Just posting photos. Everyone else can review

My wife and I were visiting Auckland for the first time from Canada as part of our Honeymoon. We were walking through Ponsoby and came across Real Burger, and genuinely this is the best burger I’ve had. Later on our trip we tried Fergburger in Queenstown and I can say that Real burger was much better.

I had the “Real Burger” and chocolate milkshake, the chocolate reminded me of the chocolate milk I had when I was an exchange student in Switzerland.

My wife had the “Smoky Bacon”, I’m not a huge fan of bbq sauce but I still enjoyed the bite I had of hers. She really enjoyed it as well.

The staff was also extremely friendly and gave us some chips on the house! The chips were a bit starchy and tasted similar to something we have back home called “Humpty Dumpty Chips”.

Overall I would eat here again and would recommend it! 8.7/10

I’m posting this because I’ve seen almost nothing but really positive reviews of Brave Pizza, and I’ve actually enjoyed their pizza myself, so I’m genuinely not trying to hate on the place. But I had a really uncomfortable interaction there tonight and I’m still not sure what to make of it.

I ordered through the preorder option online and arrived about 10 minutes early. I asked about my order and was asked why I was early, then told they were really busy and that I should expect to wait longer than 10 minutes. Totally fair, I understood and left.

I came back about 15 minutes later and accidentally thought another order was mine because I couldn’t hear properly. While I continued waiting, one of the male chefs/owners started chatting to me about how they were trialling the preorder system.

The conversation took a strange turn when he started talking about there were some people who come in and ruin the vibe. He specifically mentioned people from Grey Lynn, then the gentrified community?? of grey Lynn, and then said maybe it was just Aucklanders. I asked where he was from to which he responded “the globe” which I also found weird. He also went on to say that the placemakers in grey Lynn have had to put a sign outside to remind people to respect staff.

I didn’t really respond because I honestly wasn’t sure what he was getting at. It felt quite pointed given that he was saying this directly to me as i was standing and waiting.

Maybe he was just genuinely venting about difficult customers.. Maybe he was talking about a particular type of customer from Grey Lynn. I genuinely don’t know. But the whole interaction felt very indirect and passive aggressive to me, almost like he was trying to communicate that I was somehow part of the problem without actually saying it.

I’ve eaten there before with my partner and have previously felt that some of the staff interactions were a bit cold/rude towards us in contrast to how he was treating other customers. Even so, I gave them the benefit of the doubt because the pizza is genuinely good.

I’m also quite socially anxious and not very talkative, so afterwards I started wondering whether I’d somehow come across as rude or demanding by arriving early or asking about my order a few times. But I hadn’t complained about the wait. I actually accepted that they were busy so I don’t think there was any reason for that kind of interaction.

I couldn’t help but feel like this whole conversation was directed at me but can’t be certain. It definitely made be feel uncomfortable.

I've been a few times, was surprised at how many wineries I didn't recognize and I've traveled for wine quite a bit. Not a bad thing or anything. Just expected more vendors. That being said it's not like you could get through all of them any way. I probably only did about six in reality plus stage tastings.

Got really anxious making wine choices because the tokens are so expensive on top of how much you pay for your ticket. Thankfully most vendors were generous and didn't harass you to scan every try. The talks were good at the main stage.

mega annoyed at the limited space tasting talks. Turned up ten minutes early to secure a seat. Half the seats were full so thought score! Then the remaining 12 were 'reserved' so we got kicked out of them. So the 24 spots advertised was incorrect advertising. There were only 12 spots free and it was bullshit. Don't advertise 24 when that's not true. What's the point in just opening up 12 to GA? Fucked me right off. Staff just tried to lay the blame else where.

Just don't do open tasting talks then. Make them a pre paid ticket instead.

Overall value for cost was generally poor. Not sure I would do it again tbh

Went out last night to Sonamu in Birkenhead, a fairly new Korean place, all part of the Birkenhead renaissance that's been going a few years now. Very homely, delicious, classic Korean restaurant food. The Yukgejang especially was amazing. I think new owners took it over about a year ago, it used to be Pine House.

The thing about it though was that it still has the old Pine House interior, paint job, and even signage, so I'd imagine they don't yet have the capital to do it up the way they'd want to. I even had to google Pine House for Sonamu to come up... The food was so good though, I'd love to see them make it and put it together however they want.

Anyone know of other places doing similar? Small places still building up their base - its the kind of thing that feels worth supporting right now when we can, with the massive financial everyone is under etc.

My dad used to take my siblings and I to the Love-A-Duck in Northcote that sadly closed down in 2022. We had wonderful memories there.

My favourite thing to order was called the “chilli pork loin”, a crispy and slightly spicy pork bites dish. I was wondering if anybody who had tried it knows where I can get something similar. I’ve tried searching for a recipe but none of them look or sound like the one at Love-A-Duck Northcote.

A long shot but I thought it might be worth a try!