Review Augustus Bistro - Auckland Central

Amazing food..!! the restaurant has good collection of drinks too. The rib eye fillet is one of the best i have eaten so far. The buttermilk Panna cotta was simply perfect so light and smooth it just melts on your tongue with best flavours on the palette. Service was just right with both food and drink arriving at perfect times.

My boyfriend and I went out for dinner on a Friday night at Augustus and had a fantastic time. The old post office building in Ponsonby is an amazing building on the outside and the setting inside did not disappoint. The bistro takes inspiration from years gone by but has fresh modern twists to the décor with plenty of plants and palm trees around making you feel like your somewhere more exotic. Our meal was the best we have had since arriving in Auckland. Each dish was extremely tasty and beautifully presented (see photos). I had the beef short rib which was generous in its portion and fell apart as soon as I stuck my fork into it. My boyfriend the pasta lover managed to tick one of his food bucket list by having the pasta finished in a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wheel. It was so impressive seeing the cheese wheel brought over to your table and the waiter stirring through the pasta before serving it to you hot and cheesy! We will definitely be returning to Augustus and bringing our friends this time! Looking forward to it already.

Love to go for meals and my wife and I recently had our wedding reception there. The food and service is fantastic. Excellent way to treat yourself for a meal and even better for having events at.

One of the finest restaurants at parnel. Wide selection of food, wine and specialty dishes especially the pasta carved from a wheel of parmigiano reggiano. Great team behind the food as well as outstanding front of house I Absolutely recommend this place with the highest regard.

At the end of a two-month visit to New Zealand, my daughter, Rachel, who just had her second son, decided to treat me to an extra-amazing lunch for my last day. She choose the Augustus Bistro after reading the reviews, and we were not disappointed. First, the ambiance was superb. Rachel lived nearly a year in Vienna, and really misses Europe sometimes, so this felt like home to her in far away New Zealand, where she may be spending the next several years. The old world deco and high ceilings, together with amazing live orchids (how do they ever keep them so beautiful?) glass detail, wonderful light and windows made us feel almost giddy. We decided to go for the full menu, with appetizers, drinks, main meal and dessert-thank you, Rachel. C'est magnifique! As neither of us imbibe, sometimes drinks are boring, with a bland selection of commercial soda pop. Not so at Augustus Bistro. I enjoyed a hot strawberry-kiwifruit tisane and Rachel an iced kombucha with rosemary and lavender sprigs that smelled heavenly from her first sip. To start, we shared a black rice puff with Augustus-made cashew ricotta and pickled green walnut, which neither of us have ever heard of, and savored immensely. It was divine. We then shared a charred and slow-roasted eggplant with sweet and sour sultanas (golden raisins, for the yanks reading this review) more of the amazing ricotta, and an herb salad so fresh I'm sure they picked it out back. Toasted almonds on top, too. Does it get any better? Wait. It does, indeed. Rachel chose the Spiced Ceciata, which was not at all what she expected, but a delight to us both! Brocollini, tomato, coconut, lime, chili and ginger in a crepe-like batter made of chickpea flour, olive oil and fresh herbs and spices (so, like a dumpling, but low carbs!), cooked in a hot pan, crispy in some spots with a deep nutty flavor. Topped with roast tomatoes, grilled broccolini, capsicum sauce, coriander and coconut yogurt. It was topped with fresh baked Parmesan chips. Perfect, with no additives or adulterations. She discovered a small, dark red pepper too spicy for her taste (plus, nursing a baby, you never know what he may not want to sample) but it was easy to spot and set aside. She could also have asked for it to be skipped, I'm sure, but we didn't think about it in advance, being so enamored with our splendid surroundings. My pick was unusual for me, as I prefer fresh fish over most anything, and NZ is full of the best. I was sorely tempted by the long-line caught poisson in gooseberry sauce and seaweed, but realized, however, that I was leaving the country in just three hours having never tasted New Zealand beef! I ordered the rib eye. To say it was good would be ridiculous. This beef was hand picked, 55 day aged steak, with parsley, mushroom, peppercorn gremolata and caramelized onion. Fresh herbs...and did I mention some of the mushrooms were chanterelles? The menu just said mushrooms. What a delight! Eating this meal was like biting into an especially flavorful cloud. if you notice a celestial theme throughout this review, it's because eating here was what I expect the people who were especially good on earth might expect in the next life. Bon Appétit Mother Teresa, Zhdanov, Dr. King, Gandahi, Jesus Christ, Dr. D.A. Henderson...wait! I nearly forgot dessert! Rachel choose the gianduja, valrhona ivoire chocolate and hazelnut mousse, with roast mandarins, and hazelnut ice cream. I had the dark chocolate Tenerina, valrhona manjari chocolate, with macerated plums and caramel sauce. We shared these, too. Pretty sure God wants everyone to eat like this some day, after putting up with so much down here on earth for so long. Check the photos to see if I'm wrong. Sorry we dived in and did some sharing before I took the pics. We were hungry! Also, our waiter was wonderful. He plays violin! Perhaps they should have him perform. Sorry I didn't catch his name. We were there February 13, 2020 at around 2:00 PM. Remember: this is NOT a fast-food restaurant. Plan two hours, minimum.

Glorious food in gorgeous setting. Not busy day we went for large group lunch deserves to be packed the food and presentation was A+ Definitely up with the best.

We loved it. The atmosphere was great. So romantic with real candles and the light was perfect. The staff were amazing. So respectful and they were so confident about the food and complimentary wines. We had risotto for an entree, the fish of the day. And profiteroles as desert. Lovely subtle tastes but tasty. Highly recommend this great restaurant in a historic beautiful building.

Rarely give five stars, this restaurant is really good🥂😍

This is such a special spot that we have made this our Monday night routine, because we are foodies and the combination of amazing cuisine, ambience and service has blown us away. Always welcoming and real the team here are second to none on the hospitality stakes, they totally get what constitutes amazing service as they engage seamlessly. Had to share a photo of our regular Monday night waitress who we adore. The cuisine always fresh and on point, do try the market fish it’s beyond expectations.

I came here for a lunch with my Mum for her birthday and it was everything we were hoping for. We sat outside in the courtyard which made us feel like we were in a beautiful Italian town, with the sun out and a light breeze. The cocktails were exceptional, service friendly and the food was divine. Pricing was what I would expect for a restaurant of that calibre in the heart of Ponsonby. Will definitely be returning!

Just had dinner there and loved it. We are so pleased to see the old post office having a suitable tenant. Maybe the menu is not all French and maybe there is some blend of language. But we loved what they did, the food was great and my steak perfectly cooked. The décor is fitting, the service was professional and attentive.

Wow what a hugely satisfying result. Cuisine worth the trip to Ponsonby to savour, great ambience and excellent attention to detail. Service was superb and the overall menu was more than enough for most palettes. I have to say this is a great restaurant for both romantic entanglements and to take clients to for a highly satisfying experience. Great wine list as you would expect from Mud Brick

We celebrated our Mums 65th birthday dinner here - we were a large group and we were so well taken care of. We had the 2 course set menu which was amazing and everyone seemed to really enjoy their meals. We were able to bring in our own cake (for a small fee) and they cut this for us all (although I personally have had a dessert from here on another occasion and they are delicious!) We will definitely be back.

Loved this place from the moment we walked in. Great ambiance reminiscent of a turn of the century conservatory (but warm and cosy). Welcoming and friendly staff had us seated at the bar with beautiful cocktails whilst we waited for our friends to arrive. Food took just the right amount of time to arrive with attentive but not intrusive service. A wide range of dishes cater to a range of tastes with a satisfied vegetation in our group as well as the dedicated carnivores. Do try the twice baked soufflé .... you won’t be disappointed

Came here for their cheese wheel pasta and was unfortunately a bit disappointed. First I will say I loved their waiters and the atomosphere. However, the pasta came out stuck together and not cooked evenly which was quite disappointing as it is a rookie mistake. The main also took over 40 minutes to come. It wasn't a busy night either and it was not during peak hours. I'm hoping it was just a one off thing. I loved the meatballs and fries though. Don't let this put you off, I'm willing to try again and give them the benefit of the doubt.

We visited for dinner and loved the food. The ambience was great and we appreciated the attentive service. Great cocktails, delicious small plates! The Parmesan wheel pasta was nice, but the cheese needed more melting as it was grainy. Overall great experience! Will be returning soon :)

Great seafood and service. Must try truffle fries. It was really good. Staff was friendly

Lovely restaurant, beautiful food and great service! Love the decor and vibe, very nice. Had my birthday dinner here and loved the parmigiano reggiano pasta, sauce made in the cheese wheel at your table which is really cool.

Came here on a Friday night. Busy but not overcrowded. Staff was accommodating but service was a little inattentive where they would appear and be real nice and then disappear for long times. Food wise it was good. Cannot fault it. The beef tartare was tasty, had the market fish which was tasty and the cheesecake was great with the persimmons in the side.

I found out about Augustus Bistro while looking through the Eat, Drink, Love Ponsonby menus. $55 for a 3 course dinner in my opinion is worth it so I decided to try it out with my family. The building was stunning, it was historic and the decorations suited the building. We were seated inside but the courtyard looked really inviting especially if it was during the summer. We all got the house-smoked lamb loin as the entree and the lamb was smoked perfectly. I really enjoyed that dish and the presentation was stunning. I got the confit chicken leg while the rest of my family got the slow cooked beef short rib. The chicken was crispy but I felt like it lacked salt. I tried a bit of the beef and I regret not getting it, it was soft on the inside but crunchy on the outside, absolutely delicious. My brother and I got the dark chocolate fondant and we both thought it was a bit too sweet for our liking but still good. My parents got the yoghurt cheesecake and it was quite tasty too but I prefer the fondant. The service was efficient and friendly.

A beautiful French restaurant located in the heart of Ponsonby. The historical building plus the European interior creates an excellent ambience and adds a sense of class to your dining experience.<br/><br/>Went there a few days ago. We ordered a beef tartare and lamb ribs for the entree and market fish for the main. The beef tartare was fresh and well flavored. The lamb ribs were crispy and tender with a nice hummus on top. The market fish however was slightly over cooked, the meat was very dry. <br/><br/>Love their wine selection.<br/><br/>If you want are looking for a place for a fancy brunch or intimate dining. This restaurant is highly recommended.<br/><br/>Food: 8/10<br/>Food presentation: 8.5/10<br/>Service: 8/10<br/>Location: 8/10<br/>Ambience: 10/10<br/>Price $50 per person excl alcohol <br/>

Wonderful meal ! Such a beautiful building, Augustus has managed to maintain so much character from this historic landmark. The high roofing and decor really creates a wonderful ambiance. The weather was quite cold, so we sat indoors, but the outdoor area would be perfect for weekend brunch, or perhaps dinner in the summer. We enjoyed the grilled crayfish tail, crispy lamb rib, scampi ravioli and the slow cooked beef short rib. The crayfish tail is sliced into 4 pieces (just be mindful if sharing). It was perfectly cooked and very enjoyable. Fault was only to be found in teh salad - avocado season is well over - so im not sure why they opted to use pre-packaged avocado. Unnecessary details which spoilt the star of the dish - the cray. Both meat dishes were well prepared, seasoned and garnished. Tender, falling off the bone and deliciously juicy. Would order both again. The pasta was also a star - the sherry brown butter was an absolute treat. Highly recommend !

Beautiful place to go for a fancy lunch or dinner. It’s not casual but if you need a glass of wine/ bubbles then you are in the right place. <br/>The prices are reasonable. Food it’s art and taste is good. For me as a petite woman that doesn’t need a full plate is a 5 star. For my fiancé though it’s 3.7 <br/>And I could understand his logic. <br/>The menu was designed to attract women but not men. Especially kiwis who are spoiled when it comes to quantity and quality. <br/>After we finished my fiancé asked me if I wouldn’t mind if we stopped by a bakery. <br/>He was still very hungry because what he got in his plate at this restaurant as a main dish was not satisfying at all. He hates when he goes to restaurants and leaves hungry from there... and normally he never orders smth else but goes somewhere else. <br/><br/>The service was good and food was fast. <br/>Place was not crowded and the veranda was lovely. <br/><br/>

3rd time visiting since this place opened, so I thought I'd leave a review. I just can't get enough of it! I have had the flounder 3 times LOL. I have been mixing up the entrees but last night I had the smoked lamb loin with black olive and yellow peppers, so sweet and smoky at the same time, its a must try if you are into rare meat and big flavours. YUM, service was great as usual we had a lovely french waiter who was very attentive and knowledgeable. I will be back!! LOL

Came here on a 45 lunch break between meetings. The food came out in less than 15 mins which was amazing as I did tell the waitress I was on a time constraint. The steak was cooked well but the star on the dish was that beautiful creamy chunky horseradish sauce. It is definitely an acquired taste but I just wanted more of it!!!

Amazing produce driven food, served in the most beautiful building in Auckland.<br/><br/>The environment and food is elegant, yet unpretentious. Would take my kids, parents, wife and my most important clients here. Ticks all the boxes.

Always such a fun time no matter what time of the day - definitely rate the muesli with panacotta if you’re in for brunch; or flounder at dinner.<br/><br/>P.S also always mint grabbing after work drinks here

Atmosphere is great but a bit chilly in winter night because the ceiling is high. Serving staffs are friendly. Quantity is small which is understandable as its French, but the food is not as I expected for the price I paid. Presentation is also average. The main issue was that I ordered an entree and a main course, and the soup base is the same... So I ended up having similar food- crab meat in seafood soup stew and fish in seafood soup stew. It would be nice if the waiter could remind me when I made the order.

Excellent night all round. Arrived at 7:30, promptly seated (we had a booking), and were given menus and offered water immediately. We selected the soufflé and steak tartare for entrees. The Steak tartare was superb and is thoroughly recommended- pure French. Mains were the eye fillet and mussels, again both excellent, followed by rhubarb dessert and a cheese board all washed down with some good French red - the Bordeaux. Slight wait at the end as no one seemed to be around to take our money, but wandered to the door and paid on the way out. A lovely evening.

Beautiful building from the first time you walk in you know this is the place to be. Had the opportunity to feast on a variety of starters and the scallops were by far my favourite. Service was excellent and the food and drinks kept coming. Creek brûlée amazing and so creamy and the perfect glaze on top. Love this place and will be back

After a few teething problems with Augustus online booking system we managed to secure a table for two on a wet Friday night.<br/><br/>We received a warm welcome and were directed to a large table overlooking the outdoor patio and fire place.<br/><br/>We kicked off with the happy hour trio of martinis for $45 - staring with a dry one and ending up with a sweet one. An interesting experience for both of us as we don’t drink martinis.<br/><br/>Our waitress, who was from Argentina, was charming and helpful.<br/><br/>We worked our way through the trio of duck (smoked, parfait and terrine) [fantastic especially the parfait], the cheese soufflé [tasty but slightly rubbery - suspect it was twice baked], duck a l’orange and pork belly with prunes [very tasty but could have done with more sauce].<br/><br/>We also tried the French fried with Parmesan and truffle oil - they were crisp and would go well with the steak dishes on offer.<br/><br/>We finished with a tart rhubarb tartane - delicious but not sure the strawberry ice-cream was a good match.<br/><br/>The wine list covered all the bases and was reasonably priced.<br/><br/>Nice setting.<br/><br/>It suffices to say we will be back.

Been here a few times even before it was Augusto back in the day . The outdoor area is nice during summer especially with oysters (when in season) and champagne which goes down well as a combo . <br/>We can sense some SPQR influences since they are the same owners and added flavour over the food and ambience which is great with a nice vibe. <br/>Tonight we all had the French onion soup and escargot to start but they were out of oysters , we had the rib eye steak x 2 , steak tar tar and the lamb rack which was amazing ! <br/>Although one of the steak was not cooked to medium and was rare and very red so had to get it re-cooked. <br/>We finished off with a variety of desserts and also had beers, wines and gins to wash it all down. <br/>Overall a nice experience for a group of us and food / drinks were spot on apart from the undercooked streak. It’s our local so will be back again

Their G&T is a noteworthy one, presented very pretty and picturesque, prefect for those social media obsessors. The food was delicate and nice, enjoyed the duck platter. Escargots were also nice. Fries crispy and well seasoned. Lovely setting.

Went here last night with a friend of mine. What a gem. Classic food executed amazingly. By far the best bluff I’ve had all season they were so damn soft and creamy! Cheese soufflé was a hit. Smoked duck had the most amazingly beautiful smoke taste but still being so smooth and clean on the palate. The staff were ever present but not intrusive even on a night where it was clear staff were in training I could not fault our waitress. Cocktails sublime absolute master working the bar. Steak was cooked to perfection and CDP butter did not dissapoint, together with the jus being packed to the brim of great flavour you just can not go wrong. The super simple French bistro plating allows you to focus on the mastery that has gone into the food. The desserts were equally stunning and classic. I felt as if I was eating the food of France in a humble post shop of New Zealand. Truly brilliant. If you understand food and you understand culinary talent you will appreciate it here.

I had the vege pasta, onion soup and trio dessert. While service was impeccable, the food was average tasting at best. Prolly a great place for date nights or if you're impressing someone, but all in all it was a pretty meh experience for me.

bistro /ˈbiːstroʊ/, is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant, serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. LadySnort! Nope! Glamorous ambience, expensive, exquisitely divine food creations. Adorable staff, though one seemed to struggle with understanding us, the young Italian took care of everything and everyone. It was cool enough to try the onion soup, which was sweet and cheesy, but not particularly beefy. Scallops Saint Jacques were in a very unusual bisque. Not the style the New Yorker was used to, and frankly so odd neither of us could eat it. My John Dory (fish of the day) was spectacular. Definitely an enjoyable birthday treat.

The paucity of full-steam quality French eateries in Auckland boded well for the opening of Augustus Bistro last year. Strategically stationed in Ponsonby where the well-heeled could handily patronize its numerous tables and commodious continental ambience, this restaurant beckons with a fully stacked menu of French favourites. The handsomely baroque building, originally the Ponsonby Post Office, is now repurposed as a stately and beautiful dining ship, flowing out St.Mary's Road and spreading sail towards Ponsonby's hub. An ample 'ante-room' leads to the well-appointed bar, another large domain floats in the middle with potted palms and marble-topped tables, with a lovely shaded al fresco space on the other side. Ceilings are tall enough to make you crane your head above to see it, and the windows large enough to allow you to jump out and haul your sweetheart in.  <br/><br/>The innings commenced fabulously with a pristine glass of 2014 Cuvee Anne Laure Pinot Gris which was flat-out one of the finest white wines I've had the pleasure of consuming - so delicately refreshing and exquisitely precise. The "soup" it presaged was the oceanic equivalent of stunning wine. Crayfish bisque was velvety smooth, beautifully creamy and sported a lushly expressive bouquet and body of crayfish soul. The crab at the center was fresh but oversalted - nevermind, my last taste was that of the bisque and it smoothed over everything like a river washing over a puddle.<br/><br/> There is something about Snapper - its premium billing and understated smooth flesh inspires chefs to screw it up in multiple ways. Here, Yellow belly founder, praised by many customers, was gone from the menu by the time I arrived, and the fish of the day, was now as above. A hefty cut with its exterior roasted to a crisp, the fillet alas was flavourless, thereby rendering its associates - a fine beurre blanc, a nice pommes puree, regulation tomato salsa - ministers without a strong chief.<br/><br/>Dessert more than atoned. Assiette of Chocolate was a ganache coaxed from dazzling ingredient quality to further express dulcet, creamy and chocolate umami notes in perfect harmony. 'Twas complemented by moistened-'n'-slick blueberries resting like dark pearls over a superb white-chocolate cremeux avec just the barest hint of kaffir lime. <br/><br/>Service by lovely young blokes - some with a French accent , others with a Brit clip - is a breezy highlight. On the second occasion, my drinks worth $30 were left off the bill, and I realized this much later but being in a suitably roguish mood, didn't return to point out my shining honesty as I have done elsewhere, deriving some solace that I had actually tipped the waiter $20. <br/><br/>My first two visits were on afternoons where the restaurant was pleasantly deserted, and a Sunday afternoon a week into the New Year was so exclusive that when when my host after seating me, noted "You have the restaurant all to yourself, Sir " , I noted what a remarkable phenomenon it was in a place with as many tables and as big a size as this airily continental joint. A French Martini consumed a few moments later was a beaut, made smoother and more tenderly rich by Chambord liqueur. <br/><br/>That afternoon then plateaued. Prawn Club Sandwich at $10 was a bit of a joke, with a nicely toasted rich slider no doubt, but the prawn filling did nothing to distinguish this as a unique or flavourful prawn slider. Scallop Gratin was another disappointment , the scallops of good size but of sadly muted flavour (my memories of American scallops have nowhere found their match in the listless NZ versions) while the gratin topping was an anaemic embarrassment of garlic and parsley. <br/><br/>Persillade Risotto was textbook-true with its melding of herbal, olive oil and creamy parmesan notes but after a while it got boring, with neither the peas nor the beans nor the broccolini synthesizing any vibrant vegetal zip. The mains on the whole offer limited choice for vegetarians and pescatarians. <br/><br/>My third visit was completely different from the first two. Gloriously deserted afternoon was replaced by bustling night, with almost all tables in the central room occupied. My usually dependable dining companions sprang a surprise by giving an eighty minute deadline by which they had scoot from the place. Mr.Muir from 'Spygame' had already tutored me on "twice the sex with half the foreplay' so I decided to quickly shortlist certain dishes which would throw more light on how good a bistro could get. <br/><br/> Twice Baked souffle, with parmesan, gruyere and comte, was technically superior with zero stodginess and wonderfully creamy texture, the trio of cheeses generating an indulgent depth without cloy. The same operational excellence manifested in the scampi omelette , with a thin base beautifully flooded over by runny yolk , alas the flavour of the scampi pieces on top was dead in the water. You may note that of the five seafood dishes tasted in Augustus , only one had notable instrinsic taste. <br/><br/>My rule about avoiding mammalian meat for the rest of my life remained steadfast, and the mind had also become turned against poultry but when the waiter told me that they did not have the Wednesday Special of ' Fish Meuniere' (a major disappointment), a wan smile decided to sling back the 70s with Duck a la Orange. Yesteryear magnificence did not shine through that evening - the meager orange sauce was nothing to croon about, a lemon mash was too astringent while the marquee meat was just of an acceptable quality. <br/><br/>Given that service, even during hassled times in this large bistro, remained consistently excellent, in fact amongst the most enjoyable in Auckland , thus being a major tribute to the assiduity of the owners in selecting the right personnel, I would have been willing to lift the overall restaurant score if that last main - a lumbering yet deceptively difficult classic - had been sent flying out of the park, but that burst of traditional inspiration was found wanting. <br/><br/>Augustus Bistro still remains a very nice place to experience on languid afternoons. Auckland, Europe all become one, and the paucity of awesome female staff is made up for by absolutely charming young gentlemen who attend to you with a smile. That crayfish bisque rocks, they just need to fix a main to sustain the high.  More Pics @ Upnworld

Went Saturday night. Had a booking for 7:45. Was at the bar till 8:15 as we were waiting to be seated. My wife had to go up and ask if our table was ready. It was and had been since 7:45. we then sat ourselves at our table. So we were forgotten. We then had our side plates taken which i presume was for the complimentary bread that was on offer. So had to get the plates from the table next door. The service was a 2. The food on the other hand was really good. Smoked duck breast and the crayfish bisque were really good. I had the Scotch fillet and it was cooked superbly.  Wife had the Duck. Others at the table had the lamb rack. Dessert was really good. Had the paris breast. Food is a 4.5-5. Also dont ask to sit next to the entrance as you often get the smell from the public toilet wafting through the restaurant. We were told this area was for walkins. We booked. So on the whole we were left undecided if we would return.

Taste: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕<br/>Interior Deco: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕<br/>Customer service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗<br/>Recommend: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕<br/>Came here for lunch today, food was surprisingly good! Fish of the day is recommended! The male staffs were super nice and friendly which is quite a contrast with one of their female waitress who was being impatient and unfriendly. Other than that, the food, male staffs and indoor decoration was great!!

The food is average and it is the worse service I ever had in auckland restaurant, and it was so over rated by metro as one of the top 50 restaurant. We had the most snotty waitress who had no response what so ever when we ask for something. The worse part is we got a fly in our wine glass and we told the waitress, she didn't say a word but just took the glass away, after 1min she came back with with the same wine glass but the fly is gone... which means she took the fly out without replacing the wine. Unacceptable service and was very disappointing

Good to have another French restaurant. Good food but didn't wow me. The escargot was more salt flavour and I tend to prefer the garlic butter ones you get in France. The cheese soufflé was good. Highlight was the beautifully cooked lamb rack and the sauce it came with was the perfect taste to enhance it.

The food was superb, every ingredient on the plate of my orange duck confit balanced out so so well!! My cocktail was also great, using Grey Goose vodka in an overall very refreshing drink. The service and ambiance of the bistro gave the place a really cool vibe - Amazing!!

Well if one place deserves a 6 rating this is it :-) By the same owners of SPQR, what else could one expect. This old post office building was almost jinxed it had so many incarnations and failed attempts at getting something going, but now it is the epitome of French style and finesse. Even an unqualified amateur diner like myself cannot fail to be impressed by the superb fit out that transports oneself to another world.<br/><br/>We went early since we didn't have a booking and were greeted by the friendly team who managed to put us at a great table. Everything flowed smoothly, the waiter was impeccable and the dishes all tasted sublime. Special kudos to the French Onion soup (thick and cheesy), the beef bourguignon (best ever apparently) and my yellow belly flounder with beurre blanc which was a culinary work of art. Need I say more, do yourself a favour and marinate yourself in this French treat.

The north of Ponsonby eventually creates a decent place to dine. Yes you will attracted by the perfect transformed "Old Ponsonby post office" into a bistro Augustus, named for the postmaster, Augustus Edward Braithwaite. And it won't be too difficult for locals to find out this new venture is a contribution from SPQR Owner Chris and his daughter Courtney Rupe to Ponsonby vividness.<br/><br/>Entering the high-ceiling lounge, expecting yourself in a tropical resort, surrounded by greenery with a courtyard extended your dining imagination. Perfect for most of Auckland's beautiful blue sunny days. In between, you will find yourself sitting in a cream and chocolate interior dressed in white linen. Simple, smart and classy.<br/><br/>Menu is focused in French bistro bites, you won't be surprised by meeting escargot, king crab cocktail, crab bisque, French onion soup, steak tartare. As for the main, from fish to pork belly, from Confit duck to veal cordon bleu, what's more you can even get treated by special Beef bourguignon, beef wellington. Yes what more can you expect?<br/><br/>Crab bisque serves warm with a heap of white flesh in the middle with a hint of basil taste. However, I prefer they have it served in front of customers, just adding a sense of warmness.<br/>The duck liver parfait with wine jelly is a bit average and dull, if the toasted bread could be a better quality sourdough or baguette to pair with. Bread is pale speaking of a proper bistro for Augustus.<br/><br/>However, this is soon saved by Beef bourguignon, which is perfectly done putting time and efforts in the whole dish. Every bite is enjoyable. Soft tender beef texture, crispy pancetta, juicy shallots, all the ingredients are cooked in a beautiful balance. They nailed this classic dish. Then the yellow belly flounder is comparatively less scored even with its crab mayonnaise dressing. <br/><br/>The rhubarb tarte tatin and creme brulee for dessert is a perfect choice for most people. I do go for a bit old-fashioned, the humble Madeleines with lemon curd and cream. Baked to order, within 7 minutes, it came out freshly to your tastebud. Trust me, you wouldn't find a better lemon curd to match this happy ending.<br/><br/>Deserves a second and third visit, for sure, Augustus has more to come in the pipeline.<br/><br/>We just wish the summer would never go away.

This new French bistro is a great option. We went for dinner but they do brunch as well. The indoor decor is beautiful, lots of greenery and a cute courtyard. My meal was to die for, with the cheese soufflé and rhubarb tart stand out winners

I treated my wife to extravagant dinner and special experience at Augustus Bistro for her birthday. The ambience and service was very pleasing, we were made to be feel right at home. The food was spectacular and a great menu selection. We ordered entres Smoked duck and Salmon with side garnishes which both were very tasty and satisfying. For Mains we had Angus steak eye filet and my wife chose the Yellow belly flounder which came out looking georgous and it was. We were so satisfied we could not even do dessert. I do highly recommend to those wanting a special nite go do it in style at Augustus😄

It was our 6 month anniversary on Wednesday the 15th. We have been looking forward to dining here since it opened. I am delighted to say everything lived up to our expectations, food? Incredible. Service? Impeccable. My favourite dish by far was les escargots it was just like we had eaten in Paris. Not to mention the assiduous effort the staff took to ensure our night was more than perfect. The young lady that greeted us started the night off on a high which only continued throughout our experience. I will definitely recommend Augustus Bistro to everyone I talk to, top job.

The food is incredible and the venue is so beautiful, will definitely recommend to anyone who wants to have a beautiful dinner and drink!!! X

My experience at Augustus was great company paired with tiny portions of pretty good food. The price is steep for what you get and a bit more care could be taken with their presentation. I paid $90 for dinner and a glass of wine and left feeling hungry. Perhaps their lunch or burger specials would have been a better choice for the wallet. This is a place to be seen rather than to eat.

I love Augustus however I think the 'meet and greet' service needs to be sorted out.  I have been four times and on each occasion there was a delay in being seated.  Yesterday we arrived for lunch, the owner was standing around in his active wear, there were two people behind the counter and when one walked off with menus I asked if we should follow and got no response and then we waited another few minutes for someone to take us to our table.Please put a 'professional' on front desk and make it that person's sole function to greet and arrange for your customers to be seated!

My partner and I came here for dinner on Valentine's day as It was a place I had been wanting to try since it opened. Although we didn't realise it was a set menu night they were very accommodating with my dietary needs. The staff were extremely wonderful and helpful and the food was absolutely delicious there is no way we could fault this restaurant. We definitely will be back!

Same owners as SPQR and this place is pretty elegant and great fine dinning.<br/><br/>Being a French inspired place I had to try the duck confit, red cabbage and hazelnut main, truly a great, rich flavoured dish. I had the crab cognac with warm crab basil as my entree something completely different to how I usually have crab, again a stunning dish.<br/><br/>The venue is really well put together and the service was really good.

Saturday night, no pressure, relaxed and easy service. First class food especially the veal and the madeleines. Wine like the vaqueryas was very good. Will go again at the drop of a hat.

We have just been for lunch. The atmosphere was great but the food & service very disappointing. We weren't told that the bisque and flounder were off the menu until we ordered. The prawn cocktail was very unexciting. When we went to pay there had been a mistake & someone else had paid our bill. No apologies, no one asked how our meal was, definitely very disappointing and I wouldn't recommend.

This was my first visit since the restaurant opened. The dining room was lively with music and chatter from the other diners in the busy dining room. I felt transported to Paris by the decor, our French waitress , the European wine list and the menu filled with French bistro classics. I started with a very pleasant terrine, the others all had the flavourful Crab bisque. My sirloin steak frites with bearnaise sauce was nicely cooked, my better half had a crayfish sandwich and salad which was very small but beautifully formed. A rhubarb tart tartin and raspberry meringue bombe completed a really enjoyable meal. Recommended