The 38 Best Restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand) | Eater

"Alpha is a bakery — and so many other things. Yes, you can leave with a warm loaf of sourdough, dense Danish rye, or Japanese shokupan from Alpha’s head baker, Ben Conway (Ngāti Te Ata), tucked under your arm. But the space also acts as the test kitchen for chef Ed Verner’s team from next door’s Pasture and Boxer, and a space for pop-ups and collaborations with young chefs. On the weekends, there’s fresh and unexpected brunch fare: oysters with elderflower, mimosas with passionfruit and shiso leaf, and a hot fish sandwich that is not to be missed. And in the evenings, candles are lit and lush interpretations of classics are served, such as grilled cheese cooked over fire and jeweled with caviar, or hand-rolled trofie suspended in an airy sauce of white almond and parmesan. Everything is accompanied by elegant, unexpected drinks from the team at Boxer. — LJ" - Hillary Eaton