MASU by Nic Watt

Highly recommend. We went on a date for two and sat at the kitchen bar. Nice to see the kitchen staff in action while enjoying an exquisite meal. The space was very busy when we arrived around 7pm but got quieter shortly after. Can't go wrong with the food, many great options and we loved how quick the food came! One of the fastest serving restaurants I've seen in Auckland for this level of food quality. Great choice if you want a fancy dinner with unique food options.

I was invited to dinner 7.45pm on a Tuesday and it was hectic, packed and noisy straight away. We googled dress code for Masu but noticed a lot of people dressed like they came from the beach, sandals, board shorts, t-shirts etc. We were taken to our seats, offered sparkling or still water, then drink orders were taken. We were there for the masu shomi menu which is a showcase of their top dishes. Such delicious morsels of top quality ingredients! Perfect serving sizes, each course served at good time intervals. All the diners agreed that the steak was chewy. Our various servers throughout the evening were amazing and attentive. Topping up waters, clearing finished plates , asking how our food was multiple times...absolutely amazing. All food was presented on beautiful plate ware. It was really noisy, as it was holiday time and lot of tourists were dining out which is great for Auckland city. Absolutely recommend! Thank you!

The first time I tried Masu was almost ten years ago, and surprisingly, their food is still just as good as I remember — which is impressive, considering how many restaurants tend to decline over time. I went for their Shomi set menu, and it turned out even better than expected. Great value for money with a generous amount of food and consistently high quality. The standouts were the tempura and the salmon. The tempura was light, crispy, and not greasy at all, while the salmon was cooked perfectly — crispy skin, tender inside, and paired with a sauce that tied everything together. My only complaint was the pacing; the gaps between courses were a bit long, possibly because the restaurant was so busy. And busy it definitely was. On weekends, Masu is buzzing — lively, energetic, and quite loud. Staff are constantly on the move, but service overall was friendly and attentive. The vibe is casual and welcoming. All in all, a very satisfying experience. Definitely a place I’d recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding dining experience at MASU by Nic Watt! My partner and I recently visited MASU and went for the Shomi menu; absolutely spectacular! Every dish was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The portion sizes were perfect, and the timing between courses was just right, allowing us to really enjoy each plate. The atmosphere was lively yet refined, and it was genuinely entertaining to watch the chefs in their element. You can tell they take pride in their craft. A special mention to the chef with the snake tattoo; his positive energy stood out! He was working across multiple sections, clearly putting in the effort, yet still took the time to acknowledge guests with a smile and even explain some of the dishes while working. That kind of passion and professionalism really adds to the dining experience. Service was equally excellent, our waiter was attentive and made sure we were well looked after throughout the night. Overall, MASU delivered on every level: food, atmosphere, and hospitality. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in Auckland.

From a local friends recommendation I chose the Shomi Menu. Several courses, each very well prepared and presented and using high quality ingredients. After entering MASU at opening time by the time I left it was full with a buoyant atmosphere. Service was pleasant throughout if a little slow between courses (but that may well be an unhelpful observation by a tired me and the cadence of serving is all part of the plan). Very much recommended.

Food was nice but not exceptional to us, especially when you compare it with the price. Can be quite loud when they’re busy but overall a good experience for occasions. Grill chefs are the stars they make cooking on open fire look so easy!! Think I was more impressed by the grilled menu than their fresh 😂

We visited for the occasions in Masu. The host is so friendly and kind to welcome us. the restaurant ambiance makes us travel in Japan as there are some cherry blossoms and sake bottles for the decorations, and the staff's uniform is like Japanese's traditional costumes In Masu. We ordered the set menu which has to be ordered by the special conditions via the first table. All the foods is so tasty and delicious. Especially, the teriyaki salmon is cooked perfectly. They also gave us special dessert for the occasion.we are willing to visit Masu again. Thank you so much

Amazing quality of food, the flavours were all so good! The waiters were always around for any requirements and the dishes were introduced at a timely manner. will definitely be back

My Daughter and I celebrated Christmas Dinner with Masu. We were given a chef side bar seats and served a 6 course program. It was delicious, beautiful, and just the right amount of food. Great ambiance and super happy they were open.

The food was amazing and service was on point. The atmosphere is a little too loud for me but I still enjoyed my dinner. I had an order of edamame and eel roll to start. Both came at the same time and I enjoyed both nothing different from any other edamame or eel roll I've had. It was good but wasn't life changing. For dinner I had the grilled salmon and rice. The salmon was cooked a little more on the rare side than I prefer but I didn't specify so I can't complain. It tasted well seasoned and I truly enjoyed it. For dessert I had the chocolate matcha with the hazelnut ice cream. The ice cream was so delicious. It help cut the overly sweet chocolate cake. I wish they would have given me a bigger scoop because without the ice cream I just couldn't eat the cake since it was so sweet. Overall experience was great. I highly recommend Masu if you are visiting Auckland.

Given the reviews I read, I had high expectations. It is set outside a hotel. The setting is very casual. The host was nice that sat me. The waitress was fine but really not that inviting. I ordered a cocktail. The cocktail choices were fine, they also have mocktails for nonalcoholic choices. They have a reasonable wine and sake list. I would have to admit that I was expecting a bit more from the menu. The sushi and sashimi options are fine. I was expecting more options. Maki options were very average. The sashimi and sushi were fresh but really not memorable. The waitress was fine but never went out of her way. I would have gladly ordered some sake but she never came by to ask me. I was disappointed to say the least. I think it's fine but given the reviews I was expecting so much more.

A very cute restaurant with an excellent ambiance. We weren't super hungry but couldn't cancel our reservation without a fee so we decided to try out a few dishes. The chutoro nigiri was excellent while the salmon was decent but not our favorite. The wagyu dumplings were cooked very well, but I expected them to be a bit more flavorful considering they had wagyu inside --they were a bit dry. The chicken skewers were very tasty and cooked well but I would probably skip the eggplant robata next time. We didn't order drinks but the cocktails looked fantastic. Service was very good throughout the meal and I loved the open kitchen and overall interior decor.

In Auckland for a night. Went to Sky bar for drinks and crossed the street to Masu for sushi. Fresh and well crafted sushi in a great atmosphere venue. Service was on the mark.

An amazing spot for stellar sushi. Our server guided us through the choices along with her recommendations. Everything we tried was superb. Food was fresh and was delivered quickly. The restaurant was visually very beautiful. The only comment would be that the restaurant was a bit on the loud side, making a conversation across our table a bit more difficult, so maybe not the best spot to have a business dinner or longer conversation. That wouldn't stop us from returning, as everything else was perfect.

A solid place to come with friends for a nice photo and a pretty bite. I was initially really excited to come but unfortunately was overall pretty disappointed in. The hostess was nice and the waitress had an okay personality but quite unprofessional and hadn't gotten enough training. She struggled immensely with drink recommendations and when presented with patrons like me who were indecisive, she was pushy, loud and impatient. Much like a waiter in a pub that has to serve many more customers. The food is definitely Japanese with a twist so I wouldn't describe it as Asian Fusion either. Got their platter, their salmon was super fresh and amazing. The king was okay and tuna really rubbish. Cocktails we tried were really good - unfortunately the Umami cocktail arrived with bits of plastic inside so someone at my table was spitting out plastic. $20 for plastic in drink really makes me disappointed.

We had lunch here in Auckland on the last day of our honeymoon and what a beautiful final lunch it was. The husband has spent a good amount of time in Japan for business and has a particular affinity for some delicious Japanese cuisine, and he was not at all disappointed. We were staying at the adjacent hotel, checked out, and waiting to go to the airport.. Masu just beckoned us in. The modern simplistic design of the restaurant with gorgeous wood accents cascading across the ceiling contrasted by simple dark walls was stunning. The cherry blossom tree over the bar was beautiful and alluring. We were excited to see an Auckland restaurant week menu with a multiple course menu. Im all abouts an entire week just for the purpose of celebrating eating, my kinda event. They were great about accommodating my gluten allergy and substituting out for items that had the evil gluten. We started with some delicious sashimi, moved on to the most perfect fried tofu I've ever had, my husband got to have another deliciously fried nom I could only watch him eat with longing in my eyes; then, there was a nice little salad and miso soup course, and we finished with a mouthwatering glazed salmon. It is definitely more expensive, but so are the hotels and other restaurants in this area. The prices were competitive for the location and the food quality and quantity were excellent. The service was also fantastic and we never wanted for anything. Overall a top notch delish nomming experience.

If you know what good sushi tastes like, you probably shouldn't try this place. I'm not a fresh fish connoisseur, but I know that I've tasted better elsewhere. My husband and I wanted to try the tasting menu (forgot which one) on our last night in New Zealand. The items on the menu were pretty much hit or miss. I enjoyed the cooked stuff more than the raw. I thought the cooked spicy tuna roll was amateurish at best, but I did enjoy the mini short ribs. The soft shell crab was overly covered in sesame seeds which made it seem like it was overcooked. The fresh fish was perfectly chilled, but I wasn't a fan of the selection. Our menu also included a bite of wagyu beef, but that was pretty much wasted on me since I am horrible at deciphering between different types of meat. The dessert platter that was given had all fruit items so my husband wasn't a big fan. He loves his chocolate. Of all the tasting menus I've had, this was probably one of the most polarizing. I like the atmosphere and the service of the restaurant, but the food is not up to par with other sushi restaurants around the world. For the price we paid, I was expecting their best, but we walked away not completely satisfied.

Its hip and fun inside. The menu has good depth and a lot of interesting choices I have never seen before. Its right next to the sky tower as well. It was really nice to just walk around Federal ave with all the activity as well. This place is a place to have dinner and also be entertained. I ordered all the vegetables entrees. They were very good but some of the items use MSG. Lucky I asked about it and they removed the cauliflower veggie choice. I also had a vegetable sushi roll. The items were very well laid out and tasty. I really enjoyed the kumara. Which I believe are sweet potatoes. The dessert menu was kinda of confusing and written mostly for an asian. Place is a very safe bet and a good spot for new flavors of asian fare and sushi. The price is not cheap and portions are small. Its more of a tapas place. Great service and classy vibe.

Sat at the bar as we did not have reservations. So glad we did the service was as excellent as the food. Watching the mixologist was fantastic. It was amazing watching him. I My husband had the Tokyo Sour, he said it was perfect. Can't wait to return.

Masu is amazing!!!!! Was trying to go to Depot but the wait was an hour and I didn't have time for that nonsense so I went next door and I'm so glad that I did! The atmosphere is lively, the patrons are happy & trying new things, the food is savory & fresh!!!! Service is quick, they bring the food out in waves. The menu is a tad confusing at the beginning but once you get it, it's simple. I tried the unagi (eel), the black cod, and the broccoli. I loved everything I ordered! I was looking at my neighbors plates as everything that comes out of the kitchen is like an art form. Highly recommend checking this spot out!

I read so many great reviews of Masu from many different sources before visiting New Zealand. We stayed at the Skycity Hotel in Auckland, which is right next to the restaurant. I decided to check it out on my own one night. It was a busy night but they were happy to seat 1. The service was amazing. Everyone was very nice and attentive. They have a nice cocktail selection with very unique ingredients. The menu is broken down by the most prominent flavor of the drink, like salty sweet sour etc. I tried a drink from the salty and another from the sour list. Both were very delicious. I recommend doing the set menu. I went with that and was not disappointed. It was a lot of food but not so much that I couldn't finish. They finish everything off with a dessert selection that was beautiful in presentation and tasted great. All their ingredients were fresh.

Here for the drinks only. This place is serious about the ice they put in the drinks. If it's a round ice ball instead cubed, it means it's carved from a giant block of ice, and then hand carved into a ball. Talk about dedication and patience. And oh, the drinks are strong and delicious. Bartenders were very friendly as well. Recommend to stop here if the Depot next door has you waiting for a while. It's a tad bit on the pricey side but well worth it.

Masu is apparently one of the top restaurants in Auckland, and I have to say that while the quality of the food here is definitely excellent, there were no out of the ordinary dishes or specialties that really took it to the 5/5 level for me. We ordered several dishes to split, starting with a variety of sashimi, the cod, beef, and crab leg. The tuna sashimi was incredible, and I couldn't get over how fresh and delicious all the dishes are! The sake and cocktail I ordered (I can't remember the name but it had passionfruit rum) were both great. Everything was so flavorful - no complaints whatsoever! One knock, however, was the service. Our waitress didn't seem very knowledgeable about the dishes. Luckily we go places like these pretty frequently so we knew what to order, but at a restaurant with a more eccentric palate I would think that other customers might need more knowledgeable staff. All in all, though, a great experience! It's quite pricey but delicious and great quality food at a pretty trendy yet casual venue.

Japanese fusion spot in Auckland. Huge cocktail selection. Food is meant for sharing. - Good food though not a wow. Details by dishes below - Sashimi - the salmon was excellent. Others (tuna, Hamachi) are ok. - Maki - had the spicy tuna and eel - both are good though not amazing - Kimchi gyoza - ok / standard good - Broccoli rabe side - cooked well and the spice provides a nice contrast though wouldn't necessarily it goes well with the broccoli rabe - Cod fish - grilled well but the fish could be a tad bit fresher - Tempura scampi - the tempura flakes is a very fine alternative, which was interesting though I like the original one better. - Dessert of chocolate pudding with green tea powder and umeshu ice cream - the pudding (English style i.e. similar texture to a soufflé) was very good but the ice cream is a bit light on the umeshu flavor - Service a bit slow / inattentive - had to call the servers a few times but overall decent - Would recommend.

Masu is one of those central Auckland establishments that give credence to the notion that Auckland is trying desperately hard to be the city Mike Hosking says it is. Because, Auckland is a supercity, you know. It has Dior, Vuitton, and traffic. There's an international airport that caters to flights from North America. You see, in Auckland, they've got the same stuff Sydney has, and Sydney is huge and important. Buuuuuut before people start getting offended, just look at the star-rating again, and everybody just calm the hell down. Masu is located out the front of the Sky City Grand (two thumbs up for that hotel, by the way) next to the main entrance on Federal Street. Once you've established with an assistant that there are in fact two of you and that you look like you probably have a line of credit, you'll be escorted past very important Aucklanders wearing those suits that Aucklanders wear, talking about where they've been in London and their business class trips to Dubai. You'll be seated at a table for two that is uncomfortably close to a couple who rent an over-priced shoe box in Ponsonby and just managed to look the part by family crowd-sourcing an Audi hatchback. They will glance at you with one of those "you've never been here before, have you?" looks, and then decide that you don't know anything about sushi the way they do. My wife and I went there for dinner, which I highly recommend providing you've consulted with your bank manager or your name is Mike Hosking. This is an apocalyptically expensive restaurant, but then, they are creating top-end dishes that include cuts of tuna that probably wasn't sourced from the Gulf of Oman. I expect to pay a premium for top-end sushi and sashimi, and people who enjoy such delicacies should know that the privilege doesn't come cheap. Having accepted this fact, you will not be disappointed. By God, this place is good. I attached a photo to this review that my wife took - clearly focused more on another delicious dish than the sashimi I ordered - but you will notice the cuts are thick, served cold as it should be, and beautifully presented. The taste? Well, how does sashimi taste? By and large, it's the texture I look for. Is it slippery, smooth, and does the bite consistently require only the same amount of pressure than a marshmallow? At Masu, the answer to all these questions is a resounding yes. As my rating indicates, I highly recommend this restaurant. It's worth saving the money for, and I applaud the efforts of all those involved in the running of this outstanding establishment. Bravo.

Voted as one of the top restaurants in Auckland but it looks like some Yelpers don't fully agree, so I decided to just check it out myself. I was not disappointed with the food, but It is for sure not cheap. The place- one of the Sky City restaurants, next to the convention center, sort of hidden. Its spacious inside. Open kitchen, with multiple stations preparing different kinds of food and drinks. Its fine dining, but pretty noisy. The food- Some traditional Japanese dishes. The braised pork cheek and the black cod in saikyo yuzu miso were sensational! They also have some modern twists. Some are more like South East Asia flavor. Quite a lot of cilantro being used, but incorporated well into their food. Definitely try the crayfish miso taco. The sashimi platter was a bit overpriced. Came with freshly ground wasabi, the fish was fresh but some of the cuts were a little hard to chew. The service- this is what everyone rave about. Food came in the right order except our sushi roll came like 20 minutes after we finished everything else and paid. The actual service experience was pretty average. They do know the menu pretty well, but I didn't feel very special being a customer there. The waiter did not come by once at all asking if everything is ok. The price- Not cheap. Little overpriced, almost more than New York price. Spend $260 for lunch for 4 people! Drink selection- too early in the day. I have to make a special mention about their toilets! its like AirNZ international lounge toilets. Parking is not free, but is subsidized. You can validate SkyCity parking voucher here, essentially you get 50% off parking.

Exceptional service. I like that I could see the chefs preparing the food, cutting up sushi from where I was seated. Everything we ordered was yummy, even the cauliflower! Pricey, but well worth it. Would like to come back soon

Offensively over priced for the quality of the food. Beef and Tuna in particular. My wife is from LA, I'm from NYC. Drinks were good, but standards here clearly aren't what we are used to

We sat at the bar and watched the robata show, Japanese fireside cooking. There were many delicious roasted fish being prepared so we ordered the black cod with yuzo miso and we were mixed on it. The flavors were good, but the fish itself wasn't as firm as cod should be and it was a little mealy. Perhaps they let the fish marinate too long.... That didn't stop us from ordering more. We continued with ngiri and that was amazing! The roasted broccoli, roasted tofu, Japanese pickles were all very good. Their desserts may sound strange but they taste better than they sound ... it requires a leap of faith and a good waiter to steer you right. The location in Sky City makes this a place to see and be seen. I would go back to this restaurant so I can try the other items on the menu.

Masu raised the bar for Japanese cuisine in Auckland and made better use of the space that once was the Lobby Bar in the Grand Hotel. You get lemongrass scented towels on arrival to refresh and invigorate your hands, get them chopstick ready. If you haven't been before, the wait staff give you the low down on how the menu works. The story basically goes that plates are small, designed for sharing, get 3 per person or a set menu. There are 3 places that your food will come from, the kitchen, the sushi bar or the robata grill. The grill stones were imported from Japan, doesn't get more authentic than that. One more thing, try to leave room for dessert. The menu is quite varied, salmon, snapper, duck, beef, crustaceans and other creatures from the land and sea. Vegetables are well represented at Masu, as a vegan I was pleasantly surprised at the number of plates I could order, or have adapted to be safe for my consumption. The staff always go out of their way. I have been here around 10 times since they opened, a good time... every time. The food presentation is Instagram worthy. I absolutely love the spinach and grapefruit salad, amazing flavours. The sushi is very good, try the little maki plum rolls. The grilled kumara with sesame is worth adding to your order. Sitting at the bar is cool, you get in on some of the kitchen action. Keep in mind this is only okay if you're with one other, or dear I say it, alone for the logistics of holding a conversation. You should book a table if going with a group or if you want to sit and stare into the eyes of your dinner companion, for any occasion or no occasion at all, Masu is the place to have it.

Came here for a light meal. Not the usual Japanese restaurant you would expected. It has a really nice bar with variety of drink options other than sake and Japanese wine. Food is fusion style, I would say interesting, and taste good. However I still prefer the more authentic Japanese crusine. Price on the high side for its portion. But with a try if you keen in fusion food.

This place is amazing ! Worth every penny. Make sure you book in advance as it is very hard to get a table. It was our first time there, place looks very nice and inviting. The staff was very nice and friendly, they explained the dish very well and would always come back and ask us how our meal was and would top up our glass of water. The dish is spot on, full of flavour. Loved how they present the food on the plate, very appealing. I would highly recommend this to everyone who wants to come here for a special occasion as it is abit pricey but meal is so good so you won't be disappointed :)

When a restaurant like Masu sweeps the floor of the Metro Restaurant Awards, it raises the bar for Japanese cuisine in Auckland. Or does it? First off, the décor, furniture and tableware is spotless and cosmopolitan. If you're interested, the waiter will let you know where everything is from, including the grill stones from Japan and the overhanging lights which all shaped differently, cost around a grand each. Phew Skycity sure knows how to invest in getting restaurants to look their part. The menu boasts fresh food and is varied with many different choices of seafood and meat, and dishes from sashimi boats to hotpots and dumplings. There's even a separate menu for gluten free diners. Big tick for eating out in groups. And unless you've been there before and know exactly what you're looking for, you can expect to spend some time digesting the menu before the food even comes. It's no surprise that the food comes as elegantly presented as the décor. The small portions are ideal for those that love to nibble at a variety of different dishes but if you like to eat a lot of the same thing, you're going to crave more. In fact, it's probably time to change the way you eat because Auckland's dining scene is still riding the wave of small shared plates or "communal dining". The sashimi was amazing, and depending on which ones you picked like the o-toro fatty tuna, it can be a totally satisfying melt in your mouth experience. Another highlight was the scampi tempura, which was light, fluffy and so moreish. We also ordered the pork ribs and chicken skewers. Tasty, but it felt like I was eating it just to fill myself up. The chocolate and hazelnut pudding with the sprinkling of green tea on top was a fighter to steal the spotlight. Very indulgent and you'll have to fight for your share as everyone targets to eat it first before the ice cream melts. After a full dinner though, I preferred the lighter chawan mushi - which was mango, lychee, passionfruit and coconut. Especially in the summer months, it's just the refreshment you need. Final verdict? I didn't want to put Masu on a high pedestal because of title "Metro Restaurant of the Year". The food was tasty, the atmosphere was fun. But I didn't have a moment where I paused and tilted my head to think the food was interesting or creative. Instead the words fresh and clean come to mind. The quality of the food is evident and while you pay for it with the price tag, it could be justified for Japanese food lovers.

Masu is pretty up there for Japanese rabata fusion. Located in the heart of the city and connected to the Skycity hotel, it is prime restaurant location. We were seated promptly and introduced to our waiter Jamie, who brought around cold flannels, which certainly was a nice touch on a hot day and brought back fine memories of flying business class. The dishes are brought out in waves, in order to avoid overcrowding your table and for your company to focus on the delicate nature of the dishes, like the snapper and tuna sashimi which was artistically presented on a slab of hand cut ice. My favourite dish would have to be the crayfish miso taco which not only was executed to perfection, but was light, fresh and simple. It arrived in a bamboo stalk, with grooves added to hold the delicate composition of the taco. Continuing on, the staff were discreet with removing plates and kept a good tab on their customers, especially refilling wine and water glasses. The highlight would have to be the dessert platter ($55) which is easily demolished for a group over four people. From the chocolate brownie with matcha powder, the green tea and banana ice cream, fresh berries, ice creams, sorbets, custard pudding and all kinds of deliciously decadent things that I can't remember the name of. Not only is the table wide dessert a sweet tooth's dream, it presented as a work of art. All in all, it was great lunch with chefs who clearly are passionate and educated in Japanese cuisine. The sashimi are cut with razor-edge perfection and the dishes are simple in sense of fresh ingredients, natural flavours and clean presented. It definitely was a treat - especially as I wasn't paying and the bill totalled over $500. Not a cheap lunch, but well worth it.

Average - nothing wrong with masu, but nothing great. We came here as a group of nine for a weekday lunch. The restaurant decor was new and modern with an open kitchen so you can watch them prepare the food. To be honest the chefs greeted us with warmer smiles than the maître d. We ordered a selection of dishes from the sashimi , gyoza , crayfish taco, steak, baby chicken, Alaskan crab leg to the black cod main. All sharing between us. Although portion sizes are small you still fill up due to the progressive eating. The reason for the average to low rating is due to the reputation being better than the reality. The food is good but not to be top metro because there are better Japanese such as Ebisu. It may seem like a harsh score but when you are charging a premium and have numerous awards, you need to have exceed expectations.... Today it was just another Japanese lunch :) My dish choice is the Alaskan king crab leg :)

Went here as it was one of the few places to get a beer on Christmas. Had a three appetizer sampler with the crawfish taco, pork and kimchi gyoza and edamame. The taco while only one was good, really like the gyoza and the edamame was ok. The staff were very friendly and accommodating so all in all a good night.

Masu has recently been named the top restaurant of the year by The Metro Magazine. Im sorry but I think this is terribly mistaken. Don't get me wrong, the decor is comfortable and chic and welcoming. The staff are prominent and polite. Its just a shame the food just doesn't quite match the high expectations. Ive been eating out a lot and not just the expensive places, but the cheap eats that are advertised on behalf of the Metro Mag, and now that the places are shown off, the expectation for these places heighten. Its a disappointed when the eatery doesn't meet those expectations and Masu is one of them. The edamame beans were like any others you would receive. Im not sure what was glazed about the kumara, but it was very dry and lacked flavour. I would suggest using a orange kumara to help sweeten the dish. The soft shell crab sushi was nice but nothing suggested special, and it wasn't rolled that well. The clams and the ribs were the nicest dishes and suggested a bit more class and difference. The issue with Masu is, if the expectation wasn't so high after the hype of its show and review in the Metro, maybe we would be more forgiving. Also the prices do not reflect the food. I am happy to spend the money where the food is of that quality and value, but the size and the quality of the dishes do not stack up. Come up Masu you need to pick up your game. Rating Food: 5/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Poor 90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12-3pm, 530pm-Late

What a great spot. Masu is modern, friendly, a buzz of activity and most of all, the food is fantastic. Sitting overlooking one of the kitchens is great fun and highly recommended if you're a party of 1 or 2. Everything is fresh as can be and is presented brilliantly, something the Japanese do so much better than anyone else. Definitely a place to take visitors to Auckland along to and show off what I think is one of our best.

Masu has officially hit the mark every time I've been there since my first scathing review. All class.

Wow, very high quality robata grill with sushi and other items. Very high quality food and very helpful staff

Stay away, sushi snobs! Come here if you: -are looking for a restaurant that's open past 9:00 PM -enjoy Japanese fusion food -care about trendy ambiance The atmosphere and food remind me a lot of Morimoto. Service was courteous and prompt, and drinks were decent. Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of the pricey, generic-tasting dishes. However, if you have an unsophisticated palate and like frilly Japanese food, then go for it.

Had the most amazing dinner with dear friends at this beautiful, yet comfortable restaurant. We decided to go for the a la cart menu so that we may experience the most flavors and styles of cooking. Our waitress was beyond incredible with a delightful personality and impressively knowledgeable of the menu. Through her guidance we worked our way through every section of the menu, including dessert. While it was a bit loud in the restaurant. The overall dining experience assisted in helping 'tune out' the extra 'noise'. Would absolutely go back and highly recommend to others. Just sorry I love so far away, (NC, USA) otherwise would already be planning my next visit to this great restaurant!

When we arrived for dinner we walked past it thinking it was a sports bar. The front area on to street had the rugby on with people watching, cheering and drinking, not what i expected. The tall man who seated us was at first busy watching the game but once we were noticed he seated us without further delay. The next 15 minutes was frustrating. We were pounced upon but the Chinese Harry Potter who while trying his best seemed to have the same difficulty in understanding us as we did him. Luckily our confusion was caught by a young chef who had been cooking in front of where we sat. He politely introduced himself and gave us a quick overview of the restaurants theme, history and specialties. He then suggested a couple of plates to get things running, which were not only delicious but a great suggestion. From there food was excellent if not a little pricey. I get it is "high end Japanese cuisine but hard to accept with the rugby cheering in the background. Well done chef in training Mat O'mera for rescuing what was destined to be a flop, more of him please and an asset to the establishment.

Fantastic Japanese food in a bustling and trendy yet classy atmosphere. Big open kitchen, great drinks. The food is epic, friendly service with a quick attention and good size servings. Was surprised to see how busy it was on a Monday night but it was absolutely packed. The rolls, wagyu, gyoza was fantastic. The cod and cooked salmon was mouth watering. I've eaten A LOT of Japanese and have spent 150 days in japan over the past 15 years and this was up there.

So fresh! That was what I pretty much kept saying as we left Masu. And it was. Brilliant, quality ingredients that you will LOVE. I believe (do correct me if I'm wrong) that Masu won this year's Metro Supreme Award. While I absolutely adores Masu, I'm going to controversially disagree with Metro on this one. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely beautiful. For first-timers, there's nothing like being treated to the Masu Shomi Menu. For $88 per person you get an incredible selection of some tasty morsels. You start with the tuna spicy taco, and it is crammed full of flavour. The taco is so light, but with such a magnificent crunch. Let's not be shy about this, it's not the most elegant thing to eat. The sashimi is mind blowing. It will dissolve on your tongue. If you like sashimi, you must order this off the a la carte menu, you definitely won't regret it. The sushi platter that follows is fantastic, but it wasn't the most mind-blowing sushi I've ever eaten in my life. Entirely possible it's because I associate sushi with everyday corporate life, whipping across to Bien to get a fix, but that's okay. The soft shell crab number is pretty tasty, if a little difficult to eat. Just get in there! The snapper with burnt tomato salsa and the lamb cutlets add a more substantial part to this meal. Both are fantastic, and they come cooked to perfection. The grilled kumara that accompanies them is well grilled, smoky and moreish. I always want more kumara. The final hurrah, the thing that everyone talks about, is that gorgeous dessert platter. It comes out, occupying half the table, with little scoops of ice cream and sorbet, a TO-DIE-FOR saucy chocolate pudding, complete with green tea sprinkled over the top. There's things on there that I will never remember the name of, but they are flavoursome and there's never enough to share. I could've eaten that whole chocolate pudding, but sadly there were four spoons I had to contend with. The service is exceptional. Always attentive, never over the top. My wine glass was never allowed to be empty, and neither was my water glass. And even though the table was booked for the next dining session, we were never hurried. As you can see, I can't fault it. I have two gripes though. One, I will never change, which is that weird sterile SkyCity atmosphere. But I'm slowing getting over that. The other is the price point. I don't feel like it's true value for money. It's close... But if I spent $250 at The Engine Room, I'd know all about it and you'd see me rolling out the door. Different strokes for different folks though, and if you love Japanese food that is INSANELY fresh and wonderful quality, you must head to Masu.

As a big fan of Japanese food, I have to say that this was probably the best I've had among all Japanese restaurants I've tried at home and abroad. My wife and I were in Auckland for only two nights and we opted to eat dinner here both times. The miso soup with Manila bay clams was amazing as was their salmon dish with a miso glaze. The sashimi was of course excellent. And the service was friendly, inviting, and professional - especially on the second visit where we ran into familiar faces who were amused to see us back again so soon. If Masu wasn't such a long way from home, I'm sure we'd be back here again without hesitation.

Great food, great price for the food you get, bustling environment and awesome service. Masu does it right, nice spacing between servings and the chef really does a great job with presentation and taste. We had 9 dishes between the two of us and spent leas than $200, really surprised with the value. Recommended!

Service was great--quick, friendly and professional. However the food was distinctly mediocre: sashimi tasted good but was sliced extremely thinly; the sushi rolls were dry and rather tough to eat. On the whole I recommend it for service but not really for a good food experience.

I've never rated a restaurant 1 star and unfortunately had no other choice. Initially my husband and I were so excited to celebrate our honeymoon trip with a stop to Masu for dinner. Upon arrival, the hostess was very sweet and seated us quickly. A waitress came over to explain the menu...also very kind. The woman who came to take our order was very short and rude. We spent $41 on fatty tuna and it was the worst tuna we have ever had, not the melt in your mouth toro. We also ordered the monthly special which was 6 oysters and a glass of champagne for $25. Since there were 2 of us, we asked if we could pay for an additional glass of champagne. When we got the bill they charged us an additional $25 and never offered to bring the other 6 oysters. The rest of the sushi we ordered was average at best. We would not recommend this restaurant if you want a decent experience. We couldn't leave fast enough.

Dined here before and would rate as one of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to. The presentation of the food is stunning, picture large handcut pieces of ice. This time it was my choice for an inbetween drinks venue, just had a long lunch... going out for dinner. Non-alcoholic drink in hand, I settled in for a bit of people-watching, Federal Street's a great place to be!

Masu is a difficult place for me to describe. It's been a week since I dined there and I still don't really know if I enjoyed it. I entered with relatively high expectations and was impressed by what I saw when I first stepped foot inside. A bartender was sawing a gigantic slab of ice from which she chiselled hefty ice spheres to be used in place of regular ice-cubes for bar patrons. It was exciting and theatrical. The interiors are beautiful and open plan, with plain view of the kitchen at all times. It is very open & airy - true to Japanese style in this sense. I was with a large group and we planned to all spend $60 each on multiple communal dishes so that it was relatively democratic. However, there was never really enough food and it made every meal feel like a race. Even the swiftest competitor would be lucky to get two bites per dish. The food was beautiful and fresh, but I still had a feeling that my money would be better spent elsewhere, or on a tasting menu just for myself My least favourite aspect of Masu was monetary. Because we had a large group, we of course had to reserve seating at a large table... which required a deposit of $400 and a minimum spend of $600. While I understand deposits and such are necessary at such trendy venues, it's very hard to enjoy yourself with those figures looming overhead if you aren't a wealthy oil tycoon or business magistrate. Overall I would still recommend that people try Masu - if only to say they've been there. While it may be touted as a communal dining experience it is far too pricey. If you do want to share, I wouldn't dine with a party of over 4.

Fresh, clever and inspiring. Masu has a vibrant atmosphere and gorgeously presented food. We tried an aray of items- fresh and fried and my expectations were exceeded. The staff were really helpful and the service was outstanding and they were really busy. I highly recommend Masu - authentic and classy.

One of the best Japanese restaurants in Auckland. And also one of the most expensive. Nic Watt's new venture on Federal St has a million dollar fit out and a great combination of sushi, grilled food and drinks. The quality of the food is faultless and the presentation (think lots of ice and great pottery) is remarkable. The sake and sochu varieties and cocktails are also impressive. The latter are offferef according to flavour - sweet, sour, salty and umami. There is a private (Obi) room available for larger groups with a $500 deposit to secure a booking. A nice place for a nice occasion or if you want to impress!

The man fronting Masu is chef Nic Watt, and he's no novice. He's been at the helm of setting up Japanese robata-style eateries the world over and he's built a reputation for excellence in doing so. Housed in what was previously the open foyer and bar space of the Grand Hotel in Federal St, we were greeted and guided to the back right next to one of the two open kitchens to the group area. Our group decided on the shared Masu Shomi Menu so that we could have a cross section of the whole menu. We got to have everything from mini tacos, sashimi, yakitori, gyozas through to Salmon Teriyaki and lamb cutlets which were so succulent. Small dishes of tender broccoli stems and thick slices of kumara basted with teriyaki accompanied these dishes. Desserts, however, left no questions; a cedar roasted Chocolate pudding dusted with green tea powder and served with coconut ice cream. A silky chawan mushi with mango, lychee, passionfruit and coconut was as divinely delicious as it was pretty decorated with edible flowers. Sorbets, elderflower pannacotta, tofu cheesecake and exotic fruit all presented beautifully on a long platter with little dishes and boxes holding these treats, this had to call for a photo moment. Auckland has some great little yakitori bars where the food eats really well, for a quarter of the price of a meal here. What sets Masu apart is the attention to detail and it's elegant, yet welcoming interior which combine to elevate Japanese dining in our city.

For our last night in Auckland, my wife and I headed downstairs from our room to dine at Masu. It's definitely a popular place to be and reminds me much of popular Asian fusion spots in NYC back home that are always crowded as well. It was packed since earlier in the afternoon, and a reservation is probably a good idea if you want to make sure you get a spot, particularly for the dinner hours (where you are limited to a 2-hour seating). The decor mixes the cosmopolitan with the sparseness typical of Japanese decor, but even with the windows and doors open, it is a loud place to eat - so if you want a peaceful meal, this probably isn't the right spot for you. That said, we were also here on a Saturday night, right after New Year's, which probably contributed to the more festive atmosphere as well. Service was decent, although I would say the food came out a bit too quick and crammed our small table at times. The drink menu is solid, though, and I was impressed that Masu curated a very high number of craft beers from Japan instead of solely relying on local beers (unfortunately, my opinion of NZ beers is not that high) or the typical big-label Japanese names. While there are a couple of tasting menu options at Masu, we ended up going a la carte and getting 6 dishes to split between us. That was more than enough food, and we probably could have gone with one less. The menu divides up the food between sushi bar, kitchen, and grill, allowing you to sample different types of Japanese-inspired cuisine across the spectrum. For the sushi, we sampled the chef's 3-piece sashimi selection, along with an order of chu-toro. The sashimi was pretty good; I liked the salmon in particular, while the yellowfin tuna, despite not being the freshest, still had a very nice smooth texture to it. The chu-toro was definitely below average, though; it definitely doesn't look like you are getting the best cut (it's rather gray in color) and is not as fresh either. For the price it's definitely not worth it; I have gotten better pieces of toro at your standard-issue sushi joint in NYC for less. The clams were already out of the menu, so we went for the seafood hotpot - pretty solid overall, although not as remarkable as other hotpot dishes I have had. I did like the cedar-roasted salmon quite a bit, although while I did like the rich teriyaki marinade, I actually think a little less of it would have helped to bring that earthy aroma of the plank more into the fish. With the filet being doused in the sauce, it tasted very much like regular salmon teriyaki and less like something a bit more special and unique. Last up for the main courses was the beef filet, which had very good flavor (and a little heat from the chili) but was a bit undercooked IMO - the 'medium rare' was definitely more on the chewier side, even cooked at that temperature. Dessert was the chocolate mousse - pretty good on its own, but was a bit disappointed that the green tea powder sprinkled on top (with great show - it is lightly beaten out of a porous bag) was virtually undetectable from a taste perspective. In all, while the overall quality of the food is pretty decent, I felt that it didn't quite warrant the cost of eating here (which is relatively expensive). The food is solidly done across the board (with the chu-toro being the notable exception), but nothing really stood out as a complete dish, and I definitely think that the preparation could be tightened up a bit to make it a truly exceptional experience. As for the restaurants that are around the SkyCity complex, I would definitely stop by Depot before coming here, as it offers better value and absolutely delicious food across the board.

Incredible evening from the start to finish. Highly professional staff, beautiful food and inventive, tasty and well presented cocktails. You get what you pay for with this - a fantastic experience.

Our first night in Auckland at the end of a tour, and we were searching for a good dinner spot. We ended up at Masu on the recommendation of Michael at the Grove, and were not disappointed! We had a variety of items- and each one was better than the last. We started with with sashimi, and a couple of Maki rolls - spicy tuna with avocado, and salmon and avocado, then moved on to one of our favorites, the eggplant with sesame seeds. We also had the prawns and fish gyoza, soft shell crabs and the vegetable tempura. Our final dish was the King Crab hot pot- which was our least favorite, but still very good.