Review Szimpla Gastro Bar - Mangere

The atmosphere was well thought out. Great flow from inside to an outside setting 👌 Love the energy and vibe from the beautiful staff it made the food tastier😆 Cost wise, it is reasonable, considering the portion ratio and taste so overall it's a 5 star experience. Keep it up, Szimpla. We will certainly come back for more, plus we were promised a dance 💃 floor😅 oh and that Thai beef salad was the bomb, it was a Fiesta in the mouth🤣

Visited during an overnight stay at the Ibis at Auckland Airport. Service - first class. Prompt, attentive, courteous. Food - standard fare, but well presented and really tasty. Ambience - a mix of covered outdoor tables, high tables and larger standard tables to cater to all group sizes and events. Good range of wines and beers (the Tuatara is my new fave)

Setting and atmosphere is relaxing/welcoming. Staff chirpy, and friendly. It didn't take long to get served. Table reservation was made for 3 adults at 11.30am. Food is great but did take awhile to come out, we ended up being quite hungry.

Nice place to eat if your staying at the ibis next door. Food was lovely, staff were nice but not very attentive had to find someone each time we wanted a drink or order desserts etc.. lovely vibe

We celebrated my mother in laws birthday last night. The service and food was soooo good 10/10. Great staff, very welcoming & top service. We plan on many more enjoyable moments here.

Beautiful setting. Felt 5 star but didnt feel pompous. Food was beautiful, tasty and generous portions. Loved the lambs fry with bacon and the pork belly. Honorary mention to our beautiful host Chris I think his name was, who made my 4 year olds birthday lunch truly memorable, and was attentive and efficient. Highly recommend this pub. I wish I took photos if the food but we were too hungry!!! 😀

Amazing food, recommend the garlic bread (will fill you up)!!! And the chips there the best chips I have ever tasted.

Food was amazing, waiting staff were quick to take our drinks and dinner order. Food came out super fast. Dessert was quite a wait, and very loud in the restaurant. Very pleasant experience overall

Good stop for a meal in a rush, pizza was nice.

Had dinner here tonight whilst staying near the airport. Menu looked good which founded our initial decision to eat dinner there (compared to KFC across the road). We had the calamari and chips and it was excellent. Service was quick and polite. All wait staff were very helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, we don’t live in Auckland otherwise we would certainly visit again.

Good Kai. Much better than expected. Great beef burger and Chicken gnocchi. Nailed it for the kids menu too. Not cheap, but reasonable given captive audience. Glad we made the walk over from the international terminal. Friendly staff and good buzz to the place. Would come again.

Pork belly was delicious and very tender. Wait and service times took a bit long but the overall dining experience was pleasant.

Had a couple of small hiccups but the staff sorted it out straight away. The way it should be! Chefs know what they’re doing, tasty grub. That combined with great service, would come back!

My wife and I were staying next door at the Ibis Motel. We decided to go next door to the Szimpla Bar. 1st thing we noticed was the relaxed atmosphere, not overdone but really tasteful. Waitstaff were great and so was the beer. I had the Salmon, the plate was very upmarket looking and tasted great. Wife had the pork belly but couldn't eat it all so I cleaned up. I don't usually like bread desserts but this one was awesome. Thanks again guys. Had a really nice time. Would highly recommend.

Great food.... service was slow and missed an item I ordered but food was great.

There aren’t many decent restaurants near the Auckland airport but Szimpla is definitely a good one.<br/><br/>I love the 80’s furnitures arranged at the waiting bar, which gives the restaurant a retro look. The place has a spacious outdoor and interior seating with an excellent ambience. <br/><br/>We ordered the Scotch Fillet, Fish n Chips, Crispy Chicken Burger and the Market Fish. All dishes had a massive portion and were beautifully arranged on the plates. <br/><br/>I ordered the medium-well fillet but received a medium instead, however the fillet was still tender and flavored well with the mushroom sauce. The salad, eggs and chips tasted nice as well.<br/><br/>Friendly staff, food were served moderately fast despite being very busy.<br/><br/>Taste: 7.5/10<br/>Presentation: 9/10<br/>Service: 8/10<br/>Ambience: 9/10<br/>Value for money: 8/10<br/><br/>Price $35 per person

Awesome food. Retro 70s vibe.

Took our friends visiting us for lunch, so close to the airport. With good options on menu for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.. recommend their cauliflower balls, fish and chips and calamari as quick options.

My partner and I decided to try out this place as it was local to us. We got wedges to start and the pork belly and gnocchi for main. The pork belly was very well presented and looked amazing! Unfortunately it lacked seasoning. The pork was very bland and skin wasn’t crispy - tasted like boiled pork. Also a very small dish for its price. The gnocchi also lacked flavour that adding salt ourselves didn’t do it justice. Everything looked amazing but sadly missed the mark with seasoning/flavour.

Nice pub food with friendly service. The burger was juicy with fresh ingredients. The chip serving was generous with large chunky fries. <br/><br/>A great place to stop before your flight. <br/><br/>

Every time we visit, nothing but great service, warm atmosphere and reeeeeal good food! Only downfall is the change in menu, my partner & I LOVED the rice pudding, talked about it all the time only to go back and it was gone ☹️ but tried the bread and butter pudding currently on menu and oh my god! He broke his diet to have a taste! Calamari is def one of our faves. Have never had a dish that we didn’t enjoy. We definitely recommend szimpla to all, 100%

Had a group of about 15 adults here. My first time here. The staff were very friendly and attentive to our needs. Atmosphere here was real chill. We sat and dined outdoors which was great because it was a warm night. The food was good. My steak n mushroom sauce were yum, chunky chips were ok. Dessert was delish! A very decent place.

Lovely and spacious place and the food was yummy. Also staffs were accomodating. Easy to find parking as we went on Saturday. Will definitely come back again.

The menu is much better than when it first opened. When it first opened the meals were totally not worth it. I was put off after having to pay $17 for a tiny burger on its own.<br/><br/>The food is ok, nothing spectacular but it's OK. What I do like about this place is the lunch greenery they have a throughout the restaurant especially in the out door eating area.

Best thing about Szimpla is the customer service. They are very friendly and attentive to making sure you are well taken care of. I had the beef burger and the cookie ice cream for dessert. Was nice and filing. Good pub food for a night out with friends🤙🏽

We had a farewell function here and it was AWESOME the food was great we did dinner and had a variety of means. Our fave was chicken and steak. <br/><br/>The finger food platters were a hit with the guests that came along The outdoor area is beautiful and was a perfect venue for our farewell <br/><br/>Thank you team!

Good service, terrible food. Had the lamb couscous, buffalo wings and cheese baked wedges. Can’t say any of them were a success, chicken coating came off and you were left with white completely bland flesh with chewy skin, yuck. Lamb balls super dry, flat bread was really thick and hard. Service good.Wouldn’t return for food maybe just drinks.

Great value ! Good service. Pub style atmosphere and good pub style food. We only had snack size meals but that was more than adequate for us. I might go again for lunch when the vocal dinner crowd aren't there...

Recommended by a work colleague to dine there atmosphere good staff friendly.... ordered<br/>The eye fillet meal dry meat was small piece but enjoy cocktail had .

The food was good and filling. <br/>The service was excellent super nice and friendly!<br/>THE CHOCOLATE TORTE IS SO GOOD!!!!! With the mango ice cream 10/10.

The staff are great and friendly, really hood atmosphere, huge portions and a great menu selection. The food however is average. Dinned here twice last week, Cesar Salad was lovely but the additional chicken was chewey. Ordered steak next time and it wax a bit fatty and under cooked.

Great vibe and atmosphere and is reflected in their food, staff very friendly, the food came out in time at all and tasted great! Our group thoroughly enjoyed the Szimpla experience

Would give 4.5 stars. Great for kids. Obliging staff- happy to subtract ingredients. Lovely food enjoyed by all.  Had the lasagne, the sliders and risotto. 9 people at our table. The noise factor could be a problem for some. Will return soon. Fitted in with our plans at Auckland airport with the motorways chock a block!

Table service was really good. Food came out in great time for a large table. Everyone pretty satisfied with their meals. I had the chicken sliders with side of chips and the chocolate tart with mango mousse for dessert.<br/>My main was good but I dream about that dessert 9.5/10 wish it has few fresh mango pieces to cut the richness of the tart but man was that delicious. Will definitely return to try other mains but will stick to this dessert forever

Ordered the chicken burger with mango chutney which was pretty good. The roast chicken was bland and nothing to rave about.<br/><br/>We went there for a weekend late lunch and there's hardly anyone there. So probably doesn't require reservations.

We started off with some fish sliders which came in some average buns but the ingredients were tasty. Salt n pepper calamari was our favourite as the batter was crispy n light.

Decided to pop into Szimpla to kill some time while waiting for my brother to arrive from his flight . We got a bit lost looking for it’s location . The staff were very attentive and food is good! The atmosphere is quite chilling and relaxing . My only problem was at the table we were seated , the sun was reflecting towards my face and was very annoying . But I guess it’s okay , just depends on the weather I guess . Other than that , I enjoyed my experience. I would definitely recommend this place .

Enjoyed a Lunch treat here with some work colleagues after a long days training. Bar wasn’t too busy given it’s a weekday. Was greeted & sat down easily enough. Waiter was prompt with introducing herself with the menu’s & days specials. Ordered the Retro Fish & Chips. Order came out in good time. Food was fresh. The Fish to Batter ratio was on point. Meal was a delight & not too much for a quick bite. Reasonably priced. Recommended. Some other items on the menu caught my eye & would return again in future to try them out.

Popped in with my parents by chance while out shopping. Pleasant staff, generous portions and decent beer. It was busy enough to give the place a hum, but not crammed. I have no complaints about my meal and their were none from my fussy parents. The menu was busy though, my only critique. I had lamb rump/crumbed lamb shoulder with kale & caponata, nice but to me an odd mix. Still, could taste the lamb with it not being overwhelmed. My mum's burger and dad's steak looked good. Would pop in again.

Great service, waitress really attentive. The food was really good too. The steak was cooked perfectly medium and the goat cheese and berry salad was delicious. The fish sliders however had a bit too much sauce and it wasn’t my favourite but other than that would be super keen to go back! Perfect if you are meeting someone for a layover and need somewhere to eat

Atmosphere and decor were both wonderful. Love the quirkyness of the place! <br/>Food came out super speedy and coffee was lovely. A good place which is super handy being so close to the airport.

Food is amazing, service is great. Reasonable price shared between 2 with drinks also included. Its very set up well. A nice place to stop by on your way to the airport.

Really disappointed considering this place had pretty good reviews. The meat was cooked very poorly in both our pork belly and steak, eggs and chips dish. My pork belly was not soft and melt in your mouth and the worst part was that the skin was not crackling! It was rubbery and chewy, gross. Definitely not worth $30. The steak was chewy and not cooked well either. The vegetables and salad were the only good part of the meals. Service was also a bit strange, the waiters could work on that. Would not return and would not recommend. Can't get over the no crackling!

Came by to see a couple of friends off after a busy trip here. It was a bit hard to find the parking lot but I managed to get a park on the main road. The entrance from the main road is a bit hidden, keep an eye out for the Szimpla sign in the ally by Jamaica Blue.<br/><br/>The place was nice and we managed to get the sofas in the corner. It wasn't too loud, although it was fairly empty when we were there in the afternoon. Nice drinks and the food wasn't bad. Since it was fairly close to the airport we weren't in much of a rush and was able to just sit and chat for a bit.

3 of us went for a meal before drop off at the airport, first time here for all of us. What an Absolutely Brilliant place!! Service nice and friendly, food really good, desert yummy. We had 1x vegetarian risotto, light, fresh and tasty. 1x Yorkshire pudding with rare beef and caremelise onions (3 small Yorkshire puddings with rare beef in the middle and the onions on top), so good , the beef was perfectly cooked, all nice and tasty, 1x fish sliders (3) with slaw and tartar sauce and fennel, also very tasty, with the fish cooked perfectly. For desert we had 2 of the cream brulé which were "meltingly" good, almost to good, ha ha I don't think I've been this full in a long time. They also had good craft beers on tap which was another plus. Keep it up and we'll be back again for sure.

Went here last night for dinner because the reviews on here seemed good. Was rather impressed by the place the food was amazing. We ordered the Thai beef salad and the mushroom and parsnip dish. The flavour of the beef was really nice, cleaned off my plate because I loved it so much. Portion size is really decent. Didn't have to wait too long for food either, especially being a Friday night. Also ordered for cocktails the French martini and something with Jameson in it (it has egg white too) they were quite expensive, $18 but tasted really nice. Service was pretty good, but coming from customer service background I can be pretty critical so I won't go into there. Overall had a really nice experience. Lots of parking available.

It was a good call to come here on our way to the airport. It has a spacious interior but it still manages to feel cozy.  I liked the full length mirror in the Ladies, handy for a quick glance over. My Tandoori chicken sliders was moist and flavoursome. Everbody else declared themselves happy with their meals.

Szimpla Gastro Bar<br/>THE FOODOLOGIST RATING:-<br/><br/> FOOD:- 4.5/5 ( Good Clean Food ,Well prepared , Good Quality)<br/><br/>SERVICE:- 5/5 ( Great Friendly, Efficient ,Fun)<br/><br/>AMBIANCE:- 5/5 ( Good Comfortable seating , Good decor , beautiful patio seating )<br/><br/>CLEANLINESS:- 4.5/5 ( Top Notch , Spick and Span)<br/><br/>VALUE FOR MONEY :- 4.5/5 ( Good quality comes at a price , only good restaurant monopoly,Expensive)<br/><br/>FOOD POCKET DAMAGE:- */*****( Cost For 2 $70)<br/><br/>THE FOODOLOGIST REVIEW<br/><br/>Szimpla located next to IBIS Budget Auckland Airport and near the Airport shopping center . One of the few good restaurants in the area . In fact many of the guest from the surrounding hotels prefer dinning here instead of the restaurants in their hotels . I tried the place on two occasion the ambiance is good always buzzing good place to unwind with friends . The staff is friendly and efficient and good customer service and they employee some of the most beautiful servers . The food is good good quality ingredients cooked to perfection which shows the chef know what he is doing . On one visit just went for a catch up with friends so just ordered the pub grub stuff of deep fried stuff but could make out the ingredients are fresh was not oily . The second visit i had the house beef burger the patty was juicy mid-rare the way i like it . It was grilled and came with a portion of chips and cheese aioli which was excellent . The burger had a BBQ sauce which was equally good and the beetroot relish added the tangy flavor . Great place to go in the area

Just keep coming back to dine at this wonderfully quirky restaurant. With an ever changing menu, you'll always find something interesting to try. Sharing platters available and generously portioned meals are given. The ability to make bookings is great, and they cater to large groups which is awesome. Indoor and outdoor seating is available at your dining discretion. <br/><br/>Food and service: 4/5<br/>Atmosphere: 5/5<br/>Price: A little pricey but worth a try. $70-$80 for two people (an entire, mains and drinks) <br/><br/>

This is my fourth time coming to szimpla and I have never really been that impressed with the food. Today was different though. We shared the garlic bread to start which was nice. For main I had the lamb rack. The lamb had a nice mustardy flavour and was incredibly tender but there just wasn't enough of it. The potatoes were nice but there was too many compared to the lamb. The pea smash was also nice. For dessert I had the brownie with pineapple ice cream, the whole dessert was delicious but I just couldn't eat the whole brownie as there was too much of it to go with the icecream as it was very rich. The staff were also quite awkward. I'd be really happy to return here :)

Staff were nice and service was good. Liked the atmosphere too. Portion size was quite small, so we were still hungry after that. Ordered three mains and market fish was well seasoned and tasty. Pork belly was very tender but even with the sauce it was a bit tasteless unfortunately. <br/>However it was a good restaurant to go to for a farewell lunch before we go to the airport to send off a family member.

Wonderful setting, great atmosphere, friendly service and kai.  I liked the 60s/70s retro look of the environs that really added to the aesthetic of the place.  It all seemed to work, and there were no hassles with the service or kai.  Affordable prices, and recommended. :)

Came here for a quick dinner before my mums flight. Ordered some Kumara chips and buffalo wings. Got some sort of salad as a main. <br/><br/>The buffalo wings were average. It was just fried chicken wings with a drizzle of sauce... Don't even think it was hot sauce. Like... it was just plain fried chicken. Kumara chips were good. Can't go wrong with that. <br/><br/>The salad thing was... A massive bowl of leaves and some smoked salmon. Not worth the money.

We love Szimpla. Beautiful food, people and atmosphere. We have been coming here for many years now and bring our friends and family here too. We have almost had everything on the menu even when they change often. Best dessert ever here. Try the brownie with pineapple ice cream. Just Divine 😍 lovely staff too. Recommend highly.

Been here previously as we like the food and ambience, so we Stopped in here for dinner tonight, the place was packed but we got lucky with a table for two and no reservation. Staff were nice but they failed to tell us until after we were seated and had placed our order that the food would take between 30-40mins to arrive!<br/>We ordered the Cauliflower cheeseballs for<br/>Entree which were Delicious! For mains Hubby got the chicken burger which he throughly enjoyed but it came without the aioli because they had run out of ramekins, so he got a large bowl of tomato sauce instead. Had to ask for the aioli a second time before he got given it. I got the Chickpea& Haloumi pakoras which were utterly disappointing. It was a large portion but the pakoras had ONE tiny piece (and in some NONE) of Haloumi, the pakoras themselves were dense and not flavoursome and I couldn't finish the meal.Avoid the pakoras, they're not worth the money. <br/>The rating reflects our overall experience from today. <br/>

Great place. Have often stopped by for a drink but the few times I have eaten the food was superb.<br/><br/>The menu is more 'gastro pub' and there's usually some cool combinations of flavours to mix it up.<br/><br/>I would recommend this place to all.

The perfect place if meeting people at the airport. Plenty of seating, outdoors can be a little bit chilly. Nice selection of beers. Food is well priced and tasty. Burgers on point.

Work Christmas brunch today. My 1st impression is great. Staff was very attentive, friendly and helpful. Love the decor. Some of the bar tables were using old door as table top. Like the idea of recycling (Hahaha!). Food was excellent too. No complaints. Will take my wife next time when we are in the area.

This was a work 'Christmas' lunch for 8 of us for the 3rd year in a row. Alas, the food has slipped in quality. <br/><br/>We attempted to delay our booking by 30 minutes but were told that our service would be affected because they had a large booking one hour after ours and were told to leave it as it was. We arrived close to time, but there was no evidence of this large booking' one hour after ours. Hmmm.....<br/><br/>Food: Garlic Bread with parmesan was very good. The Pumpkin dip with carroway lavosh was not. the dip did not taste or look like pumpkin. 2 x Fish and chips...huge serving and excellent. Chicken burger: large and ok. Morrocan chicken not good. Supposed to come with couscous but it didn't (no idea what it was!!) and the 'charred vegetables were soggy capsicum and a slice of courgette. Lamb rack was sent back because it was overcooked from a requested medium rare. This was replaced without issue. Pork belly x 2 was overcooked, dry, and presumably a re-heated effort and neither finished theirs. One other colleague's dish I don't recall but I heard no complaint. Only a couple had dessert, brandy snaps that only had a dollop of cream at each end of the snap. Coffees were good.<br/><br/>Excellent and huge wine and beer lists !!<br/><br/>Decor is unique and good and despite it not being busy (unlike in the past?!), atmosphere was good.<br/><br/>Service was excellent; speedy and attentive, no complaints there!!!

Love love love the atmosphere and decor of this place, we were seated at a little table tucked away at the back. I had wondered why they seated us there in particular with such an empty restaurant and now think it may have been to give us the best view of the TV with the Olympics in at the time, very happy with that. We had the bread to start with and this was a very large round cheesy garlic bread that was a bit too much for just two people, I would suggest a note on the menu stating how many people it feeds as we may have decided against it had we known how big it was! I had a beef burger and fries as a main which was hard to eat as it was so big, very tasty and the Thai beef salad on the other side of the table looked absolutely delicious! We were going to say no to dessert but the menu proved too tempting. I had the caramel creme brûlée and across the table something called a rum baba. I took a risk on the creme brûlée as I'm not a big fan and definitely should have had the chocolate tart instead! The rum baba went down well though. I'll definitely be back as the menu had lots of other things I'd like to try.

It's right next to Ibis. In fact it shares the same compound.<br/>Ordered bruschetta, cider and fish n chips. The fish and chips was very average. The bruschetta was very good.<br/>The ambience is good and also the service.

Had a lot of great experience from Szimpla! Great atmosphere, lots of varieties of drinks! Food was very nice and surprising always served in a high standard, not your typical bar/pub food! <br/><br/>

We went here for lunch today and was glad we found this gem. The décor is great. Whoever thought of using old doors as tables, with the knobs still attached, was a great idea. The food was great with huge portions. Its very rare for me not to finish a meal but I couldn't with the fish and chips. It was like a bottomless plate of fries! My partner had the chicken burger and said its the best he's ever tasted...and he's very fussy! The staff were okay otherwise I would rate this place a 5. It took a long time to be served after we were told to sit down. The guys turned out to be very friendly but the female was almost like she didn't want to be there?Food 5/5Décor 5/5Portion size 5/5Staff 4/5We will definitely be back!

Fairly average considering we were expecting a 4.2. I got the pork belly clash - which the waiter talked me into, they put taro and coconut together with a pile of fat. Everyone else at the table said their meal was mediocre. GET THE BURGER, THEY LOOKED GREAT.

What can I say about this place. It's fantastic. I saw the positive reviews and thought we'd give it a go. Its a few mins from the airport so in a good location for a bit of time wasting<br/> The food is absolutely excellent. I can't stress how good it is compared to other pubs and bars. I really wish there were more places like this! The food is affordable too!

Excellent food and very friendly service. Had the muscles as an entree, they were outstanding! Main was pork belly, crackling was a little chewy which was a bit disappointing but overall the dish was very tasty.<br/><br/>Nice atmosphere, music isnt too loud, just nice in the background, rugby on the tv. Will definitely dine again if im back in Auckland.

First time at this place awesome customer service as soon as you enter you are greeted and taken to a table straight away the food was real nice big portion size too very yummy yous rock keep up the good work

Caught up with some old friends over a meal at Szimpla. The menu is quite "eclectic" with a mix of different styles of cuisine. The alcohol list was comparatively quite mundane. <br/><br/>The food was delicious and arrived quickly. Well seasoned, full of flavor. <br/><br/>The service was less impressive. The wait staff were abrupt and impatient. I had a fork dropped in my lap while our waitress cleared the table but received no apology. The person who took our payment also seemed tired and moody and did not enquire if we'd enjoyed our meals.

Quirky restaurant and bar. Had the spicy thai beef salad and it was yum as! Had the chicken burger and chips as well and that was top notch too. Definitely would be back!

This place is very cozy and looks great for business lunches or after work drinks, the decoration is fantastic and the food looks great. My foodie experience wasn't that impressive on the other hand.<br/><br/>Service was good enough, atmosphere wasn't the best though, I went to Szimpla with a couple of colleagues and we were pretty much alone for lunch.<br/><br/>The food looked fantastic but the flavor wasn't really there. Maybe we only were unlucky that day but it seems to me that a place like this one has great potential that hasn't been reached yet.

This place is a hidden little gem not far from Auckland airport. The service was fantastic and the decor was nice. Also worth noting that they have seating areas with couches for a relaxed drink and/or feed, may be convenient for travellers. The grilled chicken burger was very tasty, it's a little pricey but was a fairly large portion and comes with fries - well worth the $22. We were there for a work do (no alcohol) so will definitely be back for drinks and more yummy food.

This has to be one of my favourite places at Auckland airport. Amazing food and amazing service. Great atmosphere especially at the back with all natural outdoors style.

Lovely little restaurant with great service. My wife and I dined there last night, we had a wonderful experience with delicious food and beverage's.<br/>We had the pork belly buns as a entree, very tasty!<br/>Our mains were spiced Thai beef salad & grilled chicken burger. Both meals had a vast spread of flavours throughout.<br/>The atmosphere, music and overall feel made for a very enjoyable night out.<br/>Would rate this as one of my best dinning experiences to date, will be back for more.<br/>Thank you Szimpla & staff.

We had lunch here today<br/>It was rather good<br/>Quick efficient service<br/>We didn't have long<br/>I had the Caesar salad with Chicken <br/>Very tasty<br/>Surprised there were potato chips in it<br/>But not many and that didn't spoil it<br/>My pal had the Chicken Burger which he said was very good<br/>Good coffee<br/>Best near airport eatery I have been to<br/>And yes very interesting retro fitout<br/>And Szimpla is a top Budapest restaurant in case you were wondering (as I had been!)

I have been here a couple of times and have never been let down. The food is absolutely amazing and the staff are very attentive. <br/><br/>The outdoor garden dining is is absolutely beautiful! And inside has a very intimate, retro feel. Pricing is also reasonable and plenty of parking.<br/><br/>The last time I came here was in a big group. I had the chargrilled chicken breast with bacon and it was absolutely wonderful, that grilled flavor of the chicken was amazing and it was really moist. Everyone was really satisfied and delighted with their meals. Desserts were also amazing! Will be back!

Funky little place with very creative retro decor. We popped in for a quick bite to eat before heading to the airport and were very impressed. The staff did take awhile to come and take our order but were very understanding that we had strict time constraints and made sure the kitchen crew knew our order was urgent. The food was out in no time at all and was very high quality. My favourite dish was the pork buns. The pork was tender and perfectly cooked and perfectly accompanied by chilli and cucumber and the bun was sweet and dense and just delicious. We also tried the Yorkshire puddings, sliders and chips with aoli which were all well cooked and very tasty. Excellent chip:sauce ratio too which stands well in my books. My partner also tried the ginger spice drink and he raved about it. Would highly recommend if you're out that way!

One of best restaurants kept secret amazing steak dinner and the seating areas is very unique outside. Would highly recommend if you are wanting to have a great meal

Simple food made well! I had the braised beef cheek which was tender and flavoursome. The mash was smooth and the jus was meaty and well seasoned. I didn't try the burger but my friend and my partner said it was really good. <br/><br/>I had the rhubarb and apple crumble. I appreciated the presentation however I found it to be a bit too tart for my liking. But the crumble was crunchy with a good texture and not too crumbly. My partner enjoyed his hockey pocky ice cream. My friend's cheesecake was too soft in texture and quite bland. Could have done with more cream cheese. <br/><br/>Overall I enjoyed my lunch and I would come again

Came here last night with a group of 32 people, we pre-booked and all of the meals came out within 10-15mins. All the meals were well cooked and delicious and no one got the wrong order. Very impressed!

Been here a few times. Always pays to book as can get busy and crowded. Staff are always pleasant. Food is nothing brilliant but is good pub food at a reasonable price.

A stroke of genius from a business perspective: offer delicious fresh, pub style food near the airport, house it in pleasant, relaxing decor and fill it with friendly staff. The prices are reasonable, the food is excellent, and craft beer is a welcome bonus. If you're around the airport for whatever reason, this is the place to go.

Came here for our annual Christmas function. Very good service and good food. Christmas menu was great. Crackling pork has always been my favorite.

I am out at the airport often and had never noticed Szimpla before.  Plenty of free parking.(YAY)<br/>Such a gorgeous interior, I loved the little chill out space and would love to sit back with a wine next time I visit. <br/>A really kid friendly area, the staff were delightful and the menu tempting. I opted for a burger (burgers seem to be my thang)  It was scrummy.

Never would have thought that such a cool place would be located out near the airport! We came here as a big group and were given a gorgeous big table in their beautiful outdoors area (that was still fully covered and heated to perfection). The decor inside and out was standout. <br/><br/>The staff were engaging and never far away when we needed a hand which was awesome. <br/><br/>There were a few delicious sounding vegetarian options but Edd and I went with their vegetarian burger that came with a ginormous coconut kumara homemade pattie. The burger was too big to eat but super tasty and full of flavor. The chips and aioli were also flavorsome. <br/><br/>The meals were all generous and came out quickly. I would definitely be back, and it's the perfect place to stop for lunch/dinner when taking someone to the airport.

Absolutely loved Szimpla!  As a born and bred South Aucklander, I had no idea about this place.  Tucked away underneath the Ibis, it is a hidden gem, that's for sure!<br/><br/>I was there with a Bloggers Brunch Club, and we all really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, the wine (LOL) and of course, the service.<br/><br/>I wouldn't hesitate to come back with my kids either - great outdoorsy area out the back, perfect for relaxing, and lots for kids to look at.

Scrumptious food, beautiful presentation, Gr8 atmosphere, awesome customer service by new staffer "Suzy". Fantastic music/bar/patrons, new memories created. This gastro bar knows how to deliver on superb customer service, beyond fantastic. Thank you Szimpla, we'll be recommending & definitely returning.

Staff were lovely and welcoming. Great atmosphere. Menu looked amazing but didn't really follow through. I ordered the Salmon Salad which was mostly cos lettuce leaves.

Great menu loads of choice took over half a hour to decide!!<br/>Went for cauli cheese balls & pulled pork tacos both lovely.<br/>Three soft shell real tacos yummmmm!<br/>Main I had beef cheek AMAZING my partners lamb rack was odd in that it had a big joining bone at bottom of ribs never seen that before and was too rare he likes pink but was blue if you can do lamb blue.<br/>We had creme brulee for dessert best I have ever had so highly recommend you leave room for dessert!<br/>Well dine guys we will be back just that one issue with lamb rack,but great place, awesome staff and very impressive menu indeed.

Awesome atmosphere and great food. Been here for quite a few work lunches and dinners. This place is very accommodating for large groups. Have tried most of the things on the menu (including desserts) and they did not disappoint me. Pricing is reasonable and staff are extremely friendly. Just wish that they revise their menus more often.

Read the great reviews about this place and it didn't disappoint. Entrees, mains and desserts all amazing. We didn't book thinking "who needs to reserve on a Thursday night at the airport" but they were pretty packed and seated us no problems. Atmosphere was great and lots of options from the menu with friendly down-to-earth staff (nothing fake and put-on).

Amazing food!<br/> I love the atmosphere at this restaurant, definitely dine in the garden section that is enclosed so you're out of the wind and rain. The staff are always so accommodating! I've dined here several times and will keep coming back for more.<br/><br/> From top to bottom, a main of lamb rump, entrée of seafood chowder with ciabatta, and pork belly.<br/> So good! The lamb rump was an excellent portion and nicely balanced with generous servings of leafy vegetables, my pork belly was nice and tender but I wish that the skin would be crispy and crackly like but that's probably because I'm Asian and like my pork skin crackly haha.<br/> SEAFOOD CHOWDER IS TO DIE FOR! Best seafood chowder I'll ever have! It's so good!! 😍 right amount of creaminess and very generous with seafood serving. <br/><br/> Very happy, well deserved 5 out of 5 for me 😁<br/> Highly recommended and will definitely be back for more!

Another quirky, trendy Mac like bar. We've dined here as a party of 12 plus, for a few dinners as a party of 4 and a few brunches as a couple and these guys do their job well everytime. Their menu's standard pub grub though as as per most bars, a little pricey, but I always enjoy the food, coffee's nice and hot and there's nice big screens if you want to catch some sport and a nice little lounge area if you want to sit away from the crowd. The staff are always friendly, chatty and helpful and I happily tell others about SGB.

I came here midday on Friday for lunch with a group of 5. It was warm and cheerful with quirky decor. My friend went to order the chicken and the waiter advised her that it takes about 20 minutes for that dish and if she was happy for that, which we werent so really appreciated that attention to detail in his service. I had the thai beef salad which was delicious, the wonton crisps were fabulous! My friend has the beef burger which was huge! I thought there was a great variety to choose from with varying prices to suit all budgets. Can't wait to come again, glad it's a great local lunch spot!

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. It is HUGE inside and has a massive outdoor area which feels like a jungle - it's really nicely decorated and would be perfect for all sorts of parties or large lunches.<br/><br/>We came here while venturing out towards the airport and had seen that one of my friends had been here before and raved about it. The menu looked delicious so we were set. The restaurant itself was a little hard to find but we got there and there was plenty of parking as its in the hotel lobby.<br/><br/>I ordered their vege burger with chips and the hubby went for eggs benedict (as sadly they took of their French toast from the menu, hopefully not permanently)<br/><br/>My burger was insane, so big and incredibly filling, it was massive! There was a lot of flavour to the Kumara and coconut pattie and the onion relish was so so good. It could've been hotter as the pattie was warm when it arrived. The chips that came with the burger were so good. Really crispy and came with tomato sauce and mayo.<br/>The eggs benedict disappeared quickly and had really nicely crisped bacon so it must've been good! <br/><br/>I would definitely come back here again for the food and the experience- it's just really cool. Would love to come with a group of people to really utilise their outdoor spaces.

Absolutely love this place! Have been here twice and the food is Devine. Had the pulled pork tacos and the cauliflower cheesy balls, both super delicious. Saw someone else's fish and chips which came out in a cute little news paper basket- very cleverly presented! Also has an interesting retro style and lots of cool old fashioned things to look at on the walls. Highly recommend! <br/>

Recently on my son's first birthday we decided to go out for lunch on my husband's lunch break and popped on to Zomato to check for places near his work. The menu of Szimpla caught our eye and the choice was made.<br/><br/>Tucked away in the bottom of the Ibis hotel, it's been cleverly designed to give little hint of the bustling commercial area around it. The bar has a delightful modern retro styling and multiple areas in which you can tuck yourself away - I can imagine it being a fantastic place for small events.<br/><br/>Service was quick and fantastic; we were offered a table and asked whether it was suitable, a high chair being being brought speedily and a kids' menu being proffered without request. The waitstaff seemed to run a cohesive ship, with us having a primary waitress by others being equally attentive. We had done a typical parenting fail in not bringing enough wipes to clean up our little chap. Imagine our surprise when without request a waiter arrived with a finger bowl and serviettes for us to finish the job. That enough would have been enough to keep us going back.<br/><br/>The food however also surpassed expectations - perfectly presented and deliciously blended. We enjoyed two types of sliders (pork/fish) and fresh pâté as shared plates. We were particularly pleased to see healthier options on the kids menu and so ordered our son his first kids meal of pita pizza and salad which he thoroughly enjoyed!<br/><br/>Such a hidden gem and so family friendly! We know where we'll be dining when in the area in future!

Been twice will leave it at ......that first time the meal was a decent size and tasty but the waitress threw tomato sauce over me (unintentionally...  shoved a plate with condiments in front of my face and surprise surprise the tomato sauce went over my jeans / phone and the floor)  second time the meal was tiny .. pork belly , really tasty but why did it need to be so small     ??

A decent sized menu with some gourmet dishes, sides and entreés are priced quite highly however the mains are large so the value for money is good. Allow plenty of time to order, especially with larger groups as service can take awhile due to the size of the cafe. Great transition into a bar later in the afternoon.

Went here at 2pm on a Sunday. Hardly any people eating at the time, friendly staff. Took the order and out popped the yummy food 40 min later. normal town prices out at the airport which was good to see. We had the vege stack, Chicken and bacon burger, Thailand beef salad and nachos. Would come back if in the area for a meal.

Came here for brunch before a walk around the Otuataua Stonefields (a really nice walk with a help-yourself avocado grove). This place was in the Entertainment Book so was an easy choice. Lots of parking and a really nice interior. I had the big breakfast and it was okay. Nothing to rave about but nothing really to complain about either. I was a bit miffed that the sausage component in the big breakfast was half a sausage though! The brunch menu is pretty standard. They also offer an all-day menu as well and I wish I'd ordered something from that instead because I think they'd probably do that better. Coffee and service were fine.<br/><br/>I'd definitely be happy to try this place again but probably at lunch or dinner based on other reviews.<br/><br/>ADDENDUM: Went there for lunch and the food from the main menu was mega better than the brunch menu I'd previously experienced. I've increased my rating based on this fact. I'm not a vegetarian but I opted for the winter vegetable stack of mushroom, cauliflower, polenta and blue cheese croquette. It was served with a white sauce and was a real treat and very satisfying. It looked and felt like a very posh dish (that's a good thing) and not just some ill-considered vego filler to chuck on the menu. <br/>

Went here for my mothers surprise dinner and the seating we had reserved was awesome long stone table outside. I was concerned about it being a little chilly outside because we were in the middle of winter but actually the outdoor heating was perfect. Love the food presentation so unique must try their kumara and coconut soup and their burgers we'll actually everything we ordered was delicious, thanks for the great service.

I have visited Szimpla about 3 times, everytime amazing, excellent food, very yummy, great value, and food served with a twist of quirkiness, which is always great to mix things up a bit to make a change from the average eating place!! I would highly recommend!

Came to this place with work colleagues for a farewell lunch on Friday afternoon and was disappointed with the service we received from our server. I realise that it was a busy time of the day still did not think it was appropriate for our server to talk to some in our party the way she did. She was abrupt and did not listen to what was requested, such as no ice in the drink, this was ignored and a drink with ice was brought to the table. Also the rolling of her eyes at our request for other items was not appreciated. I thought that a business would try to be accommodating and welcoming to those who choose to part with their money at their establishment....just saying.<br/> <br/>The food was enjoyable but the service was lacking. I will not dine there again.

I just needed a bit to eat after a day seeing clients and suppliers .... I didn't expect this? Service was great and the Moroccan Chicken sensational, along with a craft beers. I didn't plan on desert but wasn't disappointed with the summer crumble, thanks Szimpla!

Came here with my work colleagues for an end of year dinner. Had the Eye Fillet Steak with Potato Gratin Buttered Asparagus and Red Wine Jus and WOW i literally cleaned the plate up and I find myself craving it from time to time as it was just so yummy. Decor is fab, service with a smile! (heck id be smiling if i worked here too) I really enjoy the atmosphere here

Came here for dinner and to watch the rugby on Saturday night. The placed was packed but we managed to find a table with the help of a staff member. We found ordering difficult due to the obvious lack of staff, but once we had ordered and settled in we enjoyed the busy atmosphere of the place. Staff kindly changed two of the TV's to the game we wanted to watch. Food took a little while due to a large group but it was delicious - steak egg and chips for a hungover boyfriend went down a treat and my Morrocan Spiced Chicken was perfect, with the labneh being the stand out ingredient for me. Choc Brownie dessert was good. Only complaint for the night was not enough staff to give quick and efficient service. Would return.

Really cool quirky place! Had initial issues finding the place though. The service was fast, and the food was awesome! Love the deco and the presentation of it all! The vibe was good - considering I was with a large group, our waiter was patient and very kind! Will definitely go back again!

Great atmosphere, quirky setup. Awesome food! I asked to change certain things with my meal and they were more than happy with that (as most places I go, chef's are quiet resistant about these sorts of things).<br/><br/>Awesome service. The only thing I didn't like was the name.. I still don't know how to pronounce it!

Great atmosphere, excellent service and lovely food. This place has it all!!! Called in 20 minutes before closing and they kept the kitchen open just for us. Even though we were the last folks there they were never rushed or asked us to move along.<br/><br/>Had the vege burger as recommended. Never tasted one so nice !. Best part is they tell you that they do doggy bags and boy do you need 'em!!! <br/><br/>Couldn't recommend them enough.

We came here last night due to a flight cancellation &amp; had booked to stay in the Ibis. What an extremely cool place - wickedly good service, good range of drinks - dangerously large glasses of wine &amp; great food plus eclectic furniture like being at your Nanas front room surrounded by great plants. So damn good we are back here whilst waiting for the flight today. Oh &amp; I am a huge NZ music fan &amp; they play heaps of that - my pick for bar of the year.

My absolute favourite place for Friday after work drinks! I could happily lounge on their couches, eating the divine calamari and brushetta, accompanied by delicious wine. Fabulous atmosphere and happy, friendly staff. Love it!!

My partner and I came for dinner as it's close to home. We have defiantly found a favourite!!! The staff were very inviting and we were seated quickly. I chose the cajun squid while my partner had the fish'n'chips. My squid was incredible, just the right amount of heat. Yum! My partner had problems with his, as it comes out in paper, looks cool but hard to eat, but they were very helpful in giving him a plate to eat on. We then had the passion fruit cheesecake for desert. Take about amazing! Best cheesecake I have had in a while! Thank you so much for giving us a great place to eat!

Simply the best bistro I have been to for a long time. The staff are friendly... always..... the food is just lovely and very tasty... the atmosphere is very welcoming. I love the outdoor garden area... a great place to meet up after work.<br/>I have now made this my local and have been maybe a dozen times. Thanks guys.. you rock!!!!!

A great place for an after work Friday drink. I love the decor and the service has thus far been friendly. So cozy I could happily stay for hours.

We had a girls weekend in Auckland and found this place while googling restaurants in the area. Went for dinner, and despite it being a 'pubby place', and 'pubby prices' the food certainly wasn't. All of our meals were delicious - obviously the chef knew exactly what they were doing. The service was good (not great) but no complaints there. We only had 2 nights in Auckland and it was unanimous to return for the following night also!

Had a few hours to kill while on a stop over and was looking for a few beers and a TV screen to watch the football. Expected a sterile, unfriendly airport bar. What I got was the best group of bar staff that, combined with a great layout and decor, created the best atmosphere I have experienced in any bar in a long time. Congrats to the owner for getting everything just right. The food was also great value. See you again on my next trip.

Great food, staff are all friendly and accomodating and I love the feel of the place - especially the little library corner!<br/><br/>Definitely recommend it for anyone - work lunch, social drinks or just a nice dinner - I've done them all and they've been awesome every time :)

We took guests here for dinner based on the 5 star reviews, and we were disappointed. Ambience is nice, spacious and kind of unique. NZ draft beers were tasty. But the food was bland as. The bruschetta starter with blue cheese, cress, walnuts and honey had the tiniest dabs of blue cheese and cress. Gnocchi tasted like it was prepackaged and overcooked, served in a tasteless tomato sauce with very little cheese. Thai beef salad was drenched on soy sauce. Desserts tasted generic and also seemed to be pre-packaged. As convenient as this restaurant is to the airport, we won't be going back.

Food here is good &amp; the out door area is lovely<br/><br/>I had the burger. Where do they get their burger buns, because they're so good! That with the hand made pattie shows they're not churning out any pub style food. I'll be back!

This place is great! We had a full meal here last night (with older parents), but it would be good for a relaxed drink and nibbles too. NZ Bach style, with different sizes and styles of tables to choose from, inside and out. Mains and deserts were excellent, service great, prices surprisingly good. Highly recommended on all accounts. Check it out as still seems to be undiscovered. (Turn into where the airport's Warehouse &amp; Countdown are)

I was invited to a dinner at Szimpla by a sister in law and after eating the delicious food and being served by some wonderful staff I took some friends along a week later and they also loved it. The atmosphere is cosy and the set up is great! Living only 15min away is a bonus because for our friends, family and ourselves Szimpla is now our local.

Used my menumania iPhone app to find this place before dropping off a passenger to the airport. What a choice place! Across the road from Countdown/Warehouse it looks a bit hidden, but inside is awesome. The garden bar like atmosphere and great seating makes it a nice place to chill out. Add some friendly staff and local brewed beer and it's pretty much heaven! Highly recommended for those waiting to pick up or drop off at the airport. Something to look forward to next time!

Really nice place, food ok, staff were friendly lacked atmostphere but overall was somewhere different

Fabulous find top quality food at low prices.<br/>Food superior and all dishes were amazingly and creatively presented. Probably best all round restaurant at low prices I've been to and I travel widely NZ and overseas.<br/>Staff very accommodating. Eating solo no problem and very welcome. Met friends and family while en route and stayed next door. Locals had Christmas functions. Will go there again. Lynda Davis

One of the best dining experiences ive ever had. The food was delicious, generous and really reasonably priced. And came out so quickly even though we didn't book and there were five of us! <br/>The staff were lovely and friendly and very helpful. <br/>Atmosphere was great! Awesome music. Love the decor and all the little touches were fantastic. <br/>New favorite place to go in Auckland. Will definitly be coming back!

Finally a decent bar in the airport area, this place is pretty hard to spot from the main road, but definitely worth looking for. Great atmosphere, music, staff an amazing outdoor area and the best Salt and Pepper squid EVER!!!

Had a fantastic lunch the other day with work colleagues it was so good we are going back today. The service was exceptional, the food was fantastic and the venue atmosphere was really stunning. I would highly recommend this place for any event. It's so nice to have something so great close to the Airport especially for people like me who work next door. Well done!!<br/><br/>Kind regards Kim

Awesome bar!<br/>Great atmosphere and environment. I found myself spending a lot of time looking at the fantastic design and quirky touches in the bar (the library is a fave).<br/><br/>The meals are delicious and they definitely don't hold back on the portion sizes..and the dessert is delish, the sticky toffee pudding is my fave!<br/><br/>Fun, friendly staff who pour a great pint... thanks guys!

Wow! What a cool bar, awesome staff and service. International host Tash will cater to your every need. The food is divine and the beer delicious, with little else to choose from in the area you would be a fool not to come and try this place out. Good job Szimpla.

What a great place, fantastic food, great beer, lovely staff &amp; a very relaxing venue. A great change and option so close to the Airport. Thanks for a great night team. I would widely recommend this for anyone!!!

Bit of a go to for work lunches. Atmosphere is kind of retro funky. Staff are always great and the food is above average (so are the prices but the food makes that acceptable). They have a standard menu with some nice variation on it so always something for everyone and something to try. Also do daily specials which are usually a bit different and represent good value. Never had a bad experience and had lots of great ones so a happy repeat customer.