Review Culprit. - Auckland Central

Wow what an incredible experience!! Delicious food, the younger staff could be a little more eloquent.. rough around the edges and could have more of a softer touch but food was great !

Thank you Zoe! From the Lai family, MELBOURNE 😎 What an amazing experience! We have been "foodie-ing" around Aukland and this is the best restaurant of this trip. We opt'd for the extra seafood option, duck option and a whole bottle of wine and ONLY spent $600 for 4.5 people. Pricing is CHEAP for what you get. Portions were VERY generous, sophisticated yet simple. Very deserving for the chef hats for this restaurant. Service as good as the food. When we visit AUK again, we will definitely be back!

The dining experience at Culprit is like no other. The care and thoughtfulness from the staff was felt throughout the entire evening, the atmosphere was phenomenal, and the food was out of this world - both in terms of flavour and texture. 10/10 would recommend!

Highly Recommend if you’re looking for a tasting-style menu highlighting local fare. I recommend you get the duck for 2, well worth waiting for!! The add-on you can get is great for seafood lovers. As a table of 4, we got it for 2 people as not all of us were that hungry.

Set menu was delicious! Some that really jumped out as something different was the Shitake Milk Bun with Mushroom Butter and the Salt & Vinegar Brussel Sprouts which was served with small pieces of Salt and Vinegar chips. The dessert was also delicious and well sized in relation to the set menu

Would have to be one of the best restaurants I've been to in a very long time. Service was fantastic, they explained everything to you. The food was wonderful, full of flavor and texture. You go to this place knowing that your in for a new food experience and you definitely walking out happy.

Amazing NYE dinner! Service was 10/10, catered to coeliac with the best tasting GF bread I’ve had in a while. We sat at the kitchen bar which a fantastic experience watching the chefs in action. Our favorite were the wild paua and pork sausages and the heirloom tomatoes with the tarragon leaves.

Loved this place. Enjoyed the tasting menu and the bar seat experience was excellent with the fast-moving kitchen giving plenty to see. Food was also plentiful as we ended up taking some of the duck away to eat later.

Fusion-style restaurant. It's inspired by Asian cuisine especially Japanese and Indian. Recommended for pre booking course menu. You can enjoy a different variety of dishes, taste smell, chewy and umami. They have stolen my heart, let us be followers for Culprit's way.

Culprit are one of those OG suggestions that everyone was telling us to go. We live withing the area so we didn't really rushed on a weekday we suddenly thought of going out and having an impromptu date night. We were lucky to actually get a table within the day. The service was great we had the set with the duck add on. My win is the asparagus with filo pastry and gruyere dip, that is something i will remember and go back for. We had a couple of cocktails but I sticked to my godfather. No fuss here ambiance service and food compliments each other. If you dont feel like having a full meal go check our little culprit such a delight.

Culprit had been on my list for a while. So when we started looking for restaurants that could host lunch for a large family reunion I reached out. Rebecca the Manager was AMAZING. She was quick to respond, detailed, and even offered to open the restaurant for us on Sunday! First the space is beautiful. Second, the food was generous and delicious. Would highly recommend for private events!

We really enjoyed the NYE menu at Culprit, would definitely recommend! The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and vibe to it, you can watch the chefs as they prepare everything, really fun experience!

Really enjoyable food. Couldn't believe how nice the Cauliflower soup was. Service was great. I'd be back here again. Love that there is essentially a set menu.

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.

We had a set dinner, chef’s selection. The ambiance was nice, but they started to play hip-hop/rap style music which I found awkward for the location. I had the brisket which was tender and delicious. I tried bone marrow as an extra. It was not as interesting as I thought it would be. All in all it was a good experience except for the music.

Best foodie experience in Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland to date. Thank you Culprit x

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.

Wow wow wow this place is a must. The reviews speak for themselves! Incredible food, fantastic staff and mastermind chef. 11/10 would recommend to everyone! Thank you Chef for a great meal!

I had a fabulous night perched at the kitchen bar sampling all of the trolley treats. I often dine alone as I travel quite a bit so evenings like this one are a stand out. It ticked all the boxes - great staff, fantastic and innovative food, fabulous location and warm and inviting setting. I almost felt like family as I chatted to the chefs and wait staff. The cuisine was spectacular and the dark and stormy was delicious (and appropriate given the weather). This place has definitely been added on my 'must repeat' list. Thanks team. Great work!

Was really excited about visiting Culprit and they did not disappoint. From the friendly welcome and smiles from all the team to the amazing food. Usually there's something on the menu you don't really rate, but not in this case. You get to try most of the menu with their unique style of shared plates and yum-cha small plates and everything hit the mark!

Went to this place.. the food was amazing.. amazing staff and service..totally worth it.. very unique concept..I will come back to taste some more delicious tapas..�

Just go there now! Culprit needs feet through the door. You won't be disappointed. New, exciting, innovative, amazing delicious food, unique concept of European yum cha trolley service. Fantastic staff- Nick you rock :) Awesome dining space. Go now!

Had another amazing dinner at Culprit last week to celebrate my husband's birthday. The service and the food were outstanding, as always. Nick welcomed us with a badass old fashioned, starting the night off right. Gatlin, or as we have fondly nicknamed him, The Great Gats, made our night so much fun! We had almost all the food they serve and all we could say was wow. Chef Kyle is always spot on and the seasonal ingredients make his menu the best Kiwi dining experience on offer. Fine dining with no frills, just superb food that keep us coming back over and over again. Bone marrow whiskey shots!

Finally something to rave about on the Auckland good scene! Fantastic food, awesome concept, great space, good service! We need more of this type of restaurant in Auckland especially in Eastern Bays.

A culinary experience beyond all expectations. Service was as high level as the creativeness of their menu and the flavours.... wow! We ate well and left feeling just right. I recommend the duck! We will be back... Cheers

Great food. Amazing service. So different from a lot of places in Auckland and the price wasn't bad either! Highly recommend xxx

Was amazing, we had the set menu for a work do and I could not fault the food, beautiful and a very high standard. The staff were very knowledgable and friendly. Amazing place. Have recommended to a heap of people. I will be back

Amazing fusion of flavours tantalising our tastebuds!! Loved everything we chose from the yum cha menu. Will definitely go back again soon ���

Amazing! Enjoyed your Express dinner menu before a show. Probably the best meal we’ve had all year and fantastic service.

My husband and I came from Australia because we loved Culprit when it first opened, and we thought we would give it another go. It was sensational then but tonight proved to be even better if that’s possible. I absolutely love this place from the friendly staff to the endless bounty of food to try and fabulous drinks to suit. 100% must do when in Auckland, we will be back for sure, thanks for making my 35th Birthday one to remember and super special can’t wait to return.

A friend recommended this restaurant. Wonderful food atmosphere and service. Reasonably priced. Crayfish... and duck to die for. Got to try lots of dishes. YUM!

It was the most memorable dinner with such variety and so well presented. The service was excellent and happy Waiters and waitresses. Definitely a must go to top of the line restaurant. We will be back.

Had a fabulous meal great ambiencr. Our party of 8 loved all the food. Some mouth watering & new taste sensations.

Great express lunch menu. Imaginative dishes, very tasty and with a twist. Could be a little more generousportions but at least you won’t need to fuss about the calorie intake 😆

My husband and I dined at Culprit last night and were totally blown away. Such a fun and innovative way to be served food. The trolley food was so fresh and delicious and we also ordered the Pork off the menu and I'm so glad we did as it was off the richter! Meltingly delicious and unlike any pork I have ever eaten , you have to try it! The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable about the food and the vibe is very cool. I so hope this new venture has huge success as it's just awesome and next time I'm bringing people with me so they too can see what I'm saying! Did I mention the pork!?

Awesome food, great concept, staff and decor. 100% will be back 😀😍

The most wonderful eating experience I've had in a long time in Auckland. From the intrigue of finding Culprit, to the understated but attentive service it all started so well. Then the food came! WOW! What a fantastic idea to offer a creative and delicious selection of small tasting starters. And then the duck -perfection! We shared the steamed chocolate dessert which was just sublime. The gift of a block of Whittaker's on departure topped off an absolutely wonderful dinner for the two of us. I am reluctant to recommend as I want to be able to secure a seat at Culprit without too much wait time in the future!

A real treat. Our Food Tour group from Matters of Taste Cooking School in Perth adored dinner at your place! You are totally unique Kyle and co and your inventive flavours, textures and combos will keep people coming back for more, that's for sure! Love your work and thanks for a great evening.

Had such an amazing time, beautiful food and service. Definitely recommend you try it.

Loved it, meals were awesome, amazing tastes perfectly balanced every mouthful just sang �

Was not blown away the first time I went but I enjoyed it, upon further visits, it's been excellent. Would highly recommend.

Just had an awesome meal here with the wife the food and service was just fantastic such a great concept and atmosphere if this is the standard after only 3 weeks i can't wait to come back next year on our next visit to Auckland

Simply brilliant, staff, sevice, atmosphere, decor and my god the food! everything was just phenomenal. Cheers for an awesome night

just like its philosophy, simple, fresh, fun and delicious! Every dish tastes amazing and theres always a twist on the combination that you cannot taste it elsewhere. I defiantly have to go back and try them all !!

Amazing evening. Stunning food and service. Such a clever concept. ��

Great place, Great food. Even for fussy eaters like me there is something for everyone

Such deliciously creative food, lovely atmosphere and friendly knowledgable staff. Can't wait to go back and try more

What an epic experience. A must try if your looking for a great night out

Sensational meal tonight, lived up to all my expectations. Totally over ate, but loved every morsel. We'll be back �

Great atmosphere, sublime food. Worth a visit or two.

On our last restaurant review I mentioned it was our second time dining outside after the lockdown here in New Zealand was lifted, where we splurged on a staycation date with the Mrs. That last review was our teatime and this post was our dinner. Our place of choice is Culprit, a restaurant in Auckland CBD with an amazing concept.

We celebrated my daughter 16 years birthday here and we ordered 4 course Jet Set they designed for August Auckland Restaurant Month which was $40 per person.<br/><br/>We had kimchi salt chips to start and shiitake mushroom stuffed bun, cauliflower soup and raw fish with tomato jelly appetizer. Next followed by Rose kaffir lime sherbet to cleanse our mouth. Main we had grilled fish with butter porch potato and crayhead bisque sauce. As we do not like lamb we did not try the lamb. The dessert was soft pavlova. <br/><br/>Overall, we had a very good experience and the food was above expectation.<br/><br/>Love to return...

Been to the restaurant twice. Once for a New Years menu and another for a support local menu. Also attended their Akai Doa 2.0 event. All times I’ve been really impressed by the food. Would really recommend giving a range of dishes a go because many of the dishes are tasty, light and leave you thinking about them for days to come. The doughnuts with pate were a match made in heaven. Yams are usually rendered a side but in this case they shine in their own way. Would go to any event this restaurant is involved in.

Came here for a work function and the food was amazing. Perfect portion sizes to be able to try everything. Full of flavour and unique tastings. Great service too.

We went to Culprit because it had been so strongly recommended by family, particularly the smashed pig face and doughnuts and pate. So we went ready to be delighted and adventurous and were not disappointed! Each plate was an absolute feast for the eyes and tastebuds. I loved all the different flavours and sauces. My top favourites were the sashimi and lemon meringue. <br/>Our waitstaff were really warm and friendly while being completely professional. They lead us well through the yumcha style and all the new and interesting dishes. <br/>At the end of the night we were amazed that there wasn't a high end price for such a special experience. <br/>Thank you Culprit. I'm already telling friends to come!

Ambience 4.5<br/>Service 4<br/>Food 3.5<br/>General 4<br/>Food is the most important to me, so yeah not a lot impressed.

Thoroughly loved the TV dinner concept and their use of pickled watermelon with their oysters. Awesome hidden little location. Service could be more enthusiastic and cocktails can be improved. Other than that, thoroughly loved the meal!

When you go up the flight of stairs you’re instantly greeted with a classic and sophisticated vibe. The open kitchen and bar balances the atmosphere by creating a more relaxing style. The tables are nicely laid out and you don’t feel crammed between other diners.<br/>A complementary kina pate sort of dish was served, which is interesting and so worth trying! We chose a few entrees as they came out, sashimi dish (refreshing), wagyu tataki with radish (must order), Octopus pepperoni, a savoury peach with blue cheese and roast lamb (almost melted in my mouth). For main, we chose the Courgette Flowers (it was like a tempura dish) and Pig Face (meat was so soft! And the crackling on top is delicious).<br/>Service was professional and attentive, and each dish and the whole dining system was explained very well. I liked how we didn’t have to be served as there were always someone available.

Love the concept of this place and the fact that their menu changes with the seasons. For my first time trying bone marrow, I was most impressed with the flavour and incredible bread it came with. The staff leave a little to be desired, but if you can look past that, Culprit is well worth a visit for delicious and creative food.

Have been to Culprit many times for their trolley service, restaurant month (best value RM menu in Auckland) and most recently for the Taste of Culprit menu. Amazing food every time. <br/><br/>Order: <br/>Chicken liver pate <br/>‘Bread and butter’ (bone marrow butter) <br/>Roast duck <br/>Lamb shoulder <br/>Kumura fries

Made it to Culprit for the Restaurant Month special $40 menu. This included a koha (chippy + dippy), 4 trolley bites, a main & dessert. Very pleased to report Culprit SERIOUSLY lives up to hype and is easily one of our new Auckland favs.<br/>⁣<br/>𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐞 🥑 The first trolley bite was a filo pastry cone filled with salmon belly (or tomato for the vege option) and avocado. It was light & fresh but the least impressive thing we ate. 7/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 & 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐩 🥣 Easily the highlight of the meal- imagine the texture of a fluffy with the smooth subtle flavour of cauliflower + the delectable kick of truffle. A spoonful of velvety heaven. 10/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢 & 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐬 🥦 These tender veggies were topped with almonds for a bit of crunch, coriander for freshness and lay on a bed of charcoal hummus- which may not sound like the most appealing type of hummus but it was loaded with scrumptious flavour. 8.5/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 & 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞 🍐 Was it dessert or was it an entree? This decadent dish was so rich and creamy that we couldn’t care less. 9/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐥é 🧀 This dish was ALL about the textures. The fluffy cloud of soufflé, crispy waiters of cavolo, the crunch of the walnuts, all tied together with a bechamel sauce of liquid gold. If the spring onion & goats cheese flavours had been more potent, the dish could have been on another level. 8.5/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 🐟 Potentially one of the best fish-based mains we’ve ever had. The accompaniments were equally as delightful as the perfectly cooked fish. The celeriac purée was super creamy, the cavolo added a nice crispness & the grapes were a peculiar yet refreshing addition. 9.5/10⁣<br/>⁣<br/>𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 😘 We ended with a deconstructed version of the kiwi classic, topped with rhubarb jam, mascarpone & Persian fairy floss. The biscuit itself was delightfully chewy, however I wish they used less jam and more mascarpone as the rhubarb flavour really overpowered. 7.5/10

Came here for Auckland restaurant month. Service and atmosphere was great. All the new and interesting types of food was exactly that. A bit strange but interesting. The more normal dishes like the fish and pork belly were amazing.

Went hear because of all the positive reviews. Had the restaurant month menu on a Wednesday with a group of 7. The restaurant is very loud so it made it difficult to hear each other. Apart from keeping the water topped up the whole evening, the service was pretty slow. Took 30 minutes- 1 hour between entree and mains, and mains and dessert. The waiter tipped over some of the group’s bottle of wine and simply wiped it up and didn’t replace any of what was tipped over, which I found strange. <br/><br/>I really liked the TV dinner entrees, it was a great start to the meal. Most of the group didn’t like the small dessert at the end, I found it ok. The pig face main dish not so good, both me and my partner had it and felt very ill after dinner, it’s now 4am and I still can’t sleep from an upset stomach as I write this. I think the main dish was way too fatty.

Open kitchen concept is really awesome. Great vibes and attentive staffs! Food was awesome!!! Love the chicken parfait with donut, omg my life was almost complete. The cauliflower truffle soup is super yummy as well!! Salmon cone was beyond heavenly!! Main was kind of average for me tho, we got the fish and pork belly as main, the pork belly was way too fat and oily and the grilled fish is salty ( tasted like those Chinese way of cooking pan fried fish with soy sauce on top) haha sorry but I’m not really impressed 🤣 dessert was really disappointing too.... overall, I don’t mind to go back to try more other mains next time!

Good food very different flavors to what I’m used to I liked the food a lot, service was great and the atmosphere in the restaurant was a very casual feel. Overall a great food experience

One of the best meals i have ever had. We took the Epic option with wine matches. - basically a degustation menu but at a cheaper price than most other degustation menus. This option is not immediately obvious until you start the booking process. The wines (6) of them) were perfect. And the food!!!!! The oysters were sublime, the koha cracker was to die for and ... ok i could go on. The only thing i didn't like quite as much as the other dishes. was the coconut dessert cake.  But that was just that the other dishes had been so good. I want to go back soon and try the "yum Cha" style of choosing the food.  That looked like fun

A very belated review from the last time we came to Auckland. Culprit did a wonderful Mother’s Day menu on a Sunday when they were normally closed. we were treated to some incredibly inventive and flavoursome dishes as part of a set menu of the day. The sashimi in kaffir lime and buttermilk was a standout and as they also present a full flavoured savoury fish panna cotta with potato crisps/chips. They even had me eating Brussels sprouts (maybe because they were cooked in duck fat. Service was friendly and efficient as you should expect from such a place and we loved the open kitchen as the dar end where you could see everyone working at frantic pace.

An incredible restaurant located on Wyndham Street. Love the trolley service idea, where the waiters brings out small canapés with explanations to each dish.<br/><br/>The food was divine. The oyster was fresh and beautifully sauced. The kingfish sashimi was fresh and matched well with a sweet creamy sauce. They also offered sliced truffle topping to the kingfish. <br/><br/>The beef tartare was fresh and creamy, served in a flaky sesame cone. The cauliflower puffed cracker was very tasty and creative. Quite a memorable dish.<br/><br/>The chicken liver parfait was one of my favorites. The liver was slightly sweetened and super buttery. Matched well with the warm and crunchy donuts.<br/><br/>For main we ordered a roasted duck and beef brisket. The brisket was very soft and tender. The duck was slightly bland, but nice with the side sauces, quite refreshing combined with the lettuce wrap.<br/><br/>For dessert, we ordered the palate cleanser, black forest dome and mandarin cake. My favorite was the dome, a matcha cake hidden in a chocolate coated dome, with caramel sauce drilled onto the dome. Beautiful presentation.<br/><br/>Our table was served by a few waiters, which was sometimes chaotic. But all waiters were very friendly and attentive.<br/><br/>Definitely not a restaurant you’d wanna miss out. Highly recommended to all.<br/><br/>Food: 10/10<br/>Food presentation: 9/10<br/>Service: 8/10<br/>Location: 7.5/10<br/>Ambience: 9.5/10<br/>Price $60 per person (excl alcohol)

Wow! Just wow! Couldn't really find a fault. Came here for mothers day and the service and the food was fantastic! Can't recommend the chicken liver parfait doughnuts highly enough!

Came here for their luncheonette thrice and the food has never let me down. But the speed of their service has consistently failed me and I’m not exactly pleased with that, especially when I have limited time for lunch.<br/><br/>Servers are not very attentive, very difficult to get their attention. Food takes way too long to be served when there isn’t even that many other diners. Takes more than half an hour for food to be served after orders were placed. If the chefs can find a way to speed up their cooking, I’d give it 5 stars next time.

What an incredible spot. Had the set menu and it didn't disappoint. Highly recommend and would definitely go again. One of my favourite restaurants in Auckland.

What an incredible gem hidden on Wynyard St. I am gobsmacked.<br/>A friend of mine was desperate to go here and so we went in tonight ready for the set menu. It was an absolute treat. The koha with savoury panna cotta dip was a great way to start, and was followed up by the most beautiful oysters served on ice, beef tartare and parsnip cream cone, and kingfish sashimi. The oysters were so fresh with the most incredible dressing, the beef tartare cone was intimidating but once we (elegantly) shoved it all into our mouths, the flavours were all there. Lastly, the kingfish sashimi with kaffir lime was bright and fresh and light and a perfect way to end the trio. Next, we received a pumpkin, creme fraiche and pastry dish. I don't like pumpkin unless it's from Culprit. It was beautifully cooked, and the creme fraiche and pastry provided the perfect accompanying flavours and crunch. The duck confit brussel sprouts afterwards were crispy and salty and so so delicious, and this was followed by donuts with chicken liver parfait. Considering this was the first time I've had parfait, I'm still going to say I'm impressed. The sweet syrup underneath distracted me enough to forget that it was liver I was eating, and man those donuts were unbelievably fluffy. Lastly for this course we received the duck in lettuce tacos with plum sauce and a homemade hot sauce. I did not expect that hot sauce to hit like it did but it was so delicious. A little painful, but so, so delicious. Before we moved to mains, there was a brilliant segue in the menu for a refresher, which came in the form of a kiwifruit shaved ice dish with gin and tonic jelly underneath. A little boozy, but the perfect palate cleanser. For mains we received slivers of perfectly cooked steak and a beef cheek croquette (holy mother that croquette will haunt my dreams for years) as well as kumara waffle fries with crayfish head mayo. The waffle fries were good enough to come back for on their own, regardless of how incredible the meat was. I am in love. Lastly, we finished off with chocolate mousse with mandarin and crunchy goodness around it. Deceptively large and banging in taste, the dessert was the perfect end to the evening. Mix this in with fantastic service from all four waiters who looked after us tonight (and who all seemed to get along and vibe well with one another) and a really great ambience and aesthetic appeal, and I would say all in all that this is the best restaurant I have been to in Auckland. Absolutely props to FOH and BOH here, I can't wait to come back. You guys are killing it.

We went here for the Gold Burger pop up. Culprit itself is a cool little upstairs bar/restaurant.from what I could tell everything was super clean and hubby said it’s choice of background music was excellent (snoop dog lol). We ordered the cheese burger which was super juicy and had nice flavour. Hubby ordered the corn flake coated chicken burger which was super delish!! Definitely recommend this burger if end up coming. And as a added bonus every burger comes with free fries!

Wandered here on a sat night to try their restaurant month menu and it was great. Their TV dinner starter was full of different flavours and textures that everything was like a journey for your taste buds. The main (pressed lamb) was soft and well seasoned and desert was small but packed full of goodness. The vibe in the whole resraurant was pumping and the open kitchen was a nice touch. Overall would definitely visit this place again to try their usual menu.<br/><br/>P.S: their homemade chips and dip is to die for!

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.<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.

Omg so nice to go! U can order main and side dishes. Before that u can choose dishes (it is yumcha(?)). If u want u can just grab it! Was very good as they explain what it is . I will try again:)

Lovely staff , nice ambience, yum char concept great idea and we tried many tasty treats . However ordered a main (duck) and took well over the 45 minutes to arrive. The condiments for the duck were a bit bland as was the mini donut dish with pate...so mostly fantastic tasty delights but some disappointment. Overall fab 😊

Our very talented photographer Alex recently celebrated her birthday and with a large group we wanted somewhere that would cater for around twenty people. After some research and recommendations from friends we decided on Culprit. The position of the restaurant is nice and central being just off Queen Street in the city centre so was ideal for friends coming from all corners of the city.

Great concept of European Yum Cha followed by a main meal.<br/>The Yum Cha is all full of flavour and certainly pushes your boundaries, just go with it though and try something out of your comfort zone.<br/>Love the atmosphere of the small hanging strip lights and high ceilings.<br/>Certainly going back for more!

Almost a year after my first visit to Culprit, I’m frantically running up their Wyndham St stairs to meet an old friend for dinner, panicking at my tardy 8:06pm arrival for my 8pm booking. Usually I wouldn’t fret quite so much (and turns out in a rare instance, I was the first to arrive for my dinner date), but I know Culprit’s last trolley service of the night commences at 8:15pm sharp and I don’t want to miss a round.

nice place near the Queen st,beside zhonghua restaurant,but the dish so little bit～i think the guys maybe not enough～dessert i think look like unicorn～its the ginger pancake～

Fantastic birthday celebrations at Culprit. <br/>Opted for the trolley service alongside a shared main. Between both of us, we ate 7 of the 10 trolley items.<br/>Marrow with toast & Venison tastes were or favorites. We had high hopes for the whitebait but unfortunately the egg around the whitebait overpowered the whitebait flavour. <br/>Duck main was recommended & did not disappoint. Peanut butter mousse & open ginger kiss great finish to the night.<br/>The trolley service was well spaced & we did not feel rushed at all during the night.<br/>Fabulous night out & would recommend to everyone as a fun & interactive dining experience!

We tried the express menu and really enjoyed the food. The braised pig face, Chicken Liver donuts, Steak tartare and Duck tortellini were stand out dishes. <br/><br/>While I know it is a pre-theatre menu designed to be short and sweet, I really feel the portions could be better. We spent $80 and were still hungry before our show. If this isn't meant to be dinner, please don't charge dinner-like prices. Me and my husband stopped by Maccas to grab a bite before the show just because it wasn't enough. It is one thing to leave a restaurant wanting for more, quite another to leave still hungry.<br/><br/>Again, loved the food and we will definitely come back...maybe for the trolley service and dinner this time. I would recommend the express menu but it definitely isn't value.

When I heard last year that Kyle Street is opening a restaurant last year I had no doubt that it would be amazing.<br/>I have been meaning to try it since their opening night and finally decided to go and try their restaurant month menu.<br/>We had a range of dishes starting with bone marrow, donuts with chicken liver parfait, duck n pumpkin tortellini and mains being braised pig face with a side of ugly carrot.<br/>I can't fault a thing, everything was cooked to perfection my favourite being the braised pig face. <br/>It was incredibly soft and full of flavour with a massive piece of puffed crackling. <br/>I love it when chefs take a basic ingredient like a carrot and turn it into something amazing, like the ugly carrot, for me that indicates that the chef is very talented.

The kiwi tapas/yum char concept allows you to sample a variety of tastes in small portions. I liked the venison carpaccio, the flatiron steak tartare and the ceviche. We ordered the pig face (super slow roasted pork cheek) in all its lusciousness and featherlight crackle, and the duck which was a play on Peking duck. The flavours were delicious. My affogato and cheesecake with tamarillo and gingerbread was a delight, not too sweet, an excellent end to the meal

Yum Cha with western dishes. Interesting concept. The pork face is tender and the duck was a take on Peking duck but creative twist with jam and pickled cucumber.

I will say that the food is tasty and the service very friendly and well done.  However the prices for the tiny portion sizes (after three 'big' visits) and the overall bill that one ends up with, well... Think eating tasty (somewhat innovative) hipster in small portions that you would have to eat for hours to fill up on - but at a total bill that is very much 'fine dining'. Last visit $400+ for three of us and still quite hungry.  Yes, tasty and fun but there is better value to be had at this end of the market.

We did the trolley service and it was a really cool experience. We tried everything which meant coming out of our comfort zone a little bit and being pleasantly surprised each time. For the main dish we shared the duck and the ugly carrots which were just as fantastic as everything else. Then shared a ginger kiss and the mousse for dessert. Fully recommend coming here for a leisurely dinner full of delicious bites. I will definitely be back when the seasonal menu changes to try some more of their creations.

Went there couple months ago, quite enjoyed all the small dishes selections, we kind of ended up trying all their small dishes, so I was just too full to finish the mains. We had the Peking Duck and Pork Cheeks for mains, both were just soso for me. Both desserts were good. Might go back one day but just have the entree selections and skip the mains.

Been here twice, great food and service. Second time I brought my pregnant friend, the front of house guy was really helpful when one of our starters turned out to be raw fish and helpfully substituted it despite it being really busy! You guys will definitely keep the punters coming in after Restaurant Month ends.

The food was so delicious, especially the slushy. We were celebrating my partner's birthday, we ordered one main and one side dish, then we started taking the bites from the trolley. It was such a great experience, my partner was so impress with all the veggies that they made. I love the tortellini, it was absolutely spot on, what a brilliant idea to have the duck filling! It's fusion Asian flavour. We love the atmosphere, the service and the food. ❤️

We had the pre-theatre dinner here and it was amazing. There were three generations and we all have very different preferences with food but we all loved every dish. The 'pigs face' was amazin and The service was exceptional too. Will definitely go back for a 'yum cha' dinner.

Awesome idea as you don't have to wait long between food. A European spin on yum Cha which I really enjoyed. The food was quite unusual but tasty. The dessert was ridiculous - whittakers chocolate and peanut butter mousse. Delicious. Although the plates were small it was filling and worth the price.

The idea is great, but the food portion is way too delicate. And why is it there's never enough food on the trolley?? And the waiter doesn't seem to stop the food cart at our table? Not a good feeling when we were starving for food! We went to food alley afterwards.

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...

Boyfriend surprised me with a visit to this place last night. I hadn't heard of it so I had no idea what to expect. The place looked great (hipster-ish vibe, minimalist, tastefully decorated; loved the music too), but there weren't many people. At 7pm on a Saturday night, this was a little suspicious... However, Culprit did not disappoint. As other reviewers have mentioned, what makes this place unique is its yum-cha style dining with European fare. It caters to the adventurous eater, which my boyfriend (a vegan) and I (a fussy eater) are not... But there was plenty for us to enjoy, nevertheless. Of the veg yum-cha options, we tried the winter tomatoes, honey yams, and brussell sprouts. We also ordered the waffle fries and ugly carrot as sides, and the tagine (made with eggplant instead of mutton) as a main to share. These were all simple dishes (nothing mind-blowing), but they were tasty, well-balanced, and presented beautifully. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to dine in a nice restaurant that's able to offer so many creative vegan options. Of the non-veg options on offer, I tried the bone marrow and blue cheese brioche (both had interesting, complex flavours), and the steamed ginger kiss for dessert (simple, but delicious). To top it off, the service was friendly and attentive. I requested warm water for the night, and casually mentioned to one of the waitresses that I was recovering from a cold. My water arrived hot in tea cups with slices of lemon on the side, which was a really nice touch. They also do a mean dark and stormy slushy, which (given the cold and all) I could only try from my boyfriend's cup... Will definitely be ordering one of those when I come back to visit in the near future. :)

European Yum Cha. Why has no one else thought of this? In any case we had heard of this venue and wanted to try it for ourselves. Even though I have walked up and down Wyndham St many times I never realised it was there, and even on the night we decided to visit, we needed to ask the bouncer at the Ding Dong Lounge (seriously wanted to go and check that place out as well... :-) where to go. <br/><br/>Inside Culprit it is funky and inviting. Unfortunately a bit on the empty side but that of course meant we had the undivided attention of the team and our food and drinks came swiftly. For us being a party of six, we ordered three of the main dishes (fish, pork face and mutton neck) and then waited for the yum cha to appear.<br/><br/>Initial expectation was a trolley load of food where everyone could pick and mix, however it seemed to be more like a degustation where you get to see the round of dishes as each course comes out and then decide who wants one. Being unqualified amateur diners this suited us ideally and we basically took everything that came our way (or maybe it was designed like that)...<br/><br/>In any case everything was superbly put together, and to top it off they have a slushy machine pumping out dark & stormy's as fast as we could drink them....

Heard for a long time and finally made it. Tried 4 of there bites which is also known as ✌️trolley service✌️, the price and the taste of them were just even. Tortellini didn't taste like European, it's more like Asian dumpling. Venison carpaccio and kokoda were fresh and good, but just normal. Apart from these bites, main course was doing ok. I ordered espresso infused iron flat steak which turned out great, I never had this kinda steak before and it's very nice, u guys could give it a go. Remember to order your main earlier because some dishes might take 30-45mins (I was told by staff).<br/>Staff are friendly and talkable. Unfortunately one of them misunderstood my words and gave us 2bites that we literally don't want. <br/>As the trolley service runs hourly, make sure u go there before it start. And also don't have dinner there if u have less than 1.5 hours like me😢

This place is fabulous. <br/><br/>Don't be put off by the 'yum-cha' ordering system. It's a fun way to try some new tastes. Everything is thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. There were no miss-hits for us, everything was spot on. <br/><br/>The waiter and waitress we had were excellent and the wine list a pleasure to read. <br/><br/>We left totally full. And we will be back.

Cool spot tucked away upstairs. The dining area is well laid out & the bar area is perfect for waiting on guests or taking in some drinks before dinner. You might be hesitant to try Culprit as it sounds very hipster, but don't be. These guys know EXACTLY what they are doing. <br/>The food is sensational. The yum cha style coming out on the trolley or tray was awesome. The wait staff explain every dish so no guess work required. There is no point listing what we ate as (I'm ashamed to say) we tried everything that came out and the dishes change no doubt based on availability. We also ordered some dishes from the menu. If I'm being honest, we over-ate but it was necessary. We tried all of the desserts as well. <br/>I honestly believe that it wouldn't matter what you ate here, its all made with care & respect and tastes so, so good!<br/>Our only gripe, the bar stools we sat on for 2 hours while we ate are only good for very short term sitting. Hopefully they've changed them for the sake of the diners they seat there. Having said that, we were right in front of Kyle & Jordan and they looked after us beautifully. One thing that really stood out was how all of the staff helped with everything. Their roles were defined but they chipped in when needed in other areas. <br/>If you don't try Culprit you are missing out on some of the best food you'll ever eat in NZ.

A really different initiative. It's almost like a yumcha for European style good. We had an amazing time here. I recommend getting there on time so you don't miss anything that comes out on the trolleys. They generally start a new service on the hour. <br/><br/>We pre-ordered one main to share (pigs face as many other reviewers recommended) and then got a lot of the items on the trolley. The favourites for us for the night was the Ceviche and the Figs. I believe the trolley items change frequently though, so would be great to check it out in a few months time and see what newer items are on the menu.

Awesome experience at Culprit last night. <br/><br/>Such a professional team and loved such a different style of service! <br/><br/>Loved the donut and chicken pate and will be back to make my way through the dessert menu! <br/>

Gorgeously lit and fitted out gem to be discovered in the CBD. A modern western take on Yum Cha had me frothing at the mouth; with all the tasty and beautiful appetisers. Service was immaculate. I am very impressed with this place and will be back with many friends.

A western style yumcha. A traditional style of yumcha with the trolly but serving western food. Remind me of the childhood yumcha with my grandparents in Canton. The oysters are sooooo delicious very fresh and umami. Bigger than the general one and with a lower price. Love it so much and must come back for the oysters. The little pancakes and the roasted duck are my favorites hot dishes. The cocktail slushy was so good as well.

Great food and great atmosphere . Had Lamb shrink . Was amazing . Food portions were quite big. Great location to . Handy parking and good view from restaurant.

Lovely dinner service. Trolley service 'Yum Char' style<br/>Great food and great service <br/>Highly recommend all the trolley delights involving the sashimi, bone marrow, chicken liver parfait and the steak tartare. <br/>The wait staff were great and gave good recommendations on drink pairings. <br/>

We had a smashing time at Culprit. I loved the dining style, though it could be tricky to get the portion or number of dishes right. Luckily the servers were great at making recommendations and explaining the dishes and process. My favourites were the pig face, deep fried bone marrow and the "KFC" duck livers. I wanted to love the Peking Duck dish but it's really hard to improve on the original and this dish didn't do that. Really imaginative decadent menu for adventurous eaters. This would be great for date night if you're both adventurous eaters looking for something a bit different. Can be a bit tricky in groups or for those who are more conservative with their food choices. Looking forward to my next visit.

Very first time I have been here.<br/>For start we had a waitress explain everything that is going to happen for a night and all the foods.<br/>They have pretty simple menu however while your food get ready you are trying over 30difrent entree.<br/>It comes on tray and waitress bring it on and explain to you what's in it.<br/>It's is very intresting and you don't get to wait .you just busy with entree while your food is coming.<br/>They do have a very good selection of wine and champaign too if you are bubbles and win drinker.<br/>Really enjoyed it.<br/>Customer service were amazing.<br/>I Was impressed.<br/>I definitely will come back.<br/>Must recommended

Came to the front door and thought it looked familiar, what do you know, it's the old Mexico club/bar. Such a cool and relaxed atmosphere/decor. Trolleys go around at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm with little appetisers you can try. They are truly amazing! Every bite is full of so much flavour and beautifully presented, it's hard to say no when they come around with the trolley. We had about 6 starters from the trolley as well as 1 that we ordered before; even though the appetisers look small, they do fill you up. So I would recommend skipping the main if you want to try the trolley dishes; then finishing off light with a dessert. The staff are very friendly, helpful and attentive. Will definitely be coming back here.<br/><br/>Favourite dishes: Fish Kokonda and Braised Pig Face. Melt in your mouth perfection!!

culprit <br/>[kuhl-prit] <br/>noun <br/>a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed.<br/><br/>Returning to this restaurant for the 2nd time in as many months made me realise the only culprit around here is myself. My crime? Not having given this restaurant the kudos it deserves after my first visit.<br/><br/>We were originally booked in for 7pm, on late notice I asked if we could dine at 8pm, this was accommodated with no problems.  Such a late request on a busy Friday night is not the most convenient of requests, Nick, the restaurant manager handled this with ease, thank you.<br/><br/>We were seated in front of the open kitchen which allowed us to watch chefs Kyle Street and Jordan Macdonald (of Depot fame) work their craft. I've gotta say, the way these fellas move and interact with the food, each other and the customers shows us what dining out should be about. There's no pretentiousness here, there is focus and professionalism, but there's also a lot of fun, you can see it , you can feel it. A perfect example, my partner Mel walked over to Kyle and Jordan at the end of the meal to thank them for such beautiful food, they asked Mel to walk through the kitchen high fiving the kitchen brigade, hilarious!<br/><br/>We started the evening off with a bottle of Fromm Pinot Noir, summer in a bottle.  Tastes of Raspberries and fresh summer fruits, this has instantly become one of my faves.<br/><br/>Shortly after FOH staff started the procession of Yum Cha styled trolleys.  For food we started with the warm Tua, Tua's with Pepperoni and the Venison tasting plates. After this was a crustini covered in fresh garden peas with a sort of pancetta.  A rustic Italian styles tomato/bruschetta styled dish served with a cheese that would rival Robin Williams for character.<br/><br/>Next was one of the stars of the night, the Chicken Liver Parfait with Donuts and Pinot syrup. You know those dishes that bring a smile to your face? They're inventive, simple, cunning  and "roll your eyes to the back of your head" tasty.  If you listen to George FM, this is what they refer to as a banger.<br/><br/>The Corn-flake Bone Marrow dish was next , visually stunning, I felt it needed a tad more acidity to cut through the richness, an enjoyable dish nonetheless.  Following this we had a smoked fish pikelet and oysters.<br/><br/>Last but certainly not least, the Braised Pig Face.  Now, the Pork Hock at Moo Chow Chow has been my favourite Pork dish in the 09 since forever.  This has changed.  I don't know how they cook this dish, maybe I don't want to know, it'll spoil the mystique, but I dare you to find a more tender/juicy piece of meat or crispier pig skin anywhere.  Double Banger!!<br/><br/>After the Pig Face it was time to wave the white flag.  It had been an evening of superb food, luscious wine, theater, laughs and some really attentive service.  A special mention to Gatlin for looking after us for the evening, thank you so much!<br/><br/>In summary, this restaurant captures the essence of what food and service should be about, they encourage you to sample as many flavours and techniques as possible, they make it fun, they have character to boot and I'm down with anyone who encourages high fives in the kitchen.  I gave up on my cooking career 8 years ago, the atmosphere and food at Culprit makes me second guess my decision, I don't say that lightly.

Went to Culprit on a Friday night for dinner. Having read about the interesting yum Cha service model we decided to wait to order the main plates and see what came around on the smaller dishes. Dishes are brought out on trays with blocks numbered with the price per serve. This was a thoughtful touch. The only problem was the service was pretty disjointed. Two dishes would come out and then 20 minutes later another. The exciting thing about Yum Cha dining is the bustle of service, plates flowing out from the kitchen tempting you to eat far more than you should. We realised after 40 minutes we had better order a main dish. We ordered the pork stuffed duck. This arrived 45 minutes later amidst apologies from the kitchen. It was great.<br/><br/>I should point out the smaller dishes were all excellent. The ugly carrot, parfait and donuts, tuatua and venison fillet were really well executed. We just would have liked to have seen more of the dishes come out at a faster rate as you would imagine might be the case with trolley service.<br/><br/>Overall, I felt this concept is a little confused and the kitchen and staff still seem to be getting their heads around it. Maybe give them a few weeks to settle into a rhythm.

Culprit <br/>Oh my gosh the food and whole concept at culprit is just amazing. We didn't book so got seated at the kitchen bar & were lucky enough to watch Kyle Street in action. Just the most wonderful food experience we've had in a while. Every single dish was unique and well executed. Our new favourite place.

The "pig face" was a stand out, as was the tartare and Whittaker chocolate dessert. We went during the first week Culprit opened to the public and although the staff were still finding their feet, they were candid about it and did their best to provide us with an amazing, fun and unique experience. Can't wait to go back again for more!

Incredible experience! Culprit took me and my partner by complete surprise and we were thankful for it. We mostly ate the tray food and it was delicious, but would highly recommend the donuts and parfait!

Try this place please- went first week thy opened. Unusual menu, pigs face, mutton ...Meat just melts in your mouth. Trolleys come round with little bites - tuatuas, gorg asparagus, tomato & boccacini (I think) almost yum char style of service. Great service. Open kitchen - although chef looks too young to be this amazing! Ex - depot chef & staff. $200 for 2 of us but we pigged out & I had 3 gl of wine - other half 2.