Out and About - 16Tun - Auckland Viaduct

16 TUN is a craft beer bar in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. It has a choice from 19 tap crafted beers  all from independent brewers, from all over the country.  Just this country. Nineteen ! On Tap!

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There are a couple of really special things about 16 Tun.

Unlike other pubs, gastro, sports, or otherwise the atmosphere at 16 Tun is not impaired by the presence of TV monitors in the bar. Not a one. You can watch the other patrons, or talk to your partner, or the bar person.

Decor and lighting give the impression of indulgence, and some of the fixtures are artistic interpretation of plumbing fixtures. It's quirky and impressive, different but not edgy.

I've been here a few times, the pictures above from a previous visit, but this time with MrsPdubyah and an old friend who loves in Wellington now for a catch up and some food and a bit of a yarn

Everything on the menu has that 'I'd like to try that' thing going on, from the Ruakaka Paua (abalone) Fritters, through Wings, Ribs or vegetarian options, and of course 'sliders'

It's almost too hard to go past a Beer tastings from their  range of  tap beers. There is a  ‘half crate’ (4 different 200ml beers), ‘6 Pack’ (6 beers) and ‘Full Crate’ (8 beers). But I did.

For me, this night, on taps they had beers that were old favourites and a couple of new ones that I wanted to try.

We ordered some food, where we had a Caesar salad, Paua fritters, pork sliders and both the normal and kumara chips to keep us going. It was enough to enjoy if not being spectacular in taste it is presented well, and everything was eaten.

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They have an extensive bottles selection too, and they serve them in appropriate fancy IPA glass form Spiegelau where they can.

It is, in summary, a great place to spend an hour or two, inside in one of the booths, or at one of the big bar tables, or outside sitting on the trestles.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this one as 9 random things for the great night out, in a bar that is elegant, where the staff are attentive, and the ambience is pleasant and enjoyable. The food could have been better, and that would really be being picky and needy, however that would be the difference between Great (9) and (10) Awesome. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It really is a nice place to visit, alone, or with friends.


2. Would I have another? If I could go more often I would


3. Would I bring  a friend and set the world to rights? Of course, next time I might have the full crate though, seems a shame to come out of a 19 tap option bar and to have to make hard choices about what not to drink.

Restaurant Critic #6 - The Foodstore - Auckland Viaduct

Occasionally I get the opportunity to be taken out to dinner, for work purposes.

Happened that this happened on Tuesday this week.  We'de been sitting in the SkySport bar Grill having some of their fine craft beers when it came time to eat. Now we could have had the burgers and fries but since it was only the two of us I suggested something else.

So The Foodstore it was.

Based at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, is New Zealand's first unique live food entertainment experience. With the country's only true "open" and "interactive" kitchen you will get up close and personal with NZ's best chefs as they create their culinary magic

Indeed they have the kitchen based in the open in the restaurant for all to see, and there is even a camera training on one station so that you might catch a glimpse of you dinner being served on one of the TV screens dotted around.  Seems kind of odd to have a quality restaurant and TV's playing.

It was a quiet night out at the Viaduct, even though the weather has been fantastic and so sitting wasn't a problem and we sat outside under a heater.

Wait staff were attentive and there were a lot of them around.

Drinks. Well I'd been on beer, and I'd had enough so I had a cranberry juice that wasn't very pleasant, thin and watery. The Whiskey wasn't available either that my visitor wanted, so he opted for something generic.

Starters:

Them :  Goat's cheese ice cream and beetroot salad. Served raw with fennel and balsamic dressing.

Me: Crispy pig's head terrine, with shallot, sultana and caper dressing on a a celeriac puree

Theirs was visually stunning! Mine was nice, but not spectacular.

Mains:

Them: pumpkin gnocchi, with roast pumpkin puree, char-grilled peppers, goat's feta, red onion and chilli

Me: Fiordland crayfish linguine, with a saffron and cream sauce.

Theirs was very orange, and "not what I expected" but they ate it all. Mine was served in what I thought was a strange way, in like a dessert bowl, and the portion seemed small.  Seemed a little undercooked, but wasn't, really moorish and took me no time to polish it off.

Dessert:

I think I won this with : The Pineapple Lump. Dark Chocolate marquise with honeycomb and pineapple sorbet.

They had chocolate hazelnut cheesecake, with Frangelico ganache, sour cherry compote and creme fraiche.

Mine was visually stunning, the sorbet was astounding and this was the dish of the night for me

Their's was served in a glass, again something I thought might have been strange

We were there a couple of hours chatting about this and that, I finished the night fed and happy, not over full, and not wanting to stop of a maccas on the way home.

Would I go again? Yes I think I'll take MrsPdubyah there.

Should you go? Well of all the places on the Viaduct this is near the top of the list of places you should stop at, it's interesting there is a lot going on and they know their stuff.

 

Out and About - Skysport Grill Auckland Viaduct

Skysport Grill is New Zealand's first purpose built genuine sports grill and bar, featuring 25+ sports viewing screens and 40+ beers on tap from all over.

It has an exciting menu of New Zealand fare (based on the American sports style bar but with a New Zealand theme), and plays a continuous selection of classic rock music on a state-of-the-art sound system.

I was there last night for a short time with a couple of friends.  I could have been there for so much longer. They really do have a stunning amount of on tap beers, from around everywhere.

Madly I started off with a local beer, i of the Zombie, which was 9.5%ABV screamer. I'm going to make an honest effort to review that later, stand by. By which I mean I went and brought some and will get to it next.

I also had a Thornbridge Jaipur. This is a beer that I had the pleasure of in a bottle a long time ago, and fondly remember it as being awesome. The keg version wasn't a welcome return of the king. It was mightily good, but was thinner than I remember.

To finish me off, in more ways than one, The Sierra Nevada Torpedo, which was a mighty fine beer too.

Somehow there was also a Ben Middlemiss Lunatic Soup enjoyed and a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, as well as more exotic Lowenbrau. A concerted effort would see you enjoying one of everything as a group, if you tried.

10 pints of beer then, NZ$95 which I'd say for anyone's money for the quality of beer was outstanding.

The Venue? Well it does have a magnificent bar to look at, and it's chock full of TV's of all sizes, all showing, have a guess.... Sports. Can't vouch for the food, it didn't even enter our heads. But given the once over I'd be confident that the burgers, hotdogs, nachos or fish and chips would be par for the course, it's not gourmet, it's not greasy spoon. I'm going to make a point to eat something next time.

We had a semi-outside table under a heater which put out more than enough rays to make me want to sit somewhere less intense, but it was matter of inches rather than feet.

The barman, Ben,  knew his thing, the wait staff were attentive, amusing and ready for a quick chat. All the things you need in bar.

Possibly then a good reason to move to the Viaduct and make this a local. Tempered only by the fact that in a previous incarnation that the venue happened to be an Indian restaurant, so I might make it an event pub, and enjoy it on occasion. There is local parking, but unless you have an iron will and want just one beer then get the bus, get a sober driver, or walk. Mad if you don't.