On Your Radar: Anytime Weekend Eats That Will Make You Swoon

Get Your Fry On: Miss Clawdy's serves up some of the finest southern fried jerk chicken around

What do you look for in the hunt for an unforgettable meal? Our big three are delicious food, great ambience and a stellar dinner companion. So whether its breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, Auckland has plenty of places to consider before deciding on the perfect eatery. Here's where the locals head when their tummies start rumbling.

This place is GREAT for weekend brunch with kids. The character of the place is captivating for children and they can entertain themselves with the circus themed decor and paraphernalia (especially the lion statue) while you wait for your food! Handy centralized Mt Eden location too - right in the buzz of NZ's Sunday brunch culture

Shaky Isles has a hipster vibe, cute baristas, and fabulous coffee. The flat whites are good, the iced mocha is a real treat, and the food is best in the biz if you’re looking for breakfast to go with your coffee. And they have free Wi-Fi!

I have wanted to try out Miss Clawdy since I discovered they make southern fried jerk chicken. So it was fortuitous that we were spending the day in Wynyard Quater (along with everyone else in Auckland that weekend). Hungry for southern food, and with fingers crossed that there would be something child-friendly on the menu, we headed into Miss Clawdy. The chicken was amazing, perfectly spiced and crispy with a delightful sauce for dipping. The pulled pork po boys were also incredible and the perfect size for a light lunch. But the best thing about the whole experience (besides the attentive staff) was the free popcorn we received while waiting for our meals. It was so delicious, we just wanted to keep eating that! I don't know what spices they put on it but I want the recipe.

Whenever I have a burger craving, the crave waves are always thinking about the Al's burger with onion rings! I have my staple, burger, vege poutine and a root beer. For me, this is absolute food heaven. I usually go with my other half and as soon as the meals come out, conversation stops. What occurs next is a series of 'mmmmmm' murmurings, smiles and nods. Happy place. If you haven't been to Al's, go! You seriously won't regret it.

We hit Archies on a rainy summers day and quickly and cheerfully found our family and our large and cumbersome stroller a spot down the back out of the way. The food arrived promptly and was delicious - haven't had a pizza as yummy since we were in Florence in our pre-children days! The owner(?) of the place was wandering making small talk and checking on diners satisfaction and didn't bat an eyelid when our four year old took himself out the front of the restaurant, stripped to the waist and declared his 'tummy too full to be in clothes'. We came here because of the $12 lunch special but will return because it was so good. I can't wait to go back in the evening with (just) the husband for dinner and a glass of wine!

Takapuna Beach is best enjoyed with a glass of wine and some fresh fish. Regatta sits at a perfect sunset-watching distance from the beach. The open kitchen at Regatta brings excitement to the restaurant, giving you a peep into how they make you're squid extra crispy! The stripey clad waitresses are always ready to help, armed with specials to make you drool. A little pricey, Regatta is a lovely place to go to celebrate something or for a cold beer on the outdoor cabanas. If you're treating yourself to a desert -I recommend the creme brûlée!

So, this is a pretty sneaky cafe. You might see the cute picket fence and not realise that you are driving past one of the best breakfast spots in Auckland. I always come here when I want to shout a friend for breakfast cause the food is deliiiicous (in-house smoked salmon? Yes please!) but also really good value! It is a small place, but I have always managed to get a seat, so I think it must be a bit magic. Good work team!

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