Absolutely amazingggg! Really worth the price! Top notch fine dining dégustation. The only thing I didn't like or could be improved, was the cauliflower and almond milk. Nothing special and really should either be removed or should make it more creative like the other dishes. Everything else was just sooo good! The best dishes would have to be the desserts! Well made with heart and effort. Worth going before it closes down!
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Came by as part of the Food month as they had a special dining menu. We had to come by before they closed.
We came through the bar entrance and as we turned the corner the dining area wowed us with the flowing curtains and the separated dining areas. After being seated the sommelier came up and gave us advice on drink choices.
The menu was a make your own three course meal from a selection of dishes. There was also canapes and bread that came along with the meal.
The first canape was really interesting, a tribute to oysters served over smoking rocks. They also had a tribute to NZ with "fish and chips" with "L&P".
The food was very interesting and fun. The names didn't tell you much and the presentation was great. Most importantly, the food was delicious. For me, the standout dishes were the octopus and the rhubarb. Both just tasted amazing and were just memorable. The mandarin was close to the top as well.
It is quite sad that this place is closing because it is really good. I now know why its always been one of the top restaurants in Auckland.
My go-to restaurant in CBD for a fine dining experience.
Love the exquisite ambience, the creativity & high quality of the food, and the amazing service at Clooney
Sad to hear that it is closing down
Came here for a birthday dinner and was blown away by the quality of food here. Each dish was creative, beautifully presented, using sustainable ingredients and perfectly executed. It is a shame that the restaurant is closing down soon. Glad I got to try it before it closes.
I had dinner at Clooney on a special day and ordered the restaurant month 'Build your own' menu.
All the dishes were amazing and had their own distinctive tastes. I especially love the steak which was cooked to perfection and it compliments well with the super tender shiitake mushroom and stunning sauce beneath it. The combination is just heavenly and It's probably the best steak dish I've ever had.
The dining experience is very unique and it has a very elegant atmosphere. The waitress also did a great job by giving introduction to the dishes served. The only thing I would suggest is to have one dessert instead of two, as the second dessert seems a bit excessive. Nevertheless it was a top-notch dining experience.
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A low-key restaurant situated in Freeman’s Bay. Well known to it’s elegant styling and classy dining atmospheres. Revisiting after 4 years, I am completely blown away by this restaurant. The innovative menu, the excellent demonstration of techniques, the clashes of flavors in the use of purées and the well selection of fresh but unusual local ingredients.
We went with the build your own tasting menu, which included 3 canapés and 4 courses (16 course options to select from) to suit each individuals’ taste preference. Each canapés came with a little tale of New Zealand and the source of ingredients of each dish were well explained by the waitress.
The bluff oysters were divine, served with seaweeds, seawater jelly and wasabi pearls which was very unique.
The fish n chips with lemonade canapé was definitely interesting and innovative. The smoked fish however as slightly salty.
The crumbed pork was nicely flavored and the carrot jelly was perfectly cooked with a bit of sweetness.
The charred octopus was soft but chewy, matched with a delicious quince purée.
The lamb tartare was fresh and excellently flavored with without a hint of gaminess. Beautifully presented in an oyster shell.
The medium rare beef was slightly overdone on one edge, but it was saved by the racy mushroom and caramelised sunchoke.
The mushroom dessert was definitely the highlight of the evening. The “mushroom steam” was made from a mushroom sauce, with a macadamia chocolate mousse outter, coated in a thin layer of white chocolate. The “mushroom cap” was a rich chocolate mousse, sided with a sorbet to refresh the palate.
The mandarin canapé was delicious too, especially the mandarin mouse in combination with the passion fruit inner. But it was a little excessive after the main dessert.
Attentive and knowledgeable staff with excellent attention to detail. You are well looked after the minute you step in. Towels are handed prior to commencement of the courses. Our waitress noticed that our dining was for a special occasion and brought a complimentary chocolate mousse.
Food were beautifully presented, served on the table to the spotlight.
I would certainly, definitely come again. For the beautiful and innovative food, atmospheric environment and the spectacular service.
Taste: 8.5/10
Presentation: 9.5/10
Service: 10/10
Ambience: 10/10
Value for money: 10/10
Price $130 per person excl alcohol
Delicious food, amazing atmosphere and super knowledgable staff. Everything was well thought through and I loved the stories being told behind some of the dishes. Well timed as well as we weren't waiting too long between bourses but also we weren't rushed between them. The carrot dessert was definitely my favourite - especially the dehydrated carrot chips that had a slightly milky taste to it. All an all a wonderful night and would come back again.
Tried the full course menu with wine pairing, very nice atmosphere and excellent service. However half of the courses were seafood so if you are allergic or not a big fan of seafood the only alternative option is vegetarian.
Love their venue - perfect for a great fine dining experience. Their menu does change throughougt out the year. Ordered the chicken rillette which was too salty for my liking. Langoustine was mouth-water and wish I had about 10 more pieces - recommended if you like seafood. The beef and carrot dessert however, were so delicious and the highlights of the night. The beef cooked to perfected tenderness. The canapés such as their take on fish and chips with l&p were also very interesting and surprisingly more tasty than some of the mains.
Absolutely blown away by my amazing dinner and experience at Clooney just yesterday. The ambience, the service and the food were just out of this world! Great job, Nobu and the team!
Innovative and creative. The food was made in a way that was visually exciting. In terms of overall quality, I think its a bit overpriced but nonetheless, delicious. Great service and friendly staff.
One of the best dining experiences we’ve had. From the moment you first walk in getting wow’ed by the atmosphere, to the most entertaining waiter and wine server, to the presentation and the design of the menu. Everything was so on point! We shared a wine paring between us and it was such a generous amount and great wine selection. Benjamin was very knowledgeable telling us all about each wine. It’s definitely a very memorable dining experience and will always recommend it to friends!
So impressed by the way the food told a story of the history of New Zealand. Up there with one of the best degustation restaurants in the country without being too ridiculously pretentious. But enough to make it special 😀 there were one or two dishes that didn’t quite win for me, I found the lamb and oyster tartare confusing. I was just so impressed with the attention to detail and the creativity in coming up with a themed menu that paid attention to where the food came from and it’s sustainability.
Just sensational! The only degustation menu that delivered excellence in every bite. Interesting setting, more suitable for a couple than friends going out for dinner. Can’t wait to go back.
Was very excited to try Clooney for a birthday celebration. As one of only 4 three hatted restaurants in NZ perhaps our expectations were just too high. Service was undeniably excellent with detailed description of each dish as well as wine pairings. The dining room is beautiful and much of the food was delicious. I have no problem spending money on food as I do it a lot! However, at $650 (inc. tip) for 2 people degustatation, wine pairing and a cocktail it wasn't memorable enough to justify returning. Possibly other people feel the same as it was maybe half full on a Saturday night....
The most expensive restaurant menu: Clooneys.
3 canapés, and four menu items.
The canapés were beautifully designed and each had its own story that was told to us by the manager (I think?). See photos for canapés.
We also ordered the raw kingfish, The raw venison, lamb and the deconstructed carrot cake. Instead of the alcohol that came with the menu, we substituted it with two drinks off the juice menu.
The raw venison was very interesting, it was flavoured with garlic powder, blueberries and dark chocolate. Definitely not what you would expect. But it worked!
The lamb was beautiful too, but the interesting part was that it didn’t have the lamb aftertaste.
What impressed us the most was the atmosphere. Each table had its own spotlight which really made you forget that there were other tables as those were shadowed in darkness.
This is by far the most fancy restaurant I have ever been to.
The new Clooney has the same beautiful ambiance it always had. The food is new however, creative and adventurous.
The Canapés were served by owner Tony. How refreshing and the passion in his description and the story behind the dishes was wonderful.
The dishes were delicious in the degustation menu and the wine matching was spot-on.
Always a fab evening here.
Lovely experience!! Foods r all amazing, even tho this is a 12-course dinner but u wont feel too full! Wish to have a stable waiter with our own table so that can explain each dish properly!
Had to run to Clooney as soon as I've heard it would close. It was great to know that it lives up to its reputation.
Clooney is a classy place with sober decor, but it doesn't mean it's snobbish or the service sycophantic. I was actually surprised by how kind and laid back the staff were. They were very attentive to every detail and knew how to explain everything about each dish.
I tried the three courses menu, that came along with kitchen snacks. I loved almost everything, presentation and flavours were great from amuse bouche to the mains. The only thing me and my friends weren't happy about was the dessert, except for the delicious hokey pokey ice cream.
This place create beautiful dishes.
Accompanied with dim light and simple deco that create edgy yet classy atmospehere.
The service is excellent and you get what you paid for to have a fine dining experience.
I personally think an average $150 per person is worth the money. Really worth it.
I left feeling full and happy.
I couldnt flaw my night at this restaurant.
Deborah Harrison-Flynn
+5
Decided upon 3 course Clooney’s Al la Carte menu for a special dinner with friends. Very particular & incredibly well travelled palates around the table & we were not disappointed.
9 kitchen staff (that we counted) & a restaurant owner who served us beautifully during the nigh & amazing food made this meal a night to remember!
Tasters (over & above the 3 courses) sent from the kitchen gave variety in texture & flavour. Quail egg served in a nest of hay was visually stunning - would have taken photos but frowned on by fellow diners. Appreciated the food having a Japanese theme!
Fish & lamb was the main with all diners & gorgeous “Magnum” style icecream consumed by all for dessert.
Continual top ups for sparkling water did mean we went through a large number of bottles. Wine options by the glass were great (everyone liked something different so we tried a significant portion of their “by glass” menu).
Rated as second best meal in NZ ever (French Cafe still #1 - but only just to this meal).
Sad that Clooney’s will be closing but can’t wait to try the new option when it opens next yr.
I started off buying gift certificates here for friends who adore this place but had to give it a try for myself.
Service is completely top notch, friendly, accommodating, the staff really make it feel like a special occasion. Ambience is great, slightly dim, elegant and stylish.
The food came out in smooth timings, every dish delicious, just emitting a sense of a wonder and delight.
I highly recommend and will be back.
We were fortunate enough to get a table for two as an anniversary celebration.
We opted for the wine matched 14 (15) course degustation menu.
we were more than impressed with the food and the wine matches were fantastic.
It was a great experience trying the wine first then tasting it change as it matched up to the food just so well.
14 courses sounds a lot but you don't leave feeling bloated (or tipsy) as the quantities are just right.
It is not cheap eats type place but I genuinely feel it was amazing value for money
The venue and the interior design is quite interesting.It is quite dark in the restaurant and also the bar area but you get used to it after a while.The Restaurant got a classy touch but the furniture and design is quite modern.The food, as expected, is quite expensive and the dishes are pretty small as well but everything was very nice presented and delicious.The Service really looked after us and they were able to explain all the items on the menu in detail.It was a brilliant dinner and evening.
If you can choose only one fine dining experience in Auckland, then I suggest Clooney. Which is exactly what I did as soon as I knew I was flying over the ditch from Sydney. In fact Clooney was my first eating port of call when I disembarked my Emirates flight. I have to admit, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. When I think/say Clooney a suave Nespresso sipping George springs to mind. With this Clooney the names you need to remember are Tony and Jacob. They are the ones behind tantalising your tastebuds when visiting this Freemans Bay establishment.
Having tried degustation here several times with wine matching across various menu's - each time we have left feeling so happy and delighted with the food & service! The surprise item for take away was a finishing touch that no other restaurant in NZ does! High quality food, brilliant selection of wines, and a well balanced, intimate, comfortable environment where you do not feel rushed out or crammed in. Perfect setting! Highly recommend this place to anyone!
Impeccable in every way. Very easy online booking process and flawless service from start to finish. Graham, our waiter, painted pictures of the menu with his description of each selection and was very helpful and knowledgeable in assisting wine choices. Every little detail was well thought out, from the dining room layout, to the overall mood lighting and the perfectly precise brighter light that shines only onto the table (and importantly the food) without disturbing the intimate privacy of each dining alcove. Needless to say, the superb food flavours matched the overall experience.
Possibly the best restaurants I've ever been to. Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and what a treat it was. The place was very dim lit and cozy. Service was immaculate. They explained the food in great detail, the taste and variety was immensely pleasing.
Although the food portion is small you definitely end up satisfied. Both stomach and your taste buds. There are some dishes I have never experienced and my gf and I loved it.
Amazing service & fantastic food. I've been to many up market restaurants around the world, this place is well presented especially for Auckland.
If you have a special event, or want a romantic night then this is the place.
Went there recently for the 7-course degustation menu with my darling brother, and then again to celebrate a friend's birthday. Fabulous atmosphere, outstanding service, delicious food - top notch! :)
Have only been here once, but based on that experience is possibly my favourite Auckland fine dining restaurant. Absolutely delicious food, knowledable and friendly wait staff. Dying to re-visit.
Best restaurant in auckland. Degustation with wine pairing is best option for first timers. Head waiter Dom is the best! Keep going back as they are always updating the menu to keep it fresh
Went there for a birthday and we had the 7 course menu. Our waiter "Matthew" was very nice, informative and helpful. They customized our order rto cater for some dietary requirements. It took around 2.5 hours for the dining experienced. Most flavours were spot on, the steak was divine.
Although pricey, this is one of the best dining experiences that I have had. It is what fine dining is all about. The dishes are well thought out and delicate. The flavours were daring yet worked beautifully together, such examples were the chicken cooked so tenderly that it melted in your mouth alongside with prawn, an Italian meringue with lime and a hint of chilli. The setting is intimate and dark though I did find facing other couples at other tables a little disconcerting. The attention to service was immaculate. We chose to have the tasting menu which I highly recommend to take you on a gastronomical journey.
Stunning dishes and excellent service! The dégustation menu provides wonderful variety with 7 dishes of different combinations, complete with beautiful gastro-art. The duck dish was definitely the highlight! Very happy that the tasting menu was also was available in vegetarian option.
The béton brut and simple curtain interiors are cleverly designed to make diners feel like they have enough privacy even though staff are very observant and attentive!
+1 for additional breakfast gift for the morning after 😋
Ambiance was great! Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Me and my partner had three course meal. We've experienced a blast of complex flavours swimming in our mouth for each dish. We are definitely trying the 7 course meal. It was a lovely experience all in all
Came here for my birthday with my partner and the service was amazing. The food didn't stand out to me too much but it still tasted very pleasing. The environment was a little too dark for my liking
An absolutely amazing dining experience. Came here for an anniversary celebration and had the 7 course degustation menu.
They started us off with some absolutely delicious bread and even the butter was amazing. They also gave us some soup which was so good the small bowl was no where near enough. Every single dish was incredible, there were so many flavours and components and it all worked together perfectly.
The atmosphere and service was amazing. It was quiet and the decor was simple yet fancy. Our waiter patiently explained every single dish to us with detail and she was very nice and patient. They don't have a mocktails list but we asked and the waiter asked what flavours we liked and she let the bartender personalise drinks for us, all of which were amazing. At the end we received some yoghurt and granola to take home which ofcourse tasted splendid too.
It is pricey but the experience is absolutely amazing and worth it.
Amazing! From the food to the service. 6 out of 5. One of the best place in Auckland. Truly would like to recommend to my friend. Gotta to be in your to do list!
What can I say? From service to food, everything was on point! There wasn't a single dish I disliked. Not only the food tastes amazing, you can tell they put an extra effort to the texture of the food. The cured venison was superb, probably the best I had so far. The only disappointment was the dessert. It was tasty, but I expected much more since everything before it was outstanding.
Perfect! Everything, from the food to service to décor, was perfection. I absolutely love the interior; particularly the 1960's gatsby fringed curtains give your table a sense of privacy and very romantic. The food… oh my gosh where do I start with the food - we ordered a 7 course degustation and what an amazing experience that was. Every single course brought different flavors and components to the table that were very clean and together made the dishes so delicious. As you would expect, the service was top notch too. At the end of the evening they gave us 2 gift breakfast packs which contained a glass milk bottle containing some yogurt and a small pack of muesli (which, by the way, I ate this morning and it was delicious) – This was one incredible experience, and I would definitely categorize this place as being one of the most prestigious restaurants in Auckland by a long shot.
just made me wow！everything was perfectly cooked，plated and served. great flavour，great texture ，freshness，color ，creative，combination，smoky，sweetness etc. A dinner satisfy all my expectations with low price. Earned me so many likes ever in my food blog. Thanks the chefs so much. Must try restaurant in AKL recommend to all my friends.
We had the 7 course degustation menu and 'everything but wine' pairing. The restaurant is stunning inside and is perfect for a romantic dinner date. The cuisine, like the setting, is very much contemporary. I loved that there is an element of fun (mostly due to the gin, whiskey, sake, etc) in the courses without losing cohesion overall. I will forever remember the burnt buffalo milk, valrhona dessert. It's etched in my palate's memory in a very, very good way.
2 words. Gorgeous Food. we only came to the restaurant because i wanted to try their dessert and yes the place is on the high end side but the food was worth the money not just for the looks but also for the taste. no photos could do the experience any justice. cant wait to try the other dishes they have available when i get back!
Went in for dinner on Monday night with my partner.
Food was outstanding and service was on point.
Fantastic wine list and the venue looks beautiful.
Not much more you can ask for.
They even gave us a leaving present of breakfast for the next morning.
10/10
Superb, mind-blowing and exceptional - had the 7 course degustation with matching wines. Exceeded expectations and gets an extremely rare 5 star rating from me. Easy one of the best fine dining experience in Auckland.
Came here with a group of friends for my bestie and my birthday dinner! We booked the semi private room. Service was impeccable and the restaurant had a very luxurious atmosphere.
We had a 5 course degustation menu, the first entree was avocado and puffed rice, the second enter was kingfish, dried crackling, squid ink cream and cucumber, pork belly, and 3 different types of Beetroot and cabbage leave and fig, lamb rump and smoked eggplant and cream with nuts and dates and for dessert it was amazing it was chai ice cream with cheesecake and graham crackers and raspberries and sherbet! Such an great night!
Such a great experience and a must see! Cocktails are amazing! My partner and I especially loved how the tables and lighting felt like it was just you there and you didn't really notice the other tables. When we sat down I was a bit cold and the manager moved us straight away to somewhere not by the air-conditioning. Tasting menu is highly recommended - staff really know what they are doing. Impressed with the great selection of international wines. Definitely will be back!
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As good as it gets, reminiscent of Gastro Park in Sydney. This place deserves every accolade that it receives.
The room hasn't really changed since my last visit in 2010, albeit the crescent shaped seats were probably a little tired. The trademark black tassel curtains which enveloped the crescents absent, being cleaned, but alas....
Seven course degustation the only way to fly. The kingfish starter was pleasant, but the crab & sunflower/sweetcorn next dish glowed. Next scampi dish looked like a cover of a magazine.
The duck, miso, gingerbread & blackberry sung. I confess my hankering for duck upfront, but this was divine. then the lamb fillet with splash of nettle was other-worldly. Then the fromage, with aged gouda and black garlic puree - how do they do the bread! almost like a sea sponge, so delicate and almost levitating it was so light. Brought home with a mille feuille of buffalo curd and a multitude of subtlely different chocolate layers - some firm, some bitter. Lovely.
We went silly with the vino. Forgive me Lord, but I am weak. Opened with some Perrier Jouet NV champagne, followed by the 2013 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, then the 2013 Ata Rangi Shiraz, followed by the 2010 Ata Rangi Juliet Shiraz. Whether my olfactories had fatigued, or I was just enjoying the ambience, the "Juliet" was the highlight.
Waxing lyrical to the French waiter from La Rochelle, we intimated our joyful desire to stay the night and have breakfast in the morning. He immediately disappeared, only to return with 2 x take home packs of Clooney made toasted muesli & lovely little bottles of house made yoghurt, beautifully presented in a black carry. Talk about impressive!
Hard to only give this a 5 out of 5. Is there such a thing as a 7 star restaurant rating, or is that reserved for the hyperbole that is Dubai?!?
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For my partners birthday I thought I’d surprise her with the 7 course tasting menu with matching wines at Clooney. I had been to Clooney around 6 years ago for a la carte and was blown away, time to revisit.
Our waiter for the night, Matthew greeted us and pointed us in the right direction for a pre-dinner drink, we were looking for a nice red to start however he said that this would clash with the first few courses of the tasting menu so recommended a Champagne Rose which was gorgeous!
The Amuse Bouche’s tuned up shortly after, some sort of wafer like cracker with a lemon curd on it and a melon and dill concoction. To follow that was a beautiful Gazpacho with in house made Ciabatta and a smoky burnt butter whip, both beautiful.
The 1st course of the tasting menu was a scallop ceviche dish, a very creamy texture contrasted with a white chocolate crumble of sorts on top, the grapefruit in the dish overpowered the delicate scallops, tipped the balance a bit too much.
The 2nd course came along and looked almost identical to the first, we thought for a second they’d brought us the first course again by mistake. This was a crab dish with corn and pine nuts. Texturally this hit all the right notes and I couldn’t get enough of it.
3rd course was the most impressive of the first 3 dishes, a Scampi and carrot dish, presented beautifully and it tasted immaculate. The Scampi were sweet and plump. We were relieved the 3rd course did not look identical to the first couple of dishes.
The 4th course was a poached duck dish which Matthew the waiter described as a bit of an experiment for the chef, other elements of the dish included miso, gingerbread and blackberry. Some really interesting pairings of foods and flavours, texturally it was a little strange but flavour wise it was stunning.
5th course was by far the best, succulent lamb with an array of smoky sauces and pastes to wash it around with, this was the sort of dish that sends your eyes to the back of your head to dream, could not get enough if it.
6th course was a mixture of sweet and savoury with aged Gouda served with sponge type bread and a black garlic sauce, the bread almost looked like coral, very light and fluffy, the cheese was a bit mild, the wine served with this matched beautifully. Also included in this course was a sweet cheesecake curd and kombucha desert, this was served with a stunning dessert wine which for me was the pairing of the night, 2 peas in a pod that skipped over your palate and left you wanting more.
7th course was a dessert, another standout dish, burnt buffalo milk Valrhona which was presented almost like a mille fois, different stacks of caramel, chocolate and wafer like consistencies, another winner.
Matthew our waiter was very informative about the wines for the evening, the dishes served and how the pairings should complement each other, his knowledge was really impressive. We enjoyed the evening, the 3 standout dishes were the scampi, the lamb and the final dessert. If all 7 courses had impressed as much as those 3 the $564 price tag for the meal would’ve been worth it.
While paying for the meal we were handed a cardboard satchel sealed with a Clooney sticker which contained muesli and vanilla yoghurt made by the chefs for the mornings breakfast, a very nice touch!
I suppose with 7 courses of food to serve, it’s pretty hard to please everyone. Would I do the tasting again? No, but I would go back to Clooney to sample some of their a la carte menu most certainly.
Went to Clooney last night for Valentine's Day dinner. Sophisticated class from start to finish. From the professional greeting from the sommelier to the unrivaled attention to detail of our waiter, Ben. The scene was set for a seven course fine dining experience that rivaled no other. Beautifully balanced flavours that showcased every single ingredient on the plate, meaning nothing was left untouched. The atmosphere complements the menu and quality of service and this is the place that you have to try to believe. Intimate setting without the loud group noise and soft music playing in the background. Definitely the best restaurant to try in Auckland so far in 2016.
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I went to Clooneys Thursday just been with some friends for dinner. It is not the first or last time I'll pay a visit to this elegant, fine dining restaurant. Located in a trendy dining area in Freemans Bay, Clooney's feels like walking into a high-class, modern take on an old school Speak Easy. A large romantically lit room, with spacious circular booths for dining. Clooney's definitely has an intimate and sophisticated feel to it.
They offer both a degustation menu as well as an a la carte menu. We chose from the a la carte menu this time, which comes with accompaniments of bread, an amuse bouche (which was my favourite by far- a truffle and onion kind of soup), two different salad-type sides and a pre-dessert. We tried the shrimps for an entree and I had the king fish while my friends enjoyed the duck. For dessert we had the raspberry and rhubarb option. All the food is just so tasty, well cooked with unique flavours, and beautifully presented. Although the prices are quite high, I actually think that what you pay for the a la carte menu is pretty reasonable given the quality of the food and the inclusion of all the extras.
Overall, this is a restaurant with a fantastically unique atmosphere and equally fantastic food - great for a fun, fine dining experience.
An awesome place to come to. Service is absolutely awesome. We showed them a dessert we had in the past and even though it wasnt on the menu they still managed to make it (or close to). Food was great. Will be back again!
Another find dining establishment, located just on the outskirts of the CBD, but walkable.
Thought I would give this place a try before the little one arrives, as it would prove hard to bring an infant to fine dining establishments.
Clooney's offers both degustation and a la carte options. We opted for the degustation option, so that we could try a number of dishes. one of the disappointments were that we had to go with the same menu. ie. one person could not go a la carte while the other went degustation.
Some of the dishes were fairly tasty, while others - I'll let you judge for yourself.
Check out my website for an indepth review.
Attended a wedding party in the private dining room downstairs. We had a five course degustation menu of crayfish, pork, duck, lamb and a dessert. Our own waiter who attended us for the evening, gorgeous wines and great company. The room was intimate and inviting.
Each course was a delight - I could eat here every night. Not for those with moths in their wallets; but worth the experience, fabulous flavours - some of which I hadn't experienced previously and was left glad that I had.
Just do it.
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Since I've only just started this zomato account, most of my rood reviews might be from a while ago, as i had written them in my book. This one is from the 25th of September in 2014, but i like to keep a record :)
Anyways,
This certainly wasn't my first time at Clooneys, but it was however, my very first degustation! We all had 5 courses (optional of 7). It was, i must say, spectacular!
We started off with a complimentary appetizer from the chef:
-Japanese inspired pudding with cauliflower puree and salmon balls (like caviare)- This got our tastebuds working!
Then we got another complimentary dish:
-2 pieces of warm crispy bread each, with a caramel butter-This caramel butter was the best thing i had ever tasted! It was soft and creamy, how butter should be, but with a subtle hint of caramel! So good!
Then we started our 5 course meal!
1st: Kingfish, ginger, verjus and coconut- It was sashimi and very refreshing!
2nd: Scallop, eel in ferment, kimchi-The scallops were delicious!
3rd: Split farro, hapuka, sunchoke, kale-This was my favourite dish of the night!
4th: Bonless lamb, eggplant, date, olive- The lamb was very tender, and the eggplant puree was tasty!
5th and final: Deconstructed cheesecake; freeze dried pineapple and apple, ginger sorbet, cheesecake base clusters, mascarpone, coconut powder and crunchy toffee like pieces- It was very refreshing and sweet!
Overall this dinner was beautiful! Every dish consisted of different textures (soft, crispy, creamy, smooth) and flavours that all worked perfectly together! The portions were the perfect size as we were having 5 courses, so you wouldn't get too full. The waiting time in between each meal was perfect, as you wouldn't get too hungry or full. Five savoury dishes (including the complimentary), and ending on a sweet dessert was a great way to end the night. I left the restaurant feeling satisfied, and not overly full (like i normally do). It was a quiet dining experience and we sat in curved seating, with dimmed lighting, surrounded by fringe curtains which gave the room a mysterious vibe. The service was great! They were very friendly, and always topped up our water for us. I loved how the chefs gave us complimentary appetizer's, and the bread with the caramel butter was amazing!
Love this restaurant, and I highly recommend for a fine dining experience :D
Had a good experience dining with friendly service. I had a 7 tasting course. Had a nice variety food. But sorry to say there are overlap cooking technique. Every courese of food have a puree. I couldnt feel not much different texture. But everything was good!!!!
We headed along for the tasting menu with matching wines. The service was outstanding and it also gave the opportunity to taste some fantastic wines that you would never find or match. The tuna, watermelon and anchovy dish and the duck breast where standouts. While Clooney's is top notch in every way, for over $1k for 4, there are two other Auckland restaurants I would go to first.
Absolutely outstanding meal and experience. We enjoyed a drink at the bar first and then choose the 7 course tasting menu with matching wines. The presentation was outstanding. The flavours of the dishes were sometimes quite strong and not traditional but it created a real intrigue. The atmosphere of the entire place is very intimate and exclusive. Wine matching was excellent with decent size pours. Service was consistent and attentive with a level of familiarity which was appropriate. A very special touch was the take home box for breakfast with a note from the owner which was also followed by an email to say that he hoped we enjoyed our night. Definitely a place to go for a special evening.
One of Auckland's most renowned establishments for quality, I couldn't wait to try Chef Des Harris's creations. They didn't disappoint.
There's a difference between good food and art. Chef Harris presents art in the most delicious form, providing a true food experience.
Each dish is a journey through flavours and textures that educate and overwhelm a diner with the satisfaction you'd expect from a restaurant of this calibre.
Set in an intimate yet open dining room, Clooney is absolutely worth making a night of.
Jeebers lord above. Best food I've ever eaten by a decent margin and the most expensive food I've ever eaten by a country mile. Waiter treated us like royalty, said woila like 4 times and talked our ears off about all of the dishes. Food was an experience. It looked like fine art and tasted like a hundred dollar bill, If a hundred dollar bill was delicious. Go here for a special occasion you won't be disappointed but make sure you extend the overdraft or get your running shoes on before you order.
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We came in with a reservation even though it was a Sunday night because we've heard that the place fills up fast. You would have never thought that behind the frosted glass of what would seem like a small cafe is Clooney. We didn't know what to expect coming in from outside of a seemingly dead Sale street however the inside was the total opposite. The interior impressed us greatly; the dim lighting created a romantic ambiance. What wowed me the most was the use of the black partitions. They separated each table so you get sense of privacy even if it is busy. With the circular settings of the tables and the curtain you can still manage to find a corner of your own to hide away. The service for us was so pleasant. We had a charming French waiter. Unlike a lot of waiters in fine dining, he managed to deliver a good service without being too pretentious and rigid. It just goes to shows that you can relax and still pay attention to details.
The menu is ambitious yet simple enough to understand and approach. What made me want to come back already was the 7 course vegetarian degustation. In my honest opinion it takes a good chef and a lot of skill to execute a good vegetarian dish let alone a 7 course degustation.
We opted for 3 courses each and found it to be very decently sized. I started with the hen's egg and onion which was absolutely divine and surprisingly smooth. The foam added a beautiful texture and made the dish not too creamy. What got me the most though was the bacon. It was thin and so crisp that it cracked like the caramelized top of a creme brulee. My main followed up with hapuka and paua creme. The only thing I felt that could improve was that it was a tiny tiny bit salty. Between the seven of us we shared 4 desserts as half of us don't eat a lot. All 4 were delicious whether they were heavy or light and ended the night for us on a high note. I left very full and happy which for me is a big thing. I find that going for a la carte in fine dining establishments can often leave me somewhat still peckish after as I'm a big eater. The mains came with decent servings of side and greens unlike a lot of other places.
I had one small problem with my experience that night and this breaks my heart that I can't give them a 5/5. We all found the dining room to be a bit cold even after asking several times for the heat to be turned up a bit. I noticed that a lot of people around us still had their sweaters or other outerwears on. Unfortunately we were seated right infront of the pass. It was fun looking through to the kitchen but near the pass is usually the coldest place in the house (as the fans from the kitchen draws away all the warm air). I didn't want to hassle the waiter again so I just asked for my coat back. I believe that if you offer coat checks, then the dining room should be warm enough for a pleasant experience. Perhaps investing in a portable heater might not be a bad idea.
I think the one factor that seems to make Clooney so successful is consistency. The dishes never failed to intrigue and excite, the plating was never dull and tired and the service was defintely near faultless. No wonder why Clooney consistently finds itself on the Metro's top 50 and Cuisine Magazine's Good Food Awards, needless to say with 3 hats even.
THE BEST RESTAURANT IN NZ!! Been to a number of the top restaurants in NZ but Des Harris is a genius!!! Perfect,balanced meals full of explosions of flavour!!! If you ever want a perfect evening, take yourself, your loved ones and friends to Clooneys 11/10
Went to Clooney on a Sunday night, no reservation was needed and we were seated promptly. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cosy with red couches and dim lighting. We received complimentary starters, which was a Japanese custard with fish roe.The entree I ordered was the scampi, was slightly on the salty side. The duck and fish mains were prepared very well, with amazing sauce and the fish has a nice light texture. The dulce valrohna was absolutely delicious as well! The staff were very friendly and attentive, always asked us if we enjoyed our meal. Nice place to go to on the weekend or an off day.
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I've been to Clooney before, so the ambience and the pricetag were no surprise. I find it very classy, but maybe the aesthetic is not to everyone's taste.
There is however no mistaking that you are in a place that is shooting for the top end. Does it achieve it? I would say very almost.
The service was excellent, and the food mostly wonderful. The maitre d' and waitstaff were engaging and helpful without being pushy, the food was full of very good ideas and excellently presented. When an item I ordered was all gone, I was given a couple of alternatives, and the one I chose (beetroot entrée) was probably the stand-out dish.
Why not a perfect 5? The quibbles were minor, but when you're paying top $... The mains were kind of slow to come, and when they arrived were only just hot enough. My fish main was very nicely done, but I think the design of the dish was not quite at the standard you might expect for the money paid. These are _minor_ quibbles though: Clooney remains a great restaurant for a celebration meal.
Great service. Perfect food. Amazing flavours.
Hens eggs on onion was amazing and creamy. Duck lamb was great figs and other parts of the dish balanced out perfectly with the duck
Perfect dining experience. Ambience, Food, Drinks, Service- could not have been better. In my opinion, best fine dining in Auckland (probably NZ)
Took my partner for his birthday dinner; service was fantastic, I loved the interior as well. Food on a pricey side but I was full after entree and main, so it is good value. Recommended for romantic evenings.
We ate here last Wednesday and even mid week it was reasonably busy, deservedly so. From our drink in the bar to the three courses we had for dinner the experience was polished and top notch from beginning to end. Our food was beautifully presented, works of art in themselves with no sacrificing taste and perfect layering of flavours. Not cheap - you'd struggle to come out under $200 for 2 - our meal was $250 - but worth it when an occasion demands excellence.
Delicious!. Amazing food and very helpful staff. Each dish was presented impeccably and the food combinations worked so well..
The ambience in the restaurant is lovely and romantic, and the food matches perfectly.. It is expensive, but that's expected with fine dining.. But it is definitely worth the money..
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Clooney opened in 2006 and I've been there once before for a meal but this time was a present from the family. We were going all in on their 7 course tasting menu with matching wines. The dining area is really one big space. But it's expertly divided up with banquettes and 20 foot tall black fringe curtains. Combined with the very dark lighting and individual spots shining on each table it gives a sense of privacy to each one. It's industrial, dark, private, and intimate. Think 90's vampire flick. It's a pleasant place to settle in for the long haul, and the tasting menu is an extended experience. 3+ hours of amazing food and wine would follow. Flakey crackers with a delicate lemon curd. First starter. A sashimi/ceviche hybrid. Raw kingfish with chamomile sorbet, freeze dried gooseberry, and grape. Sweet, tart, refreshing and crunchy. Matched with a glass of champagne. Not on the official menu, but definitely one of the highlights of the meal. Bread and butter. The catch being that the butter tasted like caramel. Combined with the salty sourdough it transformed into salted caramel in your mouth. Another delicate seafood dish. Scampi with an intense green pea juice, and pork crackling. An amazing duck dish. Perfectly pink all the way through served with a ball of morcilla (Spanish blood sausage), and crisped cabbage. Great combination. Final meat course, lamb, eggplant, date, olive, farro. Jen's not a big lamb fan. So the happily swapped her main course out for this fish dish. Which I was delicious but I can't remember anything else about. Onto the cheese, a 30 month aged comte with black garlic sauce and a sweet bread. A different take on cheese and relish. 1st proper dessert. Green tomato ice cream, verjus foam, sorrel, lychee, and pollen. Interesting dish. Very intense tart tomato flavour. Some more traditional flavours, lavender mousse, with violet petals, freeze dried strawberry, and a pomegranate honeycomb And a final piece of salty ganache to put us over the e
We had dinner on the 3 March @7.We celebrated my sisters birthday , we had a wonderful time and will be back.Food was amazing , service awesome (waiter was excellent )..Thank-you for a wonderful night
Amazing service here at clooney. Also what made it stand out was that although busy, the volume was not loud and you could still hear yourself think unlike some other fine dining experiences. The food was great and presented immaculately. The speed of device was also perfect- not too slow and not to fast giving time to digest and talk. The room was a little too dark for our liking, although very romantic, we were there for a birthday and wanted to take photos etc of which it was a tad dark to do. Our waiter was super nice and great at his job, and the menu was adjusted for me - the one dairy AND gluten free guest and I also loved the food and was touched at the extent the restaurant went to, to cater for my dietary needs.
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First visit to Clooney and we thought to try the 7 course degustation menu...the food was generally tasty, the high notes for me being the lamb dish and duck dish and all courses were successfully paired with appropriate wine, which is a fun way to dine as there were a few wines I would never have tried by themselves.
Servings I thought were ideal and we two men of reasonable appetites left nicely sated.
This is the first degustation I have had however my friend who resides in Melbourne and has dined and had degustations at a few notable establishments there, thought Clooney gave a good account of themselves.
On a personal note, though brave and different, the boothed seating and aesthetic didn't really work for me and I thought the background music could've been turned just a notch down - a plus however is not everyone is crammed together...
Service was knowledgable and warm and they take your lead on the level of formality expected - well done.
All in all, an enjoyable night out and worth a visit for a special night out.
Wonderful atmosphere paired with exceptional food. Clooney is a must go if you are in Auckland! Would definitely recommend the degustation menu if you are unsure of what to order.
If you want to have a real treat then try this place! Food is amazing albeit small portions. The key word is treat! A once in a blue moon kinda treat way as it does leave a dent on the old wallet!
I only advise to go after dark, if you go before the sun is down, the place loses its ambience.
The food is top notch, the atmosphere amazing and the cocktails are exceptional.
Highly recommended
We ate at Clooney last night - superb food and service; couldn't fault it. We chose from the a la carte menu and had three courses each and that was enough food for us. Great that they are open on Sundays too. Definitely recommend this restaurant.
We recently ate the 7 course tasting menu at Clooney. The service got off to a slow start, perhaps they were finishing off the first sitting, but as the evening progressed this improved and was fine. The food was very very good, with standouts being the chlorophyll (vegetarian non rice) risotto with creme fraiche, the suckling pig, wagyu tartare and the two desserts (licorice, and chocolate textures). The wine list is excellent, the pacing of the meal was smooth not too fast or too slow, all in all the food was interesting and at times excellent in swish surroundings. My wife enjoyed the meal less, simply down to the fact that some of the dish elements were not to her taste (For example the mozzarella ice cream on the amuse bouche worked for me, not so much for her, and she doesn't like licorice). It was a solid 4.5 stars for me
"Wow !! Loved all of it ++"
Wow! What a treat. Expensive but a special occasion treat. Excellent friendly and helpful service. Romantic setting that is lowly lit and peaceful. Loved the long tassel curtains. The wine was lovely and food superb ++. Even the delicious bread with a mouth watering burnt butter spread was delicious ++- yum!! and the best beans I have had in a restaurant. Every dish was a work of art and an explosion for the senses- loved it- thank you
We have been going the past two years for our Wedding Anniversary and must say that it is BY FAR the best food experience in Auckland. Great service (some of them waiters are chefs themselves), outstanding surroundings and just a great night of splurge/fancy dining.
A must do!
The Duck, Pork and Gnocchi top of my list.
We came here for a special occasion... certainly isn't something we could do on a regular basis. And since we were celebrating, we decided to do it properly. On arrival, my partner and I had a cocktail each, as recommended by the maitre d' who must have seen something in each of us because each of ours was perfect for us individually. We decided to indulge and ordered the 7-course degustation menu. Mine was complemented by the matching wines, my partner had a couple of beers and a whisky at the end. The food was impeccable, and my partner who isn't normally a dessert person kept using expletives to describe how good the sixth course (one of the two desserts included in the degustation menu) was. We gobbled up every delightful morsel and the service was faultless - just outstanding. It was my first time at Clooney but I will be back... after a substantial payrise!
Clooney is my favourite restaurant, I have been meaning to write a review on here for a while. I have been twice and both times the food was amazing and the service impeccable. What really surprised me was the feijoa dessert course in the tasting menu, I hate feijoa's but I ate that course like an animal it was so good!
Had a lovely time and the food was very well presented. Definitely justifies the high prices you commit too and excellent service.
Hoping to dine again very soon when we are back in the country!
By far the best place I have been to in Auckland. Went there for my 30th Birthday and it was absolutely stunning. Great service, divine food, excellent wine. Still remember the blue cheese dessert...yum!
It is a bit pricey but it was worth every cent.
Went to Clooney for our 15th wedding anniversary. So to set the scene we were there to celebrate a wonderful marriage with our best friends. We had high expectations based on reviews and weren't disappointed. WOW we went for romance and got that and sexy with exceptional service. And the food was amazing. Highly recommend for any special occasion.
This was everything we expected and more. A restaurant that really lives up to it's fine dining reputation. All four of us ordered different meals and we all rated them highly. Ideal for a special occasion.
I have been to Clooney twice this year together with my husband and friends and on both occassions we have been throughly impressed, not only by the fabulous decor, but by the wait staff, whose attention to detail was exceptional and explanations of the food were spot-on, together with wine matches. Most importantly the food was exceptional, each dish like a piece of art, not just great in looks, but divine in flavour - really an amazing taste experience. We all had entrees, mains, and dessert and each portion was perfect especially given we were eating a 3-course meal. Prices are at the higher end, but I think you get what you pay for and it is definately worth it. I look forward to our next visit.
Yes the portion was small but who cares. It has the right ambient, the food was beautiful (both in terms of the look and the taste), and the waiting staff did a great job. Honestly I didn't like the pricing but it was well justified, so I won't complain. Not a place that you will go weekly, but definitely the perfect place for a romantic date~
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We ate here last week, it was my Mum's birthday and there were four of us. We have been to Clooney before but this time wasn't such a good experience. I booked online and the website told me that the only available table was at 5.30pm, it didn't bother me but then we were the only customers there for at least an hour and even when we left at about 7.30 there were only two other groups there. I would definitely ring to book next time, because this is a restaurant that is all about the atmosphere, which is kinda lacking when you are the only ones there!
We tried the early bird menu seeing as we were there so early... It was three courses for $50, although it was a great way to taste lots of different things on the menu the portion sizes were really, really small. I really wished that the waiter had warned us, because I'm not even a big eater but I think that the only people who would be satisfied by that meal would be elderly ladies or young children! Haha.
I will definitely go back though, the atmosphere is really good, especially for groups of four or six, and the service is attentive without being in your face, the food is superb.
On previous visits I have found the portions to be larger than any other fine dining restaurant in town, although other reviews here say that they are small. You can always order a couple of sides if you are a big eater anyway. My advice is to stay away from the early bird menu!
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