Non Solo Pizza

Parnell is my old stomping ground, so I was pretty excited to head there for a lazy Friday afternoon lunch, especially because we were going to Non Solo Pizza; a beloved Parnell institution.

Oozing with Italian flair and style, NSP is perfect for a long lunch, where in summer you can enjoy the beautiful courtyard bathed in dappled sun, or huddled around the fires inside in winter.

We dove straight in to the menu and started with some bruschetta to tide over the ravenous late lunch hunger (at this stage I was about to eat the tablecloth), and of course a few Peronis to match.

We all ordered a main, but at NSP I think the best way to eat is to share a whole lot of the smaller antipasto dishes, with a main or two for the table. I couldn't resist the pasta, so I happily ordered a big bowl of beef and spinach ravioli, in a beautiful veal jus with sage, parmesan and truffle. Lucy ordered the same, and it was fair to say we were almost licking our bowls at the end it was so good.

Among the other orders were the proscuitto wrapped pork loin, and a few of the famous NSP pizzas, which all went down with a big tick of approval.

I may be biased towards this old favourite haunt, but I've never had a bad dish, or a bad time at NSP, and the popularity of the famous restaurant speaks for itself. The best time to go is definitely on a warm summer afternoon, but if you can't wait that long then head on down for a cozy winter fireside meal.

Baduzzi

Last Sunday we took Mumma down to Wynyard Quarter for her birthday lunch. Being a big fan of Italian food (well, a fan of most types of food actually), and a HUGE fan of meatballs I was pretty excited to head to the snazzy new Italian meatball restaurant Baduzzi.

The decor is fantastic and subtly retro, however, the outside seating feels a bit slapped together, so if I were you I'd head there for dinner, when you can sit inside and enjoy the atmosphere.

The menu is a fascinating blend of New Zealand and Italy, which we made the most of by starting off the Coromandel crayfish meatballs. Both these, and the wagyu meatballs that followed were incredible. And while I ever so slightly favoured the crayfish, the wagyu was amazing and cooked perfectly pink.

We followed the meatballs with the veal melanzane, the beetroot and paua tagiatelle, and the pulled milk fed goat. The melanzane was from the smaller 'picollo' menu (although all dishes seemed to be the same size), and it was one of my favourites. The beetroot tagiatelle definitely got the prize for being the prettiest, but after the intensity of the other dishes seemed somewhat underwhelming. Last of all was the goat, which was beautifully tender - yes goat can be tender, and sitting on a bed of creamy polenta.

To be honest, the food wasn't quite what I expected- I was imagining rustic, hearty, Italian food; slabs of bread and tables laid with checkered tablecloths, when instead, out comes dish after dish of beautifully refined and intricate dishes.

With a stomach full of meatballs, and a few wines deep, we weren't so keen on walking home. So, in true Auckland style, we put Sammy in Mum's bag and snuck into a taxi, just hoping he wouldn't bark and give himself away.

Baduzzi completely exceeded my expectations; the food is of an incredibly high standard, and the prices are very affordable. If you haven't been already, put Baduzzi at the top of your hit list, and head down there for dinner.

And remember to order the crayfish meatballs!