Metro Audi ‘Restaurant Of The Year’ Awards

Been To Any Great Restaurants Lately? We Have.

Metro Audi ‘Restaurant Of The Year’ Awards Announced

Auckland has a new best restaurant. The Grove in the heart of Auckland City has won the coveted Supreme Award in the Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards, announced tonight (Monday April 26, 2010).

Since opening in 2004, The Grove has earned a stellar reputation for brilliant and highly original food. Metro’s judges liked pretty much everything about The Grove: “Its polish, the taste of the food, the lengthy wine list and marvellous cocktails, its attention to detail, and the fact that the place is constantly evolving”.

Metro editor Bevan Rapson says “Competition at the very top end was fierce: Four restaurants had a serious chance of taking the prize. In the end, though, The Grove was a deserving winner.”

Metro’s judges’ commentary on the restaurant says, “The Grove does something rather magical. You know that sense you sometimes get in a fine dining establishment, that you’re meant to sit up straight and whisper? Not here. The Grove, with its wooden floor, bare brick walls and New York-loft style windows looks like a bistro yet it is elegant, without question, and the service is of the highest standard.”

Metro’s judges praised The Grove’s new chef, Benjamin Bayly stating “The place has always had good chefs, but Bayly is something else. His food fits. Like the environment, it is both relaxed and sophisticated.”

The Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards were announced at a dinner in Auckland tonight, attended by representatives from the 50 top restaurants in the Auckland region, media and distinguished guests.

Metro chose the Supreme Winner and other category winners from its Top 50 after a rigorous judging process started early this year. All restaurants were awarded marks for food, service, wine, the physical surroundings, and the X-factor (the judges asked, “How much do I want to come back?”). The Supreme Winner was visited by five judges.

Among the other winners on the night, the Best Smart Casual Restaurant was Cibo in Parnell. The judges said Cibo served “inventive and expertly cooked fusion food, backed by charming and attentive service in one of the city’s most delightful indoor/outdoor environments.”

For the third year running, The Engine Room in Northcote Point was named Best Local Bistro and Te Whau on Waiheke Island was the Best Rural Restaurant. A new award, for Best Dining Room, was won by Dine by Peter Gordon, in Sky City’s Grand Hotel.

Best Service went to Cable Bay on Waiheke Island and the Restaurant Personality of the Year Award, chosen by public vote, was won by Gen Ogata from Sake Bar 601 in Morningside.

The Best New Restaurant was Sidart on Ponsonby Rd.

The full list of winners and Auckland’s Top 50 restaurants in the 2010 Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards are in the May issue of Metro (on sale tomorrow, Tuesday April 27) which also includes a free guide to Auckland’s best restaurants.

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