Onslow

We were welcomed warmly. We felt like we were being wrapped into a family. On the online booking form there was an opportunity to say if your booking was for a special occasion. Ours was for our 31st wedding anniversary. Each staff member wished us Happy Anniversary. The staff were all high class, professional, polite, efficient and friendly. The food was wonderful. From the extensive menu what we chose was impeccably presented and delicious. Additionally we were treated with a beautiful and melt-in-your mouth 31st Anniversary treat. A very memorable occasion.

I’ve always wanted to come here to experience the food and atmosphere, and finally made it for a three-course lunch with a group of ladies. The meal selection was beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. However, the portions were quite small, and the service was noticeably slow—not the fault of the wait staff, but more likely delays from the kitchen. We were offered drinks as an apology for the wait, which was a nice gesture. The atmosphere was lovely and relaxing, and despite the delays, I would definitely come back. Just keep in mind that lunch here may take longer than expected, so plan accordingly if you have other errands to run.

A truly delicious experience from the moment we arrived. The location is stunning setting the scene for a tasty experience. We chose to have a drink and we’re taken care of by the lovely Pete who shared all sorts of tricks of the trade and even let us try a new cocktail in the works. I hope it make the cut because it was the best variation of a dirty martini I have ever tasted 🍸 The staff took such great care walking us through the set menu. The food was stunning, every element of the plate was considered and perfectly executed. It’s definitely worth treating yourself to this spot. Thank you Onslow ❤️

A Birthday to Remember at Onslow – My New Favourite Fine Dining Spot 💫 My husband surprised me with a birthday dinner at Onslow, and honestly—wow—I fell in love the moment we walked in. From the beautifully warm welcome to the last bite of dessert, it was truly a dream experience. As we arrived, we were greeted by the most lovely team and even had our own personal waiter—a charming young man who made the evening feel extra special. To top it off, I was handed a birthday letter from the Onslow team (how cute! 🥹), and we were welcomed with a glass of Champagne and still water to start. Caviar was our first taste treat! It was my first time trying it, and yes, we were shown the proper way—right off the hand! 👏 Fancy and fun! While we waited for dinner, we enjoyed delicious cocktails: a strong and smooth New York Sour and the tropical Birds of Paradise—both bursting with flavour. Then came the food… oh my gosh, the food. We started with some unforgettable small treats: • The Chatham Islands Crayfish Éclair – rich, creamy, heavenly. • The Fried Bread – simple but packed with mouth-watering flavour. Our starters included: • The Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio – so fresh and light. • A dreamy sweet corn-based dish (I forgot the name but not the taste—it was divine 😩). Round two of cocktails came in: Onslow Grasshopper and the elegant Jasmine—each a work of art in a glass. For mains, we had: • Wild Venison Striploin (medium rare) – perfectly cooked, balanced sweet and savoury, absolutely melt-in-your-mouth. • Tomato Butter Poached Snapper – so tender, so tasty. And to share on the side: • Simple Green Salad – refreshing. • Triple Cooked Agria Potatoes – crispy perfection. Each dish was a masterpiece, and you could taste the love, time, and precision that went into every plate. Hats off to the chef 👨‍🍳✨ To end this perfect night: • ‘Not Tiramisu’ Layer Cake – unique, light, and just sweet enough 😋 • A trip to the Sundae Trolley—so fun! • And a surprise slice of birthday cake with “Happy Birthday” written on the plate (I nearly cried 😭💗). I can’t express how much we adored this experience. The atmosphere, the service, the food—it was luxury with soul. We’ll absolutely be returning, and I can’t wait to share this gem with our loved ones. Onslow—you now hold a very special place in my heart. Love, love, love it! 😻

Our first time dining at Onslow was nothing short of magnificent, from the moment we walked in, until the moment we left. Our brilliant Italian waiter for the evening was great, attentive, gave recommendations, and quick witted 1 minute stories with some laughs. We will definitely be back. Thank you for the happy birthday wishes in the envelope on arrival from Josh, Helen, and the team, it was the true icing on the cake.

Came for Saturday arts lunch offer and wow what a deal it is! We loved trying the five treats the mains were delicious and the service was great. Had a spgecial hot cross bun style dessert that was excellent however the other dessert (raspberry soufflw) was a bit meh, very underwhelming with barely any flavour. All in all really enjoyed our meal here

We really enjoyed our dinner at Onslow. The service was a bit chaotic and could be better but the food was very delicious and high quality. It is a very busy place too which was a surprise, tables are very close to each other you can see what people are eating next to you from right and left. There is no intimacy but well, I guess this is not the point of this place. It is a fine dine though but keep in mind there will be no fine dining atmosphere. We had a few treats they kept saying won't be enough for two but perhaps we don't eat as much as other people do and it was perfectly fine for us to share it with each other: the eclair and the chicken from the treats section. Everything was very delicious but some items were a bit too salty. I think someone already mentioned this in the other review. Overall, we will be back to try other dishes. Highly recommend Onslow.

We chose Onslow for a celebratory anniversary lunch, buoyed by the chorus of glowing recommendations and its reputation as one of Auckland’s premier dining destinations. Having just come from a superb experience at The Sails, expectations were understandably high. There is no denying the quality of the cuisine: each dish was executed with precision, and the flavours were beautifully composed. The fried chicken was crisp, delicately seasoned, and satisfying, while the beef and lamb were both cooked to perfection, tender and rich with depth. However, the portion sizes felt surprisingly modest, even by fine dining standards. At $26 for a single piece of chicken and $60 for a handful of beef slices, the value proposition felt slightly out of step. Fortunately, the accompanying potatoes provided a welcome sense of substance. The ambiance was aesthetically pleasing, with refined décor and a well-curated atmosphere, though the intimacy one often seeks in a high-end venue was somewhat compromised by tightly spaced tables. The proximity made private conversation a challenge and detracted from what might otherwise have been a more immersive experience. Service, too, fell just shy of expectations. While professional in tone, it lacked the attentiveness typically associated with establishments of this calibre. We noted a perceptible difference in engagement across tables, with some guests receiving markedly more interaction. As this was a special occasion (staff were made aware) it was a missed opportunity to add a thoughtful gesture that could have elevated our experience. In sum, Onslow presents a menu crafted with culinary finesse, and the potential for a truly memorable dining experience is certainly there. However, on this occasion, the overall execution, particularly in service and atmosphere, didn’t quite align with the elevated promise set by its reputation. Maybe we just caught it on an off day.