June 10, 2014
O’Connell Street Bistro’s wine list unbeatable
If you’re looking for the best wine experience in Auckland, there’s only one contender.
It’s O’Connell St Bistro which in only six weeks has received three prestigious mentions for its diverse wine list.
The latest accolade is for Best Wine Experience at the Cuisine Good Food Awards 2014 announced last night (June 9) in
Auckland.
The award follows the bistro being named a finalist for Best Drinks List in the Metro Restaurant of the Year awards and
then taking out the Lewisham Award for the Outstanding Wine List.
O’Connell St Bistro serves modern European bistro fare to match its wine and the food is also consistently well regarded
by reviewers and patrons alike.
Proprietor Chris Upton says the awards reflect a consistent and constant drive to ensure the wines perfectly match the
menus.
“All the hard work over the years of buying and ageing these wonderful wines has meant our list has been able to
constantly evolve and grow,” says Upton.
“Our wine list is written to match our cuisine so we can assure our customers of a total experience. It would never be
enough to just present a beautiful list of wines, it has to have context and the wine and food need to work together to
create a complete experience.
“All our staff at the Bistro understand this and we enjoy the challenge of guiding diners through a wine-matched dining
experience,” says Upton.
O’Connell St Bistro’s wine list has also gained an Award of Excellence from the prestigious New York wine magazine Wine
Spectator for the past 13 years running.
The wine list features offerings from all the major regions and most important producers from around the world as well
as iconic wines from New Zealand.
The wines are carefully selected and cellared to ensure a wide range of choice in every style and variety with one of
the most extensive half bottle selections of any restaurant in the country, Upton says.
The wide selection of wines available by the glass changes seasonally to provide diners with a matching accompaniment to
food.
The Bistro’s house champagne is Louis Roederer. It is one of the largest family-owned Champagne Houses, founded in 1776
and has been synonymous with the world’s great champagnes ever since.
About O’Connell Street Bistro
O’Connell Street Bistro is on the corner of Shortland and O'Connell Streets in central Auckland and first opened its doors to diners in 1997.
The intimate dining room is created in the theme of a modern European back street bistro. The Corner Room is a separate
private dining room which can accommodate up to 26 people.The cuisine is described by the team as “modern European
bistro” and a high level of importance is placed on the provenance of the quality produce sourced by the Bistro.
The restaurant has won numerous awards for its food and wines. O’Connell Street Bistro is owned by UK trained Chris
Upton and his partner Amanda Mason. The head chef is Alex Strobach and the restaurant manager is John Logan.
It is open for lunch Monday to Friday 11.30am to 3pm, and for dinner Monday to Saturday from 5.30pm, with continuous bar
service throughout the day.
ENDS