Review Baduzzi - Auckland Central

Aoki Astrid

been taken there for a dinner for my special night. staff at front house were quite young which i wouldn't mind as long as they do their best job there, unfortunately, those are bit less educated for high standard restaurant like they don't know much well about how to express their menu and wines. So we had to choose on our own and gave it a go by just great naming on the menu. We ordered appetizer,main and dessert,we enjoyed most of them.Just wish they could add on great table service and caring customer a bit more to concerns their location and cost of food as well.

Ruzanne Keresoma

We are a group of 27 people having a delightful sunny lunch, and we were thoroughly impressed by the exceptional service and delicious food at Baduzzi. Despite the bustling atmosphere on a busy Friday afternoon, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cater to our needs. I wholeheartedly recommend Baduzzi to anyone in search of a fantastic long lunch experience for a small group. You have to order the meatball!! i did not want to share with anyone hehehe.

kalyan chavala

Nice food and I love their specials as well. They got some good vegetarian options to cater for some vegetarians in our group. They took good care of all dietary requirements. Service was bit slow on a Wednesday afternoon probably because they are short staffed. Otherwise it is all good.

Amindha Fernando

Popped here after hitting up a film at the ASB Theatre. I've been here plenty of times and it is consistently good. We were walk-ins tonight but were very kindly accommodated. Ordered the beef meatballs, steak, saffron tortellini and the polenta. The food was incredibly tasty. The tortellini was a bit small but the flavour carried it. The service and cocktails were impeccable. If you're looking for a great date spot, this is it.

LT Trinh

Excellent customer service, delicious and tasty dishes, desserts were beautiful decorated and prepared. Overall a great restaurant.

Amy Phillips

Wonderful food and service! We couldn't decide which dishes to choose so we ordered extra and had a lovely feast made extra special by the attentiveness of the staff who overheard we had a birthday at the table. Would recommend the Chicken saltimbocca, Pasta alforno and Agnolotti of gurnard & scampi especially.

Meeshah Alhafidh

Very Friendly staff , everything tasted good from starters to desserts , will definitely be back to try more dishes.

Ray C

If you're going to a show at the ASB Waterfront Theatre, Baduzzi is a fantastic choice which is close by and has some delicious food. We loved the meat balls and the eggplant parmigiana was amazing. Great drinks selection. Perfect place for a meal.

Caio Torres

Cosy Italian restaurant located near the waterfront. Walking in you'll soon notice the many plants decorating in a cool vibe - booths and an outside area complete the atmosphere. Service was amazing, from FOH to table, it was all smiles and efficiency. Nice selection of wines, including options by the glass. Went with my partner for a celebration, we had a zucchini flower "special of the day" as entree that was just delicious. Primi and secondi (3 cheese pasta, duck pasta, fish and bistecca) were also tasty and had beautiful presentations. Dessert was a treat, dark chocolate with raspberry sorbet. All in all a very nice experience, looking forward to come back.

Kevin Chen

Amazing Italian food, and great atmosphere with excellent service. Nothing is more welcoming than stepping into this place after a wet and windy stroll across the docklands. I was not particularly hungry so we got an appetiser and some meatballs. Excellent service with the waiter and the meatballs were incredible, seasoned well with a refreshing tomato based sauce. The waiter also offered some bread to soak up the sauce which is very smart. I would go back again but hungry this time.

Luke Simpson

Had our Christmas Staff dinner. We ordered the set menu where we could try different dishes. They were outstanding. The food was absolutely delicious. The service was impeccable. Would defiantly recommend and come back. Well done!!!!

apas

Food was very good, especially the bread with olive oil and olives as a starter. The bread has a smoked crust! Even though the food was good, the portion sizes were incredibly small and not worth the money. Feels a bit overpriced too. Drinks are good as well. Service is super kind and brings you into a good mood!

Angela Robinson

Absolutely delicious food. Well trained staff. Highly recommend.

Natalei Monika

This was one of the most amazing food places I have ever been too , the food was amazing the service was outstanding and they refilled our glasses of water about 4 times throughout our lunch without us even noticing they were becoming empty , the food had the best combinations of flavours and the dessert was just as good , everything was as perfect as it could be & I would recommend to anyone. I also am gluten free so having food at that standard is not an easy thing to do while gluten free but they had a whole seperate gluten free menu with many options.

Tehaunui

Everything was so good and delicious, the in house crafted meatballs are tasty and fantastic. It was our second time and the food was perfectly cooked and ingredients were well balanced. The service was impeccable thanks to the French waiter that day. Great wine selection, the manager sat us to a table despite our mistake on the booking date. Little surprise plate at the end after overhearing we had a birthday man at the table was a lovely touch by the restaurant. Great staff and great place to share great food with family and friends, we will be back.

Ele Lu

Food quality is consistent over the years. I cam back for their wild deer meatballs and it tastes just like a few years back. Thank you for the great experience every time.

Michelle

Loved the whole experience. Great food and service. Surprised our friend with a dessert for her birthday too 🎂 🥳. Only took photos of dessert.

Arran Worsley

I recently dined at Baduzzi in Auckland and had an amazing experience. The atmosphere and service were fantastic. Our server, a young gentleman, provided great information and was attentive to our needs. The speed and delivery of food and drinks was very fast, and the food tasted incredible. I highly recommend booking a table in advance as the restaurant appeared to be popular even on a Wednesday evening. The atmosphere was great, and the service was excellent. The food was delicious and I would definitely recommend the restaurant to others. I recommend the Baduzzi for anyone looking for great food and service. The atmosphere was perfect for a night out with friends or a special occasion. I will definitely be returning to try more from the menu

Bee Sweet

What a phenomenal experience 😍 every single dish was as amazing as the last. Hard to pick a favorite! Thank you We enjoyed the deep fried artichoke, beautiful. Crayfish meat balls and Beef meat balls, delicious. Saffron pasta and Pea pasta (Apologies for forgetting the names) divine. Tiramisu, delightful and White chocolate strawberry pastry, wonderful. All and all the best Italian food I've ever tasted. Will be back soon!

Bella Silva

Service was really good. We liked 3 out of 5 dishes we ordered. I think the meatballs are great and the market fish and the green vegetable salad. The rest was so average. Tables are pretty small too, not a lot of room. The seasonal spritz cocktail was really nice. Not sure if I’ll be back

Charlotte Koerber

First time dining here and was very impressed! Catered for my whole family with meat eaters, pescatarian and me (vegan)! They have a whole vegan menu which is really delicious and nice for an italian restaurant as usually everything is loaded with cheese. Innovative flavours! The risotto was incredible and full of flavour. Family got the tiramisu which was apparently superb! Presentation was gorgeous

Natasha Geo

Excellent food at this high end restaurant with a family feel. We tried the restaurant month menu which highlighted their pork dishes. We really enjoyed the tiger prawn and cannoli (dessert). The bone broth was good too but found the meatballs in it were a little overdone. Table was a bit small for our group of 4 but I suppose that's in keeping with the idea of a trattoria. The staff were very attentive, clearing the table without us even noticing. It was nice that we didn't feel like our conversation was being interrupted.

CARO CONSUMES

Been here five times in the last 10 months and had a great time every time. The staff always make my family and I feel comfortable there and are always helpful. The food out of the recurring dishes I’ve had are incredibly consistent (having had the Polpette deer meatballs and Buttered maltagliati with duck have not disappointed) and does a good job of using contrasting flavours or textures to break up otherwise heavy pasta and steak dishes. The steak with some sort of balsamic vege topping may be a bit abrupt of a flavour match for some however.

3leos3

I was expecting great food and service from this place, unfortunately it was a bit of a let down. Wild deer meatballs were okay, nothing special. The Clams spaghetti and Saffron & potato Tortellini were outstanding. This place is known for its house made pasta by the order. The portion size of the Tortellini was a main and it only had 4 pieces?! The lamb was a complete failure, it was undercooked and the fat was not rendered down properly. The olive crumb on the side did not match the dish and was uneaten. Dessert was good, best tiramisu I’ve had in a long time. The ricotta cannoli was crunchy and had a lovely filling with pistachios. The restaurant was packed by 6pm and service then was going a bit slow... but overall it was a good dining experience.

Matthew Ouyang

Duck pasta and shell fish pasta is overwhelmingly salty and meat portions are tiny. King prawns tasted really good however the price of one is eye gouging. The deserts however was well worth it and saved the night (tiramisu)

Al Kumar

Everything about the place is just amazing. I went online and the restaurant was full booked for a Friday evening. Called up and got a table. Arrived on time and was very well greeted. We were lucky to get a booth for our table. Thanks to the lovely waitstaff. The deco is surely eye catching, elegant, warm and comfortable leather booth seating. Was not too noisy either. We ordered the wood fire prawns, the crayfish meatballs, Fish of the day was snapper and this was one of the best and crispy pan roasted fish I tasted We also had the Agnolotti of gunard and scampi - must try all the dishes. Dessert was Tiramisu was very delicious as well. The bar staff were also very nice an created a special cocktail for my wife and she loved it. Overall a great place for an upmarket style dining. Total bill for 2 adults $214.00.

Niamh Slattery

Had a group lunch here the other day with friends and it was lovely. i was really happy to find they had a dairy free menu on request and really made my choice easier . I had a squid and white bean salad that was nice and lemony with heaps of beans /salad. And i also had a side of the vegetables these were also nice , the portion was really generous despite having heard about small portions here but i did think there was a little too much oil on it for me but its a very italian detail . Real fresh options for me and well sized to fill me up the food overall for friends was really good quality food though i must admit some of it is rather small as most meatballs only have three . I think its a good idea to get something meaty and get a starchy side to fill up as on friend got a pasta dish and was left hungry as its a little small to fill you Overall nice spot for italian food just be smart with the options you pick together

Rohan

Warm and toasty dining experience for a cold winters night. Food was beautifully prepared and presented, and the desserts especially were exceptional! A great place for fantastic Italian food!

Savannah B

Baduzzi is one of my favourite resturants in Auckland and has been since it opened. The crayfish meatballs are my personal favourite. The great food, amazing wine and fabulous service is what keeps me coming back. The staff always go the extra mile to give you a great dining experience!

Darren Big Belly

It was an excellent dinner and wine. Finished off with a very tasty tiramisu. The first bottle of wine we opened was sour and was replaced immediately. Service was friendly. The crayfish balls needed more flavour but didn't hinder our experience. Everything else was faultless. Would come back.

G

Great vibes and service. Food was delicious. We got the vegetarian meatballs, eggplant parmigiana and the saffron and potato tortellini. Portions were small relative to the price but I guess that’s to be expected.

David Thompson

Really nice place good atmosphere nice friendly staff quick service amazing tarimasu would highly recommend

FoodiesTable

Torta Caprese: who can resist a dessert with Miann chocolate🍫?! Chocolate with raspberry sorbet 🍨could not be more perfect combination! Tiramisu: was so excited to try this famous dessert especially I am a big fan of anything with Baileys🍸. We highly recommend this one if you visit Baduzzi! Ciamhella Romagnola: this one lost its shine ✨being on the same table with other 2 desserts simply because they were so amazing😍. However this was still very delicious and I wouldn't be disappointed if this was on the table alone.

Adrianna

Recommended. 👍

Dora The Food Explorer

The food at Baduzzi was indescribable. We had the Prawns which were beautiful cooked, the red deer meatballs which were super tender and coated in beautiful jus, no gamey taste at all. For the main we shared the duck ragu parpadelle, irresistable and rich in taste. Also had a side of baked aubergine. Baduzzi isnt on the Top 50 restaurants for nothing, incredible food, service and ambience. One of my favourite places to dine at from now on.

Amindha Fernando

What a delight this place is. The last time I was here was a few years ago so decided to see if it was as good as I remember and it was. Notable standouts were the venison ribs, steak and the ragu!

Roman Baitaliuk

The waiter didn’t gave me a towel. He just took out cutlery from it and placed fork on my table. This is worst experience ever, there wasn’t even a cover on a table. I am sure he did it on purpose, what is the logic of taking out cutlery from a towel and not giving it???? Maybe they treat bikers like this, I’ll try to pop up without helmet and gear next time. Really weird, I asked another waiter for getting napkin or towel and she brought it to me. The service went really disappointing. Despite food was alright. I got pasta with duck. Well cooked. But the waiter failed my overall experience.

João Plácido

After a full day around Auckland nothing better than some nice Italian cuisine. The Karitane crayfish meatballs were an awesome suprise. The venison short ribs and the cotoletta alla milanese were amazing. A good place to relax and enjoy a nice afternoon.

Richard Liu

What more can you ask? Meatballs (esp the Karitane Crayfish Meatballs) were impeccable. Flat iron steak tagliata was good. Salt baked beetroot pappardelle was insanely tasty and juicy in a good way. Very good feed. The fish was a slight let down but overall the dishes tastes extremely good that not many Italian restaurants out there can rival. Not so much for cheese fans - very healthy food fulled restaurant. Make sure you mix all the size topping/sauce flavours together for the best taste. Service was also good, and the Peroni pints were tapped and tasted amazing. Definitely worth every buck.

Kelly Loudovaris

Second visit to this beauty! Terrific service, food is faultless - an absolute must visit on the Viaduct Harbour.

Naught Happy

Went to Baduzzi for Birthday dinner-Poured low tide glass of champagne whilst waiting at bar. Bad omen. Steak was ordered med rare- arrived RARE. Crayfish meatballs- tasteless and below what I would think would be serving temperature. The other diner did enjoy their meal however. After delivering mains we didn't see our waiter again till we paid. I had to get up and find a waitress to order a drink. We had wanted dessert but just had to give up in the end. This morning I woke to unpleasant intestinal response. Pretty bad experience. Hate writing a bad review too as had been looking forward to this restaurant experience so much.

Zein

Pretty crowded during dinner times but loving the food, service and atmosphere

Lydia In Wonderland

We couldn't get a booking in the grove therefore transferred to baduzzi as they have the same owner, the environment and atmosphere is more relaxing and natural in this one, tho the food is not as good as the Grove, maybe Italian is not as good as French lol

Manz

Came on a weeknight, but the place still had a great atmosphere. Great Italian flavours and combinations. The cured meat board was definitely a hit, went very well with the Sicilian Rose. The Stracciatella & Aubergine with Grilled Piadina was good “small” plate, would be perfect if there were a bit more aubergine. The Potato Tortellini with Goat Curd & Butter was a bit heavy on the goat cheese for me. The tiramisu was pleasing, the meringue was a bit hard to break up though. Overall a great place to meet up with friends & share some good food & vino.

Praveena

Had dinner here last night. Nice place. Excellent staff and service. We had the king prawn, east coast meatballs, crayfish meatballs (special of the day), gurnard and scampi pasta and the duck ragu. The food was amazing right until the ragu came. I was quite disappointed it had a weird after taste and the duck was tough. The sauce was thin. It wasn’t the luscious ragu I was expecting. I was told by our server that it is the best dish on the menu. It definitely wasn’t for us. We absolutely loved everything else though. The tiramisu and the chocolate tart was really good . The coffee we ordered with dessert was burnt though. Food is amazing bar one dish and the service is excellent. I would came back again.

Helen Wu

Quality vegetarian pasta and good service

Shuyi Wang

Amazing service, friendly and attentive staff and lovely aesthetic when you first walk in - I also love the booths. We ordered many dishes including pasta, lamb, beef, and desserts so we definitely splurged on our visit here. All the flavours were beautifully paired and the presentation of the food was the cherry on top. Baduzzi is definitely on the pricey side but it's worth it! Food - 5/5 Ambience - 5/5 Service - 5/5

Chas Nz

Consistently good. It was mid-week in Winter and busy. The maître d' made us feel welcome and our waiter was friendly and attentive. The food is well presented and very tasty; I especially like that they make their own pasta. The best Italian restaurant in Auckland I'd say.

Jenny Da

Came to Baduzzi for a birthday party and the staff were super friendly to cater to a big table. The starter platters were beautifully presented and came with a selection of meats, olives, pickled cucumber and mushrooms on the side. It was an interesting combination of flavours, with the cucumber being slightly sweet. The salad with white beans and squid was also a starter however we thought the squid was pasta as it was so soft. The steak with potato mash and lamb pasta was next and it was amazing! The pasta dish was the first to clear (forgot to mention we had sharing platters) so I didn’t even get to take a photo. The finale of the night was the pink cake designed by baduzzi for the birthday girl. It sort of tastes like Black Forest with a chocolate base and berry notes throughout. If you have a birthday at baduzzi, get them to do your cake!

Karina

The first time I came here I really wasn't a fan but I decided to return here for lunch with my family this weekend and my mind has definitely been changed!! The ambience is so nice and luxurious as there was marble everywhere. The service was okay not the best as had to remind the waiters and ask for cutlery when it should already be given to us but the food def made up for it!!! My brother got the kids pasta and meatballs and I tried some and it was soo good. My dad had the king prawns for entree and he said they were the best prawns he's ever had!!! For main he had woodfired bistecca which came with potato puree and salad and I tried some potato and salad and it was sooo good. My mum had the eggplant parmigiana which she really liked and I had the spaghetti cacio & pepe which was so yum but I found it a bit too salty. For dessert my parents had affogatos which were nice and then we got a tiramisu & the miann torte and the desserts really shocked us!!! They were AMAZING. That is the best tiramisu I have ever had and the dessert is what made my whole experience so good!!!!! The torte was like brownie and had sorbet and raspberries on it and was tasty but the tiramisu was the HIGHLIGHT !!!! The presentation of all the meals has so much care and love everything looks delish!!! It's not really your usual Italian as it doens't have pizzas or that many pastas but it's really different and soooo tasty. Probably not everyones cup of tea but was super yum!!!!!

Anchal Naik

Dining at #baduzzi is an experience in itself, from the #reddoor entrance to the #customwallpaper to the amazing food, everything screams a well thought and well put together restaurant. My simple meal consisted of “pheasant miniature ravioli with brodo” and “ciambella romagnola with almond and lemon cream”. Boy oh boy I have never had a broth packed with such a full flavour yet so light on the palate, the ravioli was stuffed to the brim with pheasant meat and the pasta silky as ever. What makes the ciambella so special is that it is made using #oliveoil and #almondmilk which gives the cake a crunchy exterior but a soft centre and is extremely moist. The lemon cream was subtly flavoured with #lemonzest and was really fresh.

Shanae F

Very high quality food and staff are great. I actually like it when they just fill up your water glass instead of having to ask. Omg the tira misu desert was my fav!! Great place to dine in 👌

Tejas Thathachar

Baduzzi is an absolute favourite of ours. From their excellently proportioned menu to their friendly and attentive wait staff, you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time whenever you get the chance to go. Absolutely loved the gnocchi and the meatballs. My Mother was pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian options as well. But nothing matched the sheer excellence of the raspberry chocolate desert done in collaboration with Miann. It was an absolute treat and I look forward to going again soon.

Angelica Starina

Service is beautiful, the staff are friendly, and welcoming but they do tend to stare a little? A little off-putting. The prices aren’t very pretty though! Only had 2 dishes (starter+mains+drinks) and somehow the price was $180? The taste and texture of their meatballs which is what they recommended as one of their best dishes was very...average in taste and texture (mind you texture is a large part of how a meatball is appreciated). And the amount of food you get is disappointingly sad, regretted going there before we even got the bill right after I received my food, the pasta was just dissatisfying. The best dish was Gnochi?? Which is really really...easy to make..so the fact that was the best dish is another disappointing factor, thus the 2/5 stars. The chicken out of our pasta was dry, the pasta was alright in taste (not much of a taste) and the texture of the pasta and meatball made us want to drink more red. The next week I paid half the price at another Italian restaurant and had better pasta :/ Baduzzi’s location and interior is absolutely beautiful but the atmosphere and food were disappointing. 2/5 stars because the customer service is great and our waiter was a friendly young woman who engaged us with the restaurant a bit more.

Alex Pearson

Definitely not happy with this restaurant. Worked in hospitality nearly 8 years and this restaurant amazed me. Ordered the meatballs to start to share between two because we ordered the 1kg tomahawk steak so didn’t think we’d need much. Meatballs nice no fault with them and in a place like this you get what you pay for. The steak was a massive let down. 1kg of steak and overall we had 13 small sliced pieces of steak ( sliced by the kitchen) for 150 dollars! Steak was average as well. Mash was lovely but steak bang average. 150 For this with a big bone at the end. Loads rocket on top which was nice just a garnish. Nobody came Asked about our food our even asked if I’d like another drinks. Left very disappointed. For a place that claims they’re a causal restaurant it’s the complete opposite. Felt out of place with little attention from anyone. Will tell people to avoid

Taurus Cao

It was full on Thursday 7pm. We had to sit outside first. But the service was so good we actually felt happier to wait. The waiter was so patient with us to pick the right wine(sorry being picky). Food is sooo good that I would like to try all other dishes next time. After we finished our glass we ordered another bottle of Italian wine. This place made me fall in love with Italian wine!

Gourmet Vegetarians

Given how often it’s named as one of Auckland’s top Italian restaurants, I was very excited to try out Baduzzi for myself. I adore the super classy, old-school vibes of this restaurant- made me feel like I’d been transported to Europe! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We started our meal with piadina (flat bread) topped with stracciatella, eggplant and candied walnuts. I’m not normally a fan of smoky flavours but I can’t deny that the smokiness of the eggplant came together delightfully with the creaminess of the stracciatella & sweet crunch of walnut. 8/10 ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Baduzzi is known for their polpette (or Italian meatballs, for us uncultured souls), so was very thankful they did a vegetarian version. These ones were made with summer vegetables and cows ricotta. The balls were packed with flavour and simply melted in your mouth. Was thankful for the chunky tomato sauce on top as without they might have been a little dry. 8/10⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ For my main I ordered the saffron and potato tortellini with goats curd, brown butter, almonds and fig confit. It came out beautifully presented as four perfect pieces of tortellini. The modest serving size may have disappointed me if I wasn’t already full of entrees. This flavour combination is normally a winner for me, however, I surprisingly found the goats curd filling a little too rich, especially with the intense sweetness of the fig confit. It was still a well-executed dish however the flavours just didn’t quite do it for me. 7/10⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Being at an Italian restaurant we had to order Tiramisu for dessert. It came out in a rather untraditional yet aesthetic wafer cylinder, filled with a lot of mascarpone and topped with hard biscuit chunks and a moist cakey layer infused with Baileys & amaretto. Each element of the plate had a strong texture and taste, however it was difficult to get all the different elements into one bite it didn’t blend very seamlessly together like in a traditional Tiramisu 7/10⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Definitely willing to give @baduzzi another go in the future and try some more menu items as I can see the standard of food here is evidently very high, just didn’t pick all the right menu items this time around!

Kerri Sinclair

High expectations, so excited to eat here. We weren’t disappointed.....the food & wait staff were amazing, I woke up this morning still thinking about the tortellini 🥰. What ruined our night was the head chef. Our table was right next to the glass window which gave us a primo behind the scenes look into a working kitchen. Shockingly we witnessed work place bullying at its best.....a 6foot man constantly berating a 5foot-nothing pastry chef & reducing her to tears at least 3 times. Try enjoying your meal while watching that! Our birthday celebration was reduced to silence. The manager personally apologised to our table but we won’t be back. #unprofessional #peoplefirst

Dan Nguyen

Came in on a busy Saturday night. Great ambiance inside. Had a friendly staff member to guide us through the menu, as it was our first time. Waiters were attentive and very happy to serve. Went with the Buttered Maltagliati w/ Duck for our mains. Pasta with the ragu was delicious. Deep and wholesome flavours. Duck was very soft and tender. Torta Caprese for dessert was amazing. Delicate cake, and with the tart of the raspberry sorbet it tasted incredible. The Tiramisu was also very good. Only negative is the Red Deer Meatballs I had for my starter - sauce was nice, but the meatballs themselves were a bit dry and hard. But, considering how pleasant everything else was I can't judge Baduzzi too harshly on that. On a weird, but positive side note: Restrooms are comfortable and incredibly clean and tidy. This isn't a place you'd go to for a cheap night out but you definitely do get what you pay for here. Highly recommended.

Adline Shandil

Environment: The restaurant is in a beautiful area- very pretty but I do think it’s crowded. There’s a lot of tables inside the restaurant that aren’t used and I thought the outside was just so congested. It felt too uncomfortable. Staff: Got the basic service; nothing more! No one came to check how the food was for me or if I needed anything else. I get it you were busy but apparently not busy enough because a staff was cleaning the glass door right in front of us. Food: I can safely say that yours was the worst Italian restaurant I’ve been to. Your name is baduzzi and omg what a shame your meatballs tasted like rubber. Just for a test, I did a little experiment; I took off all the sauces and dropped the bare meatball on my plate and it BOUNCED! Really your name is baduzzi meaning meatballs and you can’t even get that made fresh and right? When it comes to portions; Believe me my seven year old niece wouldn’t be even half full with what you serve on a giant plate. You have the fish market right beside you and you king prawn tasted chewy. Why would you serve something frozen when you get better quality with fresh and it’s not a long way away? For my main course I ordered a lamb rump- well done ! It was well something-well DRY.well BURNT. It was hard to chew and really hard to pass through my throat. I kept looking for a staff member in the are where I was sitting but none came. Overall: I’m not trying to be rude but all your staff including your chef needs a thorough review. Everything was pricy and I wasn’t even full. The food was bad and the service was worse. I hope you take this feed back into account and make changes very soon. I definitely won’t be back until I see some positive change.

Hilary Campbell

I have been here several times and it is always amazing. Great service and a nice setting. The meatballs are fantastic, full of flavour and the texture is incredibly smooth. The ricotta tortellini is incredible, soft pasta and fantastic flavours. Can't wait to come back again! The portion sizes are also good and so worth the money.

Lucy

It’s been over a year since I’ve last visited this restaurant. Again I was pleased with their quality of food. This premium casual diner is conveniently located by the Viaduct, with great ambience and bubbly waiters. Food was quick to serve. Their deer meatball and duck pasta were memorable. The meatball was soft and not oily; The pasta was made thin and the sauce was creamy and delicious. Also highly recommend their tiramisu, it has just the right amount of cream and sweetness. Food Taste: 10/10 Food Presentation: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Location: 10/10 Ambience: 8/10 Cost: $80 per person (excl alcohol)

Wapatino

Great service and food. Walked in on valentines day and they accommodated us. Would go back to try more items from the menu. Great location as well!

Kayth Y

Best tiramisu in Auckland!! It is to die for! Everything tastes amazing. Love the flat iron steak with the mash and their pastas too! The meatballs are juicy and pack a lot of flavour.

Gnxsta23

Had dinner here on Saturday night , place was packed we got seated straight away, our waiter was awesome, the focaccia bread was delicious with the olive oil dip , I am not sure my $30.50 crayfish x3 lil meatballs was worth it? They tasted delicious tho!!, my partner had the duck ragu which was 10/10 , I had the hapuka bolognese with crayfish broth smelt like the sea when it arrived to the table I was really excited to see what is was going to taste like Wow it was salty very salty!!!!! Tasted ok tho but way to much salt for my liking!!!!! Other then that was a pleasant evening and enjoyed our time there..

James Bramin

. We had an excellent experience. The service was great, and meatballs were the highlight. The goats cheese pasta and duck ragu we also both exceptional. Will definitely be coming back!

Jo Nicholson

This was the best pick for a birthday dinner. Staff were helpful and friendly all night.food was awesome , everybody loved what they had. Ben Bayley thank for making my birthday fab.we loved it.

Annie Tong

Always here for their tiramisu, hands down best in town. There is generally a wait if no bookings are made, so sometimes a cold 20minutes may be required but once inside it is toasty, the front of house is friendly and brings blankets and their food selection is just wonderful. We had the eggplant parmigiana and two desserts: torta caprese and the ciambella, both were lovely but still don’t top tiramisu! 😋

Tanya

The saffron eggplant pasta is delicious. The garlic pasta side dish is pretty great as well. Hubby had the meatballs which he loved as well. Not a single complaint. We enjoyed this place!

Randy

Had our work Christmas dinner here and Baduzzi did amazing with the dietary requirements. With vegetarians, Halal, and no beef requirements amongst the group, Baduzzi still managed to nail the sharing platters. Additionally staff service was good. We will be back again.

Ricky Zhou

Great service and amazing staff. Food is consistent and everything is made to share which makes it super fun and exciting. Very busy but the turnover is pretty good so waiting times are not too bad, you could always go for a walk along the pier.

Fangzhou Zhao

Amazing service and great environment. However the food was just ok, there wasn’t anything amazing or wow about the food which was a little disappointing as we were really looking forward to it.

Eugenia Nam

Beef meatballs - 5 stars Duck pasta - 4 stars Tiramisu - 5 stars Chocolate Torta Caprese - 5 stars Service - 5 stars Our lovely waitress organised a beautiful little plate of dessert for my partner's birthday with a candle and everything. Thank you for making our night so wonderful.

Flippynz

Finally got to go back to Baduzzi! Excellent meal super simple flavours but hold their own. Cured meats and focaccia. Lamb meatballs. Deer meatballs. Duck maltagliata. Black pig gnocchetti (i think)

Glenn Town

Our firm had its Xmas Dinner here the other night Excellent venue/premises albeit North Wharf is quite a hike from the CBD We cheated taking cabs at both ends of the night The food was excellent especially the Wild Red Deer and the Braised Lamb Meatballs the line-caught Snapper and the Pappardelle with Beetroot Quail Egg & Mushroom Desserts also superb - Tiramisu with Baileys and Amaretto ladyfingers and the Valrhona Chocalate Torta Caprese All shared plates for 18 people and it worked Great drinks Service was of a high quality after an awkward start A top restaurant for sure Very busy and rightly so

Mai

The food is very delicious , especially their meat balls dishes. The taste is very unique. Must try at least on of their meat balls dish. I had the vegeterian one which really impressed me. The deserts were beautiful in both presentation and taste. The best Tiramisu I have ever tried in Auckland. Service is very great. The waitress looked after us very well.

Pradashnee Odiar

Great ambiance and the food is delicious. Service is prompt and a lovely dining space. There is a courtyard which is fantastic because you can dine there.

OD

The overall experience is good this place is suitable for a nice date. It has a nice European feel to it. On the other hand the place does not have a view so it is more of a night place. The service is professional and friendly and is definitely on the high end side within the NZ context. The food variety in the menu is quite limited and the taste of food is good but not super by any means. Coupled with small portions and expensive drinks I think you end up spending more than you get. Nice to visit and experience the authentic Italian flavour of the food once but will not a be regular customer. P.s some music could add to the place

Siow Fong Chen

Don’t think anyone needs further review on Baduzzi. The food was nice and service was good but just something was lacking for me. Guess this may be because I was comparing to Amano on their rustic deco and awesome friendliness and lovely bakes. This is down to personal taste so do try out Baduzzi if you are looking for something nice in downtown Auckland.

Charissa

I know Baduzzi doesn’t need anymore reviews with raving 500+ reviews however I feel that my review would be current and to show that Baduzzi still has 5 star in service ambiance and food. Our young waiter was cheerful and helpful. This was demonstrated by talking us through the menu and explaining and ready to answer any questions without sounding obnoxious . So highly recommended! You be the judge! Just dont take home the salt spoon (yes it was intriguing)

Naz

It was OK. Steak was very average and the potato mash/purée was watery. Great dessert and good staff. Will come back for dessert but the food menu needs to be upgraded for sure

Asha Shah

Location: It’s in Wynward Quarter, so went today as it was free parking. Being my debut, my brother took me out for dinner. Being a vegetarian it’s hard to find good vegetarian options It’s a beautiful location. It’s going to be amazing in summers. Ordered: Butter garlic pasta and saffron potato cappelletti and Chianti wine. Butter garlic pasta was great with so much buttery and flavored some. Saffron potato had goat’s curd which was quite sour in taste along with it being sweet. Also had ordered bread platter with blue cheese and olive oil Price: Approx 150 including wine cost which was quite too much for two people but had a good time. People explained the menu quite well and took care of us. It’s important that you are taken well

Justin

Wifey and I came and ate here for lunch on 22/08/18. What a great set up they have, definitely an Italian vibe going on. Our waitress was friendly, efficient and checked on us a couple of times without being intrusive. And she smiled - makes a really big difference when staff smile. We placed our orders and from the exquisite prawn entree, the snapper tortellini, followed by the fish main (I think it was dory), then finishing off with the absolutely divine Ricotta Cannoli was a lunch the chefs should be proud of preparing. The four course set menu had just the right portion of food - not to small and not to large. Each dish just got better and better as it came out it was hard to choose which one was our favourite, (We both had the same menu). This is a very, very good place to come either in a small - or large group (there are large booths which would be ideal for work lunches), or the smaller tables for two which we sat at. Great vibe, friendly, welcoming staff, fantastic tasting food. Will definitely be back to Baduzzi again and thoroughly recommend to others to get yourselves there and check it out, too and reward yourselves.

Tracey Hardy

My husband and I had lunch on Saturday on the spur of the moment and were so impressed with the excellent food and service that we received. Would highly recommend this to everyone!!!

Dihang Wu

We were waiting for a table and the staff paid no attention although they were serving other tables. They could have at least greeted me or asked me to wait for a moment before they sort us out.

S & F And Baby

Had dessert here with some friends on a late night! Was delicious but if you call and ask if they are open, they will say no. Just show up because they are open! Tsk tsk

Melissa Chai

I love Baduzzi, it’s expensive but worth it! I did have a new waitress today who blatantly lied to my friend and got caught out pretty quick and service lacked, for example didn’t get given our bill etc. The other waiters I encountered however were great. But overall the food was great, I’ve been here a few times now and this would definitely be a 5/5 star review with slightly better service due to the cost of dining and how hard it is to flag down a wait staff sometimes.

Raymond Tiong

Came here recently for my birthday dinner and we had a great time. Because they don’t do bookings for small groups, our party of 4 came at 6pm and were able to nab a booth before the restaurant got busy. Our dining experience cost just under $50 per person – which is fantastic given the high-quality food, drinks, dessert and service. We started with their legendary deer meatballs, which came with visually impressive cauliflower slices. Simply put, this dish was delicious (and smelled nice too). Some might find the sauce a bit salty, but I would definitely recommend ordering this one. Another shared dish we sampled was the eggplant parmigiana. This was delicate comfort food; not overpowering or dense but definitely had a fresh tomato flavour. For pasta, we tried the Hapuka bolognese – which tasted fishy (in a good way) and came on a bed of linguine that seemed more Asian than Italian. But for me, the standout dish was the duck porcini ragut. It was deliciously creamy without being oily, the seeds added a textural dimension, and the pasta was thin and well-made. We also tried a chicken-based main, but this ended up being a bit forgettable compared to the others. The chicken meat was basically made into a sausage – which is a shame because it didn’t feel substantial as a main. The sausage came with strips of salty but flavourful pancetta and some veges too. The broccolini was sort of seasoned by the meat and I noticed that the kale had some spice to it, so the dish certainly wasn’t bland – it’s just not what I was expecting. Even though were were surprisingly full, the desserts were too tempting to pass up. Baduzzi’s tiramisu is more than just a cake; there's a light outer coffee-flavoured layer that holds the cake and cream. We also tried their ice cream sandwich, which proved to be a relatively mainstream dessert (perhaps a safer crowd pleaser for those who don’t like coffee). Overall, Baduzzi’s reputation is well-deserved and I would more than happy to bring friends along for future visits. Keep up the good work!

Nancy B

Incompetent, untrustworthy and such an unpleasant experience for the following reasons: 1. First of all, Baduzzi, if you don't want to be on the Entertainment then you shouldn't put yourself on it! We were so excited to see Baduzzi on Entertainment and decided to give it a try based on the good reviews it has. However, we were given nasty looks when we presented the coupon. 2. We specifically told the waitress we would like have $65/head worth of food. She said ok and can put together a five-course meal for us based on this budget. We ended up being charged $82/head at the cashier. The waitress denied agreeing to the $65 budget and told her manager we picked the dishes ourselves. Her manager then backed her up in a very unprofessional manner: 'Sorry, we can't refund what you've eaten already. We can refund your $15 tip though' .... UNBELIEVABLE. I felt like I was tricked into paying for more than I asked for. My mates and I won't be coming back again.

Tapas Connoisseur

Food was decent but not memorable. More variety to the pasta menu would have been much appreciated... There was probably more I could say about the food, however I would like to address the lacklustre service. It seems to be a common theme here that the staff at this venue are very inexperienced and would definitely do with more training on customer service and knowledge of their menu. What a shame.

Emilyy

Came for a mid-week lunch, and it was a lovely experience. Really would recommend the deer meatballs along with the eggplant. Ordered a side of pasta for my father to try (who has never liked pasta - even when he has visited Italy!) and he really enjoyed it which blew me away!! Great service.

Bachd3

Great Italian in the heart of auckland. Ambiance is Low key but with charming decorations. The focus is certainly on the delicious food. Highly recommend the deer meatballs and beef meatballs. Desserts are out of this world and should not be skipped! Enjoy and will be back

Khoi Nguyen

Very nice place for a romantic dinner Cant go pass the meatball, juicy, tasty Those handmade pasta, specially the duck is die for Dont forget to wash off with that killer Tiramisu The only thing was not satisfied us was the Rump, abit too dry, and bored, its doesnt have that "baduzzi" in it, just like a average piece of steak Wine list is good

Jamie

Got told to wait for 30 mins but ended up waiting for 70 mins. The staff said they will give us a call when the table is ready, so suggested us to walk around. However when we came back to the restaurant (cause didn’t get a call for so long and the weather was freezing) I saw the waiting list, our name have been skipped. They told us to wait for another 15 mins, so I said we have already waited for so long and I saw we got skipped! Then they finally arranged a table for us... based on the waiting list I believe they have skipped us and served two other tables first. Worst dinning experience ever. Question about the hospitality, very disappointed. Food was average. Totally not worth the price with hospitality like that.

Aman

Went here for dinner the other night food was really got the crayfish pasta had so much flavour and tasted really good the portion slightly small but taste amazing also there desert range is amazing would highly recommend service is really friendly and fast

Sjr Sjr

Never fails to impress. The pasta is always delicious and the only problem with the meatballs is trying to choose between crayfish, beef, deer or lamb. The ambience although "up-market" still achieves a relaxed and welcoming feel.

Smoothie Oeek

Came here for birthday dinner. Great selection of pastas and meatballs. The most recommended pasta would be their famous duck pasta, definately worth a try. The dessert was very pretty and tastes amazing.

Grace Huang

One of the best Italian restaurants in Auckland! Service: 10/10 Even though it was a packed night and we didn’t make a reservation we still managed to get a seat. The waitress that served us was super cheerful and helped us through the menu. The food came in about 20 minutes and a different male server served the pasta so proudly which gave me more confidence in that the food must be good. Food: 10/10 The portion for the gnocchietti was quite small and it didn’t really feel like a proper entree but even though the portion was small, I couldn’t stop eating and I was scraping the plate clean. The pasta was slightly burnt, the potato was so soft and mashed perfectly. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and was super tender and slightly red in the middle, the salad lightened up the strong taste of the steak. Ambiance: 10/10 The restaurant has a dark mysterious atmosphere that gives off a romantic feeling perfect for a date. There is a courtyard section, indoor and outdoor section. The courtyard was sealed so even though it felt like we were outside and we could see the beautiful moon and night sky, we weren’t affected by the cold vigorous wind from outside. This restaurant was very enjoyable and I can’t wait to return to try their meatballs.

Michelle

Excellent food and service. Had the $65 set menu which was delicious and had a lot of variety. Food portions were decent and came out in a timely manner. Would highly recommend!

Sian

Baduzzi is a noisy restaurant that doesn’t take reservations for small groups. Despite this, my parents love it and so do I. The service is always excellent, they deal with dietary issues with ease and state what’s edible with every dish so there’s no confusion. The food is quick and delicious. My favourites are the saffron & potato cappelletti and the chocolate torte. Everything is good though! Great for a pre theatre dinner too as they will ensure you get out on time.

Warren

Had been planning on going for months, heard awesome things about the restaurant. Finally got here, with another couple for an evening meal. Restaurant had a great vibe when we arrived and we were quickly seated. Ordered drinks and some starters, the wood fired wild caught prawns were awesome (get more than one, it's worth it). Mains were ok, good flavour, sadly over seasoned though. Desert (Valrhona chocolate "torta caprese") was excellent, I don't have a sweet tooth but I really enjoyed it. Food: 70% Ambience: 85% Service: 70% Give it a go, personally it's not for me and I'm on the hunt for the next restaurant.

Schalk

We have eaten many meals at Baduzzi and it is our “go to” venue for visitors; none have ever been disappointed. Auckland Italian options have improved significantly in recent times, and Baduzzi is one of the better places. As the restaurant name suggests, meatballs are centre stage on the starter menu. They are delicious. However, there is something for every lover of Italian food - and wine. Bellissimo.

Shannon Hibbard

We recently dined at Baduzzi for a family members Birthday. Although the decor and layout is nice, the service left a lot to be desired. The staff seemed inexperienced, when asked a question about the wine, our waiter had to go back behind the bar and ask another waitress who also had no idea how to answer. The food was also very slow to arrive, which does not work well for a restaurant which runs on a sharing plate menu, as one plate would come out and we would get a piece each, and then have to wait another 30 mins for another dish. Most disappointingly they seemed to forget about the t-bone steak that we had ordered, which we had to ask about multiple times, and arrived very late. Overall the food was decent, but the service needed a lot of work.

Star

Celebrated sons birthday there, what fabulous food! Loved the atmosphere and all the various courses like artichoke flowers, meatballs, seafood linguine to name a few and one of each dessert. Will definitely go back

Juportellam

One of the best places for vegetarians I’ve been to recently! I love that they have a vegetarian section on the menu. The vegetarian meatballs are a must!

Dxlche

Baduzzi was one of the restaurants that I had heard a lot about. We ordered several dishes to share. The prawns, artichoke flowers, meatballs, fish, steak, beetroot pappardelle and the seafood linguine (I believe). The prawns were tender and succulent and had a beautiful melody of flavours. The beetroot pappardelle was surprisingly tasty and definitely something new. The steak was melt in your mouth too. For dessert we got the cannoli, Tiramisu and a torte. The tiramisu was to die for and was probably one of the most interesting tiramisu I have had. The place is beautifully decorated and has a homely feeling. The staff are also quite helpful even though our waitress said it was her first week. Overall I’ll definitely be back to try more food.

Roopali Jadhav

Great Location. Tiramisu!!! "Must have" recommendation for a very good reason despite being a little unconventional. The handmade pasta and meatballs perfectly complemented each other.

Islarosek

Phenomenal meatballs, by far the best I've ever eaten, good service, good wine ...all round great restaurant! Must try out if your wanting Italian with a twist.

Valerie Ma

Came here for its dessert only as we had a late lunch in Depot. We ordered one beer, one jasmine martini, one tiramisu and one chocolate torta caprese. The martini is good and strong. We didn’t stay long and I was tipsy on the way back to hotel😵😵 The tiramisu is a must and we love the smooth taste with liquor and chocolate. The outside skin is hard and crunchy, but I was expecting a soft texture which could melt in my mouth. The chocolate torta is good too and it goes perfectly with sorbet and coconut cream. Yum 😋

Tarina

Great meal and ambience here at Baduzzi. Came here with my partner and our girl, we were impressed. We shared some entrees of 2 x zuchinni flowers and 3 venison meatballs plus bread for soaking up the delicious sauce. Meatballs were amazing but could have done with a few more since we were sharing. Our mains we had the duck pasta which was a rich, plentiful dish, very well done. My partner had the flat iron steak which seemed very small in comparison to the pasta dish. We also shared a tiramisu. Fussy little miss was happy with her buttered pasta and gelato (both for $10 at an establishment like such you can't complain!). Would definately come back for meatballs!

Lily

Delicious meatballs. Juicy and creamy. My favorite were the venison meatballs. A bit overpriced though. Lamb ribs were too greasy and fatty so I don’t recommend it. I will go there again to try other dishes.

Abby Liu

Best Italian I've ever had, great service and environment. The attendent has been well trained and gave us an appropriate suggestion for the wine sellection. Stunning food personally I love the steak and tiramisu, the duck is a bit salty and heavy for me. Overall, a great resturant will definitely come back :)

Rena

taste good，but service not that perfect compared with the environment and food quality. cocktail is nice,honestly, I don’t know whether I will be there again, but it is still a good try to enjoy a meal there

Jk

Everything was good here, in general. I am just going to point out few things. 1) The meatballs was way too small in portion for the price and the taste. 2) The food is out very slow. It took just under two hours to have everything served. Giving it a 4/5 as the food was good in general and staff was friendly. Tables beside and behind us questioned when their food will be served. For them it took more than 2 hours because they came before us.

Tony Ma

Tasty and fresh! We were lucky enough to be treated by Frederic Cheng (021 073 9093) Mercedes Benz North Shore! Always buy from him to get awesome perks! Delicious meatballs, great starters, yummy clams. Have been back with the family and enjoy it every time. Incredible service, highly recommended! Service: 5/5 Presentation: 5/5 Food Quality: 5/5 Food Quantity: 5/5 Price per person: $50-$80

James

My girlfriend and I tried a couple of dishes from Baduzzi at Taste of Auckland and we loved it. My gf then took me to Baduzzi for my birthday. Great customer service and food is amazing. The dessert tiramisu is AWESOMEEE. Baduzzi is now my top 3 restaurants in Auckland. Customer Service: 8/10 Food: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 (Busy and bustling) Will definitely be going back to try their other dishes Date: December 2017

SLM

The food here is great, the best Italian I've had. Light and delicious. They offer some great vegetarian options. Staff are super friendly and considerate. The only downside is that the portion size can be small for some people. But I found it was satisfying with the starter.

G1k

Food amazing, especially the crayfish meatballs and clam vongole. Wine recommendation also went very well with the food we ordered. The only downside was that we couldn’t be seated at a bigger table despite some of the bigger tables being unoccupied, even when we told the waitress that we’re looking at sharing 5-6 dishes (between the three of us). Also there was a bit of a waiting time in between some of the dishes but we weren’t in any hurry so that was alright. 4.5 star rating for the food, wine and overall atmosphere , even for lunch.

Diogo Reck

One of proofs that Auckland can offer world class food. Everything I had here was amazing, but the pasta with duck was outstanding even in a five stars menu. All ingredients were fresh and cooked to perfection, making me enjoy every single bite. I try carpaccio everywhere I can and this one was memorable, one of the few served in the right temperature and showing the best flavour of the meat. My experience only wasn't perfect cos the service was a bit lost. The waiter was kind, but couldn't answer most of the question I've asked.

Thom

I come here every now and then to indulge myself in amazing food. They have a great array of Italian and New Zealand wines perfect for any diner. They are just always so busy hey they really deserve it. All praises go to the hardworking staff, they are so professional all of them and lovely and actually enjoy working there you could tell. One time this lady went through the whole menu in detail, including wine pairings and tastings for a group of friends of mine who had never been. They have the BEST meatballs in the country, if you havent, go try the red deer meatballs. They are one of the very few restaurants who knows how to cook risotto, beetroot papardelle is everyone's fav and pork carbonara is just out of this world. When it comes to Italian food you're not complete without Italian tomato sauce and I recommend the eggplant parmigiana, super fresh and mindblowing, traditional and rustic, crispy and moist. They are just so professional you almost do not have to ask for stuff because they attend to you even before you realise you need something. Love the warm plates they set the bar very high for both Italian restaurant and others in their price range and offering. The best part is always desserts :) the most amazing tiramisu, enough on the plate for you to taste it until you go home. Chocolate torta is fabulous and pairing with raspberry sorbet is genius. Ricotta canolli is rich and indulgent. This is why I keep coming back to order different mix of desserts :D Pricewise good amount of meal with individual dessert and wine I would say $55-$60 on average but it is always more than worth it. When I pay and they ask my reply is defaulted to "incredible as always"

Medium_Rare

You know you’re dining at the right place if you are seated in direct parallel to Auckland’s one and only Champagne Lady, Anne Burton. I’m sure other reviews will cover the electric atmosphere, aesthetically pleasing meals and flavour explosions. Duck Ravioli and the Meatballs were my personal favourites, others mentioned the Claim Linguine as having a fresh taste which really opens the palate. Zucchini flowers was also a classic. Showstopper: For me, there was just so much depth and flavour with the Duck Ravioli. Overall Grade: A

Rebecca Roberts

Stunning food great service. Had a celebratory lunch at badduzzi today. Food was fantastic and service excellent. Helpful staff and wonderful outcome ending with a chocolate dream. Will definitely be back. A perfect Italian long lunch

Clive Barclay-Sellers

Always a treat going here. Love how cosy and relaxed it is with menus that always keep you wanting more. Sharing small plates while sipping away on good wine, the nights disappear way too quickly. Shame about its placement on Wynyard Quarter, it would do so much better in another location I'm sure

Peter Chung

Great placement, Great food. Been here with my friend and we were very impressed. Selection of wines are very good too. The Tiramisu I had for dessert was also wonderful. Great restaurant to treat yourself and others you care for. would definitely go back.

Ken Morrison

Without a doubt, Baduzzi is the best restaurant in Wyndham Quarter. We went for the first time pre-show on Friday night. It was getting very busy at 5.45 probably as it is just around the corner from the ASB Waterfront Theatre. They asked if we had to leave by a certain time and we were gone within 75 mins of sitting down. We started with 4 meatballs - we chose 2 venison and 2 lamb. Both were delicious and exactly the right size for an entree for 2 people. For our main we got the steak tagliata to share. This came with a rocket salad and was again excellent. We also had a side dish of artichokes that were very different but complimented the staek well. For dessert we got the tiramasu that was recommended. I have never had a tiramasu quite like this one - this was by far the best ever! The wine list was good but not many NZ wines to choose from. I have a thing about only drinking NZ wines when we go out so we chose an Osawa Sangiovese from Hawkes Bay and enjoyed that. Service was excellent and the place was buzzing. We will be back and highly recommend

Ella

Amazing Italian and fantastic atmosphere . Busy but speedy service and attentive staff make it a great place for dinner. Tried the duck pasta as recommended by so many on here and it didn't disappoint . Favourite dish was the eggplant parmigiana

Chefaldini

I had lunch at baduzzi with some work colleagues after a few recommendations. We weren't disappointed. The selection on the menu made it difficult to choose as all sounded so good! The staff were friendly and professional and the food was also great. Considering service, food quality etc I'd say it's good value for money, but by no means a low cost meal. Worth it though and I'll be back with friends to try the wine list next time.

LEE Lauren

Great vibe, food was divine and customer service was excellent. Would definitely like to come back and recommend it to friends. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Jaffa

Amazing restaurant with great service and a super wine list. The meatballs here are super, and the duck ragut is an institution in Auckland. Highly recommended the cured meats and pickles too. It's hard not to over order here... but it's worth it!

Rishab Koshy

High praises for my experience here. We ordered a rump steak and a clam linguine and we weren't disappointed! The linguine although simple was exquisite. This place certainly becomes my favourite in Auckland central now ... and I'll visit more often 😊

Christine Yeh

After hearing many raves about this place I finally got to experience Baduzzi today. I was not disappointed at all. The ambience is truly amazing - classic, retro and extremely comfortable. The staff are attentive, patient and very welcoming. The food was the best part - authentic and delicately made Italian cuisine, definitely not your average. Ordered the eggplant parmigiana and I cannot fault it - it just tasted like wholesome, hearty, flavoursome pasta. We also shared the chocolate and raspberry for dessert and the photos shown here do not give the taste justice! A must-visit, will be back soon for sure.

Winnie Luo

This place definitely met all my expectations from all the hype! The meatballs were amazing, soft and flavourful. The size of them were surprisingly big which was nice and you can order how many you want freely to suit your group. Pasta was fresh, hearty and cooked perfectly. I did find the duck pasta a little on the salty side but it was still delicious. The tables for two are a little small if you are a big eater and order more than 3 dishes to come at the same time. Overall, the interior and ambience was nice. A restaurant that leaves you feeling very satisfied and comforted. I will definitely return to try more of their menu!

Petra Pearce

Always delicious. The food is top notch, service is outstanding, wine list is awesome. The duck ragu is always a favourite and the meatballs are delish. I wish they did a more traditional tiramisu rather than their deconstructed version but you can't have everything!

Oksana Zhang

Came here on Saturday 6pm. Walking in the restaurant we had to wait a few minutes before we were even seen. Waitresses could be a bit more observant. We got their Flat Iron Steak Tagliata; medium rare as that was what the waitress recommended. And for dessert I got the Cassata with pistachios. Maybe because I was hungry, but I finished the steak within 10 minutes because it was that good. The steak pieces sat elegantly in a bed of creamy and smooth mashed potato, next to a blanket of beautifully presented rocket salad with vinegar dressing and shaved Parmesan. The smokiness of the Lamb was cooked to perfection; the outer skin was slightly crispy and seasoning was perfect. The rocket salad WAS AMAZING. The leaves were drizzled in the sauce, which made it limp and hence easier to eat. It was a burst of flavour. One of the best rocket salads I've ever had. The potato mash was to die for; creamy, moist, flavoursome and warm. My plate was SPICK AND SPAN, I literally scraped every bit of mash off the plate. The dessert; I will never forget the texture and taste. The dried strawberries and raspberry sorbet were refreshingly sour, complemented by the sweetness of biscuits. The cassata itself WAS THE STAR. If you're a fan of big crunchy textures THIS IS FOR YOU! The generous toppings of pistachio and the cream of the cake--lost for words. Its crunchy and exciting and every bite gives you a different experience and leaves you wanting more. It's not sweet at all, it's mild and is a nice gentle way to end the meal. Service was a bit disappointing, waitresses kept walking past us but I think they operate where the same person serves you from start to finish. Price: 8/10 Food: 10/10 Ambience: 10/10 Service: 9/10

Sharon Louie

I came here for my birthday last year and I really enjoyed the experience. The food was seasoned nicely and the dishes were beautiful! I even got a surprise birthday cake, which was awesome and it made my day! The staff were lovely and they made the effort to make sure everything was okay. I totally recommend this restaurant and I would come back with my family next time!

Linh 💛

Visited this place on a Tuesday night with my friends. I like the ambience of the place, very romantic and cozy. Service was quick and staff was helpful. As for food, we ordered one red deer meatball dish, one huntsman rabbit risotto and one duck pasta. Love the meatball, especially the gravy, perfect to eat with bread. The duck pasta was also delicious and served with yummy side salad. I'm not a big fan of the risotto to be honest. Now my friends and I all think that everything was too salty and we had to drink a lot of water during the meals, maybe saltiness is a characteristic of this type of cuisine? I can't say for sure. The highlight of dinner was the dessert as we all ordered tiramisu. It was kinda deconstructed i think, a lot of interesting texture and very creamy which i love. Baduzzi might just be a dessert place for me.

STRADS

It was a good experience at Baduzzi for lunch. Shaved wagyu tongue, bagna càuda, bone marrow... & wild red deer meatballs, portobello mushroom, parsnip cream; rabbit, porcini, grilled radicchio with risotto & duck, porcini ragu with pasta... All looked very special, however tasted a bit not as appealing as their appearance. Seasoning was rather heavy (on the duck & risotto); wagyu tongue was bland; bone marrow was hardly in sight. Anyway, they were worth a try. (Food - 4/5; Service - 4/5; Ambience - 3.5/5)

Louise

Amazing amazing amazing best pasta eva! We ordered carpaccio with creme fraise sorbet, light and divine. Followed it with pappardelle, so tasty and the agnolotti, melts in your mouth a MUST have here. We were very hungry so added the linguine with clams, if you love seafood taste then you'll love this. The crayfish meatballs are also a must have. Rocket salad added some greens. Yes the 3 of us polished off dessert too. Tiramisu- I've never liked but this is the nicest I've ever tried. The ricotta with the confit - bliss and the cassata I didn't try but others loved it. $150 for food - worth every bite

SMINT400

Very helpful and friendly staff. The food was amazing and definitely well presented. Easy to find and heaps of parking (free for first hour). Highly recommend.

Lauren Bernays

Authentic Italiano I have to say I'm big on the creamy pasta, but they showed me something so different. The Ragu meatball pasta hands down was my fave, also the zucchini flower * drooling* small pricey portions but just pack more cash 😘 Service 5/5 Food 5/5 Price 3/5 (but that's because I wanted to buy more ) Ambience 4/5

Julia

Great atmosphere...new waitress judika was amazing! Uniforms look amazing and fresh. The chef glen is also on fine form 😉 i cant get over how amazing this place is bring one out east 😍😍

Chico

The interior of the restaurant was beautiful which suitable for special occasions. We ordered many dishes as I went in a big group. Every dish was very tasty & delicious. However our waitress took off few unfinished dishes ☹️ We had to tell her do not take away unfinished dishes when she consistently asked us finished dishes or not which ware obviously not empty yet. Unfortunately the waitress spoiled the dinner

Grace

really nice atmosphere and the food was amazing. I got the meatballs and a drink and it was amazing. The meat was really soft and packed a lot of flavour- however i just wish there had been more than 3 meatballs for the price of 16. But that hardly brought down my experience. I'll be back again!

Cheekychi

This is one of my absolute favourite auckland eats!! must try the meat board to start (so ideal for sharing and snacking on with drinks), along with something from their meatball range. The courgette flowers are off the chart and a must have!! Along with the duck paperdelle, or if your dining with a few why not share one of their spectacularly cooked steaks that comes with buttery garlic mash and rocket. Bartenders are knowledgeable with making a wild blueberry mojito. Dessert is always a hit too ❤️

Stu

Note that I did not eat in - but got two take-away lunch orders today. One was was pretty bad and the other terrible. First was a ham hock and winter veges and kale soup with a can of Sen. Pel. The soup was insipid and oily and they asked me what beverage I wanted and then got that wrong. The other was a sandwich - schnitzel and pickles. The meat was tough as old boots and the flat bread that it came on even tougher. A real disappointment - and also terrible value for $25 all up. The staff member was pleasant which was why the got a '2' and not lower.

Nikki Rae

A really nice ambiance! The food is very delicious and the desserts was even better. Booking is essential as this place gets so packed! The food came out quite fast and the waiters are very accommodating.

Heui Jin

Food was great, recommend the tiramisu and the pork carbonara. One of the best pork I had in NZ. Service, however was average. The waiter that took the order looks unpleasant when we decided not to order salad as a side and drinks.

Polly

The food was phenomenal and service was pretty good despite it being a very busy night. The highlight for me was the tiramisu- very elegantly plated and flavors were just brilliant.

Heer Kalia

It's a beautiful place with a open kitchen and the best prawns ever! The guy who served us was amazing as well, he for real explained every dish on the menu to us, making the choice really easy however, we ended up eating everything on the menu! I just can't say which one was the best, because I LOVED IT ALL! Oh the deserts too were next level. Must go guys, MUST GO!

Aanchal Manchanda

Loved every dish I have tried here. Not a big fan of sea food but this place has surely changed that with the crayfish meatballs which are my favourite. The eggplant parmigiana is always my go to dish when I'm wanting something cheesy. Recently tried the duck pasta and wow what a well put together dish, recommend that to try for sure !! The highlight of going to baduzzi is always the Tiramisu dessert which always leaves me wanting more every time!

Roxanne Sarkari

Best Italian in Auckland. If we forget the food for a second, the atmosphere and service you receive from staff sets the bar very high. I've been to Baduzzi countless times now and they have been consistent in the quality of their food served. You can taste the freshness in their pastas, not only are their dishes very technical but they also have outstanding flavour combinations. I usually have a wine when I come here for obvious reasons, but the last time I came I had a cocktail which was beautiful and refreshing. If you are a chocolate lover and you don't try their chocolate desert then you are seriously missing out!! In short - nothing to fault.

S&G Take Auckland

Really cute location and lovely staff. I ordered the duck pasta but was not really a fan. My sister on the other hand really enjoyed it so it might just be a taste thing . My mum ordered a prawn or scallop I can't remember exactly but it was amazing

PK

What a little gem!Service was very attentive and helpful when looking through the menu and trying to understand the well set out Italian menu Red wine was bery good and the food was amazing. The lobster tortellini was yummy and the special zucchini flowers with goats cheese was delicious. Had to try the chocolate tart for dessert..Amazing textures and flavours were well balanced.Looking to return and try some more uniquely set out di@shes

Marcella

Okay, went to this restaurant for my birthday a couple of weeks ago with high expectations from all the positive reviews and the drool worthy photos. My amazing friends bought me a cake that we took to the restaurant and unfortunately they said we can't bring cakes and that we weren't allowed to have it there. Really?! I guess it's understandable but it totally killed the mood straight away. Anyway, service was really average and at a place like this I expected the wait staff to bring their A game. We ordered our food and out they came smelling wonderful. My partner and I got the duck Ragu, meat/ bread platter, clam linguini, and the crayfish meatballs. My favourite was the clam linguini. The duck was quite salty and the sauce was over reduced to the point where a few mouthfuls were enough. The cured meats were nice but again, nothing special about them. Crayfish meatballs were okay but 3 for $27?! Definitely overpriced. My friends also thought the food was good, but not amazing. Overall, I'm quite disappointed. For what you're paying, I expect better service and amazing food and unfortunately what we got was okay service and slightly above average food.

Melissa Mathieson

The service, experience and food here is just delightful and instantly transports you to what you'd hope to experience in a restaurant in Italy. The knowledgeable and attentive wait staff are helpful but not over bearing. Desserts were surprisingly large but incredible! The tortellini were mouth watering. Highly recommend.

Axvin MuChien Lee

Went there on a Saturday night. It was busy but it doesn't feel packed. Awesome food, great service, great environment! Had the king prawns for starter, followed by the duck pasta, eggplant and lamb riblets, then finished with the crostata. The prawn was just flawless, the lamb was a little salty, but was balanced out with the eggplant. Love the dessert the most!

Benedict Uy

Quite glad I came with a group since we were then able to order quite a few items on the menu to share. We ordered a few items from each to get a range of different items to try. Of the different dishes the duck ragout with pasta and the lamb ribs were really tasty and nice. The meatballs were also quite good. The service here was amazing. The servers showed up when we were wanting them most of the time. They were also quite efficient in removing empty plates from the table so we could put more food on the table. It came to about $60pp for a 3 course meal plus drinks for four people. I can see now why this place is quite popular,

Alex Butenko

Beautiful food, great location and nice service. We had a big company lunch here some time ago and it was a great experience. The Bistecca and Squid Ink risotto were my personal favourites.

Nicholas R. Cannon

Just go to Baduzzi. Doesn't matter what you're in the mood for, if it's a special occasion or not, just go.That's all you need to know. It's one of the best restaurants in a city bristling with good places to eat. The point of separation is care. Care about the way you're greeted, how the staff talk and act, how the food tastes and is sourced, care how you're attended to during the meal, and care afterwards. I It might be one of the best run restaurants in the hemisphere. The staff are awesome and I feel 99/100 other places could learn a thing or two about customer management and the seemingly trivial task of delivering food to a table. As far as the food goes it's exemplary. It's beautiful to look at, it's rustic and simple yet daring and inventive, the wine list is impeccably resourced to compliment the meals coming out swiftly from the kitchen that runs like clockwork. I've worked in kitchens all my life. I know how they should be run and this is a restaurant that holds itself to very high standard and always delivers.

Paige Travis

I'm not usually a massive fan of Italian as I don't usually like pasta but this was absolutely incredible. I am definitely converted. I very rarely love every part of the meal, but each and every part of this meal was delicious. There was so much flavour and each dish was the perfect size. The staff were lovely and very helpful with the menu and the ambience of the restaurant was lovely. Gorgeous out door area. I would highly recommend this restaurant and especially the lamb meat balls, duck maltagliati and tiramisu!!

Jessica

Went here for dinner tonight with a girlfriend and 10/10 would recommend! The staff were really nice and really helpful with explaining the menu. Decor and atmosphere of the place was great. The best part was the food by far! I had the zucchini flowers to start, beetroot pappardelle and the cassata for desert. Every part of my meal was delicious. I haven't had good Italian food in a really long time. So if you love Italian food, this would be my best recommendation for a amazing pasta!

Where To Next Auckland

This Italian is one of the gems of the viaduct restaurant crowd. The atmosphere here is always great, busy.. but so chilled, you just know everyone is having a good night. We couldn't possibly pick just one thing off their menu.. from their King Prawns, to Red Deer Meatballs and Duck Maltagliata.. we're yet to try anything less than amazing here. Their wine selection is top notch too.. so grab a sauv and just enjoy the vibes of great food and great service and one of the best Italians in Auckland.

Ana Kristi Soniega

Honestly the service from this Italian resto is superb. As first timers some time ago. Our waiter explained to us our menu and allowed for us ample time to decide what to order. He also chucked in some recommendations which we ended up going by and they were 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 I think we ended up going for the duck pasta and the clam shells one and they were both really good. Plus points for an actual well heated outdoor area! Good job baduzzi

Teddyfamily.

The interior of this place was lovely, especially the bar area. Ox Tongue w/ bone marrow - Bursts of flavour. Crayfish meatballs - complimented with good aged cheese. Sauce was a tomato based pasta-like sauce. Decent but it didn't blow me away. Deer meatballs - Sauce was super salty. Made lips wrinkle. Overpowering salt ruined that taste. Beef Rump - Topped with a rocket salad with balsamic. The buttery mash potato really complicated the steak. However the rump was not cooked evenly. Went for medium rare and about a fifth of the rump was over done and burnt on the outer. Again salt was overused and a little overpowering. We were expecting more for the meatballs, and probably won't return for the them again as they were a let down this time, but may visit to try the desserts and pastas.

Tw393

We came here for anniversary dinner, oh my, the food was AMAZING!! We ordered the beef tongue and meat balls for entree , clam pasta and deer pasta as main and the tiramisu for dessert !! My favorites were .... all of them. Reminds me of the Italian dining experience but better - the fresh ingredients , the lovely presentation . We will definitely come back. Did I say the tiramisu was the best I ever had ?

Alana Emerson

Have visited several times and have been looked after well. Nice menu and atmosphere. They always manage to find a table for us, even when so busy.

Restaurant Assassin

This place is highly rated and generally good. They do get very creative with their desserts. However I can help feeling underwhelmed by the service and the savoury dishes. If you go for lunch you can't book. This is annoying for a business lunch as it is embarrassing to turn up and find there is a 40min wait to be seated. Probably somewhere fun to go for a birthday or similar. Probably not a romatic evening though as the table service can sometimes let them down

Christine Lusha Gray

I have to say baduzzi has the best meat balls ever! Perfectly executed every single time! And the pasta, oh the pasta is just heaven! We can't wait to go back again!

Rob Young

Hey, what a fab place. Went there for dinner on 30 th Dec and the place was humming. Food and service was fantastic. I had the smoothest Italian red. We had a table by the dessert kitchen and it was fun watching them make the desserts. Tiramisu was one of the best I've had. We were recommended it by a shop assistant in New Market. Thank you for being open as other places we tried were closed. Definitely go there again next time we're in Auckland.

Athena

Went there for a work xmas lunch. The place was buzzing with people. The beef was spot on- tender and flavoursome. The saffron rissoto was overly seasoned and the vegeterian kafta balls were also overly grainy. Their beet salad was good. Would go back there for the beef and to try their pastas.

Monty88

This was the best dinner I've had in a while. We shared zucchini flowers, beef meatballs, duck Ragu pappardalle and beetroot pappardalle. All the dishes were delicious. They also had a good selection of Italian wines and the service was great.

Tom Wills

Picked this place out before we'd even arrived in the country and it was a good choice. Amazing dinner with every meal hitting the mark. Highly recommend the duck ragu pasta and beef meatballs.

LuciferTSN

Who doesn't like the Baduzzi's tiramisu. It's the best ever. All over all other dishes were nice. We went for a lunch instead of dinner. The place was quiet and the waiters really spend their time to explain the dishes, which is nice.

Alwayseating

Owners of the Grove this team knows how to cook food! We started off with egg plant flower - kingfish sashimi - duck pasta then the lamb ribs. The duck is buttery, tender moist (can't think of other words) and just an all round macking dish!

Hungry Auckland

A few weeks ago, you may have seen that we ran our first competition for our readers. All you had to do was tag three of your favourite Auckland restaurants on Instagram and tag a friend who you’d like to take with you. Our lucky winner was Hansa and her prize was dinner with us at one of the restaurants she tagged.She made a very good choice in picking Italian gem Baduzzi. Situated on the corner of Jellicoe Street and Fish Lane on the North Wharf we were given a nice table in the pretty courtyard area.

Tastebud Tingles

Definitely a place worth revisiting for a sophisticated flavourful meal. Fast service, nice staff and lovely setting. I would go back to try more of their meatball dishes. I highly recommend the Crayfish meatballs w pancetta, chickpeas & pecorino. Super tasty with an impeccable sauce. Pasta tasted great but I expected more wow factor - walnuts did not come through in flavour at all. Buttered maltagliati w duck & porcini ragu, buttercup & pickled black walnuts. Beautiful creamy sauce in the Agnolotti verdi, snapper & slipper lobster, burro al limone. A must have for seafood lovers. Tiramisu w Baileys & amaretto ladyfingers, chocolate cream. I would of appreciated more Baileys as it was a bit lacking for a true tiramisu. Still wonderful, a mellow dessert to end the meal.

Lang Ea

best Italian food/ flavor and favorite restaurant in Auckland. food made with a lot of love and very high standards. service was good. pricey but you get what you pay for, which i don't mind doing if i go home feeling satisfied.

HJ

Had the pleasure of meeting the bloggers from Hungry Auckland for dinner here last night. We had all heard good things about Baduzzi and were looking forward to tasting some of their dishes. The restaurant is very tidy and well presented. Loved the booth-like seating arrangements and also the outdoor courtyard – which may I add, was well heated for a chilly night. The service was very good throughout the night and our waiter was really clued up on the food and drinks menu. We ordered the lamb, beef and vegetarian meatballs to start. All the meatballs were really tasty and smothered in thick sauce. The vegetarian option was made of spinach and ricotta which was a nice combination for a meatless option. The Italian meats, duck pate and focaccia were all fresh and paired well together. For mains we ordered the Buttered maltagliati with duck & porcini ragu, Saffron and potato tortellini, as recommended by our waiter. The duck was cooked to perfection – tender and moist with a rich savory flavour. I would recommend this dish to all pasta or duck fans. The Tortellini looked small with only 4 pieces on the plate, however each piece was stuffed with rich and creamy goodness. Any bigger and it would have been too overpowering. After seeing how stunning their dessert looked on their website and instagram we decided to taste the Tiramisu and the Valrhona chocolate ‘torta capresse’. Both were beautifully presented and decent portions. Each dish lived up to our expectations. For those after fine Italian cuisine then this is a place is for you. Perfect for a date or special occasion.

Josh

We walked in as a group of 6 on a busy Saturday night and somehow lucked into a table. The staff were all very informative and friendly, definitely a great help when it came to the menu. Phenomenal food. The highest praise I can give is the red sauce tasting exactly like my grandmothers beautiful food all round. The pasta was amazing.

Bridgee

Dined here pre-show at the new Waterfront theatre, having not been here for a year or so. Arrived earlier than the rest of my table, which was a good thing because by 6.30 the place was packed. After being seated quickly, it did take a long time to try and get someone's attention to place my drink order, but that would be my only criticism of what was an excellent dinner. There were 4 of us, including 2 13 year olds, who found the normal a la carte menu a bit rich for their liking so they ordered off the kids menu and were very pleased with their meals - my daughter is still raving about the delicious meatballs and pasta. My friend and I shared the delicious crayfish meatballs and then had a pasta dish (agnolotti - yum) and the pork cutlet - wow, a lot of food and all delicious. And I like that they serve with crusty bread to mop up all the lovely sauces. We will definitely be back, and won't be leaving it another year.............

Annie Ren

Baduzzi is where you can enjoy a pleasant and authentic Italian culinary experience. We had an Italian feast and tried all four their signature meatballs (of which the crayfish and lamb ones are 10/10), their range of pasta was also very nice my favorite has gotta be the snapper agnolotti and the beetroot pappardelle. A downside here is that they are quite expensive, the snapper agnolotti is sold individually by pieces, so the prices can add up quite quick. We also tried their wood fried meats, again we had the lamb cutlets which was $8 a piece. But this was amazing! The charred, crispy coat with tender meats on the inside and a clever purple shaved carrot on the top=a must try! My rating is quite low for the AMAZING food that they serve because of the service. The waitress served us an extra plate of agnolotti without informing us that it was actually another tables order. What's worse was that she actually brought our agnolotti later on so technically if we didn't ask we would've paid for 3 plates of them without realizing. As each plate had 4, that would be another $32. It was quite hard for us to keep track as we ordered so many different dishes and we took quite a long table as there were quite a few of us. In the end we still had to pay for 2 plates because we ate them but if she had told us that she mixed up the orders, then we definitely wouldn't have touched the 2nd plate. It was also not really busy at the restaurant that night so we expected better. Overall I'd still return to try their tiramisu (we couldn't fit desserts after trying so many dishes) and I do rate quite highly of their pastas and meats.

Nathalie

Very happy with this place, first time dining here with my family for a bday dinner. Ambiance is lovely and we were seated quickly (booking is recommended) staff were very attentive and provided us with wonderful service. Food wise very good and excellent quality and flavours! We ordered 3 entree type dish we don't really have fav as we liked everything, entree dish however is very small and they said its "sharing" but I'm sure it's only good for one?.. Main and pasta dishes were also very good! We Ordered porkchop, steak and duck pasta and Beetroot again all yummy! We did not share the main due to serving isn't large enough for sharing we decided to have one main and entree each and dessert. their dessert menu is a must try! Overall for 6 adults with 6 mains and 3 entree and 4 desserts plus 2 bottles of wine we spent just under $400 which isn't too bad, therefore we will be back for sure!!

Sulin Wang

Had some wonderful dinner and wine here last night with a friend. What a beautiful interior! I loved how it wasn't your basic industrial look so common these days and there was warmth and age in the style of the decor. We began our meals with wine, and then a ricotta stuffed courgette flower each (amazing), some deer meatballs to share, an agnolotti (giant ravioli) each, and some beetroot pasta to share! Portion sizes are on the smaller side and everything is designed to be shared, so this was a great way to try a little bit of everything; what we ordered was just the right amount for two people I think! Definitely on the pricier side, but well worth it for the amazing flavours, presentation, and atmosphere :)

Di

Great Italian restaurant with cozy atmosphere and friendly servers. I had duck paste, love their handmade paste, which was absolutely delicious and flavourful. My friend had handmade beef meatballs served with breads, she was pretty happy with her dish as well. We also tried their desserts, the presentation was amazing and taste was awesome, I just could not stop eating them.

FoodiePhysician

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and allocated the same waiter/waitress per table which is handy and speedy food service. Can be busy with up to >1 hr wait at times. Not sure if they do reservations, was under impression you just put your name down and wait. Had a wide selection of dishes; - octopus salad - shaved wagyu tongue - crayfish meatballs - venison redballs - clam linguine - beetroot papadelle - crayfish pesce Well presented with a variety of flavours and textures Favs were beetroot papadelle and crayfish meatballs. Unique and full of flavour, lot of seafood based dishes, all were great. Downside is that all are like tasting dishes and the mains alone would not be enough for most patrons especially if shared. Main dishes arent really designed to be shared. 250$ for four people and a bottle of wine. Definitely a must try for seafood and pasta lovers, but hour wait is overkill. 3.5 Yums

Isabel

Just came back from dinner here. My 5th visit. The food and flavour is pristine. They have decent choices in wine. I love love their duck pate cure meat board. Their deer meatballs are my favourite and very flavoursome. Linguine with clams yummy but best of all are their desserts. It's amazing. Service is nice but most are from Europe so sometimes hard to understand if it's a crowded night. Staffs are really busy so quite hard to catch their attention.

Jasveen Kaur

Amazing. We ordered a few different dishes and shared the greatness around. Such finesse in their Italian food, every phase of the flavours progress seamlessly with each bite and it's all just delicious. Can't wait to come back!

Cesar Luis

My family and other friends/family had a great lunch here, be prepared to spend around $80 per person, though the food is worth it, seafood risotto is great, antipasto is really good, the duck pasta is divine and amazing, all food is great and service is really good too; the only reason I do not give them a five is they missed a couple of items from our order so we had to wait longer and also the kids food arrived after the adults which is not ideal, we definitely coming back!

Ayaan

Been here twice now being a chef I'm got fussy who isn't 😜,but have to say food is amazing great flavours and presented well,could brush up a bit on service,and loving food so much we feel tables are a bit small for a banquet of food other wise great place will be back for sure 👏

Thegreeats

Divine Dined here for my birthday and I was amazed I don't think I can ever pay 26 for an average pasta again when I can come here Ordered the duck, risotto, beef meatballs and 2 desserts (tiramisu and Gelato) Overall the dishes were rich, deep and brothy and unique. There was so much depth in their flavours we were analyzing as we went haha Price came to 123 and we also had a drink each I'll definitely come back to try more. Also, the waitress was super lovely and helpful one of the best service I've had :) "

Saskia Yates

My partner took me for a surprise lunch at Baduzzi last year and I'd rank it amongst my all time favourite dining experiences. We were greeted with genuine warmth and I immediately felt at ease. I always appreciate good service since I know it really does take some effort to provide. The warm welcome was well received and set the tone for the afternoon. After sitting down and getting comfortable we were offered water and any additional drinks - we both got some well poured ice cold Peroni. Wait staff approached us with comfortable intervals in between so we didn't feel pestered or ignored. Each interaction with the various staff members was a joy - creating a feeling of familiarity and hospitality rarely found outside family dinners. We ordered an entree and mains at the same time, but the waitress thought to ask if we wanted them separate or apart (options I'd not considered). We chose to have entree first and the fried Zucchini flowers stuffed with goats cheese we got were tantalising, leaving us very excited for what was to come. Next our mains arrived - Duck & porcini pasta and stuffed, burnt butter gnocchi. They were elegant and satisfying, but very well priced too. Last but not least we ordered a 10 year Port (the waitress split the port between two glasses which was very considerate) and Tiramisu to share. It was incredible. Such a stunning way to end a gorgeous meal. This stunning introduction wasn't a one off, I've been to Baduzzi many times since and It's always incredible. If you've not yet been, I highly recommend dropping by this fantastic restaurant - it's one of the best Auckland has to offer.

Sophie Allegra Unterhofer

what an amazing experience ! Took my mum for her birthday and we were not disappointed. We shared all meals ,6 in total , and we definitely had some favourites. The butter maltagliati w/ duck ragu was definitely the favourite of the night. we could of had one each ! the goats curds tortellini was also a close second. We also had the flat iron steak which had a beautiful buttery mash potato with a well dressed and seasoned rocket salad. Steak was cooked perfectly for my liking ( rare to medium ) but they didn't ask how we wanted it which was interesting. We also have the seafood risotto with pork scratchings. this dish was so moorish, I couldn't help but go back for more. Although the risotto usually ends up being quite a heavy dish, this definitely wasn't and proved to be a great partner with the other main dishes as it was nice and light but had the natural creaminess from the rice. The dessert was also a high light and although I was totally full from the previous courses, my mother was eager to try the tiramisu especially being her birthday. overall an amazing night and the service was amazing. although I did get my tap water mixed with sparking at one stage. A quick note that although they say they are famous for their meatballs, I think they should change for the duck pasta as the meat balls , although lovely, were a bit heavy and not a highlight to us. Would recommended to anyone.

Hana Faleatua

My boyfriend took me here last night and it was my favourite dinner date so far! The food was perfect and the service was nice. We shared the venison meatballs (and it was clear why they were known for their meatballs) and a flat iron steak. The steak was one of the best we'd had in a very long time. We highly recommend! Thank you very much and we will be sure to see you in future 😊

Zoè Fay Foster

My wife and I are always looking for new and exciting places to eat out. We found it here. Our waitress was first class. She took us on a journey and her knowledge of the menu was top notch. She even gave me a tour of the cellar. Thanks for being great. Will definitely be back. From table 37 x

Annettetchurch

Gorgeous food - love it - a new favourite- mmmmmm mmmmm - I don't have a big appetite but had to order more it was sooo delicious- cold night sat outside but it was fine and warm enough with the blankets

Chelsea

I had such a disappointing experience at Baduzzi tonight. Visited for my mum’s birthday and had great expectations – I’ve dined there before and recommended it – and we were so upset with how the night went. The food was, as always, delicious, but everything else was terrible. We arrived soaking wet from having to walk in the rain, and the maitre’d attempted to whisk us off to our table immediately. She disappeared while we stayed put and hung our coats up ourselves. She returned a few minutes later with a sheepish look on her face and we then followed. Two small beers and one large were ordered – three large arrived. No big deal. Our entrée ordering went smoothly but the waitresses had no idea who ordered what at any point of the night, so drinks and food were constantly (and confidently) put down in front of the wrong person. One waitress came to wipe down our tables with a dishcloth after our entrée, which was very awkward and unnecessary. We ordered a second drink five to 10 minutes before main courses arrived. We sat with our main courses for a few minutes, waiting for the wine, but decided to start. Peering through the window into the bar, we witnessed two bartenders polishing glasses and clearly flirting for about 10 minutes before pouring our wine. Meanwhile, we’d finished our food by the time the wine arrived – and it was completely wrong. A second waitress appeared at our table to clarify the issue. We pointed out the wines we had ordered, and in return she matter-of-factly pointed out the wines we had received. Awkward silence. “Well, that’s not what we ordered.” She then grabbed the wines and said she would replace them but we took them back off her, saying we'd already waited long enough so we would keep them. No apology, she just glared at us and walked off. The initial waitress then came back to wipe down the perfectly clean tables awkwardly (again) as she meekly apologised for placing the wine order wrong – was very awkward and we could tell she had been told off so we felt sorry for her. If the wines had arrived on time instead of subjecting us to bartenders flirting and polishing glasses in plain view it wouldn’t have been such an issue. We told her what we had seen her colleagues doing and joked around with her to settle her nerves, telling her it was totally okay and not purely her fault. All these minor issues could be overlooked if the restaurant didn’t charge top dollar - $16 for three meatballs and $17 for a glass of wine we didn’t even order. We voiced all of our service concerns to two waitresses and were issued very mumbled apologies and given rude looks. We are not rude people, but would rather give feedback in person at the time of the issue to give a chance to rectify. That didn’t happen. All in all it was a disappointing experience and we won’t be back.

Samantha Gemmell

Had an amazing time here at baduzzi! Definitely a step up from all the other Italian places that I've been to. The service was great and so was the food! Absolutely loved the snapper and lobster parcel and the lamb meatballs! All the flavours were amazing. The tiramisu was to die for too! Definitely recommend coming here

GlutenFreeFoodie

Really enjoyed our evening. Went with a group after work, shared a platter to start, and our mains were excellent. Beautiful beautiful food and presentation, prompt service, lady who seated us could have been friendlier though. Loved the round booth seat we sat at. Pricey but worth it.

Jan

We went to Baduzzi on a Friday. Got there at 5:30, nice and not crowded so plenty of tables to choose from. The waiter explained the dishes and gave recommendation on what/how to order. Most excellently thorough and attentive through out the evening, topping up our wine and hover to see if we need anything. Food wise it's on par with the service - we had beef tongue and octopus to start, the beef tongue was wonderfully flavored and tender. Beautiful. Next we had crayfish meatballs. The friend said its like orgasm in the mouth. I couldn't agree more haha. For main I had 2 pieces of Agnolotti (massive size ravioli) tasty creamy sauce, flavorsome dish all in all. Definitely will be back - great food, fantastic service and lovely atmosphere.

JJJiiiiAn

🇮🇹🇮🇹Italienische Küche! Baduzzi has the most incredible meatballs in town😂! The dining area is kind of dark, but super warm and cozy> Buttered Maltaglia w duck ist besonders gut haha. ✨& excellent service.

Sarah

Food is delicious and nicely presented, but the price is a bit high and for the portion served. Other than that the restaurant had amazing food and a good atmosphere

TheSecretFoodie

Baduzzi is one of my favourite restaurant in Auckland! Whenever I dine there I always recieve fantastic food and service. The beetroot and paua pappardelle is one of my favourite dishes that they serve even though I'm not usually a fan of beetroot but this is an exception! Of course, when you go to Baduzzi you have to try the tiramisu, it. is. amazing. I would go as far as saying best in Auckland!

Kesh.d

Great food and atmosphere. The staff were really accommodating too! The favorites of the day was the beef meatballs, duck ragu pasta, and the tiramisu!!

Jade Lim

Very much a dining-in-the-dark experience for us. Lights were perhaps a little too dim, which made it difficult for us to even read the menu. But in fact it adds to the mood and made us focus on our taste senses... critically. We started off with their all-time favourite POLPETTE (meat balls). Three big crafted meatballs per serve. We had the 'Fiordland crayfish meatballs w lardo di colonnata, savoy cabbage & pecorino' ($19) and the 'Wild red deer meatballs, portobello mushroom, parsnip crema' ($16). Beautiful flavours every single bite. Words cant quite describe it..it goes like.. 'mmm..'mmm.mmm'. Then, it was time for 'PRIMI' - Baduzzi's daily handmade pasta. We went for 'Linguine alle vongole, little neck clams, confit tuna, chilli & cherry tomatoes' ($25) and 'Beetroot pappardelle w fried paua, smoked pancetta & slow cooked quail egg' ($24). First bite into the pasta and you know it's perfecto, with the al dente texture and all the flavours bursting in your mouth. We highly recommend Baduzzi to all who are after fine authentic Italian cuisine. And yes, we'll be back! *** Updates: Went back the second time with my girlfriends. Food is consistently delicious. And did I tell you that their desserts are divine?! Mmm.. try them for yourself.

Good Advisor

Tasty, tasty, tasty! We had a selection of dishes along with a delicious Montepulciano wine and the whole meal was just incredible. Pretty attentive service.

CrazyCatLady_EmmaC

Amazing restaurant ! Love the atmosphere and friendly staff. We had set menu for 12 people and everyone loved it! Must try their dessert and meat balls... They also cater to your dietary requirements which is great for a group lunch/dinner.

Damon Parker

The menu was indecipherable. Most restaurants have plain English as well as the regional names but the waiter had to explain the menu to us which I find utterly pointless and a waste of time. The prices are obscene for what you get, spent the same at orbit, the food was better with larger portions. We didn't order enough but after what felt like a sample of the menu we had no desire to order more and left to get dessert else where.

Daniel Kinnoch

The food here is excellent, but I definitely agree with other reviews that the tables are cramped in. And I have always felt that sitting you at the bar first is a ruse to get you to try and buy more drinks - not everyone likes alcohol. I have been here twice, and each time I have tried different meatballs - and they're all good! The pasta has a great combination of texture and flavour; this is definitely one of Auckland's better Italian restaurants, which is an achievement given there is not as large an Italian population in New Zealand compared to Australia.

Alan Dempsey

First class bistro style place doing a fusion that still rings the italian bell. Just g othere. Seriously wont dissapoint , Only vaguew negative is tiny table size and seats being a bit on the spindly side. That's small potatoes when the food arrives. Just brilliant.

Oly Su

We came to Baduzzi to celebrate my wife's 30th birthday and we were all really impressed with the food. We were a picky table to serve - I'm a vegan and her friend can't eat dairy, and they catered to our diet requirements really well! The pasta was the exemplary of al dente, the food were flavoursome, the cocktail and dessert were exquisite. Being vegan I didn't have the meat, but by the look on everyone's face I could tell they were very impressed. Our 2 yo daughter was with us and we ordered the kids menu. In hindsight I think it'd be better for her to just share with our food for us all to get a bigger variety. The price is pretty good considering the quality and the location. The staff were very friendly, patient and helped us with understanding the menu (which I had to study a bit beforehand as I've not much experience with Italian food). I felt very welcomed. Word of advice is to book or arrive early. We arrived at 6pm and placed our order early, and pretty soon the place packed up really quickly. Lucky for us we had a nice seat and food arrived quite quickly. It was really busy and noisy (as expected of a successful restaurant), but the vibrate of the place was very good. Anyways, great job everyone :) Thank you very much for the great time we had.

Lucia Zhang

When you have one of the best food in town, why cramp your customers to tiny 500x500 tables that can hardly fit 2 dishes (+4 tasting plates). The food here is ah-mazing, the slow-cooking brings out a unique texture and the special flavors in every ingredient they use. The seating is terrible though, you can hear more of the adjacent table's conversation than your own, pretty big let down.

Rhegan Smith

We came here for my Boyfriend's birthday dinner and I can't describe how glad I am that we went. It's a small plate style place and you would usually order a couple of plates each or to share around the table, the (I'm assuming) owner came round to chat with us when we sat down and got us drinks underway in no time, such a friendly place matched with a lively interior - I absolutely loved it. I hate to say it but I barely remember half the plates we ordered were called but this little slipper lobster and snapper parcel really stood out to me, the most amazing flavour. We also got the goats feta and brown butter little tortellini plate which was phenomenal. Pricing was also pretty acceptable for the quality of the food and service we were provided with. They even brought out a complementary little happy birthday brownie before we left which was the cutest surprise at the end of the night. Anyone who's tossing up whether or not they should go right now, I promise you won't be disappointed!!!

Claudia

Baduzzi has always been on my to-do list so was excited when the day finally came. We ordered the lamb meatballs, risotto, duck maltagliati and the tiramisu for dessert. The lamb meatballs were amazing, I could eat them for the rest of my life. I wish I knew the recipe because I could genuinely live off them. Succulent and every mouthful burst with bold herbaceous meaty hits. The risotto was nice and fresh. The duck maltagliati on the other hand was extremely salty that between the both of us, we struggled to finish the dish. Another friend of mine ordered the dish on a separate occasion and said the same thing about this pasta dish being overly salty. Luckily to bring my palette to life again we had the tiramisu. The tiramisu was gorgeous, I don't even like coffee, but this was amazing. I would probably return again for the lamb meatballs and tiramisu however try other pasta dishes.

Daniel Bell

Outstanding!! The duck pasta was beautiful and the tiramisu was the best desert we've had in years. And well done on the kids menu! World class.

Sonam Kumar

Loved my experience at baduzzi the deer meat balls are to die for and the squid ink pasta was great! The decor is amazing and really sets the tone. Would definitely recommend going here

Vivek Katial

One word. AMAZING. Despite arriving at Baduzzi and having to wait 45 minutes for a table (with the Wynyard quarter area not an issue on a Friday evening.) the expectations were high. Baduzzi did not disappoint. Excellent service and great food. In particular the dessert!

Hungusmcfatty

This is a review for Baduzzi's $15 weekday sandwich lunch. Sammie of the day was chicken and taleggio and came with choice of San Pellegrino. Absolutely delicious and made with such care. It's served on flatbread -I guess that makes it kind of low-carb? No justification is needed really, because it's just so tasty!

Stephy_NakiGirl

Baduzzi is very much a hidden treasure. Located under the ASB building in busy Wynyard Quarter it is hard to tell what lies behind the red door. I've eaten here a few times since its been opened - lunch, dinner & an event, and with all visits the food was consistently delicious. Very much simple food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Such a delight. Their takeaway lunch is a must if you are in the area - $15 for a can of sanpellorgrino & a daily special housemade wrap with meat & salad within. Certainly not the cheapest lunch, but well worth it for the quality & taste of the ingredients. On this visit it was all about the pasta & the meatballs. Meatballs really are their specialty so a must try dish. I've tried all varieties, the favourites being the lamb & beef. Both have rich delicious sauces that you savour, & leave you wanting more. Luckily they usually come in 3's, but you can ask for 4. Breads are also delicious (great to mop up the sauce from the meatballs) & they often have great specials on the menu focusing on seasonal ingredients so make sure you give them a try. Previous hits have been their white asparagus risotto & stuffed zucchini flowers. Tonight though was the standard menu - a duck & porcini ragu pasta, again the dish looked simple but flavours were mouthwatering. No room for dessert tonight - but if you have room, they are a must. Again great flavours, they look amazing too. Great service & a good wine list too. Waiters are very knowledgable. We found a Sangiovese Syrah really complemented our dishes. Well worth a visit - recommend booking to avoid missing out.

Estelle.verani

After months of hearing about this place, I finally enjoyed a delicious lunch there today. My prawn and crab risotto was very good and my husband really loved the maltagliati with duck. Both dishes were very tasty and quantities perfect, not too little as you can experience in some other fancy places. We finished our meal with exquisite desserts: the tiramisu and chocolate torta caprese were absolutely divine, not too sweet and with a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity for the second one. We would recommend this place if you're looking for a good italian restaurant. But don't expect pizzas, there's none on the menu an you won't even miss them!

Shiksha Sridhar

Went here after reading some reviews with a few girlfriends. Absolutely loved the food that we had. Definitely a place worth recommending. We had one vegetarian in our group and between 3 people we ordered 4 dishes. The saffron and potato tortellini was to die for. From the desserts and enjoyed my crosata of custard with feijoa sorbet which was an interesting flavour. For any Italian lovers out there, this place is a little bit different, but the food is delicious!

Sophie Phipps

Very impressed! went with my partner and fried for an impromptu lunch and was glad to have done so. Menu interesting with something for everyone, safe eaters -t-bone- and those a little more adventurous - crispy pigs tail - we shared our dishes, duck pappadelle, pork sirloin, venison meatballs and they were all fantastic. not over complicated, true to the products, full moreish flavors. Waiter was fantastic (young blonde kiwi male) extremely helpful, not overbearing, new the menu through and through. the only gripe for me would be the prices of the wines, all very expensive and not very generous pours, but still a good selection of reds, could maybe have a less dry option for the whites. smart but relaxing setting, we will be back!

Sarah

The best Italian restaurant in Auckland. I been in there with my friends, all the food was soooo nice for sure we will come back again ....

Jessica Donovan

Excellent crayfish meatballs. Just those are worth the trip alone. The snapper and lobster angolini is wonderful; so smooth and flavoursome.

Ridad

Me and my husband went to Baduzzi last night for dinner and was surprised to see how busy the restaurant was given it was a weeknight but the food justified it. The food is delicious and the crab and deer meatballs, vegetarian tortellini and the crab salad were the stars of the dinner. Beware of ordering too much food because we didn't have any space left for dessert by the end.

Natasha

For me Baduzzi lives up to the hype. Went here after work on a Friday, immediately got a table. Had tried to get a table here on several occasions before but you can't book a table for a group of less than 6 people, so took a while being able to eat here. Got the lamb and crayfish meatballs, eggplant parmigiana, saffron and potato tortellini, tiramisu and terrine and warm marscapone cake. The lamb meatballs were amazing, I thought the crayfish meatballs smelt a bit fishy which put me off. The eggplant parmigiana was filling and I think the goats cheese made the tortellini a bit tart. Both desserts were amazing, would've liked a bit more. Would like to return and try the other dishes.

Feastwisely

Take me to any new country and you can safely bet I’ll seek out Italian food. After a few days of eating highly prized local cuisine I’m usually hankering for antipasti, pasta and pizza. Not because I’m Italian or have lived in Italy but because it’s the food I most enjoy when eating out.

Edmond Young

Have always enjoyed dining here, came here for Valentine's Day and no problem getting a booking. The food is to die for me and the atmosphere adds to the experience. Has the crayfish meatballs, steak was cooked to perfection and to be honest forgot what else we had! Highly recommended.

Yoyo

First time we've been to this establishment. The service was good. Pasta was unique but pleasant. Tiramisu was absolutely devine couldn't get enough of it.

Jack Trav.

Service: 8/10 Food: 8.5/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Value for money:6/10 Overall: 7.5/10 Really impressed by everything here. Would definitely return.

Josh Law

Came here for a Friday night dinner. First time I've been here. I love the passion of the staff here. They recant (in great detail) the menu with all the Italian excitement. We had the venison meatballs,the bolognese sauce meatballs, and a variety of pasta. I had the beetroot pasta with prosciutto. It wasn't anywhere near as good as the other two pasta dishes served to us. A bit dull. The other dishes were magnificent. Definitely worth a good go. It is pretty pricey though, so get saving!

Amanda Teo

Came here after the rave reviews Baduzzi has received, ordered the buttered maltagliati with duck and it was really quite salty. Was unable to finish the whole meal due to the salt content. However, the spanner crab pasta was quite good and the desserts were absolutely devine. For dessert we ordered the pear crostata and the valrhona chocolate torta caprese, they have 100% nailed their dessert selection. This is by far the best dessert I have ever had at a restaurant and will definitely be coming back even if it is just for dessert.

Ryan Orr

I've been to Baduzzi 3 or 4 times and this review is based on these visits. The service I've experienced has always been fantastic, equivalent to far more expensive establishments. I've sampled all of the meatballs and they are spectacular. I've also worked my way through the bulk of the pasta on the menu and not found a bad one yet.

Jamiekbing

Great atmosphere and even better food! Loved the crayfish meatballs...!!! And such a great price. Definitely recommend this place, go for a walk around Wynyard quarter then pop in for a early dinner - perfect!

Minily

This has been on my list to revisit as the previous experience was marred by a slightly awkward work function. I invited friends who have never been and we were all very happy sitting in the courtyard eyeing the menu and kicking off with some cocktails. I loved the dark cherry martini and the unusual beer choices (Czech beer anyone?) We ordered entrees of courgette flowers, lamb and thyme meatballs and wood fired prawns. My favourite were definitely the meatballs. For our shared mains, we chose the spanner crab and the Agnolotti verde. It was agreed at the table that the Agnolotti verde was definitely the highlight of our meals. The small parcels of pasta filled with a surprisingly dense amount of seafood in a light lemon butter were just out of this world. The pasta in both dishes were outstanding. The meals were so good, we forced ourselves to order a dessert. It would be rude not to, right? Tiramisu (not what you would expect) crostata of custard and terrina of strawberries – all plates were licked clean and our stomachs full.

Farshid Hakimi

This Is a first time I ever been here. I thought I give a try. For starter we add some meat ball and I tell you what this was a best meat ball I ever had so far. For main we had 600gm of The bone beef medium. It came with a potatoe mash and rocket salad. It was what I exactly wanted and I really enjoyed it. Favorite part were potatoe mash and of course a friendly and cute waitress lol. Must recommend.

Arpita Mandal

A plush and peppy little Italian place tucked in the North Wharf. Mostly busy with the popularity amongst the city diners. Found the food to be quite good with fairly decent pricing. Also a good selections of wine to go with. Service was pretty spontaneous and our service staff was very prompt and courteous. A fabulous place to dine out with friends and whanau. Will go again

Kendel

I am in love with this place. I went there during NZFW and it was packed, but it didn't feel like you were seated too close or that people were listening to your conversation. The bar is located in the middle back half of the restaurant and it is beautiful. I was also a huge fan of mirrors on the wall because I could still see everything happening in the restaurant behind me, even though I was facing a wall. Neat concept. The food itself was AMAZING. We had breads and crayfish meatballs to share. I was in love with the crayfish meatballs and I would have been happy to just order another round for my main. Apparently that is frowned upon. Oh well. My main was the pappardelle with beetroot and quail egg. Usually, I can't eat a whole bowl of pasta, but I did it this time. So delicious, and I loved the flavour of beetroot through the dish. For dessert, I had the crostata of pear with green apple sorbet. Hands down one of the BEST desserts I have ever had. The waitstaff were lovely and helpful. They explained every dish (and wine) to us and were even up for a little chat between serving other people. As other people have said, the waitstaff are attentive, but unobtrusive. I never felt like I was rushed to place my order and they were more than happy to share the most popular dishes and their own personal favourites. All in all, I love this place and want to go back. I 100% recommend.

Chelvie Lee

As I am new to Auckland, I thought I would spoil myself with a nice dinner at the Baduzzi which I have found to be a 2 hatted restaurant in New Zealand. Arrived on Friday 22/01/16 at 8.00pm, I was lucky to get a high table close to the bar without a reservation. The wine menu contained a good selection of Italian wines and my entree and main course arrived within a short period of time. The food tasted great and it was obvious that they had sourced fresh local produce. The service was poor and slow after the main course. The wait staff made no attempt to explain any of the dishes, had poor knowledge of the menu and could not advise me on the cheese selection for the day other than a simple - "cheese and crackers". The tea that I ordered took 30 minutes to arrive as the brunette waitress at the bar was busy chatting up the hot guy who happened to be dining by himself this evening. It was clear that the staff lack training or maybe this level of service is good enough to achieve 2 hats in New Zealand. I mentioned this to the restaurant manager when paying my bill and he made no attempt to remedy the situation by providing a discount or have items taken off the bill. One thing is for sure, I would not be returning to Baduzzi.

Eleanor Purdey Smith

Possibly the best Italian you can get in Auckland. Certainly more expensive than most especially for portion size so it has prevented me from bringing burly hubby. Nevertheless, the food is excellent and not your usual items. I LOVE the duck, any of the meatballs, any of the pastas, fish of the day and the cured meat platter. Oh and Definitely don't forget dessert! We've had work functions here and the set menus for them have been of excellent value. Lunches with my wee ninjas here are also fun as they have a delicious kids' menu. Service has always been very good although our main waitress last night fell flat in the excitement & personality scale compared to the rest of her colleague.

MelissaLosesItBlog

We came here last Saturday night. We arrived at about 8pm and the place was full and buzzing. We were informed on arrival that all tables were full but if we wanted to wait it would only take about 20 minutes for a table. We took a seat at the bar ordered a drink and before we knew it we had a table. Our waitress was really lovely and helpful and quickly got us sorted with menus and more drinks. As an entree we got the platter if cured meats and pate and it was really nice. There was too much even for two of us and we didn't finish it. Then we had two plates of meatballs. They were really nice too but it was a bit of a surprise that when they came out there was just meatballs on the plate. Just as well we had ordered some pasta too! The pasta was divine and honestly the best I have had in recent memory. Then for dessert we wrapped up with tiramisu and that was also beyond expectations. All round the experience, food and interaction with staff was really good and we would highly recommend this restaurant. As tipping is not a thing in NZ we usually don't tip but these guys really deserved one and we very happily added one onto our bill. We will be back!

Auckland Food Tours

From the moment I read the menu here I knew we were going to be in for a treat and I was right. It's a nice venue, comfortable and relaxed and the wait staff are attentive but unobtrusive But enough of that, it's the food we really care about and it's great. All the pasta made fresh daily, rich, flavorsome sauces, tender steak, it was all delicious. I had the crab dish and it was good to see a decent amount of crab on the plate, same with the duck. All in all a great lunch, and I would definitely go back.

Tanz

Super nice Italian place for night stay. Lobster meatballs are highly recommended. Bacon roasted king prawn also nice. Venison meatball excellent as well. Fast and professional service.

Tania Li

One of the best Italian restaurants in town! Definitely need to arrive early to get a table. The maltagliati gets me every time ❤️❤️ great place to go with family or work friends

Richard Sharpe

Really good. Nice food. Nice decor. Mostly nice wait staff. Was seated at what I assume was the children's table. It was barely big enough for our side plates and glasses. The staff were really really lovely except an ogre of waitress who presented the food with all the affection of a prison guard who's been made to work on their birthday. Food was good. Except the meat and bread entree plate which wasn't. Kind of expensive. Probably twice as much as what I'd pay at the usual Italian place I frequent. It's nice and pleasant and the food and service are good, mostly. It's worth a trip. Though I won't be hurrying back.

Elena Ching

Meatballs galore! Stopped by for a quick bite of their famous meatballs. We had their crayfish and venison meatballs. The crayfish meatballs were delicious and the accompanying creamy tomato based sauce paired well with the crayfish. The venison meatballs were very rich and the sauce had a very strong savoury flavour. The parsnip purée helped to cut through the richness of the sauce and meat. On other occasions I've also had their duck pasta and tiramisu. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the duck ragu was very rich. The tiramisu is beautifully presented and a must try. It won't disappoint - creamy with a good hit of espresso, the modern interpretation adds texture to a traditional Italian dish. This is another restaurant that doesn't take bookings so come before 7 to avoid waiting. The service was good and brisk. An Auckland staple for authentic Italian.

Janine Henderson

Went for a schmoozy Christmas lunch with some business associates. Nice venue. Central location not far from parking. We went with tapas shared plates style eating. Everything was presented well. The service was attentive although you could see kind of stressed. Understandable given the time of year and the venue was literally booked out. Meal quality was great. Highly recommend the stuffed zucchini flowers. Would definitely go again as I couldn't fit in a cannoli!!

Christian

Great Italian affair! The food was done at a high quality. The menu contains some classic Italian dishes and some not so familiar ones which were exciting to try. The place is always busy so make sure to book if you want to secure a place.

Angela Trigg

I went here for lunch today. We decided to share a few of the plates. Started with the piper - found this quite bland. The prawns were nice. We also ordered the octopus. This was also nice but needed more flavour. On to the meatballs.. the venison was delicious. The crayfish was rubbery and quite tasteless. The sauce was nice. Lastly we had the crab pasta. While it was nice, it was luke warm. Staff were lovely and thought the pricing was good.

Kieran

We came to Beduzzi as a table of 4 on a Tuesday evening, we had tried to call in to book a table however like a lot of places these days, no bookings were being taken and we were advised to walk in for a seating. Once we arrived the Maitre d' who greeted us inside explained it was a busy night and no tables were available for 40min, we sat outside and a got a few wines down us while we waited for a free table. We decided we'd dine outside, shortly after we ordered 4 different platters of meatballs, all very meaty and melt in your mouth stuff, the sauces accompanying the meatballs were beautiful. My only gripe is once the meatballs were eaten, the bowls were cleared too quickly, I would have wanted to use a spoon to scoop up the leftover sauce as it was a taste explosion. A simple "are you guys done with this?" from FOH would have been good. My partner and I had also ordered the seared Octopus, this had been left off/forgotten about, we did remind the staff, which then meant the Octopus came out the same time as our pastas, less than ideal. The Octopus was not as tender as I would have thought, a bit on the chewy side. Our pastas on the other hand were amazing, we had the duck porcini ragu which was a dark and rich dish, my kind of pasta, also the beetroot and paua pappardelle which had an amazing texture to it. All very beautiful. Would definitely return for the meatballs and pasta, unsure if I'd wait 40min for a table though. Btw, we had a bottle of the 2014 Zabu ‘Il Passo’ / Nerello Mascalese, stunning wine!

TinaS

Best pasta in Auckland!! Located in Wynyard Quarter, this place serves both lunch and dinner. We came here with friends for lunch. Ordered beef and crayfish meatballs to start with and no wonder all the online reviews I have read were all raving about them! We then ordered a variety of pasta to share between us these are perfect! The desserts are both aesthetically and in taste great! Though it doesn't come with a cheap price, 4 of us walked away with $200 bill for lunch. Also, would love to give them 5/5 but decided to take point off for lack of child-friendliness, there is no high chair provided or parents room that we ended up changing our baby daughter with two chairs joint together. This is a shame because Wynyard Quarter is such a popular place for children.

Alana Rose Gray

I chose this place for my birthday dinner with family. As soon as we walked in I knew it was going to be good! I asked our waitress to pick some dishes for us to start with that the whole table could share - there are so many to choose from. We had crayfish meatballs, venison meatballs, a platter of meats and other goodies and the piper. Piper was definitely a stand out. The venison meatballs are extremely rich but also delicious. For mains we ordered the tribute to pig, duck ragu, crab pasta, and steak. Everyone absolutely loved their dishes especially my partners mum who has a habit of always picking the dish that is most disappointing however I think she broke the curse with the tuatua pasta dish - she said it was outstanding and full of flavour. Desserts were spectacular as well. Ambience, service and food make this a fantastic dining experience. We will be back!

Tanz

Finally I had a chance to go here after seeing the owner in NZ MKR for 2yrs ;) Start from ‘Piccolo’ section - we had flame grilled piper…for me it was fish fillet on toast with feta and some raisins, nothing to remember about this dish. Wagyu & Harmony pork rillette was nice. I actually like the charcoaled octopus on there and salsa rosa. Then we had crayfish meatballs from ‘Polpette’ section. They were delicilous! Crayfish texture was nice with this yummy tomato based sauce. The cheese sauce was really good as well. When you had everything together, it was like party in your mouth hehe. I just wanted to lick the bowl haha. From ‘Primi’ - we chose the duck pasta. It looked pretty messy but the taste was just right! For us it tasted really similar to Asian dish (duck noodle that has five spices soup if you know what I mean). It’s different from usual pasta dish I’ve had…in a good way though :) And I found big piece of foil in this dish when I had almost everything on the plate. It was hidden somehow at the bottom of the dish. We just told the waitress and she said sorry for that. It was kinda shocking to see a mistake like this from the restaurant like Baduzzi...do you think? Last but not least, you can’t leave Baduzzi without having the signature tiramisu!! We also had chocolate ‘torta caprese’ with raspberry sorbet for me it’s a warm chocolate brownie with sour raspberry sorbet ;) OH DEAR! These dessert were just beautiful!! And the taste was even better than the look. I love every single bit of these desserts! Talking about service, I understand that restaurant like Baduzzi has the system that waitress/waiter take care their own zone/part. But we were kinda struggle with ordering and asking for bill from 'the waitress’ who was supposed to take care our table. We had to ask 2 waitress to order food and they told us to order with ‘the waitress’ then we asked for 3rd time and we ended up ordering with someone else. Again when it comes to ordering dessert, we had to order with ‘the waitress’ after asking other if we can order more food. Don't get me wrong ‘the waitress’ was really nice and helpful but she might be too busy with other tables that she couldn’t take care us well. I just don’t understand why is it such a big deal that we had to order food and ask for bill with the specific one when others were free and walked around? Price - I checked the menu before went there and thought that the price was pretty cheap for the restaurant and location. But when I saw food quantity I understand why they have these prices. Overall - I enjoyed my first time with Baduzzi mainly because of their delicious desserts! I might go back again for just having dessert….would that be weird? haha

Priyanka D'cruz

Very cosy with friendly customer service. Portion sizes were small but the food was delicious! The buffalo mozzarella was nice and fresh! Definitely coming back to try the desserts!

EpiCurious

Lives up to its reputation!!! After great difficulty we settled on a range of pasta dishes, and some of the house speciality - meatballs. The food is just fantastic. Rich flavours, with varied ingredients, and excellent service.

Jonathan Mayes

Outstanding... a group if 10 or so of us shared dinner at Baduzzi on Auckland Marina, we left it up to the staff to order share plates for our entre, mains, and deserts... all were outstanding! Meatballs (all types) and duck pasta were especially tasty! Higjly highly recomended.

Kathleen Horn

I love Italian food, so was excited that our 'food scout' chose Baduzzi for a special lunch with friends. Eagerly checked the online menu , but the prominent warning about stealing the spoons was such a big turn off. This isn't what I'm after in terms of restaurant ambiance. Our group was satisfied with the meals, good wine choices available, nice presentation, especially of desserts. We can find these elsewhere; we are diners, not thieves.

Fleur Cerecke

Loved my evening here, the food was great and the service was fab. Having heard a lot about their meatballs and fresh pasta i definitely wasn't disappointed, both were on point. But what I hadn't heard a lot about were their desserts and these were a true masterpiece. Delicious. Wait staff were all really helpful and positive. Great evening all round.

Super(･_･;Phoebe

If you are craving for hand-made and fresh pasta，Baduzzi is hands down the best place for you. Highly recommended. The mean may contain lots of unfamiliar words but it won't be a problem as their staff is happy to explain anything. I also love their crayfish meatballs which topped with rich sauce. For dessert，I had green apple sorbert and almond. Tastes quite simple while delicate.

Ramon Reyes

We came here last night for my sister's birthday and had a wonderful dinner. While we had to wait for under an hour to get in (To be fair, the place was jam packed and it was a Friday night), it was well worth the wait. The staff were very helpful in suggesting and explaining menu items. We had the duck and clam pasta which were delicious. You could really tell that everything was fresh and handmade. The T bone steak was probably the best I have eaten here in Auckland so far, melts in your mouth and very juicy. The desserts were delicious as well! Order the tiramisu! Will definitely go back soon!

Gemma

Baduzzi, Baduzzi, Baduzzi. Oh how I love Baduzzi’s!! I had seen so many pictures of their tiramisu through Instagram! I thought it was about time to come here!! My family and I came here for dinner one night. We were seated in a corner by the front window. We found it a bit cold though, as there was a breeze or something blowing on us from above. We couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Despite this, we had a great time. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I had no idea what some of the components were on their menu as its all Italian. He was very helpful explaining it to us, and answering any questions we had. Seeing that they’re well know for their meatballs, we had to try them! We got the crayfish and lamb meatballs. They were nice, and the boys enjoyed them. We also got the snapper and lobster pasta as an entrée. Its $7 per piece. I tried a bit of it and it was really tasty! For my main I had the spanner crab. It was delicious! It was served with squid ink pasta and a buttery sauce. My mum got the duck ragu. It was a generous portion and it looked good! For my dessert I obviously got the tiramisu! No doubt about it!! I had been wanting to try it since I walked in! my mum got the crostata of pear with green apple sorbet and almond. My brother got the Cannoli with ricotta, citrus confit and chocolate chips. He really enjoyed that! My dad got the valrhona chocolate “torta caprese” with raspberry sorbet and coconut espuma. I had seen so many pictures of that dessert too. This would have been my second option. They all looked amazing! When mine came out I was soooooo excited!!! It was just how I imagined (seen) it!! My first spoonful was pure heaven! Holding the dessert together was like a crispy thin biscuit. Inside there were layers of baileys and amaretto ladyfingers, and ricotta cream. Topped with a crunchy chocolate, meringue like biscuit, and a smother of chocolate cream on the base. The combination of the crispy, creamy and crunchy dessert was amazing! There was a subtle hint of the coffee flavour. Not too much, but just enough for you to taste it. This dessert is pure perfection!! The best and first tiramisu I’ve ever had! Overall my family and I had a great dining experience. The desserts topped off a great night. Excellent food, and good service! I’ll definitely be coming back here again! ☺

Wendy Zhou

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟so delicious! I went tonight with long time no see girlfriend, we had blessed evening! Crayfish meatballs were AMAZING! Sauce is really special and not over dressed Crayfish freshness! Tiramisu superb exciting! Definitely looking forward to come back again!

James Firman

Seriously good food, would recommend trying the tribute to pig while it is on the menu as it is pretty good! We also had the crayfish meatballs which are to die for, such subtleties in flavor.

Angela Tan

It was my first time having dinner at Buduzzi and it was a wonderful experience. The waiters there were welcoming and they provided blankets if you sat outdoor. I went with my friend and shared dishes with her. We ordered their famous crayfish meatballs (you can ask them make 4 meatballs so there is no problem with sharing), (also well known) duck pasta, one dish just above the pasta on the menu (it was a dumpling like dish filled with fish) and dessert. They were all delicious but price was not so expensive. I just fell funny that most of the waiters, also including the waiters in other Italian restaurants, have an exotic accent. Maybe it's a way to show authenticity. Definitely going to take other friends back to this place!!

FoodieOodie95

The meatballs here are insane!!! So so good :D Also loved the Risotto Primavera :) The dish itself is so creamy and rich and pretty good overall :)

Dee

This place has the best meatballs in town!!! The crayfish meatball and the duck are our favourites. Oh and the Tiramisu...The best so far!!!

Jihye Kang

Was planning to have dinner another venue in Wynyard Quarter but found out that it was closed for the day, so decided to try out Baduzzi instead. Best decision ever! Very knowledgeable and helpful waiter, and the food was amazing. The lamb meatballs were succulent and flavorsome, and the steak was cooked to perfection. The duck pasta was also good but a little too salty for our taste; but otherwise a perfect night.

Temptation Cakes Auckland

Walked past and it was packed! Always a good sign! First time down in Wynyard Quarter for a while so were not sure where to go but we were very happy with the choice. Great food menu was very tricky to understand but waitress was very helpful wilo deffo be back thank you guys DEVINE

Kiran Kanchan

One of the best Italian food you can get in Auckland... Bit on the higher side of the cost... But absolutely worth for each dollar spent here... The food is really awesome... Especially the home made pastas... Yummy

Daniel Power

Baduzzi is decisively the best dining experience in Wynyard Quarter. If you come with a large group, you will be spoilt with a set menu that will take your gastronomic experience to new worlds. If you order à la carte, order their pastas! Taste: 4/5 must try their duck pasta, so deliciously smooth Service: 4/5 good service Value: 4/5 prices are mostly reasonable, except a prawn special we ordered one night which was $26 for 4 pieces of prawn, which I thought was a little steep Decor/Ambience: 5/5 from the giant red door to their Mother Mary salt spoons, Baduzzi has not neglected any details in creating a truly delightful dining experience Overall: 4/5 whether you like Italian cuisine or not, Baduzzi should be a must try in everybody's books. You will not be disappointed. Tip: Go on a week night or book on weekends as they are suuper popular.

Bill Smale

Food and service is up to its usual great standard they do a great job when it comes to consistency is food and service delivery Another great meal

SnobNom

I was drawn to this place because of their duck maltagliati and my craving for meat balls. So my first time here I decide to get here without a booking Friday at 7 and was asked to come back when they gave me a call with table availability. Which was about an hour later (my foolishness). Best Best to get here early or late and avoid weekends. Was seated on a small round table for 2, felt very cramped but hey the food is good so can't complain. The meat balls, my personal favourite the red deer so full of rich game flavour balanced with earthy mushrooms and the jus which just brings it all together so much om nom nom. (you can request for additional meatballs) The duck pasta is moreish and very comforting coating your pallet with all kinds of goodness. I find the pasta a bit thin for my liking. The rabbit risotto is always cooled perfectly with loads of rabbit meat most of the time, creamy and rich hits the spot. (has a cinnamon / nutmeg kinda spice which I find a wee bit strong https://www.facebook.com/SatyaRestaurantNZmy liking) My wife is vegetarian and her favourite is the zucchini flowers (seasonal) followed by the gnocchi (more like raviolil). My favourite vegetarian dish is the eggplant parma, deep sweet and tangy tomato flavour sooo good and cheesy another real comfort dish. Finish with tiramisuuuuuu, just try it it's amazing. Never been a big fan of the drinks here cocktails or the wines, but that's just me. Will be back again and again.

ShoRt

If you like meatballs and pasta, this place does it so well! Designed as sharing platters, this means you get to try more of the menu. They also have a good selection of vegetarian options. Must try - 1) meatball - with lobster. But really they are all good! Comes in 3, but ask for 4 if you have that amount of people. 2) beetroot pappardelle - again, they are all so delicious! 3) tiramisu - modern take on this Amazing dessert. So good! Coffee meringue, Slurp. I would come here just for this. Ambience is casual but still has a classy vibe. Service is amazing with really knowledgeable staff and friendly service. Be ready to spend a bit if you want to eat heaps! It's more of a place where you indulge in quality not quantity, and let the food sink and digest. Remember it is very rich Italian food that fills you up. Save room for dessert even though it is hard to resist ordering everything in the menu.

FoodieNelle

We experienced amazing service at Baduzzi. Having been here when it first opened and returning again more recently, I was pleasantly surprised to see that both the quality of food and service had not slipped at all. The meatballs were full of flavour, the pasta was silky and the dessert was just beautiful - the highlight of our meal with a good mix of the rich chocolate and tart berries.

Biohazard

Positioned in the bustling new North Wharf, Baduzzi is now a favourite for many Aucklanders, including myself! From the moment you step through the giant red door, you are greeted by charming European decor.. tiles and wooden panels accented by brass rail and trim. I always order a Rogue Society gin at their New York/prohibition-style bar but recently found out that it's no longer served there, which was disappointing. But the food makes up for this. Their trademark is meatball and pasta, and that's where they do well, very well. The must-try dishes are the crayfish meatball which is delicate, fresh and bright, the red deer meatball which is rich and plate-licking good.. I personally also enjoyed the wagyu meatball and the pork meatball which is served in a clear minestrone, but I much prefer the first two. Their signature dish is the duck and porcini ragu maltagliati and it is definitely a must, the combination of flavours is amazing. The beetroot pappardelle with paua is also a good one but their menus change regularly.. If you have any room then their dessert is beautifully presented and taste even better. Their service is top-notch so not much more you can ask for really, oh, maybe it would be nice if they are willing to take bookings, not just for larger groups..

Huli

Been here on several occasions. After reading great reviews, I thought it was finally time to pay the place a visit. My first experience at Baduzzi (which was in the afternoon) was phenomenal, everything tasted perfect and I fell in love with the tiramisu - especially because it wasn't the traditional tiramisu that you'd expect. My second experience wasn't as pleasant, although wait staff were still as attentive, the level of food wasn't as good as the first occasion - which could've had something to do with the dishes I chose. However, the exceptional service and great tasting food on my next visit (at night) reminded me why I'm always keen to return to Baduzzi. Must try dishes are definitely the meatballs (the lamb or wagyu are both devine), the wagyu beef main (on the dinner menu), and the tiramisu.

Anna

Had a late lunch today with Ivan Valladolid. We were seated my lovely staff outside in a great ambiance. The menu was a little tricky to understand and took us a wee while to decide as most of it was named in Italian. We ordered the lobster meatballs to share which the waiter offered us 4 instead as it usually comes in 3. I had the wild rabbit risotto. It was a smaller portion but very filling. Lovely flavours but was a bit salty for me. Ivan got the flat steak that was so delicious (highly recommend). The potato purée was perfect and came with some salad too. The staff was very attentive and kind. They were very busy and I could see why. Would love to come back again soon and try something else !

Lucia Park

Dined here twice now. Excellent service and the food here is absolutely delicious! Highly recommend the duck pasta and crayfish meatballs. Love the interior - classy but casual.

Judy Chhy

Service was great, the waitress felt like a friend she was friendly and offered her knowledge about the menu to us since me and my friends didn't really know half the stuff on the menu. Food was great as well I would really recommended the meat balls! We had the venison ones and they were so good wish there was more on the place tho :P

MommyYummy

After looking at the good reviews Baduzzi have at Zomato, we visited the place twice. One by ourself at Lunch and the other time at Dinner with a guest that visited us from overseas. Both times food was good nothing crazy good, just good. The service 1st time was not the best but ok and the second time wasn't good. They where very distracted (was a busy night) and when my partner reported his steak ( the plate was cold and the meat wasn't warm) the waiter replay to us that ... if he take back the steak the food will take long to come back again as were some orders first to do 😕 (okay so..? ) My partner said ... doesn't matter I want my steak warm.. the waiter did a face took the meat and minutes after he came back with a warm plate and meat.. I didn't expected a reaction like that as this place is run by a well known Chef and the customer service as I saw in others reviews supposed to be spotless. The first time was quiet and our waitress was not very present as she was doing other stuff ( preparing the room for dinner ) anyways that happen when the restaurant is the popular one and they don't need new customers as they have plenty.

Jaki Dwight

Wow!! No other words. The food - amazing. The service - second to none. We had Sully as our waitress (or whatever the pc term is these days) and she would be someone I would hire in an instant if I could. She is incredible. Can't wait to come back and dine here again.

Squiddy

I have a new mission in life: to try every item on the menu at Baduzzi. Yes, I like this place THAT much. I took my parents here for a birthday lunch for my dad and I couldn't have chosen any better. The welcome was warm and delightful, the waitstaff excellent and very, very knowledgeable. We had four different staff attend to us through lunch but where this might be a bit jarring elsewhere, Baduzzi pulls it off extremely well because they were all consistently good and it served to make us feel pampered rather than fobbed off. The mixture of various sizes of dishes on the menu made it perfect for the three of us who all like to eat in different ways. My dad, being a big dish, meat and potatoes man had the flatiron steak. My mum with the smaller appetite had the perfectly-sized (for her) crayfish meatballs. Me who loves bits and pieces, I had a small plate of the wagyu beef tongue with octopus and a small pasta dish of the saffron gnocchi with goat's curd. I personally found ordering a bit of a nightmare (but in a good way) because there were so many dishes that contained ingredients that I adore. We also got some bread for my Dad because the menu said the steak just came with rocket and parmesan dressed with balsamic vinegar so he thought he'd like some starch with it. As it was, his steak also came with the most delicious potato puree as well as the generous helping of rocket so that made the $30 flatiron steak extremely good value. The dish must have been good because my dad ate every scrap on his plate including the rocket which I expected him to leave most of because he isn't a salad greens kind of chap at all. I was a teeny weeny bit disappointed that my gnocchi wasn't the dumpling-type pasta that I expected but a flattened pasta that was folded around the goats curd. I wasn't disappointed by the flavour of it, however. I liked that the confit fig it was served with came as a puree that was swooped around the side of the dish so I could control how much sweetness it gave the dish. The wagyu tongue and octopus with horseradish and taramasalata was good, good, good and I can't be bothered analysing why. Maybe because I like surf & turf combinations? None of us felt like dessert but we all had a coffee to finish (and really good coffee it was). Then, as a complete surprise to all of us, one of the waitstaff presented my dad with a portion of the Valrhona torta with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" piped on the plate in chocolate. My father was utterly enchanted by it and I was most impressed as I only mentioned his birthday once in passing. The discount with my Entertainment Card (a one-off special offer) made it amazing value. However, given the very high quality of the service, food and decor I would've still considered Baduzzi good value without the discount.

Khoa Le

The popularity of Baduzzi speaks for itself when you can see that it is packed on a Sunday night while everything else around is empty. We were greeted with welcoming smiles which appears to be a regular thing here. Throughout the night our hosts did an excellent job of explaining everything to us first timers. She recommended drinks according to our preferences, told us about how the primi and secondi courses work and advised us on the sizing of our meals. At Baduzzi everything can be shared (and should be shared), they can also scale up to cater to a crowd so nobody will miss out on a dish; perfect for a group outing. We started with the gamberi shrimps which was refreshing. I usually leave the shell out but they were so soft that it didn't become bothersome at all. The grilled tuna with fennel was my favorite of the night, all the vegetables were beautifully pickled to give it a gentle citrus-filled flavor. The hardest thing was picking out one of the five meatballs (or as the Italians call it polpette) as the last starter. They all sounded so appealing but we finally settled on wild deer with mushroom and parsnips. For our Primi we settled for gnocchi, pappardelle and risotto. You could tell the pasta was house made, the beetroot pappardelle impressed us greatly with its texture and color. I didn't read the gnocchi properly and didn't realize that it came with goat curd which was a pleasant surprise; soft texture and very very tangy which made it refreshing instead of creamy and heavy like most gnocchi. The dish also had a crunchiness about it, which was just the icing on the cake. Our secondi was large enough to share for 3 as we were saving room for desserts anyhow (and trust me, you can't leave without their desserts). I highly recommended the Vitello tonato with a traditional tuna sauce/mayonnaise. The veal I'm guessing was slow cooked or braised as it melted with each bite. Even though I've seen a lot about their tiramisu we decided to skip that as the description of everything else sounded just as appealing if not more. The pear crostata came with a complimentary green apple sorbet and sweet pear slices (which were likely soaked in syrup). The rich chocolate (valrhona no less) dessert however came with a contrasting raspberry sorbet which added a fun balance to it. I have to admit I came into Baduzzi with a preconception of it being an outstanding establishment. I expected a lot from what I've read and what I've heard, I expected so for a place with someone who is Cuisine's Chef of the Year in the kitchen, the same person that handles The Grove. However, even after coming in expecting nothing but excellence, I was still blown away. I really appreciate Baduzzi as casual place that is fun yet still caters with a fine dining standard. You never get a dull moment with exciting choices of game meat and seafood, affordable wines and an exceptional service.

Food Eater

Food and atmosphere was excellent. Only thing to note is that the meatballs (venison and lamb) were both definitely pink in the middle but fortunately no one got sick. Presumably the meat was ground daily but couldn't get a chance to ask/confirm. Duck ragu and crayfish meatballs were the highlight for me and the portion size was pretty good.

Jo Y

Have visited a handful of times since it opened and the experience is always consistent. Excellent warm service and outstanding food. You can't go past the crayfish meatballs and the agnolotti of snapper and lobster with buttery lemon sauce is to die for. If you are looking for a romantic night suggest the front of the restaurant is ideal for this as the back can get pretty noisy.

Winnie

If you want to know Italian food beyond pasta and pizza, this is the place for you. Not an everyday restaurant as it comes under the nifty belt of fine dining. But a place not to be missed for sure. Went to Baduzzi for dinner and tried the Autumn minestrone with brocolli rabe, pork meatballs with macaroni. In layman terms this was pork meatballs in vegetable broth with a few pieces of macaroni. As an entree the portion was apt. And full of flavours. The same goes for the main which was a chicken dish. The most succulent chicken served on a bed of fregola salad. The staff was super helpful as they ask you if it was your first time to the restaurant and explain you the menu and strip down the fancy italian names to basic english. The place was packed to the wall but we still got a table without a reservation. They stock a very elaborate menu for wine lovers and ample of beers as well. In all a really good place to have nice authentic Italian cuisine. Value for money? For a fine dining restaurant, Yes it is. Will I visit again. Yes please. P.s. The pic is not too appealing. Please don't judge the place by the quality of the pic. Its a must visit.

Maia Churichkova

Absolutely no complaints at all. The pasta was perfectly cooked, every dish looked amazing and had tonnes of flavour. The atmosphere was great - perhaps tables a little too close together for my liking but that's just me being picky. Service was wonderful. Be prepared to spend a bit but it's well worth it. They don't take bookings so be ready to wait or get there early.

Max Mueller

We went there because of the good reviews and were pretty disappointed. The menu looks very inviting but the plates didn't meet the expectations. I'm a big fan of salt - but even for me the sauces were far too salty. Aside from the quality of the dishes - they weren't bad but not good either - the waiting time between the entrees and the mains was excessive. When you finally got the main, you asked yourself why you have to wait that long.

YIRU

Baduzzi is my husband's favorite Italian restaurant. Glad to see they have some new dishes We tried the tuna with fennel salad, good portion size, well seasoned snapper and lobster ravioli, fresh, tasty,the fish is juicy and the lobster is tender,my new favorite dish in Baduzzi Crab and pine nuts pasta, I love the pasta sheet, silky , I like the sweetness of the crab although some of the pine nuts are slightly spoiled. And we tried the hapuka , it cooked perfectly , crispy skin with moisture inside. Last we had the tiramisu,must try this one, the best tiramisu in Auckland

Jemimah

Visited last night, 2nd visit in 2 weeks, both Sunday nights and seated outdoors (don't fret, it's very warm, not needing a coat). Decor has always been nice, with staff being friendly and the beef steaks being halal. Food has always been cooked well, however being a bit heavy on the salt when it comes to their meatballs and red-meat dishes. One of the highlights of the last meal was the rib of veal, cooked perfectly, and luckily not over-seasoned like last nights flat iron steak. Staff were friendly and attentive, however last nights waiter was a bit too onto, clearing a plate which had a full plate of salad greens without asking, leaving me paranoid that he would do the same with the other plates, and a little annoyed as I don't like wasting food. One of the highlights since their opening has been their tiramisu (a must have), being the best tiramisu I have had in Auckland, never disappointing. Baduzzi is a lovely place to dine for special occasions. Don't miss out on the tiramisu!

Kazza893

Hi went to Baduzzi last night in a group. The food and service was good but there was an 8 percent surcharge for a group booking. Therefore my husband and won't go back, due to this factor. There are plenty of nice places to eat in Auckland that are not trying to squeeze every penny out of the customer.

StephAKL

With only 6 family adults, no bookings were available, so great advice when we rang, for us to arrive early. We received a wonderful welcome to an already buzzing Sunday night and were seated with no wait. Service from our waitress Gracie was most helpful and cheerful, and timely but not pushy. One of our group had some dietary needs which were clearly understood with plenty of suggestions and confirmation from the kitchen. Meatball shared plates were changed to 5 pieces so none of us missed out on the delicious house specialties. Wine suggestions were requested and professionally & helpfully given to full satisfaction, and we observed extra but cheerful assistance being given to a table of eight tourist clearly unfamiliar with both the wine and food options but enthusiastic to give it all a go. It was a full house by the time we ordered our various food selections choosing to share Polpette & Primi, and order our own Secondi. In the end most of us tasted each others mains. All food choices were delicious, creatively presented, and plentiful. The desserts, which we could watch being made, were 'to die for'. The Happy Birthday plate was a lovely touch! An excellent evening for our family all keen to return.

Jess Pendergrast

Baduzzi is an Italian restaurant with an excellent reputation. As you enter Baduzzi it’s warm and welcoming which is perfect for a chilly winters night. We ordered the crayfish meatballs ($18) and the grilled wagyu meatballs ($15) as an entrée and they were both so flavoursome. For the main course grain finished bistecca alla fiorentina steak ($12 per 100g) to share with rocket, parmesan reggiano and gusti balsamic. We could not fault any of the dishes. The tiramisu ($16) was out of this world incredible and one of the best desserts I have ever tasted. It was filled with Baileys, amaretto ladyfingers & chocolate cream. It was beautifully presented in a chocolate shell and was delightfully decadent .You cannot leave without trying one of their amazing desserts. Baduzzi is perfection.

Manda Little

Nothing to fault-food, atmosphere, & service impeccable! We were lucky we got in on a busy Saturday night without a booking... Worth every cent!

Rebecca MacDonald

I have been to Baduzzi once before and loved it so was keen to go again. We went for dinner on a Friday night and it was bustling but we managed to get a table with minimal wait. I had the lamb meatballs and a side of veges, my friend had the risotto. Both were delicious and the risotto was lovely and rich! Both of these are in the entree portion of the menu and are on the small side so if you are ravenous might not be enough, but they were perfect portion sizes for us, particularly because we both wanted dessert! I had the chocolate torte and my friend had the selection of gelato, both desserts were presented beautifully and tasted amazing!!!!

Lynn Hedges

We meet friends for lunch in the city frequently. We had been here before about a year ago..checking out all the restaurants in Wynyard quarter ... But so enjoyed it we went back. We started with a platter to share ...then meatballs deer and crayfish. Greta..Our waitress Rose suggested we eat the cray fish first then the deer. Excellent advice. We requested extra chibatta bread to mop up the amazing sauces..Rose's suggestion... We felt we needed something more so ordered the duck pasta...again Rose's suggestion...great.. Rose was a very competent waitress...she explained all the dishes and the ones she recommended we throughly enjoyed... A very valuable employee. The Sauvignon Blanc we enjoyed but it was more like a Chardonnay. we will be back...

SSBoots

Been here for the casual drinks and snacks, as well as for dinner. Food is delicious and the wine list is superb. Some staff needs to be a little more versed on the wine list but otherwise service is attentive and always feel well looked after.

Rosa Smith

After always wanting to go to Baduzzi we finally went, exception service from the minute we walked in the doors. The waiters knew the menu well and went out of their way to accommodate us. After looking at the menu and unsure what to have as all the dishes sounded great, we got our waiter to pick some of his favourite dishes and surprise us and wow the food was amazing!! Would hands down recommend the deer meatballs and the duck ragu pasta.. Having never tried neither of these meats I found them divine! Dessert was suburb too and they have a great range of authentic Italian cocktails, cannot wait to go back!

Jacelyn Hughes

Absolutely amazing! I have been back 3 times now and have never been disappointed. Lively atmosphere and fantastic food. Sad that the tortellini is no longer on the menu as that was my favourite, but there are plenty of other favourites to choose from so I always come home happy.

Duncan Galletly

Baduzzi is a seriously good Italian restaurant. It has all the ticks for lunch or dinner - ambience, bustle without irritating racket, excellent service, and food that is well prepared, interesting, well constructed without too much fuss, and usually delicious. If you were in Auckland and hadn't a clue where to go, and could afford it, this place comes very highly recommended. My only (slight) gripe is in relation to the meatballs (and this is a phenomena that is global and not specific to baduzzi) - how many should come in a single serving? Baduzzi does three. Not good for two, four or five diners. Surely better to order singly or maybe four. [apparently this may have been remedied with a more recent reviewer suggesting they can now be bought singly - well done!] Three seems to be a way of forcing a double order. Sorry yes, I know this is a digression, but it's something to think about when tucking into any of the beautiful meatballs baduzzi produces. The beetroot tagliatelle was also good - as was a good, easy wine list. I love this restaurant.

Fylde

Arrived at Baduzzi on a cold Saturday evening with much anticipation (being a fan of Michael Dearth's The Grove).Initial impression was not great with closely spaced cheap furniture which looked like it would be more suitable for Blackpool's tacky Golden Mile than one of Auckland's better restaurants.I wondered even more whether I had made a poor choice after reading an extremely tacky message asking me not to steal the salt spoons. Treating customers as potential thiefs was not a good look.Fortunately the food was great, in particular the vegetarian options. The place was buzzing with a great atmosphere and I will come again.. The buttered maltagliati was divine.Good desert selection and I could recommend the pear and apple sorbet.Service was functional but the close table spacing did not help.Will come again but a few changes to decor (to remind me more of Bologna than Blackpool) would be useful

Kiwi888

Another fantastic meal at Baduzzi. As usual. Food, the best. Service, amazing (thanks Sully for looking after us so well, your smile, humor and knowledge really made the night), wine, excellent. If you want the best Italian in Auckland, if not the whole country, Baduzzi.

Joy Maralit

Baduzzi was recommended by a friend. I tried alot of new food here. we went on a very early dinner / very late lunch after work it was a quiet time. the service was good. the glasses were almost never empty as they always filled it up. The home made pasta (buttered maltagliati) was really good and the stuffed zuchinni flower was my favorite. Also, i recommend the wagyu tongue with octopus its a bit different but give it a go.. the rabbit risotto would be my least favorite, it was an elegant dish but it didnt quite go well with my taste buds. im not a fan. I would definitely go back if im feeling for some good italian food.

Nika Van Wyk

Amazing Mother's Day lunch here. Food and service were both fantastic. Would recommend the Gnocchi and Duck Ragu. Will definitely be back again.

UltimateOmNoms

I love the idea of a walking degustation. Working out South and living on the Shore, I don’t always go out to town to eat. So when I do, I find myself going to at least three places – one for a meal, dessert, and drinks after. Wynyard Quarter can be a bit of a walk from the central city but on a gorgeous day, it’s a good excuse for a stroll across the little bridge. The restaurant itself is gorgeous – warm rustic hues and overflowing greenery. There’s a variety of different seating options with beautiful round sofas for more intimate group dining. As I’ve started playing with cakes and decorating, I’ve started opting for desserts that are less sweet with a more mysterious element. The tiramisu with Baileys and chocolate cream hits all the right spots for me. Rightly meaning “pick me up” or “lift me up” in Italian, the coffee taste wasn't too strong but mixed well with the dreamy mascarpone. It was a pleasure to crack into the shell case and use it to scoop up the cream. I preferred it over the Valrhona torta caprese (chocolate almond cake) with raspberry sorbet. It was a work of art when it came and no doubt would be a favourite for any chocolate lover. It seems to be a given that most chocolate desserts are now made with Valrhona chocolate and the quality shows. The sweet and sour combination was very punchy and energising upon every mouthful. Thumbs ups for the dessert experience. Being an Italian restaurant, I’d love to go back to try their wagyu meatballs and handmade pastas. A peak at the menu also shows an extensive vegetarian menu so it could potentially tick all the boxes for group dining needs!

Petrina Grib

Wonderful dinner last Saturday night for my sons 21st. Food tasted delicious and so well presented. Thank you! Thankful supporter.

Seth James

Ive been a chef for 6 years now and worked in restaurants such as langham's 8 and had work experience in euro and other restaurants on the wharf area. We arrived at Baduzzi for dinner with friends, there were 9 of us and we were placed by the door way bye the curtains so unfortunately it was very cold whenever the door was opened ( which was a lot) as we got blasted by cold wind. Upon arrival the atmosphere seemed to be very busy with a clean feel and design. We we're sat at the table for about 20-30 minutes before we were asked if we were ready to order. The entree came out about 10-15 minutes after ordering with was good. The food was very fresh as you could taste, but the flavour was so bland and so average for the price. We Waited 1 HOUR and a Half for our mains. During that time i had 2 cocktails with were perfect , unfortunately the food wasn't. I had a meat thing on a block of wood. Once again the freshness was there and presented very nicely. BUT the food was so bland. And my chop still had uncooked white fat in it and was VERY salty. A friend had meatballs that were full of sinew. Another friend had a chicken dish FULL of bones still on the chicken , so many intact that he did not eat anymore as he was sick of crunching bones. Another friend had a bowl of soup with was more like hot water with salt and then the duck dish was very oily. Anyway no one finished their mains. When it was time to leave we went to pay and we were asked "how was your meal" and i replied , well i was quite disappointed in the food but i enjoyed the drinks. Then she rudely replied "oh really, we've never had that comment for anyone before" instead of saying something like ' oh, what was the problem, I'm sorry for that'. Anyway i will never be coming back to this OVER PRICED, BLAND and RUDE place again.

Kelly

We went to Baduzzi for a work lunch, it is a modern funky restaurant. The food was really amazing, I loved the way you can order each dish as a sharing plate, made for a great experience. Can't wait to go back and try one of their set menus.

Steph Young

Came down to Baduzzi on a stormy Saturday night and we had an hour wait for a table for two. Was well worth the wait though. From the bustling atmosphere, the delish wine, the incredible pasta and the service. Was such a memorable night. Would recommend this place to all my good friends.

Chloe-Mae

This place is pretty special came on a night I was feeling awful with the flu, the cock tails with flowers in them instantly warmed me up :-) had a sea food ravioli YUM :-) there was a lamb on special YUM all food was served amazingly tasted good and service was super the waiter was full of stories will totally be back

Kezia Lobo

I was excited to go to Baduzzi as a friend had raved about the food and I had also read some great reviews online. Enter Baduzzi and the environment is welcoming and warm...which is great on a cold winters evening. We were seated at a table outside and there were about 7 of us. We were greeted by a waitress who seated us and gave us the menu. One of the ladies at the table was allergic to egg and so the waitress was informed of the same and they made some special eggless pasta for her which I thought was pretty nice. The waiter whose area the table belonged in sauntered over about 15 mins later and apologized for the delay and explained the menu to us. After which he proceeded to serve us water. He then disappeared again and came over around 10 mins later to ask if we were ready but because some of us were undecided thus he disappeared again. After another 15 mins he appeared after calling another waitress and asking for our waiter. We ordered the duck pasta which was amazing, the lamb meatballs that were tender and so flavorful and the shaved wagyu tongue which combined with the horse radish and everything else that went with it was pretty stellar. I had the tiramisu for desert which even though it doesn't mention on the menu is actually a deconstructed version of a tiramisu and was delish. Very rich and filling so make sure you have enough room in your tummy before you order it. Now I could not fault the food but my issues were with the staff more than anything. Firstly our waiter was really nice but was run off his feet and thus was a bit delayed at each table. The fuss that was made for us paying separately and the attitude of the staff when this was done was not something I expected at this restaurant. It's really simple if you do not accept separate payments just say so at the start or on your menu it's not uncommon and people know what to expect but having a sour face when people are trying to pay kinda makes the experience crap. So for the food 4.5 out of 5 the staff 2.5 out of 5

Tash

Excellent food. Amazing service. The meals are hearty and balanced. And the desserts are a work of art. I loved the tiramisu. It was light and filled with flavour

Paris

On a mission to find the best tiramisu! ?. Came here after dinner for a treat on a Friday night super pack! We're put on waiting list but were fitted in early by a lovely waitress. Not even needing to look at the menu I was set on tiramisu and my friend decided on the 'Valrhona chocolate "totra caprese" w raspberry sorbet & vanilla espuma'. The dessert took a while but worth the wait, the tiramisu flavours were delicious although probably didn't need the coffee meringue or chocolate cream an could have have more amaretto lady fingers and add some fresh or frozen strawberries or raspberries and the flavours would have very much complimented each other! The chocolate totra caprese was very Devine with the light raspberry fruit complimenting the rich indulging fondant. Next time defiantly would love to try dinner although they did look father small.

Barbara Thorsen

Fabulous food, great wine list, fabulous service! Will definitely be back next time we're in Auckland. The food was full of flavour, fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. The waitress really knew the menu and the wine list, and was only too happy to make useful suggestions (e.g. making us aware of the size of the dish), topping up the wine and water glasses, noting who ordered which dish so that it was not necessary to repeat it when the food arrived, etc. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed. A really wonderful experience.

Dimitrios Konstantopoulos

3.5 Only because of the small portions. First class food and service. A bit pricey also. Great location. Pity they don't serve pizza. Nice overall option.

Noms Burger

I went here for my birthday because I hae heard many good things about Baduzzi. The place is always busy and because of that it took a while before our food arrived but it was worth the wait. The meatballs are absolutely delicious, my main of the duck pasta had a great mix of flavours and all the other mains looked tasty. Sadly we were too full for dessert, however the waitress was very sweet and brought a little dessert plate with happy birthday on it! Definitely recommend this place!

Miss Kiki

We came here a few weeks ago, we arrived early - we knew they don't take bookings and also that this place gets quite full very quickly.We started our meal with meatballs. We ordered the Red deer meatballs and the Crayfish meatballs. The meatballs were absolutely delicious - I am not a huge meatball person but these bad boys are a serious exception.The sauce... oh man... the sauce was amazing for both. If I wasn't dining in such a classy establishment I would have definitely licked the bowl to make sure not a drop goes to waste. I should probably mention the the actual meatballs were very tasty too and that the sauce and meatball complimented each other very well.To follow we had the Agnolotti of snapper and slipper lobster, Saffron Gnocchi and the risotto. All three were delicious. Again - the sauce was just amazing especially for the Agnolotti, it was very buttery and lemony with fresh tomato chopped finely - I still dream about this dish even weeks after having it.The agnolotti was my favourite - runner up was the Gnocchi and then the risotto. The risotto was good too, but the Agnolotti stole the show.For dessert we had Tiramisu and canoli. I am not a huge Tiramisu fan - but this Tiramisu is not your normal Tiramisu. A lot of care and flavour has gone in to this desssert - it was kind of like a semi- deconstructed Tiramisu. I liked how the cream did not have a strong coffee flavour and that the coffee flavour was more on the outside and of a crunchy texture - which meant I could avoid it seeing as I don't like coffee too much. The Canoli was not the best I had but it was good too.The reason I did not give this place a 5 star is because I find the tables really small and cramped. I actually reallly didn't like the cramped feeling I felt like I was on top of the table which was outside (we were inside seperated by a glass wall) and the table behind me. I also found the service a bit over-bearing. I appreciate attentive service but I felt that we were interupted way too much and by various people - often being asked the same thing 3 times by 3 different people.In saying that - I would definitely recommend this place for the food - 5 STARS! But I can't imagine sitting by a cramped table for an extended period of time just relaxing drinking wine and eating food.

Skinnybrowns

Had a wonderful business lunch here yesterday. The lamb meatballs were sensational as was the vegetarian pasta dish I had (and that's quite a compliment coming from a meat lover!). Great service and reasonable pricing. Would definitely go again

Moggie

Dined here last night and could not fault the food and service. The wagyu meatballs were one of the best thing I have ever tasted. Unfortunately you can't pre-book a table which makes it a bit awkward but we got a table ok so probably not an issue

Anna Harding

Food here is amazing. This is somewhere perfect for a special occasion as you'll be wanting to try EVERYTHING. My favorites are the meatballs which are perfect as an entree. The pasta is all fresh and perfectly complemented. Most important advice: Don't leave without ordering one of their beautiful deserts!!

Linny

The first time I had visited this establishment I found the food to be lacking but I had a friend from overseas come to visit and I thought I would give it another shot and hope that it was better than the first. Thankfully it was! We had decided to order the crayfish and deer meatballs as it was certainly different from anywhere else that we had tried before but we had found that to be just average. It wasn't terrible but we had hoped for more flavour than what we got. The chargrilled octopus was so much better and elevated our impression of the place. Bold flavours which worked well together and I really wasn't sure what I was expecting from it but was really pleased with the choice. The duck pasta was amazing! One of my favourite meats and they created a dish that was perfectly balanced with the duck and porcini. The pasta just melted in my mouth. This was clearly the stand out savoury dish of the night. We had opted to share the tiramisu and I have to say that this is the best tiramisu I have ever had. Different from other places it has a nice crispy shell and the baileys gave it a beautiful flavour. I could go there and just get this and be happy for days. I am so glad that we had decided to give this place another shot. I was really pleased with it and I think that I'll have to go back if I am craving tiramisu!

Bobby Anderson

Came here for dinner with a group of 10. Had platters and meatballs to share. Lobster and red deer meatballs were outstanding! Ordered a main each, most liked were the duck pasta and baked eggplant. Steak was a bit average when compared to similar restaurants. To finish, tirimisu is well presented and tasty.

Muffin Mum

Lovely, said with a sigh, that sums up Baduzzi. This visit we went for a late lunch, next time we will return in the evening. Mr has already decided we must go back so that he can have all the meatballs. We just shared one portion and some amazing bread as a starter. The lamb ones were judged as the ones to be tried. They were good, so good. For mains I chose the buttered maltagliati with buttercup, crystallised pumpkin seed and pickled black walnuts. When I ordered I was advised that the version with the duck is better but as I am not a duck fan and fancied vegetarian , I went for this option. It was lovely, all the tastes went together wonderfully and the pasta was perfect. Mr had the flat iron steak with rocket and mashed potato. He enjoyed his meal too. Baduzzi was a lovely experience and I will look forward to going back. Sitting watching the pasta being made was excellent. Next time will involve more bread, more meatballs, a main and dessert.

Lisa Wong

Lovely place with exception service. While they have a no booking policy the staff is very well organize and seats you in a very reasonable time frame. Meat balls (we had the wagyu and crayfish) was amazing), you only get 3 per plate so can be considered pricey. Must try dish: Tiramisu. Definitely save room for dessert here.

DefinitelyMayb

Baduzzi is such an amazing restraunt that we were considering going back an hour later to try more deserts! It is a modern establishment refurbrished with slick decour, cozy refreshing seating and sweet aromas coming from the kitchen at the back. The italian food was close to perfection. What makes Baduzzi a standout is that the food that comes out look like pieces of art but with a rustic feel to it. I'm not a big fan of meat boards but the one they served was beautifully crafted and I was surpised i enjoyed it as much as i did. The meatballs were great. Crayfish was amazingly succulent with a nice sauce that complemented it. Likewise the Wagyu meatballs were super tasty and had a delicious onion gravy. The pasta we tried was also very tasty and cooked to perfection. The biggest disappointment were the mains. We had the fish and suckling pig. The fish was a mess as it was sloppy and pretty bland. The plating was the worst out of all the dishes and was just not pleasant. The suckling pig was very nice but lacked balance to draw out more the pork. I would not suggest ordering the mains.Finally the desert was a godsend. Their tiramisu (or interpreation of it) is absolutely divine. It has some of the best flavour balance as well as amazing textures. It tastes like tiramisu but super smooth and velvety. It was by far the standout.For the price we pay, the speed the dishes served up and just amazing vibe from the restraunt, Baduzzi is a must visit!

Rosemary Cook

This place is awesome! We went there on new year's eve and enjoyed an excellent four-course meal with great service! The ambience was lovely too! A bit pricy but overall enjoyed the experience and was worth it for NYE.

Bettina Tran

We went on a busy night so I thought the service was pretty average given that we had to ask for extra menus and water to be topped up. As a group we ordered all the meatballs to try. The red deer was the favourite in our group. So delicious and tasty! I ordered the duck pasta and it was so yummy! Along with that the kina pasta was also quite good. The gnocchi was ok - the fig on the side was really good. The atmosphere was great with open kitchen and the busy hustle.

LucyGoosey

Damn this place is good! Went here with a friend last Friday night and we shared some meatballs and then two pasta dishes for the main. Firstly, I must mention the exceptional service we received. The place was really busy so the only table on offer was a high table with stools. We decided to take the table despite my dislike for stool seating. A couple of minutes later a waitress asked if we would like to move to a table closer to the ground, we graciously accepted. We were having a bit of trouble with the menu as we weren't sure what a lot of the things were but another waitress talked us through it and gave us some recommendations. The food here is excellent. The wagyu meatballs were amaze-balls! (sorry, couldn't resist) Now I'm not a fan of duck and have only eaten it once or twice but had heard great things about the duck pasta so we ordered it. It was delicious! Full of flavors including a good dose of all spice! The other pasta was whitebait with a quails egg. I wasn't as impressed with this one. I'm not sure putting whitebait in pasta is a good idea even if the pasta is very thin. The serving of whitebait was very generous but the flavor was almost completely lost which was a shame. This really is my only criticism of this restaurant. I would definitely go back here. The service, food and atmosphere are all outstanding!

Ulrich Frerk

"Food of the People" say the signs outside. Open the big, bright red door and step from the street into the dining room of Baduzzi, where your experience of a life time will start. Not only is the food to die for, the service matches is sister restaurant "THE GROVE". Experience is everything, so step out of your comfort Zone Into the hands of Michael and the team, and let then choose for your table, matched with what I think is the best wine in Auckland.

Peter Mondosae

Deserts are great here. Good service although the booth seats on a hot night were a little sticky. I saw Joseph Parker the boxer eating the same night as us too. Have been back since so all good.

James

All I can say is that the food is delicious. Would love to eat here everyday if I could! We had a range of meatballs (the sauces were to die for) and the veal shank which was amazing. Everyone should experience this food.

Sophia

I last visited Baduzzi a year ago. My friend and I had a very pleasant experience, and so this week I took my partner for the first time to introduce him to one of Auckland’s finest Italian restaurants. To begin, I started with a Barrel Aged Negroni cocktail: gin, Antica Formula (Italian red vermouth), Campari & a slice of orange. A classic Italian cocktail, this had a perfectly bittersweet flavour with underlying herbal notes. While strong, it was pleasant, easy to drink, and made a lovely complement to our dinner. From the Polpette, we chose Fiordland Crayfish meatballs with savoy cabbage, chickpeas & heritage carrots. As they are usually served as three meatballs, the waiter suggested we order four altogether to share (at an additional cost; each meatball is $6). These were very enjoyable – deliciously fresh, succulent and tender, and bursting with flavour. They were complemented well by the creamy sauce that accompanied it, and while my partner and I were indifferent about the chickpeas, we absolutely loved the crayfish. From the Primi, we chose Saffron Gnocchi with goat’s curd, burnt butter & confit figs. We loved the texture of these; soft, fresh and bouncy, Baduzzi’s pasta is always perfection (as with my lasagnette on my previous visit)! I especially liked the burnt butter that gave an interesting, tangy flavour to the gnocchi. Also from the Primi was our Risotto of red wine with wild rabbit & watercress, our most filling dish of the night. The rabbit had a deep meaty flavour that tasted like lamb, and while we loved the elegantly made red wine risotto, it was well balanced with the fresh watercress. As a sweet treat, we ordered a dessert of Tiramisu with Baileys, amaretto ladyfingers & chocolate cream. I love tiramisu and have tried several from different restaurants, however this tiramisu was made special with the hint of Baileys liqueur. Presented in a chocolate shell, the crunchy amaretto ladyfingers contrasted with the super soft & creamy tiramisu made for an amazingly decadent and delightful dessert. Of course, we also loved the chocolate cream to complement it. An expertly made dessert that was very sweet and delicious! Overall, another wonderful experience at Baduzzi. We loved the classy ambience, friendly and courteous customer service, and exquisite cuisine. However, the cocktail list is limited and some of the portions make the food better sharing plates than individual mains, so it’s best to check prior to ordering so you know what you are getting. This aside, no matter what you order, you can rest assured it’ll be made to perfection.

Aimee

I went to baduzzi a couple of weeks ago with friends. Two of us had been on a low carb diet and if you're going to break it then you may as well do it here because the pasta melts in your mouth. We started off with the antipasti platter and shared the venison and the wagyu meatballs. The antipasti platter was made up of a good selection of meats, pate, cheese, egg and pickles. The meatballs were one of the highlights but at approximately $5 per meatball it was definitely pricey! My friend and I got the duck & porcini ragu. The flavours went well together and it was a decent sized serving. My other friend got the Potato & saffron gnocchi but it came with only four pasta pieces (see photo). I think the idea is to have a dish from each course but this can prove costly. For dessert, I had the Tiramisu and oh my gawd I wanted more!! It was beautifully presented and the custard was to die for. I have since walked past baduzzi a couple of times and have wanted to go in just for the tiramisu alone. The service was excellent! We were looked after from beginning through to the end. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the wine and our water was constantly being topped up but not to the point where he was intrusive. Overall, I would recommend Baduzzi. This is the sort of place that you may want to save for a special occasion so you can sample several dishes and not feel guilty when you receive the bill.

Georgia KeKe Wong

Cute atmosphere and lovely presentation and service but the portion sizes were shockingly small and unaffordable, which is something very important to me. Should be renamed "Weightwatchers".

Don's Food Fiesta

This was a very nice place to eat. The waiter serving us was very informative which helped us to decide what we ordered. Would recommend for anyone looking for an authentic Italian cuisine experience

Bella Lily

I went here for my birthday and was not disappointed. Having heard mixed reviews I was unsure what to expect. The food was delish, with the menu sticking to an authentic italian layout. I had the steak which was perfectly cooked. And we shared some starters which were yummy. The desert was my favorite part. My only complaint was the acoustics, it was hard to have a conversation but that was easily overlooked after a couple of cocktails!

Sananda Chatterjee

Been here twice - both times were amazing. The Duck Ragu has to be one of my faves! Tiramisu is just brilliant!, and there is a version of an espresso martini, whic is divine!

Silva Star

Fantastic and thoughtful service, bettered only by the delicious and beautifully yummy food - a delight and a treat! The exotically flavoued meatballs make a wonderful entrée for sharing, and the hand-made pasta dishes are second to none. A must-try for seafood lovers highlight is the Auckland Island scampi and scallop tortellini, served with a bouillabaisse sauce - delicio!

Pankaj Kini

Five words - BEST TIRAMISU IN THE WORLD. This place is something else. Been here 4 times and had the same thing every time and each time spot on. Fantastic taste, presentation, ambience and service. This restaurant tells you what it is like to be the best! Thank you!

Charlie Dickinson

What an amazing night!! Selection of food was great! cured meat platter and veal with polenta so tasty!! Staff where so awesome and helped to make our engagement celebration night so special by bringing us out an extra dessert!! Thank you guys for going above and beyond and making it special!

Jason Montreal

From the great people who did the Grove what else would you expect but great food. The star of the show is the meatballs, the Venison or Wagyu in particular. The lack of wines by glass and overall lack of Riesling was surprising given its versatility with food but if you get the right server a lesson in Italian wines is worth a listen. Some nice twists on classic cocktails keep things versatile & interesting.

Alex James

Exceptional service from tk. Food was good, though suckling pig portion size was a little small. Particularly enjoyed the duck pasta. Would go again. 4.5 because of service.

Monica

My favourite thing about the place is the unique menu, picking from the more exquisite Italian offers. Baduzzi's prided handmade pasta was certainly up to scratch however the flavouring of the buttered maltagliati w duck &porcini ragu, pictured was quite interesting. My least favourite thing was the architectural design of the high roof, 'honest expression' I've heard it called where the pipes, vents and concrete are seen for aesthetic values. I think it detracts from the more stylish interior, and meant there was no acoustic ceiling absorption, making it hard to hear even my friend across the table. Prices initially appear good with pastas $18-22 however you soon realise you have to order a few things to get filled up, driving it steeply high.

Lex Antony Huang

A solid restaurant. I had the crab meatballs, suckling pork, clams linguine and the valrhona chocolate. The linguine and the chocolate dessert were spot on and i would give both dishes a solid 9/10. I just wanted more and more. Clams could have been more well seasoned and the cake could have been accompanied with some vanilla ice cream tho. However the suckling pork was quite dry, I had to eat it with the wilted spinach just to give it a bit of moisture. The overall dish was fine but not outstanding and lacked a strong focus to the dish. The meatballs to me were slightly under seasoned, a pleasant dish to eat otherwise. Cant wait to come back for more pasta.

Cole Saunders

Amazing italian & great service! Have been there about 6 times and love going back. They make epic Negroni's and the stuff are always very knowledgable!

Daniel Taylor

Wow, what an evening of great food and atmosphere. Went to Baduzzi for a birthday celebration and received fantastic food and service. Big ups to the crew at Baduzzi, keep it up!

Marilyn Moore

Pretty disappointed after rave reviews, arrived and got a seat quickly for 7 pm on a Saturday night, the wine was great and the atmosphere and environment is lovely. Unfortunately we were let down with the food. The meatballs were definitely tasty but we felt they were well overpriced for the 3 you get. Next the mains, 2 if us thought our mains were pretty nice but nothing amazing, the other 2 both had the pork which they agreed was not great, dry and full of fat ....and really tiny portion! When the waiter cleared our plates they didnt ask us how everything was so we decided to tell them when they brought us the dessert menu (seeing as our overall bill was $250 i would expect more) we got an apology but nothing further, we then also told the lady at the door where we paid our bill and again a sorry but no offer for any compensation... pretty poor for a restaurant of that standard. Overall they need to step up the quality of food then it would be an amazing restaurant.

Courtney @ A Food Awakening

Baduzzi is the second creation of award winning chef Ben Bayly. Serving Italian influenced food, they also focus on serving the finest handmade meatballs. Originally I was hesitant about Baduzzi as I had heard mixed reviews and when I got a small taste of the goat sandwich at the Auckland Taste food show last year- it didn't go down very well - after finding a huge bone in my sandwich. We came early on a Monday night and it obviously does well because the place really filled up, mostly the corporate clientele, which obviously is due to the location. The wagyu meatballs were the most attractive option on the menu due to be served with an onion gravy. They were incredibly flavoursome and it was great being served medium rare. Again the crayfish meatballs were tender and juicy but they have pork meat mixed in with the crayfish giving it the fat it needs to avoid a dry texture. The linguine with clams was nice but didn't wow me and clams were slightly over cooked. It just didn't quite stand out as much as the meatballs. However I am always inclined to try hand made pasta. Again the restaurant offers an Italian influence which gives room for The service was interesting. All the staff were attentive but maybe a little too much. They keep your water topped up but it was getting to the point that its a bit over bearing and unnecessary when they are interrupting your conversation. Don't get me wrong they were friendly but just a little too in your face. Overall the restaurant brings a chic and warm atmosphere with warm hearty meals. Rating Food: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Good Cnr Jellicoe Street and Fish Lane, North Wharf Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 1130am-Late

Amy Webb

I can totally understand why this place has so many positive reviews - it truly is amazing. Everything was absolutely perfect & I can't believe it took so long to get here! Located by Silo Park it was the perfect location for lunch before an event at the Viaduct Event Centre. We started with cocktails, a spiced rum, a passionfruit and a mojito. All three were exceptional, and presented very nicely. We also shared fresh bread with olive oil. I ordered the potato & saffron gnocchi while my friend ordered a beetroot tagliatelli pasta dish. We also shared the salad. My gnocchi was absolutely mind blowing. I was initially concerned when the waitress explained it was only 4 pieces but it was enough with the salad. Plus it was quite rich so it would be hard to eat a lot of. The salad was delicious! Very crunchy lettuce with green apple and walnuts. We decided to share two desserts as we couldn't decide on one. The tiramisu was fabulous, a bit difficult to eat but very nice. So many different textures on one plate. We also ordered the almond crumble dessert with lemon and honey icecream. My friend and I both decided the icecream really stood out. The service was extremely friendly. The staff were very helpful with explaining the menu and helping with choices and portion sizes. Food also came out promptly. My experience today at Baduzzi was flawless, I can't fault it at all!

Robert Vanstam

Visited Baduzzi on a Wednesday night at 8.00pm. Didn't book and completely full with a 45 minute wait and so had to pass. Obviously very popular

Riley Rose Mercy

Absolutely fantastic pasta, however, waiting staff seems to have no interest that we'd like to order/extras, plus the wait time for the meals was ridiculous.

J.T547

I took my mother and grandmother for lunch on Mother's Day and it was fantastic!! Delicious food and reasonably priced for a higher end restaurant. The meatballs, duck ragu and suckling pig is to die for! The service and attention to each guest was superb. I highly recommend this place, yum!

Fran Munro

Dined here for lunch.as usual consistently great food and service.4 th time to this restaurant in 4 months.is now a firm family favourite.our favourite is Te restaurants selection of delicious meatballs and duck pasta fantastic.

Carolina De Biasio

My husband and I went to Baduzzi last month for our anniversary. I chose to go there because I've heard about this place's great desserts before. What a wonderful night we had! The food, from the meatballs as starters, to the mains (we got the lasagnette and the pig) and desserts (tiramisu and "torta caprese") were delicious, I believe the best we ever had here in Auckland! The waitress (Andrea) was absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable about the menu! We already recommended Baduzzi for a lot of our friends and we will certainly be back!

Bea Nannestad

I was really impressed with everything about this place. My boyfriend and I wanted somewhere fancy but not too fancy to celebrate our anniversary and this sure fit the bill. The wait staff were incredibly good about answering questions about the menu, and not afraid to recommend favourites which I always like. I told our waitress I was coeliac so couldn't eat gluten and she told me what all my options were. They even had gluten free pasta on hand, which basically means I could eat the whole menu, what more could you want. Anyone who has allergies will know how amazing it is to receive good service like that, and it's certainly a sign of a well designed menu that they can change the menu to cater for people. Another sign of well trained staff is the fact that our plates were cleared respectfully and our water glasses were never empty but I never had the feeling that the wait staff were hovering or watching us. On top of great service awesome cocktails and a great vibe, the food was really really amazing. Perfectly portioned perfectly rich delicious and dare I say pretty reasonably priced for the quality of the whole experience. I would say that if you're going here, don't be afraid to ask questions about the menu.

Mark Corbett

Stylish place with great food, service and atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anybody. The number of people there during the week testifies to what I have said. An interesting menu with a reasonable price list

Penelope Franca

Absolutely loved everything about this place. The food of course, could not be more impressive, true italian with the twist. Fantastic atmosphere and the staff was really helpful and were on top of our needs all night. 5 out of 5 Baduzzi, well done!

Dawn Meertens

Absolutely stunning meal. The Red Deer meatballs were to die for as was the fresh pasta with duck, mushrooms and black walnuts. The service was everything you could ask for, the recommendations by the wait staff was faultless and the entire evening had by the six of us was great. Great stuff Baduzzi. oh and the wine we had was to die for as well!! I came on line to have a look at the wine list, not available.

Rob Bishop

I went to Baduzzi alone, fairly early on a Wednesday night. First impressions: really helpful staff (I have “special dietary requirements”) and an interesting layout. Cool menu and wine list! Rather brief, but interesting. Very tasty food. I had the flame-grilled sardines, vegetarian pasta (beetroot tagliatelle) and fish en papillote. All delicious, packed with intriguing taste and textural combinations! Also three glasses of unusual Italian wines, all well-suited to the food. A great experience! Couldn’t fault it. By 8 PM, when I left, the place was packed. Next time I’m in Auckland, I’ll definitely be back.

Gus

We went to lunch on a whim today, after hearing very nice things about Baduzzi from friends. The food and service was everything I've come to expect from a restaurant run by the owner of the Grove. Our little boy was with us, and as soon as we were seated crayons and an activity sheet were brought so that we could get on with the real business. We started with the charcuterie plate, the duck liver parfait was a standout but all of the meats and cheese were excellent. Next came the gamberi/prawns. Wrapped in pancetta and served with pea shoots and gremolata piccante I found these to be the perfect mouthful of sweet savoury and bitter. The crayfish meatballs were moist soft and sweet in a light tomato sauce, and the scampi & scallop tortelloni was beautiful to eat with the delicate meat just cooked and still with bite. All in all an excellent meal and worth going back

Tracy Johnstone

We went on a recommendation from my nephew who is a real foodie and I also love food.It was Just Divine! I can't wait to go back, Very cool place and the food is creative and delicious. Staff were very attentive. We will be back many times, I can't recommend this enough. You have to go. The only issue I had with was with the couple who sat behind us who took public displays of affection to a whole new level. They needed a room! I'm not prewd however I think the staff should have perhaps asked them to tone it down a little. I mean feeding each other orally was a little OTT.

Lorraine Wilson

Sorry but not impressed with the food. I had steak, asked for it cooked medium. Came half raw, not cooked on one side at all, blood was running out of the meat forming a ring on the plate and then into the mash. Shame as was looking forward to dining here!

Lisa

Second time. Definitely not as enjoyable as the 1st time. Food was good but it took an hour and a 1/2 to get our mains, they were very busy but that was far too long to wait. Our entree which we asked if the three of us could share only had two small pieces of bread so we had to ask for more so the third person could have some. The waitress also dropped a large plate in the middle of our table which shattered all over our table. It was not a great experience.

Rosalie Bay

We couldn't fault the food and service on a very busy night. Every dish was totally delicious, including grilled sardines with pine nuts, feta and raisins; salad of squid and white beans; eggplant with burrata; flat iron beef tagliata (which came with a buttery potato puree which was a perfect complement to the tasty and beautifully cooked beef). The only unmemorable dish was suckling pig, which was dominated by a overly sour Barolo glaze and lacked the crisp skin that we were hoping for. Our waiters were helpful, pleasant and very professional. We had a lovely evening at Baduzzi and will be back again soon. (edited to add) Another aspect of our enjoyment was that at no time did we feel rushed to vacate our table. This is an increasingly rare pleasure in central Auckland.

David Parussini

First time here, very enjoyable - pleased we arrived early at 630pm as it quickly filled up and there were people lining up to get in when leaving later. Tasty food, we shared 4 entree's including 2 meatball dishes, had a pasta dish each and then shared a main course steak dish. Servings aren't substantial, however we enjoyed all of them, with the standouts for me being the duck parpadelle and venison meatballs. A little pricey, however worth it for the quality and buzzy atmosphere. Good service considering the restaurant filled up very quickly.

Kelsey

What better way than to have lunch on a sunny day at Baduzzi. The waitress was very informative and talked us through the menu with great suggestions. We chose the squid, crayfish meatballs and melanzane and burrata cheese. All very tasty, only comment is we thought the portions were rather small.

Jeff Mabbett

Flippin awesome! The staff were super knowledgable and friendly. Food was top notch and presented at a really high standard. Good variety of seating options. Unique unisex toilets...the ladies were impressed by the moisturiser and the wallpaper. We will definitely be back! And definitley reccomend to other people

Manoja St John

This place was wonderful. We walked in and were seated immediately. Drinks came quickly. This is the second time we have been here. We have enjoyed both experiences. The waiter was informed and attentive. The food was amazing. My favourite was saffron gnocchi. The dessert semi freddo was good too. Can't wait to return

Vanessa Green

Baduzzi you have got it right! Thank you for presenting us with amazing cuisine and excellent service!! Loved every minute of it. This restaurant has a fantastic atmosphere and great service and everyone seems to work smoothly as a team. We would highly recommend Baduzzi to all our friends! You won't be disappointed....x

Tom Fletcher

Fantastic restaurant. Knowledgeable staff and great atmosphere. We especially loved the duck pasta and the tiramisu was sinfully good. We are so happy to have this on our list of favourite restaurants, have been several times and is always top class. Have recommended to all our friends and workmates. Thanks Baduzzi!

Fede

Our impression has been that the Balduzzi's staff in general is under stress and not well treated. Even the Italian waitress seemed to have to hurry away instead of having a short chat with us. That's not "Italian inspired", nor kiwi beloved usual laid back calm attitude, nor other things are. Everybody there was "pushy". like having to sell and make money. Rent and expenses pressure must kill them. Sorry for them, but as client I enjoy a good atmosphere. After the food, the whole experience is important. Summing up: the food was good (although I had to eat again once at home, was starving). It is only "Italian inspired": feta (originally a Greek, Danish, Bulgarian cheese) doesn't go on sardines. The use of an Italian family name and vintage pictures on food lists/menu doesn't elevate a restaurant to the rank of a true Italian restaurant. Finally, I'm unsure Balduzzi will see us so soon.

Jeffrey Dee

A good restaurant serving quality and unique Italian food. The meatballs cost $13.00 to $18.00 for 4 pieces. A main dish will cost $16.00 to $22.00. And dessert from $13.00 to $14.00. The portion sizes are small and you need to order more food but delicious. Wait time around 30 minutes. Service was lackluster.

Joe

We went to Baduzzi a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. The whole experience was very nice and we had a lovely time. The service was friendly and helpful and the meal was very good. We both had the San Francisco Ciopinno. The only thing I think they could improve is the size of their meal, I believe it could be a little bit bigger, apart from that everything is great about this place. We do recommend a visit!

Wibl

The serving sizes are tiny. Not just small, but almost unbelievably tiny. There was only about a couple of tablespoons of food in my main course. We ate three courses each and left the place hungry. Don't go here if you actually want to eat! Also, before we had ordered, the waiter offered to "tell us a bit about the menu" and then proceeded to read out some of the items to us, almost word for word. I can read it myself!

David Boshier

This place does get busy, so you need to be early for a table if you don't want to wait. The team have a great understanding of the menu and provide good advice on how to structure your selections. We started with sharing the meatballs and then a main. Standouts were the Waygu meatballs and the goat with turnip main. Will be heading back soon.

Wayne Kent

Took a group here for a work dinner. Food and wine was really good but the wait was very, very long. We ordered some mix anti pastas for the table, which just never came. When we asked the waiter what happened to them he just sort of ignored us as though we hadn't ordered them. I thought maybe it was because we had a group of 8 but looking at these reviews clearly some work needs to be done in this area. A long wait for food kills the occasion like no other, they teach you that on my kitchen rules. Good quality food though.

Justine Maddock

We started off having a lovely experience with great service from JT and great recommendations of what to try for starters from the staff and great food. We ordered a number of starters and had a few drinks and were feeling really good about our experience. We ordered a T-Bone steak to share for a main, it took a very long time to come out so we expected it to be perfect, unfortunately when it arrived to the table it was still raw so needed to go back. When it came out again it was very good, it came with mash potato but really it was only enough for 1 person. We went in early for dinner at about 6ish when the restaurant was fairly empty but it did fill up pretty quickly. The unfortunate thing about our experience was at about 8:15 We were about to order deserts and coffee to finish off what we thought was a lovely dinner when we were asked to leave as there were apparently people that had been waiting for a table for 2 hours. This would have been fine if it had been explained to us at the beginning that there was a time limit on the table and if we hadn't had to wait so long for our main to arrive. Unfortunately this did not leave us feeling good about our overall experience and we are not likely to return :-(

Chris

Was expecting great things from this place after reading some critics and public reviews. From reading one of the reviews this place is stated as "food of the people". At the price they charge it is only for the well-off or light eaters! Ordered some Meatballs - $18 for 3 meatballs and some sauce! How can you feed the people on 3 meatballs?! Tried some other dishes such as the Rabbit ravioli which was tasty but again a tiny serving size. Service was very slow - took almost an hour for food to come out even with restaurant only about 3/4 full. Overall expected much more from this place - the main critique is that it is trying to be more accessible price-wise but you end up paying a premium anyway!

Anna S

Great location, nice decor, friendly guys. The first visit was great. The second was awful. We came on Sunday afternoon and sat outside hoping to get some nice coffee. Friendly waitress took our order: flat white and a latte. What could be possibly simpler? But we were waiting for a flat white about 15 minutes to come. Just one coffee? Yes. Another one was missing.. wait, there is more. After we already ordered some cafe worker came over and made sure we are here for lunch. No, just coffee, we said. But these tables are only for those who are here for lunch, he said. Wait! Why then our order was taken and how is it supposed to be? We are hanging around the cafe holding cups? Cool. Where are our cups? 15 minutes, one coffee out of two. Thank you, Baduzzi, we are leaving!

Nicole Abbott

Love, love, love! Great fit out, saucy knowledgeable staff and fantastic food. Stopped in for a couple of glasses of wine and a snack, now can't wait to go back to have the full menu. Tried the sardines, venison meatballs and crayfish meatballs and all were divine. Our waitress Shia was friendly, warm and efficient, and owner Michael Dearth was personable and seemingly everywhere in the restaurant at once! Interesting wine list and great atmosphere. Classy joint :)

Jacqui

Fantastic restaurant. Meatballs are so tender and delicious. The fish stew is one of the best I have ever had (will definitely be back for more) and the prices are very reasonable. Staff were lovely too; knew their stuff and very accommodating. Kids menu was good too - nice to get a menu that didn't consist of deep fried stuff and chips. My son loved his meatballs. My only small gripe was that the kids meatballs don't come with Pasta and this needs to be ordered separately. Had a lovely family dinner night out with kids - definitely will go back there again!

Philippa L

This place is amazing. Have just come home from a birthday dinner. Christine the maitre d was charming. The three of us shared entrees, mains and desserts - spectacular. We had the crayfish polpette, rabbit ravioli and the duck pasta, every mouthful a taste sensation. We then followed them with pheasant en brodo, pulled goat and gnocchi. Again it was hard to know which was the best because they all had such complex and delicious flavours. And so...to dessert... Tiramisu, chocolate tart and cannoli. Fabulous. Alberto, our Sicilian wine waiter, was very knowledgeable and recommended some great matches with the food. We'll definitely be back.. Soon I hope...

Zinnia Harris

I was lucky enough to spend my Sunday afternoon down at the newly opened Baduzzi in the Wynyard Quarter. As we arrived we passed a couple just leaving and overheard one saying to the other, “I think that has to be the best pasta I’ve ever eaten”, so you can imagine our expectations were high after that! We were greeted by super friendly staff and as soon as a table was free for our group of four we were seated near the kitchen. Sitting this close to the action was a little rowdy at times but this just added to the atmosphere and it afforded us views of the busy chefs hard at work. As a group of four we decided that sharing a selection of dishes was the most opportune way to try as many things as possible. The menu definitely lends itself to this, however as someone who is often wary of ‘sharing’ in restaurants I was pleased to note that an ‘entre followed by main’ style of dining would work perfectly well also. Michael, our friendly maitre’d, helped us out with Italian wine choices so I’m afraid I can’t remember what we were served but both red and white were fantastic and matched the food perfectly. Subtle and very drinkable. It was an eye opener to me how good Italian wine can be. To start we ordered the wedding soup, the white bean insalata, and the crayfish meatballs. I’m afraid I’m going to run out of adjectives to adequately describe how absolutely delicious each of these dishes was. The wedding soup was a deeply flavoursome, mouth watering broth with cavolo nero. It was difficult to tear oneself away to try the other dishes but they were calling nonetheless. Served in a fantastic sauce that didn’t overpower them, the crayfish meatballs wowed us once again with the perfect balance of fresh herbs to compliment them. The white bean insalata was fresh, textured and light and also highly recommendable. To follow we had the spring risotto, the rabbit ravioli, the duck maltagliati and the fish stew. I won’t go into each dish at this point but there wasn’t a single thing I tried that didn’t surprise and delight me. The crockery, décor and styling I really rate also (surprise surprise), having a simple elegance that didn’t lack interest and originality. I’ve never walked away from a restaurant with such a determination to recommend it as this one. If you venture down to the Wynyard Quarter you won’t be disappointed by Baduzzi.

EatsByZee

Baduzzi is an Italian restaurant with an uniquely Kiwi twist. Located in the Wynyard Quarter precinct and always buzzing with diners, this place is the place to be for delicious meatballs and pasta. The decor is unique with leather booth type seating, spherical hanging lights, vines draping off the shelves, mirrored panels and custom wallpaper lining the walls. The menu is varied and designed to be shared. We opted for their signature Fiorland crayfish meatballs ($18 for three meatballs) and harmony pork and fennel meatballs to start ($14). Both dishes were amazing - the crayfish meatballs plump, juicy and full of flavour but surprisingly it was the pork meatballs served in a brodo (broth) of roasted chicken al matriomonio (or Italian Wedding Soup) that won my tastebuds over. This dish certainly was a marriage all of the right flavours, the broth punchy yet delicate, with wilted spinach and macaroni pieces that were the right accompaniment to the pork and fennel meatballs. For mains we shared the buttered maltagliati with duck and porcini ragu, buttercup and pickled black walnuts ($22), tortelloni of Auckland Island scampi and queen scallops with a bouillabaisse vinaigrette ($9 each) and the flat iron steak tagliata served with rocket, parmesan reggiano and gusti balsamic ($30). All these choices were on point, making it hard to select a favourite. The maltagliati dish was simply devine - thin ribbons of pasta laviously coated in a rich sauce with crunchy pieces of walnut scattered throughout. The tortelloni was fresh, and full of seafood flavour. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare - it was tender, melt-in-your mouth and just goes to show that simple dishes are often the most pleasurable to eat. To end we had a selection desserts - the tiramisu ($15) was encased in a biscuit outer shell that had to be cracked into, the cannoli was crisp and light with a citrus and chocolate chip ricotta filling ($14) and the crostata with pear and almond crumble ($14) was declared exceptional. Highly recommend!

Lillian

Came here for lunch with 2 others that works nearby. Was a little intimidated when everyone else in the restaurant was banker-looking, in suits. I would recommend booking because we got a corner of the nice couch & a big wooden table otherwise only small tables left if we were walk-ins. Booking was a breeze too as I left a msg and they got back to me within an hour (note they don't take booking for dinner unless for a group). Together we ordered a Piccolo - the grilled mackerel bruschetta (replacing the sardines probably cos it is in season), 2x polpette (or meatballs) - the crayfish and the wild red deer, and 2x Primi (pastas) - beetroot tagliatelli with fried paua & smoked pancetta, and saffron potato gnocchi stuffed with goats curd. My favourite would be the beetroot tagliatelli, I'm a sucker for purple food and paua! The gnocchi looked beautiful too and I don't know how they kept the curd so fluffy inside?? I was actually looking forward to the crayfish the most, but it turned out to be maybe the least liked of dishes we had - although they were all high quality and flavourful. The red deer meatballs were delicious and really worked well with the sauce it is in and the thin cauliflower slices were so cute! The grilled fish smelt great when it arrived. They can tailor the number of meatballs/meat pieces there are if you are sharing, however they gave & charged us for an extra crayfish meatballs (4 instead of 3) when we didn't ask for it :/ Other than that they were really friendly, and explained the dishes and helped us out with the ordering (it felt slightly like they were upselling tho). Beautiful decor and I felt like I was transported to Europe.

Carmella @ Easy Food Hacks

Baduzzi is an Italian trattoria under the helm of Michael Dearth of The Grove. This is in a lower-price range, but with all the creativity and passion, which goes into his other restaurant. This place is a visual delight, with its leather blanquettes, customised wallpaper, marble tabletops, mirrored walls and chic industrial ceiling. I love that they use coloured crockery; the bright green of their plates was a herald of good things to come. As a retired Catholic though, the idea of a Virgin Mary salt spoon was just a touch too uncomfortable. The service is top-notch; you get a warm greeting followed by friendly and attentive service for the rest of the meal. There are even blankets for the cooler evenings if you choose to dine in the covered courtyard. And then, there is the food. I could wax lyrical about the food at Baduzzi… and I will. The food is innovative, visually stunning and tastes fabulous. The menu has changed slightly each of the three times I’ve visited since the end of last year. Yes, the crayfish meatballs (3 for $18) are beyond fantastic. Tender, succulent and so savoury, you wonder how they get so much flavour into one mouthful. And yes, you will judge all other meatballs against this. The grilled wagyu meatballs ($15) with onion gravy and salsa verde were excellent as well. I also love the carpaccio of poached wagyu tongue ($15). One its own, it’s tender and bland, but with the salsa rossa and horseradish Chantilly, it’s hits all the right notes. At my first visit, we had the wild rabbit ravioli ($18), which came on turnip puree, and the highly recommended flame grilled sardines ($14) with pinoli pine nuts, feta & white raisins. My second visit, we sampled the tuna nicoise with came with French beans, black olive tapenade and a perfectly soft boiled egg ($18). I didn’t think I was a nicoise salad sort of woman, but this fresh ingredients and balanced flavours in these won me over. Then, there was the potato and saffron gnocchi ($18) filled with goats curd with a buerre noisette sauce. The gnocchi has been shaped into a tortellini and filled with the goats curd. For the rest of the review and photos, see http://easyfoodhacks.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/baduzzi-wynyard-quarter-auckland.html

Fridayu

I went to Baduzzi for a special occasion, it was a busy night which probably seems to be the case most nights. We had a small table on the side of the very welcoming and stylish interior. Our waiter was great, he guided us through the menu and recommended some amazing dishes, he was very attentive and a delight to have. We were told by some friends about how Baduzzi's specialty were their meatballs, definitely an interesting selection of meatballs. And after ordering the wagyu and crayfish meatballs they were not a let down. I do have to agree that portion sizes were slightly disappointing and were smaller than I would have expected. But at the end of the night service was excellent, food was superb and impressed with the flavour combinations.

Frequency

We had a nice time at Baduzzi, it's was extremely busy but we had booked ahead so after a 20 minute wait at the bar the 9 of us were squeezed into a booth.. We started with at selection of all of the meatballs, some really nice options of different flavor combinations, the only problem we had with them is that they weren't very hot unfortunately.. We went on to mains, and we we're all suitably impressed with the chicken saltimbocca the the portion could have been a bit bigger.. The highlight of the meal however was the honey semifredo with toffee.. It was amazing... Now we are really into our wine and we we're really impressed with the wine list and super stoked that they have hallertau beers on tap.. the only real thing that tarnished out experience and would make me dubious about returning was the attitude of one really up himself and super arrogant waiter who was quite condescending and full of his own importance telling us about how he was the food and beverage manager at someplace and that our wine matches we chose for ourselves were wrong and the he could match our dinner better than we could.. Such a shame

Nom Nom Panda

This restaurant may be named after meatballs, but that is just one section of the menu. They have great pastas and main dishes too, as well as plenty of vegetarian options to choose from. Excellent service, classy interior, and desserts to die for (we have tried the tiramisu, cannoli and chocolate torta, and have been blown away by each). The portions are on the small side, and the meatballs don't come with pasta or bread, so err on the side of ordering too much, while leaving room for dessert. For pictures and a more detailed review, see http://nomnompanda.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/review-baduzzi.html

Mairi Herbert

I do love Baduzzi, after 3 visits I still want to back for more....of just about everything. Meatballs are star but then everything else is just a tempting & delectable. It’s run by the same team as The Grove so they know exactly what they are doing & it the most welcome addition to Wynyard Quarter. Step in through the bright red door, settle in & enjoy! Baduzzi is the Sicilian word for meatballs & there are some very tasty morsels to choose from. Crayfish meatballs with braised chickpeas, heritage tomato & basil or grilled wagyu meatballs with onion gravy, salsa verde & cannellini beans or wild red deer meatballs with portabello mushroom & cauliflower crema. The other Monday night we had the crayfish & wagyu & were not disappointed....these are melt in the mouth delicious. Much as I love the meatballs I love the pasta even more! My special favourite the saffron gnocchi with goats curd, burnt butter, almonds & marjoram. What’s not to love about pasta & burnt butter, well actually anything with burnt butter! Add to that the sharp goats cheese & I am in heaven. We also had the rabbit ravioli, plump ravioli packed with rabbit meat are rich & comforting. We also tried the insalata of white beans, squid, lemon juice & parsley. Perfectly grilled squid & wonderfully bright & fresh salad. And then there are desserts! I have had the tiramisu on a previous visit...just have it. Rich & creamy...No matter how full you think you are you will thank me...I promise! The chocolate torta caprese with vanilla ice cream is rich, dark & decadent. Served warm with an ooey gooey centre if you love chocolate you will adore this dessert! Baduzzi from beginning to end is just a delight! If you like this for more head here http://www.toast-nz.com/2013/11/auckland-eatsbaduzzi.html

Kate W

Came here based on a friend's recommendation and various reviews. First impressions are of a slick French/American bistro with very friendly service staff...in fact one was the owner himself who made us feel very welcome and personally read out the menu to us! The crayfish meatballs were delicious as were the courgette flowers but the best bit was the chocolate dessert. The chicken saltimbocca was nice but didn't wow me and the pasta looked pretty but again, wasn't a stand out dish. You can buy a ham for $550 and they keep it for you at the restaurant for you to come back and order slices of your own ham with olive oil and bread...very tempting!

Two Honest Truths

The staff are very friendly, although most of them have not personally tried the dishes so recommendations are a bit limited. Shaved waygu tongue with salsa rossa ($9) - amazing flavours, tangy salsa with roasted potato cubes wrapped in a fresh slice of waygu, definitely returning for a few more of this. Insalata of white beans and squid ($13) - refreshing but nothing extraordinary. Crayfish meatballs ($16) and Deer and mushroom meatballs ($12) - the deer was a lot bolder in taste but tended towards the salty side. The crayfish won both our hearts. Tiramisu ($12) - silky and creamy, and incredibly delicious with some sprinkled coffee crunch. The biscuit around it provided the perfect sweetness and crunch. To read more and for more photos visit: http://twohonesttruths.com/2013/10/13/baduzzi/