Giraffe

The food was truly excellent, and the host was incredibly wonderful. The view of the harbor or wharf was really nice, particularly when they pulled open the side doors, allowing the breeze to come in. The duck was cooked perfectly, and it paired beautifully with the Pinot Noir. Cheesecake was the perfect finish to a very enjoyable meal.

Good view by looking at harbour. Nice to see boats at pier, to enjoy sea breeze. The staff are friendly, despite changed few seats due to sun ray. The Avocado and pouch eggs were delicious, can taste the freshness of avocado. The coffee was great too.

Had a lovely brunch here, in beautiful weather. The atmosphere is so inviting, we watched the boats and even some youngsters fish and release with complete joy. The muesli was the star for me. Perfect blend of crunchy, toasted, sweet and fresh. Welcoming and efficient staff rounded off the experience. I may be out of date but unisex bathrooms are still hard to wrap my head around.

An update... it seems Giraffe is slowly morphing into a possum—retreating into itself and playing dead when it comes to service. We've visited this spot numerous times, drawn by its convenient location and previously reliable experience. Sadly, our most recent visit was a stark contrast. ....................................................................................................... From the moment we arrived, the host’s attitude set the tone: unwelcoming, surly, and thoroughly disinterested. It’s astonishing how quickly a place can go from dependable to downright unpleasant. Service isn’t just about bringing food to the table—it’s about how guests are treated from the moment they walk in. Unfortunately, Giraffe has clearly lost sight of that. We won’t be rushing back. We have eaten here about three times to date and have always found the food well prepared, (although a tad skimpy for what you pay) and service to be superlative. Friendly , attentive staff. We had a breakfast 'lunch' and could not fault the meal. Coffee was perfect !

It was slightly difficult to find thhe restaurant because the entrance was located intersection of the building complex. I ordered Angus scotch filled, and two glass wine. Dishes were delicious and the mood was calm and peaceful, moreover it was beside a habor, so atmosphere was more romantic. But sometimes big laugh was heard from a neghbor restaurant. I recommend your visit to there.

Went here for a birthday dinner. We ordered oysters and artisan bread for entree... unfortunately the oysters we in the small side and the tempura batter overpowered any oyster flavour as a result. For mains I had the Canterbury Duck which was extremely tasty. My partner had the Snapper which was delicious but unfortunately the chips had been cremated. And literally left a burnt taste in the mouth. Only other point to make was we were not made aware that to choose anything but tap water would result in a $14 charge for the bottle. Service was good and the atmosphere was romantic, candles and low lighting. Food felt overpriced but was in line with other restaurants in area.

Had dinner here last night with colleagues and absolutely loved it! The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was outstanding. We shared the seafood platter and lamb shoulder — both were delicious and full of flavour. Highly recommend for a quality dining experience in Auckland!

Went on a Saturday evening and were served a very pleasant waiter from Spain. Unfortunately, we were kept waiting for our main course for well over an hour before the waiter advised us that my wife's chosen meal would be unavailable as the kitchen did not have the appropriate ingredients. We were then served with meals that were prepared in less that 10 minutes, one of which was cold (presumably because it had been kept waiting) and the other a chicken dish which was very oily and also not warm. I doubt we'll be going back again; we also had a poor experience just after the original Covid scare, but felt we should give the restaurant a second chance in more normal circumstances. Unfortunately, they failed.

Almost everything about this spot was excellent. Food was great, atmosphere was excellent for watching foot traffic around the harbour and the harbour itself. The only problem we had was with the service. Lots of attentive people running around trying to give us an exceptional experience, but they weren't getting things done. Someone would stop by and ask if we needed anything and when we gave them our requests, they were never accomplished. And since we were a later reservation (an hour and a half before close) I felt like the staff was trying to rush us out. Didn't feel welcomed/appreciated after dropping $500 and therefore the deduction in stars. I'll try someplace else the next time I'm in the area.

The food was amazing. Wonderful service. Great atmosphere. We ordered the shrimp and scallop entree, gnocchi and fish and chips. All were exceptional.

Four of us came here for breakfast at a friend's suggestion. She raved about how good dinner had been, and said the breakfast menu looked good as well. We were very pleased with our choices. We started out with cappuccinos while we looked over the menu. The restaurant is tastefully decorated. Our server shared with us what is most popular, as well as her personal favorites. We told her we had one friend who would be along momentarily. She always is running a bit behind us. No worries- just let me know when you are ready. 2 of us ordered the smashed avocado- it was perfect. The poached egg was poached to perfection The other 2 friends ordered the eggs Benedict. One ordered the bacon, and one ordered the salmon. Both loved them. We all enjoyed our food, agreeing we want to come back for drinks and dinner another time.

Amazing!! We ordered every recommendation we got and believe me, it's been the best meal of our entire vacation. Absolutely would love to come back.

Breakfast was fantastic with great flavors and temperature. Their mixed juices were also tasty. The only minor nit was that the kitchen was slow, but the restaurant was also slammed.

3/4 visits were amazing experiences. Especially at during dinner the the staff is super knowledgeable and will make helpful suggestions on what to get and why it tastes really good. During the summer I imagine when they open the plastic windows it'll be a memorable experience.

Fantastic service, cuisine & location! I don't know why they named this place "Giraffe" but maybe they stretch out their necks to serve you with an excellent dining experience.

Cute restaurant on the water. Great artisan bread and hummus. I had swordfish and my husband had the duck. Both mains were delicious. Very eager to please staff. Reasonable prices.

We were at Giraffe in 2018 and had a great experience. We returned March 2024 and were not disappointed. The service and food was still exceptional. Our waiter Reuben was amazing - we had plenty of time to enjoy our food and ambience. A must if you are in Auckland.

Absolutely loved every minute here. Guy was so charming that sat us after we had a drink at the bar. The server was really knowledgeable. We had the bread and butter- order this!!! Such a great selection. Then we started with the prosciutto and cantaloupe with Barrata. We loved every bite. We both ordered the filet with a few sauces. Filet was one of the best I'd ever had. The truffle bernaise was great. The maple balsamic butter was good, but odd to be served cold and hard next to the steak...wouldn't it be better if it were warm or at least spreadable?? Only moment of disappointment. The salad we ordered as a side had surprise fruit at the bottom, pear I think. It was fabulous We had a couple martinis, the candy passion is highly recommended. Loved this place.

The first trip out of Taranaki, after the travel restriction were lifted. And we had to start from our favourites. Giraffe restaurant at Viaduct Harbour with its evolving menu was the obvious choice for us. Bluenose fish gently marinated in soft brine was complimented by tender sauce with aromatic spices. Quintessentially sophisticated. Rib eye steak was honest and masculine, the side of an in-house-made honey mustard added to its primal appeal. I did not choose the right wine this time, next time will ask for an advice from the front of house.

Looked good from outside, free wifi a bonus but lack lustre bar staff! Asked barista if they have wifi and he could not answer me! Talk about linear thinking, coffee was ok, not a good look having a staff member sitting at bar looking at her phone pre shift as she looked disinterested, no bada bing with staff it appeared it was just a job to them. Sad, placed looked good to dine at later in day but first impressions count!

Thank you to all the staff at Giraffe on the Viaduct. You were fantastic last night , looking after us all so well and making us feel so special. You were so attentive and seemed to actively enjoy having our gorgeous grandchildren join us.The 'extra mile' you went to was appreciated,from the amazing award winning gin and tonic to the candy floss birthday 'cake' . The kids TV dinners are a brilliant concept and were enjoyed . Hope you are still there when I turn 80!!

We found Giraffe on a lovely food and wine tour through Unique Tours. Our guide took us and we were lucky that Simon, the owner, was in the kitchen and we had some special treatment. Because of our tour, we were able to sample four small portions of their highlight dishes, all paired with NZ wines. Everything was delicious - but the rabbit ravioli and eye fillet were beyond amazing! The pasta was perfectly cooked with an amazing rabbit meat mixture in the ravioli. I'm glad that they gave me a spoon because I literally finished the green cream sauce with it. The fillet was like no other! The meat was not fatty, yet packed with flavor. A thin layer of pancetta and a truffle butter - seriously pleasing to the tastebuds. We sat at the bar and received special attention from John who explained our dishes, wine pairings and just generally chatted. The restaurant has won an award and I am certain it was well deserved. Next time in Auckland, this will be my first dinner spot.

Great food and great ambience right on the viaduct. The owner/chef came out to say hello and was extremely friendly. Highly recommend this place if in Auckland.

Was staying next door at the hotel and dashed in with a work colleague for a quick dinner. This place stood out as the space was inviting compared to some of the other options down at the Viaduct. The room at times was a little on the loud side however it wasn't a distraction. Ordered the fish of the day which was a filleted snapper with ginger, radish and herbs. This was sensational and cooked perfectly. My colleague enjoyed the crab and tiger prawn. This dish was on the small side of things and a side order of charcoal bread was summoned to mop up the creme fraiche jalapeño sauce. Still don't see the value in charcoal bread. The fad will pass soon. Some potatoes wrapped in pancetta complemented the dishes. The menu said they were 'triple cooked' . Wish I had taken the time to find out how. The healthy sized side serving wasn't on the table for long. Service was fine - professional without featuring. Out the door unfortunately in less than an hour. Wish I had more time to explore the menu more comprehensively. It looked interesting. Next time...

Wonderful! We are on our last night of our honeymoon and the server was able to squeeze us into a table (without reservation) and gave us champagne to celebrate our last night in New Zealand. Also, the food was incredible!! Reasonably priced and a very nice night out, highly recommend.

Awesome, creative food. Great service. Sit at the bar and watch the busy kitchen and the amazing food coming out.

Fabulous dining. Engaging hostesses who bring the evening alive. The filet steak was beautifully cooked but a little stringy, presented with summer vegetables. My wife had the terrakki, fish of the day, even better, lime infused. The chocolate desert was to die for, and the truffle a nice finisher. Latte coffee was diff than I have had, but thoroughly enjoyable. Certainly a playyou would be proud to take guests.

You good crew but not customer focused.. Food v good. The kitchen works at curtain level.

Went here while visiting Auckland for a nice dinner out. We made a reservation in advance and it was pretty busy although not packed, so walking in probably would have been an option. For two, we ordered the pork leg ravioli starter, a garden salad, and the harissa lamb shank. We also ordered a couple of cocktails and dessert. Service was a little slow, but it didn't impact the experience. Dinner was delicious. The lamb was so moist and tender, served with the flakiest roti. The ravioli were loaded with pork in a mild creamy sauce, and the combination was delightful. I was expecting the garden salad to be a tiny little bowl of greens but it was actually quite large (good for two as a side for sure) and lovely with greens, apples, nuts, and cheese. I would say dessert was good but not unbelievable for my taste - we ordered the hazelnut brûlée and chocolate truffles. Overall dinner was pretty pricey, but considering we ordered a few drinks and dessert, not much more than I expected.

The food selection was interesting and excellent. The wine list had great NZ regional choices. Our server was knowledgeable and engaging. He helped make our night special. The setting was harborside and a mix of casual elegance.

I stumbled on this spot while walking the shore/pier and I was not disappointed, the food was really good, the view is amazing, and I received great service from my server Amira, please visit them!

Far and away the best restaurant in Aukland based on two week stay. Great food, service and atmosphere.

The service here is terrible. It took them 30 min to get eggs and a toasted bagel out. I would not recommend this restaurant.

Best restaurant at all times of day in my opinion. Staff are fantastic, great atmosphere and food is excellent. Hands down the most consistent place to dine in the Viaduct (and beyond).