Shakey Isles Cafe - Auckland Central

The shrimp cutlet was another standout dish, featuring a generous portion of nine panko-breaded and fried shrimp. However, I found the grilled octopus to be slightly lacking in value, as the serving size felt a bit small compared to its price. The rice rolls were decent but didn’t quite justify their cost. I also tried the visually appealing jackfruit salad, which unfortunately didn’t deliver on flavor; the jackfruit itself was not robust enough to hold the dish together. Interestingly, the restaurant offers a limited selection of cold diet drinks, with the only soft drink option being a local brand called Karma. I found their diet cola to be inferior to Diet Coke or Coke Zero. It would be great to see more options like sugar-free iced tea or a rich iced milk tea added to the menu.

I had the set menu and overall, it was a fantastic spot for an intimate work lunch. The service was excellent, as they assigned a dedicated waiter to our table, which we really appreciated. The portion sizes were generous, and we all left feeling quite full. The dessert platter was definitely the highlight of the meal. However, some of my colleagues noted that certain dishes, like the shiitake and water chestnut spring rolls, chicken curry, the fish in the rice noodle dish, and the stir-fried vegetables were a bit too salty, and I found those dishes quite salty as well.

We had a fantastic first dinner in Auckland! Although the restaurant is somewhat hidden, it’s not difficult to locate. They serve modern Vietnamese cuisine, and we ordered several starters and main dishes to share, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily, we were seated at the counter where we could watch the kitchen in action as soon as we arrived. It was a great experience to see the preparation of each meal while savoring our delicious food!

Great place to eat that was well priced for the quality of food. Around $100 per person with two drinka each. Food was over all outstanding with the octopus being a stand out. Friendly and helpful staff that where more than welcoming to questions and advice on what a good quantity of food was good to start with. Highly recommended to anyone thinking about trying it. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

Ventured to Cafe Hanoi for a special dinner date and opted for this month's $75 per head special course menu. The evening began on a high note with the shiitake and water chestnut netted spring rolls; they were delicious, especially when paired with the accompanying sauce and lettuce. The chargrilled NZ octopus didn’t fall behind, offering a unique and satisfying flavor. However, as we ventured further into the menu, the flavors began to challenge our palates. The standout Bun Cha was a great treat, well complemented by lettuces and rice noodles. The poached organic chicken salad, reminiscent of coleslaw, was an interesting mix of sweet and sour. Conversely, the tofu cooked in tomato sauce felt out of place, coming across as another sour dish rather than a fulfilling main. Additionally, the rice didn't seem to complement any of the mains. The dessert, Coconut sago with white chocolate yogurt, while new and intriguing, didn't quite hit the mark for us. While some flavors felt unfamiliar, possibly owing to our limited experience with Vietnamese cuisine, what truly stood out was the restaurant's inviting ambiance and friendly service. All in all, a worthwhile experience for the ambiance and starters, but the main courses might benefit from some tweaking.