The Olive Kitchen and Bar

Set in West Auckland, the Olive Kitchen and Bar blends Mediterranean comfort with a relaxed, neighbourhood spirit. The cooking leans generous and flavour-forward - drawing on grill smoke, soft spices, and the pleasures of sharing before settling into hearty mains.

To start, sigara borek is crisp and comforting, its feta, spinach and mashed potato wrapped in pastry, brightened by tzatziki and sweet chilli. Calamari comes tender and golden with a lick of aioli - a simple, classic done right.

From the grill, chicken, beef patties, and diced lamb arrive with house-made tomato sauce and cooling yoghurt, balanced by mashed potatoes, salad, and tzatziki. For something layered and nostalgic, the beef moussaka brings spiced ground beef, potatoes and eggplant beneath a velvety béchamel, with rice and salad to round things off.

There's indulgence, too. The Triple Threat stacks three patties - chicken, beef and lamb - with cheese, pickles and chipotle, while the peri-peri chicken stacker brings a zesty kick. Pizzas riff on comfort, from the butter chicken pizza to the classic Margherita. Sweet endings keep to tradition with baklava and Turkish Delight. Pull up a chair, gather the gang, and let the Olive Kitchen and Bar show off its sunny side, one generous plate at a time!