The 38 Essential Restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand)

"The open stainless kitchen blends seamlessly with the minimal dining room at Omni, making a meal feel like dining at a friend’s house — if your friend had a sick kitchen kit and had mastered binchotan coals. Owners John Yip and Jamie Yeon are at the restaurant for every service, adding to the homey vibe, and the food comes out at a leisurely pace, allowing you to make your way through the low-intervention wine list. Dishes show a Japanese influence, with yakitori chicken parts, whisky highballs, and sake on offer, but where Omni really shines is in its playful renditions of much-loved classics from around the globe: Think boujee prawn toast, cumin lamb skewers on flaky roti, and udon noodles tossed in a “miso e pepe” sauce. — LJ" - Hillary Eaton, Leisha Jones