Reviews of Culprit.. (Restaurant) in Auckland (Auckland).

Culprit.

390 Reviews

254 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

Level 1/12 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Description

Information of Culprit., Restaurant in Auckland (Auckland)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Culprit.

Popular times

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Thursday

Friday

Reviews of Culprit.

C.

Have been to culprit three times now and would describe the experiences as great, average and good - in that order. The atmosphere is a trendy vibe (one of my favourite in Auckland), service is quick and friendly (third time they replaced a dish on the set menu I had already tried no questions asked), the signature duck - 10/10. The chef can create some ‘questionable’ alternative dishes however, burnt Brussel Sprouts on a set menu? We’re not in London. And the prices have certainly increased, while dare I say servings seem smaller. But perhaps that’s a review I should pass on to the government. Anyway…a must visit place, if the set menu they have at the time doesn’t appeal too much the duck is safe.

C.

If it weren’t for the staff’s impeccable customer service; being so attentive to my dietary needs and constantly checking how we are with everything- dinner at The Culprit would have been a complete let down. We were looking forward to checking them out as the images on their website and on Instagram looked extremely delectable and the presentation of their dishes looked visually pleasing and the idea of American Style infused with traditional Yum Cha was intriguing. However, The trolley service dishes all lacked flavour for me except maybe the sashimi dish. We upgraded to the duck for a few extra dollars as our main which was the only dish that was to my liking. Overall, the food was average.

H.

We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen, it was great to see all the plates of food coming together. We had tried the epic menu. Overall an enjoyable evening and food.

A.

I want to give a massive shout out to the Team at Culprit who were ultra flexible with my booking and then prepared an absolute screamer of a dinner for me last night. I had their epic menu which to a bite was *sensational* in every way (I don't use that term lightly, I have very high standards). Usually, I find, in a tasting menu, you will get 2-3 dishes you'd write to tell someone about or recall for days afterward, a couple of really good ones, and a couple that might not be to your particular taste on the day (Not because they aren't quality, or well prepared, but just because everyone has different tastes). Not the case with this particular menu. Everything was inventive, well executed, delicious and interesting and honestly, I'll be very surprised if this doesn't go down as on of my top 3-4 meals of 2022. Service as mentioned was top notch, little things like the fact I mentioned I don't love Oysters or Olives and finding that they had substituted for something else, and the Olive Yoghurt was considerately put in a side dish. We are really blessed with some excellent restaurants in Auckland, and this now rates in the top echelon. I can't say enough goods about it, I was blown away. If you are a foodie, drop whatever you are doing, and go make a booking. I don't often tip in NZ, but I did last night. My small bit of feedback was that the portion sizes are pretty small, though I was very hungry.

J.

I got the epic menu with wine match and enjoyed every dish, and every drink. Great service too.

C.

One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Amazing.

R.

Booked a group dinner here for my friend's belated birthday for Restaurant Month and we had a great experience. The food tasted great, atmosphere and staff are also wonderful. The highlights for me was the trolley service and the fish. Once you're done with dinner, take your receipt and go over to Little Culprit for 50% off your first cocktail. First impression was very good so I'll be going back for sure.

C.

Absolutely lovely, the food is amazing. A good innovation, contrast of colours in the presentation and lovely service. An awesome experience! Definitely recommend

Y.

Had a really lovely time, my partner and I went for the duck epic menu and everything was delicious, my favourite was the duck and the asparagus. Service was wonderful particularly Catherine(spelling unknown lol) who was super friendly and helpful <3. Great birthday dinner!

C.

Nice chilled atmosphere. Tasty grapefruit gin Fizz. The paired wines were really well matched. A little disappointed that despite making a booking for dairy free and them confirming this on our arrival we were served two dishes with dairy by mistake. Despite this little hiccup it was a really nice evening!

I.

Cozy spot off the main Street but look for an address as there are no visible signs from the outside. Food here is just amazing. Full of flavor and you can tell made from scratch right there. Service is a bit slow but on professional level. We waited 1.5 for our main course. It's an unusual setting where small dishes are offered as they come so you don't know what will come first and when you will see what you want off the menu. Since dinner took so long we kept getting small platters as they were coming and were pretty full by the time main course came. Don't get me wrong though. Food is fantastic and worth waiting but keep all that in mind.

S.

Went to this restaurant with family on Saturday night for the first time. What a great night we had. The staff were friendly and helpful, the wine outstanding, and the food was amazing. We loved the different concept of serving the food, and were really impressed with the highlighting of NZ produce. We will definitely be back, and will recommend to friends.

A.

I like the concept of this place with yum cha “trolley”. I suggest going as a group of 4 or more as you’ll want to try multiple menu items. The lamb shoulder was the winner of the night as it was beautifully braised. Also the peanut butter dessert was order-worthy. I rated 4 stars as I felt service was quite average. Even though the place wasn’t full I felt like I had to keep waving the server(s) down to get drinks/water.

T.

This was probably the most exciting and delicious dinner I have had in a very very long time. I can't recommend enough. The creativity, the format, the freshness, the flavors, the presentation, the love and talent that goes into the creation of what are awe inspiring dishes which you can taste and appreciate in every mouthful along with excellent service and ambience is... as EatLitFood (NZ food critic) would describe as out the f%^&*# gate. Thank you to Kyle and team for the most wonderful culinary experience tonight. I can't wait to come back

M.

Friendly, helpful staff and incredibly fresh, delicious menu options make this restaurant a must for any occasion. Lunch or dinner you will not be disappointed. We came especially to partake of their Trolley Derby and loved all the beautifully presented food choices. The beef cheeks are the best I have tasted and the kingfish was divine. Thanks guys...your restaurant is a winner! We will return again.

B.

Came by for restaurant month to try the set menu. We booked beforehand and were running a bit late, and we spent a bit of time trying to find the entrance since we missed the small sign by the door. Just look out for coloured paper (Menus) on the wall. The place had a nice relaxing atmosphere which made it the experience quite enjoyable, particularly after rushing. After being seated we had menus to look over and ordered some drinks. I had the Garage Project beers (one being a wrong order), both the Neo Tokyo Lager and the Whittakers chocolate beer, which went well with dinner and dessert respectively. We started with chips and dip which were nice. The entree was the TV dinner. It had some of their cart items remade in an imaginative way and it was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the ceviche cones and the tomato gazpacho. I thought that the parfait donut didn't have enough parfait. My friend and I had the two different mains and I enjoyed the monkfish more than the lamb. It had a cleaner flavour and the clam fritters were really enjoyable. The open ginger kiss dessert was nicer than I expected since the rhubarb jam wasn't tart. Service was just right. Enough attention to get something you needed but not too much to feel that you're being bugged. Really enjoyable experience but the only downside was that we weren't full after the meal.

C.

This place is like no other, priding themselves in making the best of off cuts and less than favourable produce, they turn them in to delicious pieces of cuisine. Entrées are served "Yum Cha" style, where one of the team bring a trolley around with various dishes - which are a mixture of cold and hot. You can decide what you want to try and if you want more. Mains are also decently sized and full of flavour, we had the lamb shoulder which was super tender and came with handmade tortillas which are fluffy and fresh. Wine list is extensive with a nice range of local and international wines. I look forward to coming back again some day!

M.

Lovely, attentive and knowledgeable staff. The drinks were great and the ambience was very enjoyable. The food was very innovative and scores highly on the flavor front. We thank the kind staff for making this night an unforgettable experience.

L.

Love that the dishes are served yum cha style - it feels like a degustation but you can see the dishes on trolleys before you choose what you'd like to order. Excellent service and lively ambience with no pretentiousness. The braised pig face is a highlight - tender and moist on the inside, yet crisp on the outside (and that's without the crackling!).

T.

A little bit disappointed. We had the taste menu with approximately 10 plates. The first 6 were served in 20 minutes (they were good though) but we then waited more than 30 minutes for the rest which was just a big fat plate made of different ingredients. Service wasn't that great also. Not what you expect for more than 100$ pp.

S.

Absolutely amazing, 5 stars experience. Very tasty food, interesting flavors and loved the platter sharing experience as it allows to experience many different dishes. Casual but upscale atmosphere. Excellent wine and knowledgeable staff, very friendly as well. Would have loved if staff had been a bit more attentive in refilling our water glasses, everything else was perfect!

K.

Loved every plate, not a single fault, all of the food absolutely delicious.

C.

Fantastic food. Incredibly long wait for it though.

M.

Lovely, attentive and knowledgeable staff. The drinks were great and the ambience was very enjoyable. The food was very innovative and scores highly on the flavor front. We thank the kind staff for making this night an unforgettable experience.

i.

Cute dishes. Friendly service. I like the yumcha style, where you see the food before ordering it. Can be a little dear if you are a big eater. Good relaxing place to go if you want something different and don't want to eat too much...

J.

I preordered a meal for two as as a special occasion and was blown away by dishes we had fun assembling everything and it was an absolute treat! Thanks team you rock!

T.

A little bit disappointed. We had the taste menu with approximately 10 plates. The first 6 were served in 20 minutes (they were good though) but we then waited more than 30 minutes for the rest which was just a big fat plate made of different ingredients. Service wasn't that great also. Not what you expect for more than 100$ pp.

G.

Lovely atmosphere, amazing food and excellent service!! Will definitely be back!

C.

This place is like no other, priding themselves in making the best of off cuts and less than favourable produce, they turn them in to delicious pieces of cuisine. …

P.

Very disappointed... At myself. First time in New Zealand and I set the bar extremely high by coming here. The staff were friendly and the head chef runs a tight ship - very impressive to see him work. I recommend coming hungry. The bone marrow and pig face were among the most notable dishes, but everything was tasty.

J.

I preordered a meal for two as as a special occasion and was blown away by dishes we had fun assembling everything and it was an absolute treat! Thanks team you rock!

M.

Had a terrific lunch here. Everything was fresh and tasty. There’s a great vibe about the place.

J.

We spent our New Year's Eve here and enjoyed their set nye menu called the epic menu - which was seriously a 10 course tasting menu and 7 paired wines. What an experience!!! The service was friendly as hell, the food was a wonderland, and the value was incredible! Attire is business casual, yet the atmosphere is cozy. My husband and I went home with our tummies full and somehow we managed to get back to our hotel, despite all the delicious drinks. If I lived in New Zealand, I would come back here more often!

A.

In the CBD of Auckland just off Queen St, you head up stairs and the wonderful world of 2 of New Zealands best chefs welcomes you. As soon as you arrive the precision starts, wait staff that make you feel like they want you to enjoy every moment take you ro your seat, try and get in front of the kitchen as there is a lot happening. You can enjoy dinner from the menu or trolley service (think dinner yum char, kiwi style) we decided on trolley service and sat back the waitresses brought over food choices with really in dept detail of the items and you select what you do and dont want, perfect. Great beer and wine choices with cocktails and if you are not drinking great tasting mocktails. Leave room for dessert sit back and enjoy the professionalism and you will have a night to remember.

S.

What a great experience. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly. it was a beautiful environment

T.

We did enjoy the trolley bites, but I feel like the mains we had were rather a bit of a let down. It was a surprise that since they claimed to be more of a casual restaurant, they still have a tasting-menu style with the duck taking an hour to prepare. I don't know... just doesn't quite fit right with the loud music and atmosphere. But the duck was average and the corned beef was pretty unpleasant, almost more like canned, being dry and hard to chew. As for the burnt Brussel sprouts... well I'm not sure about that being on the set menu, as that seems like a thing that only a specific type of people would like, but we passed. We really enjoyed the starters, and I do think that they are this restaurant's selling point, but from what I see they seem to be in a weird, niche spot that sits between fine dining and casual dining, and I have to say there are many other restaurants in walking distance who do either ends better.

A.

First time here, we were attracted by good reviews and did have some expectations. Unfortunately me and my partner would not go back or recommend it to friends, service was ok, food was average for our taste. I've tried do not be too harsh straight away and let experience settle for a couple of days. Now I'm trying to think if I remember any of the flavours from our Saturday visit - unfortunately no. Flavours felt predictable and not exciting. I did not have any wow effect with any of the dishes. Maybe I've expected too much, maybe it's our personal taste preferences did not match with the chef's vision. Music was a bit too loud - I've struggled hearing our friends (I do have a slight hearing impairment). For me the whole experience felt like "playing a fancy restaurant".

A.

Absolutely outstanding. Former staff at Depot and the Federal Deli have combined forces to make somewhere that is not just cool, not just providing excellent food, but does "european yum cha" and has a style and zing unlike much else in Auckland. Very highly recommended.

D.

Beautifully executed dishes, excellent service, and a menu that is guaranteed to surprise and delight. Every dish we had was beautifully balanced, my only criticism would be I want more, but as a kind of degustation menu that's really not the point of it. Just try it out, and just trust the chef. You won't regret it. A well earned 5 stars.

H.

While I loved most of the food served - the pork main will forever be a fave - it's a 4/5 for me because of a couple of things: ultimately, we didn't feel the full selection of food was worth the price paid (sorry), and we seemed to be sat where the wait staff went to have stressed-sounding convos. It's a shame they didn't have a private area to discuss that stuff.

K.

Loved every plate, not a single fault, all of the food absolutely delicious.

J.

Delicious tapas sized portions. Well presented. Entertaining watching the food being prepared and chatting to the chefs. Knowledgeable wait staff.

a.

We opted for the menu offering different starters to start: the concept is really nice! the waiter walks between the tables with his cart and we can take the proposed plate. The price varies according to the plate. Then we chose two dishes to share. A delight and new flavors discovered, a real treat! The wine list is also very good.

J.

Everything about this place is great - fantastic food, great concept for serving it, excellent service and ambiance. This isn't a quick place to eat, so make sure you have plenty of time.

R.

Tried their chark plate, some oysters and lamb ribs. It tasted good and had a very cozy environment.

T.

And excellent meal with a great range of drinks. Best part was the music. Almost a perfect mix of hip hop excellence. Thanks to whoever made that playlist. I couldn't believe when Nikes on my feet came on, just happened to be my favourite tune at the time. Thanks for an excellent evening all round.

L.

One of the best fine dining restaurant in Auckland. Been there about 4 or 5 times, they always have impeccable service and outstanding food. Last visit was Sunday for a roast (special menu, 3 course deal for $85 lunch time) Didn’t disappoint, we had an amazing time.

N.

Place was excellent. Killer booze, food and awesome watching the chefs at work.

J.

We were a group of 12. Communication from both Culprit and Little Culprit was excellent. The night went so smoothly with incredibly attentive service, exceptional food and water filled throughout the night. Thoroughly impressed, 10/10 would recommend. The food was devine, cocktails amazing and service on point!

D.

Good food, however the lady kept licking her fingers while preparing our food. We counted 4 times. Would not go back because of this.

C.

We went for the Chef's Table and it was divine. We eat out A Lot and this experience will remain with us for a long time. When you wake up in the morning smiling because of it you know its pretty special. Staff were gorgeous and so professional but so warm. Kyle came to tables to chat oh and almost forgot. The food. Yes the food was exquisite. We watched these boys often at Depot. Al Brown must have had many sleepless nights when he knew they were off. Thank you. 💖 Oh and one last thing, I rate restaurants on whether they ask if you'd like tap water before still or sparkling. When they didn't I immediately marked them down. There was a reason for that.. it was all included in the price. 💖💖

J.

First time going here group of 7, walk-in 7:30pm Saturday. We saw reviews and expected a bit above an average resto. Therefore we gave it a go. However, Sadly it disappoints, Overall, We wont be going back but would probably do, if invited but not going to recommend to friends at all. Poor experience for me and my friends. Good food, good ambience but slow service ( deal breaking). Coming from Asian culture, we expected an yumcha experience but we experienced not much the a variety and tapa's come like 20-30 minutes in between and you wouldn't know if you like it or there isn't enough. Nice concept but poor execution on our experience. Took almost 2 hours and 2 followup to get our mains. After the last followup, my friend requested our frustration, and 4 of my friends wants to leave and just pay the tapas as it's getting late 9:15pm. Our server told the manager and she told us it's already being plated. Manager never came or gave us expectation or so but they did serve our mains. Being Kind and giving them a chance, we did tried our mains, as we're a bit hungry now. We tried the 3xfish, 1xbeef and 1xpork around 30-40 per dish. Overall it was good but portion is for 1 person not 2 as stated. Not larger dish that we expect just large plates :) But yeah to be honest food is tasty Overall experience: Not happy, not gonna initiate to go here again or be part of the word of mouth. Kudos to chef for good food , management needs improvement

G.

Lovely atmosphere, amazing food and excellent service!! Will definitely be back!

L.

Had an amazing dinner and wines, and the waitress, Eden was an absolute delight! One of the best waitresses I've ever experienced. Highly recommend!

S.

Very good, in all ways: service, atmosphere, originality, food. For stars only because their vegetable game doesn't match their meat game. And I eat out for the vegetable experience.

M.

Went Friday night, group of 4, we had the $60pp menu and I could not fault a thing, mouth watering food beautifully presented and the service to go with it. Loved the peach daiquiri, cannot wait to go back. Highly recommend.

P.

We were lucky to book a last minute dinner here. We were seated at the kitchen bar. The food was amazing and it was a lot of fun to sit and watch the chefs prepare the meals right in front of us. The food is unbelievable - so creative and delicious. Atmosphere and service is relaxed and friendly - just how it should be.Can't wait to go back!Highly recommended!

H.

The food was top notch, but the service was very slow or non-existent. I sat with my glass empty more often then full during my meal and it was sometimes 30min between courses.

J.

Absolutely hands down one of the best dining experiences we have had in a while. From the ambiance, service, and food. Everything was bang on. Can't wait to come back.

R.

Friendly staff, amazing food. Do not pass up the opportunity to eat here.

D.

Had a fantastic dinner here. Loved the trolley service concept for the entrees. All the dishes were exquisite, but the lamb short rib and lamb shoulder (main) were the stand outs. The staff were also very friendly and helpful.

J.

The service was so overbearing that we almost had to hold our plates down so they wouldn't clear them away before we finished - we felt like part of an assembly line production. Food was high concept but low taste.

M.

I think what really made this a 5 star for me is the service. I have special dietary requirements and the staff were really good at making sure I was looked after. I was part of a large group so we had ordered the set menu but a substitute dish was provided when needed. Food is good and what you would expect for a Top 50 restaurant. They have an interesting combination of flavors in all their dishes which I think sets them apart from other Top 50 places I've been to. I really enjoyed the experience and recommend them to anyone wanting to try something new.

T.

Amex restaurant month menu. Great food, efficient service.

C.

Dined here whilst visiting Auckland, had the chef's menu with matched wines. We are not let down with the quality of the food, level of service from the staff or the engaging chef. Was definitely the best meal I've had in New Zealand, could recommend to anyone who appreciates good food and service.

R.

We visited during our recent stay in Auckland. We went for the 8pm sitting as it was around the corner from our hotel - the Stamford. We were welcomed very warmly and explained how the trolley service works. We ordered several small meals off the trolley and loved them all. They were unique, interesting, full of texture and flavor. We enjoyed the half a lamb for our main. It was delicious. Would highly recommend this restaurant to any foodie. Can’t wait for our next visit to Auckland

K.

Amazing little place with a funky industrial vibe that was playing chilled old school hip hop when we arrived. Food was sophisticated and innovative, and most importantly, delicious! This would be a regular dinner spot of mine if I lived in Auckland. Gourmet food for a really reasonable price in a great setting. Service was fantastic, all the staff were really friendly especially the girl working front of house. Will definitely be back soon!

M.

Party of nine for my birthday, we had the sharer menu, tasting awesome dishes, the lamb, oh the lamb was just perfect, now my favourite restaurant in Auckland

A.

Very interesting food. Love the dessert.. Would come again

G.

More hip than haute cuisine. Though there were some truly excellent dishes. The wine list leaves a lot to be desired if food and wine are your thing. Heavy focus on natural wines rather than good wines. All in all a good but not great experience.

D.

Love the flavour that the team here create. Can it recommend enough. We had a group of 10nand other groups also dining. Food was timely and we were just awaiting for what was to come next. The wine selection was also good and we found a lovely bottle of Shiraz that was top notch

A.

Had a decent experience, a great place to enjoy some drinks and conversation. Though the unique take on ‘yum cha’ dining with the trolley service is a novel idea, it felt like there was just a bit too much waiting time in between food, especially if you didn’t plan of ordering every dish during the service. If something came by that you didn’t want to order, you’d have to wait a while longer for the next round of dishes to come by. A lot of time during our meal was just spent waiting throughout the trolley service and also for the main afterwards. Aside from this, there were some standout dishes which included the Fresh Oysters, Wagyu Tataki, Chicken Liver & Kumara Fries. The pig face was a little too burnt for my taste but I’m not sure if that’s a one off or all of that dish come served the same way. The staff were friendly and especially attentive, making sure water was topped up and checking in regularly. Decor was also nice, giving a casual and trendy vibe. The restaurant felt lively and like a great place to have some drinks over food. Prices both for food and drink were quite reasonable.

C.

Fantastic food. Incredibly long wait for it though.

M.

The food was exceptionally good. The trolley style tapas were very interesting with a wide range of flavours, textures and ingredients. It is hard to pick a favourite from so many great dishes. It is wonderful to be able to sample so many tastes rather than be restricted to an entree and a main. We will definitely be back. Thank you Kyle and staff!

M.

Staff were outstanding so friendly and happy.. Delicious scrumptious food ...loved everything. Definitely go again ..Love the concept of small tasting plates.👍🙂

B.

Every single item we got was amazingly good!

S.

Bit tricky to find but well worth it once your inside! Got to say I really enjoyed the Yum Char style service of the small plates - tried most of what was on offer and they were all declicious, bone marrow was a standout! Service was pleasant enough without being amazing, but one or two were very welcoming. Overall a great foodie experience - well worth checking out!

K.

Nothing like we’ve eaten before! A tasting cart comes around with small dishes of food (up to 12 items) one dish at a time and they are all incredibly unique and delicious. Then you can order a main to enjoy with a side if you need. Takes about 2 hours and we finished full but not stuffed and bloated. 98/100 as the water glasses could have been filled more and drinks could have come a bit faster.

R.

My wife came in early, the last night in Akld for our honeymoon. The staff were amazing, knowledgeable and super friendly. The food was INCREDIBLE! Get the ectras, yry everytbi g. Simply amazing T

N.

Great restaurant. They did continue to stress how they 'done things a little differently', which was akin to a tasting menu that you can pick and choose from the trolls that came round. Really good food and atmosphere, as well as really helpful staff.

J.

Lovely staff and cozy vibe. Tried their market fish for main which was lovely. Their dishes from trolley service were also nice: sashimi, asparagus and goat pops. The idea of trolley service is interesting but may not be entirely necessary since it is different from the traditional trolley service (it is just pushing out the food through a trolley after all) —- in asian culture, trolley service is usually trolleys with a variety of dim sum and were pushed around the restaurant for customers to order on the spot. Then again, I can understand it is probably hard to execute and I do appreciate their creativity. Would highly recommend Cultprit!

A.

Fantastic little place with a very modern industrial feel. Service was very attentive. Has a great concept of contemporary 'yum Chow' style service along with a mains menu. Everything we tasted was immaculate and flavorsome. Was reasonably priced as well. We will definately be coming back.

L.

Great loft-style atmosphere, with really amazing food and friendly service. We loved every dish we had (except for the fish sashimi yum cha, and pig face main, both of which were a little bland for our tastes). The other ten or so dishes had real WOW factor. We'll definitely be back soon!

R.

A hidden gem for real foodies - they are always busy so make sure you book them in advance! Can be a little noisy on a busy night so may not be suitable for a quiet romantic dinner but def worth going just for the food.

D.

The entrees are amazing. Surprisingly good prices too!!

I.

INNOVATIVE FOOD IN AUCKLAND One of our favourite restaurants in Auckland. Can cater for solo, couples, small and large groups. The food is amazing and completely delicious. The staff are very efficient without being evasive. Definitely recommend a visit.

M.

The food was amazing! We loved our evening here. One of the best places I’ve eaten. Service was great too. Everything they did was to a high standard but it was still relaxed and casual.

E.

Went in to this place ready to be surprised. Came out utterly delighted by the food and service. Every single dish was absolutely spot on. There was not a single moment during our time there did we feel that anything needed to be better. A perfect experience. Score 100 out of 100.

K.

Went for lunch, so didn't get the full dinner experience, but as a vegan I was really impressed with the service and the food. I felt really looked after and cared about, which is rare in a non-vege restaurant. Highly recommend. And my meat-eating companions also enjoyed it.

S.

great concept, well executed. 6, 7 and 8pm sittings, 12 tapas and a large plate. great space but you should book to get a nice seat. the team is prettu friendly and did their best to seat us even without a booking. reasonable wine list and a short traditional cocktail list.

R.

Very good concept. The trolley entrees are both novel and fun. We liked this concept a lot. Service was very good. Wine list wasn't as strong as it could be.

O.

We visited for a mid-winter party for about 50 people and it was really great! Delicious food, good hosting and cocktails and wine were tasty. Can't wait to return!

F.

You know, it's almost too good to be true. We have the Taste of Culprit Delicacies and it was an explosion of falvours and textures mixed together. There was a lot of detail in the food and a lot of attention in the service as well. The staff is excellent! The price spot on for what you get. There wasn't a thing not to like about this place. One would wish there'd be more experiences like this in Auckland!

C.

My husband saw this restaurant featured on the Hangi man show and convinced me that we needed to go and check it out. At $100 per person i thought it better be worth the money! To my surprise it exceeded my expectations. We were politely seated at our table and i was asked if i wanted my jacket hung up. Wonderful service. I wont say anymore but If you want a round the world dining experience in one sitting then this is the place to go to have your tastebuds tantilised and spoiled.

J.

Superb night out. Attentive and a little sassy service (which I like}, with interesting approach to the menu of a trolley of set dishes you can choose from. Also an a la carte menu but we were full from the trolley service alone (plus oysters and dessert). You could decide to a kid a la carte if preferred but check out what's on offer.onnthe night you visit and you might fancy everything on the trolley. A fun and recommended restaurant

J.

Went here today on a food tour with the bigfoody and was blown away. The experience is an elevation of things i already love. The chef/owner(?) was also a very welcoming and the staff provided fantastic service. A must visit for both tourist and locals in both categories i am qualified.

S.

Went to an event, Rosé all day, which was fine me but not what I expected. The bar itself was lovley but I thought it might be an outside event. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Lots of lovley wines to try! Food was ok, all vegan, which is fine but not overly tasty. Was a good way to start the afternoon on a lovely sunny day in Auckland.

C.

Lovely food and service. We went for lunch and really enjoyed ourselves

D.

Really cool restaurant with creative dishes full of tasty, seasonal fresh ingredients. Almost everything we ate was something unique to Culprit and tasted great. I would eat here all the time if I still lived in Auckland.

T.

Really unique food that stands out from a sea of mediocrity in the city. The yum cha trolley is novel but intrusive as probably hit my chair about 15 times. We enjoyed the duck to share and the chocolate mousse. Don't go hungry as takes quite a long time for the full experience.

L.

In the CBD of Auckland just off Queen St, you head up stairs and the wonderful world of 2 of New Zealands best chefs welcomes you. As soon as you arrive the precision starts, wait staff that make you feel like they want you to enjoy every moment take you ro your seat, try and get in front of the kitchen as there is a lot happening. You can enjoy dinner from the menu or trolley service (think dinner yum char, kiwi style) we decided on trolley service and sat back the waitresses brought over food choices with really in dept detail of the items and you select what you do and dont want, perfect. Great beer and wine choices with cocktails and if you are not drinking great tasting mocktails. Leave room for dessert sit back and enjoy the professionalism and you will have a night to remember.

S.

Everytime we have been here we have always been looked after. The innovation, technique & flavour is always something to get excited about. Expertly paired with a well curated selection of drinks in a modern comfortable environment you are always in good hands with a confident front of house team. This Restaurant should be on the top of your list to eat at whether you are visiting or you live in Auckland.

A.

We had some issue with the booking which the restaurant cancelled. The manager of the restaurant was really good and did an excellent job of compensating for the error. Even though we couldn't eat in the end, the owner really made us feel appreciated. Hopefully we can eat here in the future.

R.

Such a great experience with absolutely great food. It made our dinner so special and very appropriate to celebrate the last night in New Zealand. I’d highly recommend this restaurant to anyone to come and visit Aukland.

M.

Excellent dinning experience. Culprit could survive and be top of its game anywhere in the world. Very creative dishes. Balanced perfectly. Knowledgeable and attentive staff. Drinks on par also.

M.

Don't miss this place! Fantastic staff who are unforgettable, amazing food that surprises, delights and surpasses the highest expectations, and a venue that is thoroughly enjoyable - will definitely be back. Culprit is an example of international excellence.

A.

They were amazing at catering to our allergy requirements, incredibly easy going and very, very delicious. Highly recommend their set menu. Great staff and perfect food.

N.

Coming here is worth the effort. Great how you get to see the dishes at the table before you decide. Unfortunately also made it hard to say no to anything. Leave room for a main to share at least.

J.

Great night out exquisitely cooked meals enhancing all the flavours. I would recommend this place

C.

One of the best restaurants in Auckland if not NZ. Duck was amazing

K.

Amazing place, and the trolley menu was consistently good. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable. Unusual food and wine but well crafted and well presented.

E.

Loved this place! Creative and delicious food in stylish surrounds. Staff were very helpful and the cocktails were stunning. Must do while in Auckland.

J.

Went for restaurant month and honestly, it was the best meal I've had in a long, long time. Great vibe, interesting, incredible food, and good service. Couldn't fault it.

R.

Special occasion prices. Menu changes frequently. Amazingly creative flavour combinations. A real treat.

A.

Always come to this place with my partner for a nice dinner, never disappointed. We will recommend this place to anyone who is open minded to an innovative taste buds show!

G.

Each dish kept me wondering about the flavours , so much going on and herbs I couldn't recognise. An extensive menu with added trolley service so you can try many different tid bits. Great atmosphere

J.

Best meal I’ve had in Auckland this year & reasonably priced. Delicious! And you can snack on tasty bites while you decide your main - the dream.

B.

Food designed for sharing, with a drink each, entry of entree (which came out on trolley), three mains and two sides to share between 5 adults, it was $60 per person. Set booking/sitting time to make sure you don't miss the trolley service of entree so won't fit those who needs tthe flexibility or in a hurry.

J.

These guys know their stuff. Every time I've been they haven't failed to impress, fantastic original food and high quality service. The selection is varied and interesting and I am yet to find somewhere that rivals culprit for value for money. Easily one of my favourites.

T.

Totally loved it all we ate every entree and even asked for more. The mains were to die for totally. And dessert was scrumptious as. We were on table 5 tonight and loved the ambience whoop whoop will be back

P.

Delicious food, served in yum cha style (so smaller tapas size servings). Great for being able to take chances. Well worth a try. (bonus: try the ugly carrot. It's great.)

D.

Best place in the city! Honestly, if you want the best food in Auckland, Culprit is where it's at. It's fun, exciting, tasty, new, conferring, beautiful.... if you're in our beautiful city, you need to come here.

T.

My daughter took me out for Mothers' Day and we were super-impressed with the Culprit experience. We loved the surprise of tasty morsels from the trolley and our attentive waitress.

K.

Celebrated a birthday @ Culprit. Food and service was amazing!!! Staff went out of their way to make the night one to remember.

L.

5 stars the food was a taste and texture delight. Service on point. Highly recommend Culprit ✔

T.

Wanted to go for ages. Finally went. Met every expectation. Will be back. Will bring lots of people across multiple visits.

J.

We had the pleasure of experiencing one of Culprit's pop-up dining events last night. The food was really unique and very very tasty, excellent service too!

M.

Delicious but just wish they'd had a different menu! Was the same one from when I went a few years ago

D.

Great food, ambience and location

J.

Amazing food and great service. Really recommend this place, we will definitely go back.

D.

From the delightful experienced staff to the delicious array of unusual foods superbly cooked and presented this restaurant offered us an excellent dining experience.I cannot recommend it too highly.

A.

The bone marrow starter was great and the duck fat brussel sprouts were incredible. The lamb shoulder was to die for and desert was also good.

S.

The food was fantastic! Went for work Christmas do. The set menu was soooo good! Cant rate it highly enough.

V.

Tapas dim sum style of food but food was amazing. It's a new kind of dining experience. Worth a try.

B.

Great impression from this place from the staff when they were setting up for service, Really cool vibe but the food failed to deliver, over complicated, lacked flavour and didn't match well.

T.

Exciting food, great atmosphere, service lacking unfortunately. Glad to have visited with friends as Ive been following on social media for some time seeing all the amazing pics.

s.

fantastic food, good vibes and lovely staff, cant reccomend enough

J.

Amazing food and great atmosphere. A foodies dream come true.

C.

Great Experience! fantastic food, lots of things ive never tried before! Sorry for keeping you open so late!

M.

Super tasty, fun and creative dishes! Offers a great tasting menu! Head here for sure!

N.

Fantastic food, great new concept for Auckland. Peking Duck amazing! Good craft beer list.

R.

Epic menu was amazing. The matched wine was definitely worth it!

a.

Great food and friendly staff !

B.

Great work guys - food was beautiful, service attentive and friendly. Look forward to seeing this place develop more and more. We'll be back...

B.

Fantastic creative food, knowledgeable staff. The food trolleys (à la yum cha) are fun.

G.

Superb place for a group dinner...really awesome tasting dishes and some nice mains. Good beer too

T.

Awesome food at a good price. Delicious, creatice dishes but still down to earth.

D.

We went there last week with some friends, and it was really a wonderfull experience, professional service and very good food, i will return for sure!!!!!

T.

A great place, the food was fabulous. Tried the Express Lunch and it's great value and fun. A definite destination.

L.

Was quiet for a rainy workday lunch, good staff. Clam pasta was great. Will happily go back.

K.

It was a really interesting dining experience. Great food and top notch service

C.

Service was top notch. I struggle to name the top 3 dishes I had because everything was so delicious.

s.

My new best casual sensational

G.

Excellent quality, service and atmosphere. Thanks for a great evening!

B.

The culprit meal option had plenty of food and staff was very friendly. Was affordable and I would highly recommend

O.

Impressive grazing menu with attentive service

A.

Amazing food / concept/ atmosphere/ lighting. I really interesting and different dining experience without being pretentious

A.

Great food. Loved the bone marrow the best. Sign needs to be bigger though...couldn't find it

A.

I was a bit disappointed. However. I think it was not all them. I'm going to go back and try again as I really like their idea behind their food.

A.

Unique concept, very friendly and attentive staff and yummy food.

L.

Not very inspired food options for vegetarians, but the cocktails were worth coming back for

D.

A great dining experience. Wonderful food and service.

C.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!! Perfect food and great service. Thank you.

A.

Best restaurant in Auckland. Best tempura oysters in Auckland. Great job!

V.

A wonderful night full of wonderful morsels of incredibly delicious food - thanks "chefs " and all staff at Culprit - I will be coming back ,

최.

Best dining experience ever. Friendly customer service and tasty food.

M.

Always interesting. Always fresh. My favourite 'treat yourself' place in town.

J.

Innovative take on Yum Cha with globally inspired dishes in fine dining surrounds.

a.

Amazing food. Great way of cooking it. Finally something like this in New Zealand.

L.

Food interesting and good. Pricey. Setting could be bit nicer considering the food price.

A.

Superb knowledgable service, love the tasty yum Cha style dishes, and great atmosphere

E.

Great atmosphere, excellent service and decadent food!! Highly recommend

G.

Best meal I've had unique food experience

T.

Very cool and interesting food. Had a blast.

m.

This restaurant is amazing such a cool and fun dining experience

T.

Great restaurant where you can discover great dishes with the beautiful products of NZ

M.

Outstanding place for dinner with our friends. The food and service was awesome!

M.

Awesome service with great food. I had no idea what I was in for and was pleasantly surprised.

M.

Great food and vibes. Beers were excellent too.

K.

Great food. Very cold in Winter and constantly flickering lights.

G.

Great atmosphere, great food. A refreshing experience

D.

Slipped a bit from last time and portions a touch smaller. Staff excellent

A.

Personal service, cool decor. Food was fantastic

V.

great food and service !!! excellent!! highly recommend

J.

Awesome food and wine. Thanks guys for a great night out

D.

Delicious food. Unique entree service. Highly recommended.

L.

Family/group friendly place, duck is very delicious

Z.

Good food, friendly service and an intimate fitout.

R.

Not very accessible and really expensive, I mean, twice as expensive as the next best place, so as different as it was I don't expect we'll be back

A.

Amazing evening, delicious food, fantastic staff...thank you

C.

Excellent food and nice staff.

H.

Tasty and just a bit fancy x

M.

Great experience Delicious, clever food

T.

Really spot on, obviously a labour of love. Great 🦆

J.

Fabulous place! Unique with great food!!

J.

Exceptional service, well worth an evening.

S.

My absolute favourite restaurant ever!!!!

L.

Loved the concept, food, decor and Service!

T.

Soooooooooooo amazing. Try the pork, fish and duck.

G.

Awesome lunch thankyou we will be back

S.

For food with a difference in substance and delivery. Not for the unadventurous

N.

Modern, Kiwi cuisine at it's finest..

S.

Heavenly food! Every bite is an adventure!

P.

Friendly attentive staff, excellent food

N.

Food was good. Service a bit shabby.

J.

Top class food presented well

H.

Nothing to say against it... Great in every aspect...

T.

Amazing food and great service

M.

Good food

T.

Delicious... delightful... . Do it!!!

G.

Great dinning experience

C.

Tasty food great atmosphere.

A.

Fantastic food and service..

M.

Brilliant food and service

M.

My favorite restaurant in Auckland

S.

Great service and food.

R.

Amazing food!

W.

A cool place and nice staff!

B.

A wonderful evening

M.

Great food and service

C.

Top notch mate!

A.

Rose all day!

M.

Unique

R.

Food was amazing

S.

Delicious

A.

Clean and tasty

J.

Eat restaurant in Auckland.

J.

Pricy and delicious.

S.

In one word: WOW!!!

D.

Outstanding!

A.

i like this

K.

(Translated) Employees wander around and serve tapas-sized dishes. Listen to the food descriptions and decide whether or not to eat. Delicious as one. (Price is quite expensive for quantity, but is delicious.) Ordering duck meat takes 60 minutes and is worth the wait. (Original) 종업원들이 돌아다니면서 tapas 사이즈의 접시를 서빙한다. 음식 설명 듣고 먹을지 말지 결정하면 된다. 하나 같이 맛있다. (가격은 양에 비해 제법 비싼편 이지만 맛있다.) 오리 고기 주문하면 60분 걸리는데 기다릴 가치가 있다.

t.

(Translated) It’s delicious, purely looking at the nearby restaurants, it’s unexpectedly delicious, the beef is great, the oysters are very sweet, and the most important service staff are very good. (Original) 好吃，纯粹查看附近的餐厅而来，居然意外的好吃，牛肉很棒，生蚝很甜，最重要服务人员态度都很好

t.

(Translated) It’s my best meal in Auckland for a few days. First class service. First class dining. (Original) 是我在奧克蘭幾天中最好食的一餐 一流的服務 一流的餐飲

T.

(Translated) This style is lovely After choosing Main, I will bring Don Dong in Yamcha style. There were many nice dishes that were stopped at any time! (Original) このスタイルは素敵 メインを選んで後はヤムチャスタイルでドンドン持ってきます。いつでも止められ素敵な料理が多かったです！

N.

(Translated) Very good, but not for a student wallet! (Original) Zwar sehr gut, jedoch nichts für ein Studentenportemonnaie!

K.

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