The Engine Room

Natalia Schamroth and Carl Koppenhagen’s Northcote Point restaurant is a beloved neighbourhood bistro that has lured people from both sides of the bridge for over 17 years. It’s an institution, with lively and knowledgeable service and well-executed bistro-style dishes that make a satisfying meal – whether you’re one of The Engine Room’s many regulars or you’re dining for a special occasion.

The chalkboard menu changes with the seasons, but you can always count on signatures like twice-baked goat’s cheese souffle (which has been on the menu since 2006), pork schnitzel and duck confit. Start any meal with fresh market oysters, served with the restaurant’s signature chardonnay vinegar mignonette and a glass of bubbles – as well as champagne, they serve Quartz Reef’s Methode Traditionelle Brut, a clean and crisp Central Otago drop.

The rest of the wine list spans plenty of well-known New Zealand vineyards, as well as international makers. There’s a good selection of aperitifs and a variety of signature cocktails – try The Engine Room Sparkling Pomegranate with pomegranate syrup, candied orange and Quartz Reef. The team can also whip up well-executed classics upon request.

The dining room itself is a long, intimate space with golden lights hanging from the ceiling and a good view of the kitchen at work. Cosy up on one of the banquettes and tuck into your steak frites or line-caught fish of the day, or sit at the bar – either way, you’ll leave feeling warm from the family-run atmosphere.