The Secret Observer

13/04/2018

Do you recall the mysterious picture of the bluff oysters we posted…. well their home was euro! Have you dined at Euro Bar & Restaurant before? If so, what were your thoughts and do they align with ours? Read our ghosts review below.

Shed 22, Princes Wharf, Auckland www.eurobar.co.nz Initial impressions What a location! This waterfront restaurant is situated on Princes Wharf right in the heart of Auckland city. We were greeted by...

09/04/2018

Your favourite mystery ghost is back and hungry for reviews! Stay tuned for updates on their latest haunts across Auckland! In the meantime, something special is in order for anyone who can guess where this photo was taken.... extra points if you can tell us what type of shellfish has been served!

04/02/2018

New Year New You? Fancy a swim? Game of tennis? Relaxing spa? Workout in the gym? Our ghost reviewed Next Gen Auckland Domain recently and here is what they had to say….

Address: 1 Tennis Lane, Auckland Website: www.ngclubs.co.nz The vibe: Friendly , clean and spacious. When we walked into NextGen we really felt as though we were in a health club and not just an...

23/11/2017

Chinese cuisine with a twist! The Blue Breeze Inn is a trendy restaurant in Ponsonby offering steamed pork buns that would rival the best! You can read our ghosts “30 second snapshot” by clicking on the link below.

Address: 146 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Website : thebluebreezeinn.co.nz The vibe: An island vibe with wait staff who were dressed as though they were serving cocktails on a beach in Fiji. Very quirky...

28/10/2017

Tatsumi Dining - Modern Japanese-…. A gem in the heart of Newmarket. Have you visited before? Here’s what our ghosts thought.

Website : Tatsumi.co.nz Address : 61-73 Davis Crescent, Newmarket Price guide : $$ Our ghosts visited this modern Japanese gem recently which is hidden behind a small street entrance. The...

15/10/2017

If you’re a lover of Japanese food, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better restaurant than MASU by Nic Watt. Here’s why we were so impressed…

Address: Sky City Grand Hotel, 90 Federal Street, Auckland Website: www.skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/masu Initial impressions Located on Federal Street and in the heart of Auckland, from...

30/09/2017

White & Wong's is a favourite haunt for one of our ghost’s …. So much so that all the ghosts recently visited the Asian fusion inspired restaurant at the Viaduct Harbour to see what all the fuss was about. Here’s what they thought!

Address : 149 Quay Street, Cnr Lower Hobson and Quay Street, Viaduct Harbour Website : whiteandwongs.co.nz Initial impressions We were very impressed with the décor of this restaurant, which...

26/09/2017

The website says “an osteria is where people gather to relax, gossip and enjoy simplicity and quality”. Well Osteria at Bar Vino is a space which allows just that! Check out what our ghosts thought….

Address: 259 Parnell Road, Parnell (Non Solo Pizza) Website: www.nonsolopizza.co.nz Initial impressions On arrival, Osteria looks like a small bar on Parnell Road… that is until you enter the...

13/09/2017

Wow – be prepared for a packed house on a Saturday morning. Our ghosts visited Parnell’s latest hip brunch spot Winona Forever and here’s what they thought…

Address: 100 Parnell Road, Parnell Initial impressions We arrived to what almost seemed like a busy marketplace. We were impressed with the number of staff provided to cater for the masses – we...

10/09/2017

A big statement …. But Saan takes the crown as the best overall dining experience we’ve had to date in 2017! Click on the link below to read why our ghosts were so impressed with Ponsonby’s seriously chic Northern Thailand inspired restaurant…

Address : 160 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Website : saan.co.nz Initial impression Sunflowers adorned the tables outside and as we walked through the doors, the presence of Thai aroma’s made our...

08/09/2017

Where should our ghost haunt next? Do you have a restaurant or activity in mind that you want featured on The Secret Observer's blog and page? Let us know!

05/09/2017

It’s always a good sign when a restaurant is buzzing on a Monday night. Our ghosts visited renowned Italian restaurant Prego Restaurant in Ponsonby recently and here’s what they thought…

Address: 226 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland Website: www.prego.co.nz Initial impression The fire was burning and upon entering the restaurant, we were asked to see the Maître d who directed us...

29/08/2017

Abseiling 35m underground, climbing waterfalls, wading through the underground rivers, thousands of glow worms… Have we convinced you to go black water rafting yet? Our ghosts recently went on an expedition ran by Waitomo’s Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. and here’s what they had to say…

Address: 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Website: www.waitomo.com/black-water-rafting Initial impression A spur of the moment decision led us to take a day trip to Waitomo. After trawling...

15/08/2017

Something a little bit different ….. Why not bring out your inner youth and dust off that “striking” bowling swing! You're bound to have fun at MetrolanesTenpin Bowling. Our ghosts got their swing on and here's what they had to say.

Address: 291 Queen Street, Auckland 1010 Website: www.metrolanes.co.nz   Initial impression The music was loud, drinks were flowing, and on the night we visited patrons ranged from groups of people...

13/08/2017

Our ghosts had a restaurant in mind that they wanted haunted. April Van Berkum, they've chosen YOU to visit it for them. Congratulations!! Please get in touch with us via private message.
Thanks to all who participated and shared our page... stay tuned for the next competition.

13/08/2017

A follower of The Secret Observer suggested that we haunt Kai Pasifika. What a fantastic recommendation. Here’s what our ghost had to say about this new restaurant that serves food and flavours from the beautiful South Pacific.

Address: 3 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden Website: kaipasifika.com   Initial impression We entered a venue which was a hive of activity and had excellence ambience. Once a community hall, the venue was...

11/08/2017

A brunch hotspot for both locals and visitors... our ghost wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. The Hip Groups "Rosie" in Parnell was haunted and here's what they had to say...

Address: 82 Gladstone Road, Parnell Website: www.rosieparnell.co.nz   Initial impressions   Forever busy on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the day that we visited was no exception. Amidst the...

06/08/2017

A casual date night was on the menu for The Secret Observer recently and our ghosts paid a visit to Auckland’s South East Asian influenced restaurant, Monsoon P**n. Here’s what they had to say…

Address: Lower Hobson Street, Auckland CBD Website: www.monsoonpoon.co.nz   Initial impressions “Love u long time” greeted us on the ground tiles outside the entry and as we walked through the...

03/08/2017

Do you want to borrow the TSO's magnifying glass and receive a voucher to haunt a restaurant yourself? To be eligble, all you need to do is like this post AND share our page .... winner will be notified after COB Fri 11th August ..... anonymously of course!

02/08/2017

Tucked away in the back right hand corner of Faraday Street sit’s the super trendy little euro-latin wine and tapas bar Barulho. Our ghosts visited recently and here is what they had to say…

Address : 7/15 Faraday Street, Parnell Website :  www.parnell.net.nz/directory-listing/barulho   Initial impressions  Whilst you may not be able to see Baruhlo from St George’s Bay Road in...

31/07/2017

A Japanese favourite! Locals would probably agree that the words "Tanuki's Cave" and “famous” could be combined in one sentence. The Secret Observer checked out this well-known yakitori and kushiage bar and here’s what they thought…

​ Address : 319B Queen Street, Auckland City Website :  www.sakebars.co.nz/cave   Initial impressions  We entered the cave doors and proceeded down the steps to the restaurant which was buzzing...

30/07/2017

Our ghosts have a restaurant in mind that they'd like to haunt... like this post and share our page and The Secret Observer will give one lucky follower a voucher to haunt it yourself!
Remember ....... shhhhh ...... where will we haunt next?

29/07/2017

Our ghosts were after a quick meal following a long day and found themselves entering the doors of Malaysian restaurant “Fresco Malaysian Cuisine” in Auckland city. Here's what they had to say...

Address : 2 Tangihua Street, Auckland CBD Website :  www.frescomalaysiancuisine.co.nz   Initial impressions  The restaurant was set up for dining in however it was clear takeaway is popular. A...

28/07/2017

A menu for meat lovers! Despite the two meat cleaver door handles which welcome guests, our ghost cautiously entered Botswana Butchery Auckland recently and here’s what they had to say.

Address: 99 Quay Street, Ferry Building, Auckland Website: www.botswanabutchery.co.nz   A menu for meat lovers! Despite the two meat cleaver door handles which welcome guests, our ghost cautiously...

25/07/2017

The Secret Observer (TSO) is thrilled to have more than 100 people following our trail! Thanks for joining the adventure... it's going to be fun!! Our ghosts are busy haunting Auckland establishments and will continue to provide you with honest, constructive and useful reviews. If you have a Facebook friend who you think should join our adventure please share the TSO page. And as always please let us know if you have a restaurant that you want reviewed, and definitely let us know if you want us to focus on anything in particular (dietary requirements, beverages etc.).
Remember ...... shhh ...... where will we haunt next?

Roaming "ghosts" providing non-biased reviews on food, travel & entertainment experiences in Auckland

24/07/2017

Like Thai food? Our ghost recently visited Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant and thought it was Auckland’s little piece of Thailand. Click on the link to read the review and follow our mystery trail...

Address: 237 Parnell Road, Parnell Website: www.blueelephant.co.nz Tucked away down a little laneway off Parnell Road is Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant. Our ghost recently visited this well...

23/07/2017

Do you have a place in mind that you'd like us to haunt? Let us know and we'll add it to the list!

22/07/2017

Goodness gracious what a funky little haunt! Our ghost observed Goodness Gracious Parnell recently and here's what they thought.

Address: Shop 10, 109-115 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell Website: www.goodnessgracious.co.nz   Goodness gracious “Goodness Gracious Café” is a funky little hideaway. Following on from the success...

19/07/2017

Follow our mystery trail.....
The Secret Observer reviews Cafe Hanoi, Britomart... A favourite spot for Vietnamese dishes in Auckland City.

Website: www.cafehanoi.co.nz   There is a reason that when you walk into Café Hanoi, multiple trophies greet you with the message “2017 Winner”…. The place is forever in demand and the night...

18/07/2017

Auckland's new hotspot - Giraffe

Website: www.girafferestaurant.co.nz We’d heard on the grapevine some months ago that Simon Gault was going to be opening a new establishment in the Viaduct area, and that he would be surrounding...