What’s a Sunday without a roast? Think juicy, succulent pieces of meat drowned in gravy, paired with crispy, seasonal veg and—if you’re lucky—a fluffy Yorkshire pud on the side.
For those Sundays when you can’t be assed cooking your own, some of Auckland’s best eateries are stepping up to the plate to bring you meaty (or in some cases, non-meaty) deliciousness. So without further ado, here are the best spots to grab a Sunday roast in Auckland.
Bracu
49 Main Road, Bombay, Auckland | From $69.90pp
Take a Sunday drive out south to Bracu aka one of the prettiest dining spots in Auckland, and be rewarded with the crème de la crème of roasts. Choose from roasted beef or pork with seasonal sides, presented with the finesse this spot is known for. You'll even get dessert thrown in (or if you wanna fork out a little extra, an entree, too). If the weather permits, a wander through the estate's olive groves will help you digest your meal/feel less like your own rolled roast.
Fabric
8 Boundary Road, Hobsonville, Auckland | $40pp
Image credit: Fabric | Facebook
Even as a young kid I had an appreciation for beef wellington (if ever there was a sign food writing lay in my future, that was it). So you can bet I'm all over Fabric's Glamour Roast, which pairs said dish (filet mignon, pâté and duxelles layered inside crusty puff pastry) with baby carrots, hasselback potatoes, sautéed leeks and spinach, cauliflower puree spiked with herb oil AND a smooth jus to tie it all together. Add on a glass of Dicey Pinot Noir for just $5, and you have yourself one very glamorous roast indeed. Available from 11am until closing every Sunday.
The Broken Lantern
198 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland | $35pp
Image credit: The Broken Lantern | Instagram
There ain't nothing broken about the roasts at this Ponsonby watering hole (though considering its credentials—it's owned by the same peeps as Parasol & Swing-—this should come as little surprise). Cruise on in from midday Sunday for a plate piled high with roast beef, crispy taters, Yorkshire pudding, and roast carrots and greens, all smothered in rich brown gravy—plus in a fun twist, pigs in blankets (that's sausages wrapped in bacon, to the uninitaited). It's enough to low-key feed a horse but if you're feeling extra hungus, there's shareable sides like cheesy cauliflower also up for grabs. All that's missing is a crisp pint to wash it all down—oh wait, they have those too.
The Pantry
Inside Park Hyatt Auckland, 99 Halsey Street, Auckland Central | $38pp
Image credit: The Pantry | Website
A roast is a good time no matter where you eat it, but if there's an option to eat it in a waterside dining room, well, I'm choosing that. Enter The Pantry, which you'll find perched on the ocean's edge at the stunning Park Hyatt Auckland; and where a succulent roast awaits you between the hours of 5 and 8pm every Sunday. While the meat component changes on the weekly, you can guarantee it'll be cooked to perfection and so too the seasonal sides and all-important roast potatoes also included with your meal. Finish with however much homestyle gravy you see fit (read: the whole damn jug).
The Bridgman
234 Dominion Road, Corner Valley Road, Mount Eden, Auckland | $36pp
Image credit: The Bridgman | Website
Sunday roasts are looking mighty fine at The Bridgman, whose menu rotates between pork belly, lamb shoulder and slow-roasted beef rump for the meat-lovers, as well as a tasty nut number with vegan jus for those who like to keep it veggie. Of course, a roast is nothing without sides and here that comes in the form of roast and mashed potatoes, an assortment of roasted veg and the pièce de résistance—Yorkshire pudding. Bookings recommended.
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Jervois Steak House
70 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland | $79pp
Image credit: Jervois Steak House | Supplied
With such a renowned repertoire of steaks under their belt, it’s no surprise that Jervois Steak House has also nailed the art of the classic roast, which is on the menu every Sunday from July through August this year. Book your spot earlier in the evening if you can (note that a minimum of two people is required), then sit back and relax as you're served a 12-hour slow-cooked Southern Stations Wagyu beef rump with matching wagyu-fat roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, potato gratin, Yorkshire pudding and the proverbial cherry on top—rich, housemade jus. Oof.
Lord Kitchener
6 Kitchener Road, Sandringham, Auckland
Image credit: Lord Kitchener | Supplied
Lord Kitchener is a gastropub and as such, no stranger to the Sunday roast. Hit up this Sandringham local for a plate of succulent roast beef, pork belly or other meat, smothered in a shit tonne of gravy, served with traditional sides (think peas, carrots, and broccoli) and what could be the most exciting thing you'll hear about today—A GIANT YORKIE (please note pre-orders for these are essential, otherwise you'll have to settle for a regular-size pud). Plus, you can now get your Sunday roast here... on a Wednesday.
Hotel Ponsonby
1 Saint Marys Road, St Marys Bay, Auckland | $36pp
Image credit: Hotel Ponsonby | Supplied
The roasts at Hotel Ponsonby are the stuff of Sunday dreams. Easy on the eye AND the stomach, the only downside is you'll have to act quickly if want one, as they're available on an 'until sold out' basis. So what are you waiting for? Hot-foot it over to this stylish gastropub located inside the former Ponsonby Post Office and feast your way through a big ol' plate of slow-cooked rolled lamb shoulder with crispy potatoes, green peas, pink peppercorn gravy and a Yorkie for good measure. They've been known to sling a sweet veggie option, too. Follow up with their delightful sticky toffee pudding, if you dare.
The Oyster Inn
124 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island | $45pp
Image credit: The Oyster Inn | Supplied
Love wine? Check. Love a view? Check. Love roast dinners? Check. The Oyster Inn over on Waiheke Island has it all… and more. Their roasts, which are a crowd-pleaser every year, are back on the menu until September and are available Sundays all day until sold out. I'm talking a whole roast beef sirloin or free-range pork rack served with Yorkshire puddings, assorted roast veg, creamy cabbage, and lashings of house-made truffle gravy. Defo worth a trip over the Waitematā, wouldn't you agree?
Looking for more? Check out:
- Cheap Eats To Make You (And Your Wallet) Smile
- Auckland's Best Late-Night Desserts
- The Only Burgers You Need On Your Radar
Main image: The Bridgman | Jamin Drupsteen
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