to ask for service. To their credit the service improved markedly after we made comment, and they gave us a free tasing dish as an apology.
The overall experience was good, but for $240 for 2 people we felt like we should have had a better experience. At that price point we would expect better service and a more intimate dining experience.

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Review by: foodmanic (1) on 30th April 2009

Total		5.3
Food		3
Dessert		4
Presentation		8
Service		7
Environment		9
Toilets		9

I have dined at The French Cafe on 3 different occasions. Each time, we had the degustation with matching wines.
The first visit about 2 years ago : was divine.
The second visit last year : felt that it had lost it's touch slightly but still pretty good
The third visit on April 9th for a birthday.. I am about to reveal how I felt.
It is a very romantic restaurant - I really like the decor. The first two visits, Creghan was there and she just made our visit so much more memorable.
The food : well the first course was a soup and it was okay. It wasn't mind blowingly amazing, but pretty good.
Second course was a prawn cocktail and this is where things started going wrong. It was well presented, but the prawns were completely drenched in the dressing that was so over powering that you couldn't taste anything else. Even though I wiped off most of the moussy sauce while having the prawns, I had to rinse my mouth several times with water before I could even get rid of the over powering taste before the next course.
I think having strong flavour (or flavours) in a single dish can be excellent, but not so over powering that you can't taste anything else.
Rest of the evening, I felt that the dishes were too sweet in general (I think 7-8 out of 11 dishes had a sweet flavour) & felt that there were excessive use of foam & jellies. I also felt that the portions were way too small. I have had degustations at other top restaurants - and have never left feeling hungry.
Having said that, his signature foie gras pate & the duck main was divine as always.
If you haven't experienced fine dining, it is still a good restaurant .
If you don't like "sweet" food - the degustation at The French Cafe is probably not for you (unless they have changed their menu since my last visit)

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Review by: dhopkins (3) on 21st April 2009

Total		6.3
Food		5
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		4
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		7

The food here was amazingly ordinary the night we went (18th Apr 2009). We had 3 courses none of which blew us away. In fact, at the risk of sounding common, we actaully complained about the chips, they were undercooked and over-salted. The selection of beer was tiny. Total cost for 2 people - approx $265. For that kind of money I want to be thrilled by the food.

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Review by: Ian Bradley [DineOut VIP] (93) on 16th April 2009

Total		9.7
Food		10
Dessert		10
Presentation		10
Service		9
Environment		9
Toilets		8
Child Friendly	Extremely

What can I say? The short version - this is very very good. Actually, its exceptional. I found 1 - count them, 1 - flaw all night. And that so minor it actually didnt really matter all that much. But more on that later.
4 cashed up grown ups with no kids in tow and away we go. It all starts before you walk in the door. Phoned the day before to confirm, yes, we are still planning on being there :) Walk in, welcomed warmly and with smiles. Seated, yes, a bottle of the 1999 LAURENT PERRIER BRUT MILLESIME, and it arrives at the perfect temperature, wonderful. We decide on meals over the champagne, add a couple of other bottles - the Herzog Pinot Gris (also at a perfect not too cold temp) and the Te Mata Awatea. Both glorious in turn. My selections were: Crisp Baby Squid, Langoustine, Duck and the Cheese.
The Amuse Bouche was divine. The squid is small but perfectly formed, delicious, crisp on the outside, meltingly tender and sadly all too soon gone. The langoustine arrives and we fall into a hushed silence - no, really. This is a work of art. The three large langoustines are supported by three small flat gnochi, and the accompanying flavours and textures are quite simply stunning. This is one of the finest plates Ive ever encountered anywhere.
On to the duck. The chefs signature dish Im told, this too arrives as a work of art - and given three of us ordered it, that art was replicated beautifully. This is quite simply glorious to behold; the duck falls apart, the vegetables and the jus are so complimentary that the whole is so much more than the parts, as was the langoustine. Brilliant - the look, the texture the taste, all quite simply exceptional.
On to the cheese, three lovely pieces - Brie De Meaux, St Agur and Livarot, and the quince paste, breads and crackers are wonderful.
What did I fault? One waitress, who hadn't been to the table before, got food placed at the wrong diner. Thats it, end of story. Not a major, but you could see she was annoyed at the slip. The child friendly bit? A couple, French we think, had their son with them. He was all of 5, had his dinner and fell asleep whilst Mum and Dad enjoyed the extended tasting menu, no drama from anyone. The service was very slick, professional, well informed and very helpful and friendly with it.
This restaurant is, in my very humble opinion, stunningly good. Parts of our evening were exceptional, and all of it was memorable. Yes, its expensive - no, Im not telling! - but for a once in a while treat this is the place to go. I have eaten at no other NZ restaurant in recent times that even comes close - and that includes Dine by Peter Gordon, which for me isnt even in the same league, sadly.
I first ate at the French Cafe when I was a child, with my parents who used to eat here. Ive eaten here maybe 10 times in my life. Simply put, this restaurant is in my top 10 of restaurants Ive eaten at anywhere in the world. Exceptional. Thank you so very much. Badbaxter, you would have loved it mate :)
And the final word? Last night the French Cafe was packed. What recession? Quality, it would appear, knows no recession. Long may that continue.

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Review by: Jaylowe (7) on 8th April 2009

Total		7.9
Food		8
Dessert		5
Presentation		9
Service		10
Environment		10
Toilets		9

Was a perfect night out. Loved the mains, the entrés were pretty good. The dessert was a little hard to eat, a bit too rich. The waiter was exceptionally friendly, always on hand and very knowledgable about wine. He managed to pick a wine that my partner and I both loved and still complimented our different meals.

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Review by: Sambrook (1) on 23rd March 2009

Total		9.8
Food		10
Dessert		N/A
Presentation		10
Service		10
Environment		9
Toilets		9

Had a wonderful meal here on friday night, this is the best restaurant we have visited in NZ (and we have been in a lot). We loved the presentation, the quality of the food and the service. The staff were very attentive and friendly. I would thoughroughly recommend this place for a romantic meal. The choice of wines was good. I just wish there were more restaurants like this around. We will definitly be going back soon.

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