Reviews for Roxy Restaurant

by Nicki R.
17th December 2011

We dined at The Roxy tonight and it was fabulous!!!

It was a word of mouth recommendation from someone at a top Auckland restaurant that led us to sampling The Roxy and I’m so glad we did. It was a bit hard to find out more about this place before we booked as its web page is very illusive, it had no reviews on MenuMania and only one on View Auckland.

But the fact that Sean Marshall, ex Exec Chef from the Matterhorn, is at the helm certainly helped us make up our minds!

The decor at The Roxy (on Fort Lane just off Queen Street) is international chic. Cool industrial steel framework and exposed brickwork lend an authenic air to the place and the opulent seating and top quality interior design confirm that this is going to be an excellent experience.

It’s hard to decide what blew us away more. The service – which was impeccable from the doorman out in Fort Lane to the incredibly savvy sommelier tableside – or the food which was gobsmackingly good. Flavours burst off the plate, an eye for detail that was exceptional.

I had the “Fish Soup” which is NOT a soup. Loved it! Then the Razorback pig, which had a white pork sausage, pork loin on a bed of native greens, with celeriac puree and quince on gingerbread crumb, and very delicate shaving of crackled pig’s ears… Oh yes. Have never eaten pig’s ears before and they were divine!

Others in my group had the most intense crayfish risotto for starters and the john dory with preserved orange shaving on roasted gem lettuce and peas; “The Whole Duck” which was an entree with duck in numerous degustation – a consomme that was fabulous, a parfait, roasted duck and duck fat mashed potato… Oh God…. I have never relived a meal in so much detail, with this much reverence!

The best of it all was the sommelier whose passion for wine is infectious. Being wine lovers ourselves it was lovely listening to him talk about the minerality of the dish we were about to eat working in balance with the Chablis (a 100% chardonnay) he recommended. My favourite was the Mountford Liaison Pinot Noir… and the Crossroads Reserve Cabernet Franc – just gorgeous . Hubby had the french cheeses at the end with a botryised reisling that I can’t recall the name of which was just sublime.

I’m so glad Sidart was fully booked as this place easily gives it a run for its money!

Just a word of caution though. Don’t park at the Tournament Carpark across the street as we paid $36 for 2.5 hours parking… with their resident drunks on the steps and pot-holed tarmac they certainly have no reason to claim such extortionate fees. They could learn some lessons in service and how to deliver a quality product from The Roxy!

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