Review Onslow Bar & Eatery - Auckland Central

Outstanding. This is a top choice for both excellent food and warm, friendly service. Since we found Onslow a month or so ago, we have visited 3 times. Each time the food was exceptional. Happily working through the menu but its hard to pick a favourite (Ok, its the lamb) but its also the amazing Salmon... and the pork. Also, the beetroot and feta salad and the wonderful turmeric mash. The meals are small - designed to be shared; but to be honest we have over ordered each time. A wonderful hidden gem of a place.

Been there twice now, and it's consistently super delicious food. Group of 4 with 1 vegetarian and there was lots to eat for everyone. Thoroughly recommend this place. Great atmosphere, great music, great wait staff, just all around awesome.

Its new but its not new! If you want to enjoy fabulous food with friendly service in reasonable price, you should try this restaurant. It used to be my favorite spot when it was a Vietnamese noodle shop. When they were closed I was so sad. But.. Tada! Even better one newly opened! Why Google review has only 5 stars??? ^^

I enjoyed the tasty healthy options available here. The menu is for sharing or not. Creme brulee was delightful 😋😋

Amazing food. The beef the haloumi and the beetroot salad all faultless.

Absolutely outstanding food. Perfect use of spices, the pork is unmissable.

Great neighbourhood restaurant

The glass box perched at the top of Dominion Road (used to house the delightful Peasant) is now Onslow, offering tapas with a Moroccan slant. Think lentil shakshuka, grilled beef with cumin and paprika and very flavoursome crumbed artichokes; couple that with rustic textures, colourful ceramic dishes and wrought iron detailing and they have the ambience down pat. The dishes were made to share, so we fumbled our way splitting things like the moreish chicken among six; but clanking dishes aside — those crunchy potatoes were to die for. We noticed also that, while we only shared the space with two other parties, the room felt quite “loud” — like yelling-across-the-table loud. Not sure if it was the acoustics of the room, but it certainly ain't the space for a low-key yarn. When Onslow opens up in summer to the wooden patios outside, we'll be there — drink in hand.<br/><br/>Check out our individual comments here: husk.co.nz/lunches/onslow-bar-amp-eatery-may-2016

Really want to thank Onslow for a perfect birthday dinner on Sunday night.  Food was a taste sensation and service was delightful.  Came with my partner, Dad and 11 year old daughter.  We chose the mixed entrée platter - loved absolutely everything and particularly enjoyed the smoked fish dip and artichoke on smashed avocado. On advice from our waitress we chose 3 mains (they are smaller, sharing plates) and 3 sides (generous portions) and were completely sated.  Our mains were the pork, salmon and lentils, sides were potatoes, eggplant and seasonal greens.  Everything was mouth wateringly perfect.  I don't usually eat pork but I thought these guys would source it carefully. It was absolutely melt in your mouth tender, with a terrific apple accompaniment. Really appreciated the crispy skin pieces that went with the salmon.  The new potatoes were stunning, baked in skin, crispy on outside, fluffy on the inside.  Our young English waitress couldn't have been more helpful, even jumping on a chair to position a piece of cardboard on a window when the setting sun caught straight into my eyes for 15 mins or so.  My daughter asked for a side of halloumi (not on the menu) and she didn't even have to check with the kitchen, she knew it wouldn't be a problem. She also organised a really fabulous looking mocktail for her after asking what kind of juices she liked. Honestly - we all just raved on the way home about the quality and taste of the food.  Relaxed, low key vibe, we really liked the interior (we remember it from Two Monkeys days so... wow!) and will be recommending to friends and family.

This is definitely a hidden gem. You would spot it on your way in Mount Eden specially when it's after sunset cause it has beautiful fairy lights lit across the open plan restaurant. Finally managed to go there with no expectations and so so glad we did. <br/>The food is outstanding, every single element of every single dish is full of flavour. You know when your palate dances cause the food is so good, that will happen here. We had bread n dips, mother's lager beer. The dip that came with bread was absolutely delicious. <br/>Mains were Lamb and Beef (Love, love, love), mains come in sharing capacity so you can taste everything we also had eggplant side which was my personal favourite. I did feel portions are slightly smaller or maybe I was just too hungry but overall food of that quality at this price is rare to find. <br/>The service was excellent, the waiting staff who attended us was very polite and vigilant. Lastly, I do like the vibe of the place but it does look better from outside than inside. Overall - Definitely recommend!

i don't eat red meat that's half cooked but yooooo this lamb with anchovy sauce was the bomb! <br/>cute intimate setting and good vibes. def recommend.

We went here for a family dinner the other night. Unfortunately I didn't get photos of every dish but all the food was delish! As a group of 8 we got 4 protein dishes and 4 sides to share then each got a dessert and it was plenty of food! I loved the doughnuts and the pork shoulder, amaze!

Family owned Moroccan-inspired Onslow opened its door in May 2016, the spot previously occupied by Vietnamese eatery, Peasant. A family owned causal eatery, Onslow pride themselves with “food from the land to your table” philosophy and offers a seasonal menu that changes depending on the seasonal produce.

Visited with locals while spending a couple of nights in Auckland.  Waiter was very friendly, suggested some great tasting dishes.  Only complaint was being placed next to a noisy table so made conversation a little difficult, but not a lot can be done about that when a restaurant is fully booked.

Thanks Onslow for a fantastic evening.  Great friendly service, and we loved your tapas type menu.  Already dreaming of my next visit to try your desert menu!

Our welcome to the place was cold and uninterested. We then watched the maitre d and one of the waitresses have domestics all during service which was distracting if a little voyeuristically entertaining. The food was nice but wasnt the boom we were looking for.

A group of us went there on sunday. First impression walking In, service was a little aloof and had a strange vibe. Food was good, but didnt have a massive wow factor for us. Could do with some team building and a bit more all round passion

Dined here last night. I have to say the food was excellent. The sharing of plates made it very enjoyable and the portion sizes were ample. But the whole dining experience was marred by the very unfriendly and aloof maitre d'. He did not make us feel welcome. The table service was adequate but not friendly either. The food would make me want to return but the service has put me off.

We really enjoyed the food at Onslow. The beef and the betroot side were delicious and the Onslow platter was huge! The only let down was the service, which to be fair was good until after the main course. We had to get up and ask for the dessert menu and then had to try get the attention of the waiter to place our order as they never came back to ask what we wanted. We had the creme brulee which was disappointing and really not worth the wait. Definitely would rate this place higher if not for the let down on the service side. I have to emphasise again that main, side and platter were YUM!

Four of us had diner here on Saturday night<br/>All shared plates<br/>The food was quite superb<br/>Moorish Chicken Pork Shoulder and Grilled Beef<br/>Sides of Polenta Chips Seasonal Greens and Spiced Potatoes<br/>Followed by Rhubarb Brulee Cinnamon Doughnuts and Plum Pistachio Filo<br/>Excellent Peroni on tap<br/>The service was a bit mixed<br/>It was busy<br/>Not cheap but outstanding

Absolutely wonderful food and excellent service. A beautiful blend of quality ingredients with a smart shared menu which shows a true love of food. The pork shoulder and beetroot side were delicious. A wonderful local eatery.

We headed to Onslow after reading some excellent reviews to find the experience a bit of a mixed bag mainly due to the mechanics of the meal rather than the food itself.<br/>Firstly, the irritating booking system. Was told bookings were only taken for 6 or 8pm.<br/>Convenient for the restaurant, a pain for us. We settled on a much too early 6pm seating only to discover at 7 o'clock 2 groups without bookings were seated & promptly served as apparently "walk ins are welcome". The message from this is not to book, just turn up at the time you want to eat & ignore their annoying reservation dictates.<br/>It's a stylish space but waiting to be seated in the near empty restaurant we were ignored for far too long by the maitre d' who was seated talking to someone at one of the tables. <br/>Once organised our server was very good throughout the meal & service was friendly & prompt.<br/>The menu is separated into small plates & sharing plates. We were advised for 3 of us to order 2 small & 3 sharing plates plus 2 sides. They are all served together & are all the same size although the sharing plates are more expensive. No veg is included so sides need to be ordered.<br/>We ended up with a table bursting with plates & found ourselves rushing through the meal - would much rather have the small plates first & a pause before the sharing plates & sides were served.<br/>The food was excellent - standout for me was the pork shoulder, crusty on the outside & still succulent inside. Others loved the fish & chorizo, lamb & the squid with chilli jam. <br/>Sides of crispy potato & broccolini with sesame were delicious.<br/>Servings were on the small size, particularly the fish & lamb. We could easily have eaten two more plates.<br/>The promised Moroccan flavourings were subtle to the point of being nonexistent so don't expect a taste of Tangiers.<br/>Overall excellent food in Dominion Rd but being charged at Ponsonby Rd prices. Will probably go back, just not very often at $160 for 3 people (including 3 drinks).

No need too much words for them. Its just excellent in any field. You will tell yourself you did a good job to choose this restaurant when you are there. <br/>Glad I am living at "Onlsow Zone".  :D

For a very long time I have grieved the loss of Two Monkeys Vietnamese Noodle Bar. So much to the point that I swore I wouldn't go near any place that called two monkeys home. So when I discovered there was a Moroccan inspired eatery opening up in its place, and with a Moroccan crazy mother-in-law, I knew a trip to Onslow was going to have to happen. OH BOY!! All I can say is that if there's any new restaurant in town you want to try out, make it Onslow. The food is incredible, the staff are very welcoming and knowledgable about what they are serving. I must say I no longer grieve for two monkeys as a far superior eating establishment has taken over and I will definitely go back there time and time again.