I enjoy eating out just as much as I enjoy cooking and in a few days it will be Auckland Restaurant Month. Testing out the promotional menus is a great way to get out of a winter hibernation funk. With over 20 foodie events and 120 restaurants participating, get into Auckland and eat something new this month. More info can be found at: www.biglittlecity.co.nz/auckland-restaurant-month/

Street Eats at Shed 10

The number one foodie event I’m looking forward to during next month is Street Eats at Shed 10 on Queens Wharf. Entry is free and you can expect a feast from 10.30am to 7.00pm on Saturday 10 August 2013.

“Taking place at Shed 10 on Queens Wharf, Street Eats is a family friendly event with our favourite chefs serving up their most beloved street food.”

I am hoping Street like the restaurant section of my favourite food festivals but without the entry fee.

The lineup for Street Eats includes:

• Besos Latinos
• Atico Cocina
• Ima Cuisine
• Mecca Cafe
• Toto
• Merchants of Venice
• Monsoon Poon
• Faro Korean Restaurant
• Thai Street
• iVillage at Victoria
• Urban Turban
• Fish
• Vue Restaurant

Budget Friendly Dinners

Here is my Top 10 list of budget friendly dinner promotions for Auckland Restaurant Month. Half of these promotions even include a glass of beer of wine.

Auckland Restaurant Month for $30 or less:

Snapdragon

204 Quay Street, Viaduct

• $60 set dinner for two
• Main: Lamb with dauphinoise potatoes and port wine jus
• Dessert: Apple and rhubarb crumble with vanilla custard
• Wine match with each course

www.snapdragonbar.co.nz

Northern Steamship Co

122 Quay Street, Britomart

• $30 two course set menu with beer or wine
• Starter: Spiced tempura tiger prawns
• Main: Grilled scotch fillet, seasonal baby vegetables and cauliflower puree
• Complimentary: glass of Mac’s Hop Rocker or Trinity Hill Pinot Noir

www.northernsteamship.co.nz

Besos Latinos

M16-39 Elliott Street, Auckland CBD

• $20 for 2 tacos and a Latin American cocktail

Tacos:

• Pork belly with fresh pineapple, red onion and coriander
• Don Hugo with Angus beef, fresh chorizo and crispy fried pork
• Mexican Market with shredded beef or chicken, onion and coriander
• Vegetarian with guacamole, seasonal vegetables and cheese
• Fish with habanero and pepper chutney

Cocktails:

• Cuban Mojito
• Classic Lime Margarita
• Chilean Pisco Sour
• Brasilian Caipirinha

www.besoslatinos.com

Urban Turban

39 Jellicoe Rd, North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter

• $35 for two with cider

A tapas platter for two, including:

• Samosas
• Paneer tikka
• Garlic prawns
• Chicken tikka
• Seekh kebab
• 2 complimentary Monteiths apple ciders

www.urbanturban.co.nz

Cassette Nine

9 Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD

• $20 dinner and beer

Choose a main course from::

• Chicken burger
• Reuben
• Cheeseburger

Served with fries and a choice of craft beer

www.cassettenine.com

Faro

High end Korean BBQ

5 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD

• $25-$28 set menu

Set meal includes:

• Main course
• Rice
• Korean side dishes
• Green tea ice cream

Choose a main course from:

• Salted prawn in garlic butter sauce (8p)
• Mixed seafood in sweet and spicy chili sauce
• Bulgogi (beef
• Pork in sweet and spicy chili sauce
• Chicken with hot hot hot sauce

Bonus tip: Faro are BYO so bring your own bottle for $7 corkage.

www.faro.co.nz

Daikoku

25 Victoria Street, Auckland CBD

• $14-$16 dinner menu

Meal includes:

• appetizer
• miso soup
• side salad or tofu salad
• steamed rice
• main dish

Choose a main course from:

• Chicken, Beef or Salmon Teriyaki
• Pork Cutlet
• Deep Fried Chicken
• Tofu Steak
• Tempura

+ Add sashimi for an extra $5.

+ At this price you could also order a couple of side dishes to share.

www.daikoku.co.nz

Wildfire Churrascaria

Princes Wharf, Quay Street, Viaduct

$25 Menu:

• Spit-roast Canterbury lamb, Bordelaise sauce, truffled potato mash, seasonal greens
• Spit-roasted loin and belly of pork, crackling, roasting juices and potatoes fried in pork renderings
• Pan seared salmon, brandade of salt cod, lemon beurre blanc

$15 Menu:

• Salt Pepper calamari seasoned in spiced corn-flour, garlic, chili, lime and black beans, fresh garden salad
• Pasta Bolognese, spicy beef-pork ragu, pancetta, tomato passata, parmigiano
• Burger and fries, charcoal grilled 220g beef, pickle, tomato salsa, onion and steakhouse fries

www.wildfirerestaurant.co.nz

Bellota

Skycity, 90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD

• $30 set dinner menu

or

• $50 set dinner menu for two

Options include:

• Grilled fish
• Chorizo
• Butifarra (pork sausage)
• Pork belly

Cooked on a smokey grill, served with Catalan salad and pan de payes (bread) smeared with garlic and crushed tomato.

http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/bars/bellota/

Kura

315B Queen Street, Auckland CBD

• $30 set dinner

Meal includes:

• fresh prawn spring roll
• salmon fireball sushi
• chicken karaage
• lamb eye fillet
• Green tea or sesame ice cream

www.sakebars.co.nz/kura/index.html

So there you have it. 10 decent dinners for under $30 each. Have a great August!