Had lunch here yesterdayFantastic French fareGreat service and moodFrench Onion soupBeef Bourgignon with Potato DauphinoisCreme BruleeA hidden gem worth the effort getting there
One of the best restaurants I've ever eaten in in my life. Warmly charming, authentic decor delicious food without a hint of pretension. They don't need to pretend. They are the real deal.
Delicious from start to finish - the chicken liver pâté was the standout of our order, next time we're ordering 2 plates of it! Lovely service. We can't wait to come back again soon!
Super delicious, the service is warm. Highly recommend!
A French restaurant where you hear tables around you speaking in French. Cozy & quaint decor, a very homey vibe. A classic French Bistro menu & a great range of crepes. Love the escargots in garlic butter. The Cheese on the French Onion Soup has set, so was a bit hard & chewy. The Crepe Calva was showy with the flambé. Overall the meal was very satisfying.
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I have given the restaurant a 4 today - which would have been a 5 if only they had remembered to give us the window table I had asked for (when I booked a few days ago). I took the precaution of booking because we were an elderly group (me at 79 the youngest) - and the oldest was a man fast approaching 100! I have to say that the food was superb, the service also good and it was a pity that the experience was spoiled by two of the worst behaved children I have ever encountered in a restaurant. The mother had to be asked twice (once by the near 100 year old and once by me) to control her children. Unfortunately the manager did not intervene at all and although it was a difficult situation I felt he should have done so. The father told us his children's conduct was `none of our business' which was surprising under the circumstances. However, once they left the ambiance returned to normal and as I previously said, the food was superb. We will definitely return - hopefully with a table better suited for the hard of hearing and without the difficult children.
Incredible value for money. French toast, bacon and eggs, coffee and crepes for 2 people totalled $48! The food is to die for, the toast is soft and fluffy, the coffee is made perfectly and the atmosphere and decor is fitting and on point. So far, our favourite French cafe in Auckland.
This place is great! Seems like authentic homy food. Tried the beef bourguignon and thought the flavors were delicious! I just didn’t like the texture of the beef cheeks it was very gelatinous.
As a french I come here often. The food is good just maybe the potatoes are not soft enough or tender. I had a raclette and a galette with potatoes inside it was the same. Nothing catastrophic, I will come back again and again. The waitress is super nice and it's very fast. I recommend this restaurant.
OMG what a place! Had a Tartiflette and a glass of white wine. And it was heaven in my mouth. I love this place and couldn’t get over the food. MUST MUST VISIT. Amazing food, good ambiance and nice staff. Ventilation was an issue but apart from that the food was outstanding. Cheers 🍻
I had breakfast here with two of my friends who were visiting Auckland. The atmosphere was really nice, with French music quietly playing in the background, it almost feels like you’re in Paris. I got the bacon and eggs (scrambled) with wild pork sausage. It was a really filling breakfast and the scrambled eggs weren’t dry! My friends got the bacon and egg (poached) to share and two crepes, which looked good. I’ll be back next time to try the crepes.
This is my favourite restaurant and the first place I think to go to on a special occasion. The staff are consistently attentive and friendly, the food is infallible and the atmosphere is warm. It's just the best if you really enjoy French food.
Craving for mouthwatering crepes? Looking for simple yet comforting desserts after dinner? Or just for French? Or maybe seeking for a nice cozy dinner date place to go to?
The long standing Le Garde Manger can be your answer.
Service was impeccable even when we went there late just to grab desserts. The lady who served us looked a bit tired that evening but was still in all smiles and have offered a good service from the moment we sat down to after our desserts.
You can find the simplest crepes to fancier ones, and they are all delicious.
I highly recommend this place for desserts. Will want to try their mains and other food one day. (And will update this review then)
Came in tonight for a Waitangi Day dinner. Ordered the mushroom and herbs galette, brandy crepe and the potato gratin with bacon and cheese. The galette crepe tasted very grainy but wasn’t soggy at all from the mushroom sauce. Mushroom were not too small or big. The juice was delicious. Crepe was a bit soggy from the ice cream and sauce though. It was a bit too sweet for my liking. Vanilla ice cream was really creamy. Potato gratin had a lot of cheese and was really filling. It was sliced up thinly and wasn’t too soft or hard to eat.
A friend from Wellington who frequents this little gem brought me here on Friday night for dinner. Esgargot, pate, platter of meats and two creme brulees made up the perfect French meal and I look forward to actually sampling the crepes, along with the Beef Bourguignon. The rose was also quite nice and the staff were sweet and very patient with my friends' attempts to order in French. The ambience is rather lovely. I will be back!
A small place but was an excellent treat to the belly. Wanted to eat french food since a long tim and here we arrive.Me and my friends had the best time ever. The staff speaks french and are really polite. We ordered few créps and they were amazingly delecious. As I've always said the food pics speak for itslef...The service was great and will be back here to try other creps.
SO GOOD! the whole experience was exceptional. The food was heaven, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the service was spot on. Such a good experience
We went here for dinner before a concert in the Town Hall. The scotch fillet was very well cooked and the beef bourguignon was tender and very nice. Service was very fast, we had to take our time or else we would be too early for the concert . Decor was pseudo French and the servers were the real deal French which added to the authenticity. Everything was very nice except the tables were a little too close together, so for date night it is a little cosy.
Really amazing food although it is a little pricey. The main itself was really filling for $20 odd dollars. The crepes and chocolate were so rich, it was just the treat I needed. I would go back again once I get my next paycheck! Lovely, neat atmosphere with history and art. The lady serving us was proper French and super friendly. Loved it all. For the orange crepe, she lit it on fire and it was a wow moment.
Stopped by during restaurant month for a special 2 course meal for $40. I went with the French Onion soup followed by the beef bourguignon. We ordered crepes for dessert. The onion soup was alright, slightly sweet and cheesy but didn't have too much of an onion flavour. Tried some of the duck ravioli and chicken liver pate too. The ravioli was alright, the meat was almost like a mousse so it was hard to tell what meat it was. The pate had nice flavour but it was a bit lumpy for my liking. The beef bourguignon was amazing. It was juicy and flavourful. The tender beef just fell apart and really delicious. Had the crepe William for dessert and that was nice. The crepe was presented nicely and then it was flambeed on the table. Pear was nicer that I thought it would be.
Really enjoyable meal at a nice cosy restaurant. It was quite busy and we had a booking so we were able to get a table.
Excellent food & wine and friendly staff! Will definitely come back again very soon! We booked a table for 11 including 3 kids for tea last night. They offered us a decent room upstairs which impressed us! Their food is absolutely beautiful plus the price is reasonable. Highly recommended you to try! 😊 Last but not least, chicken liver pate, scotch fillet of beef and crepe Belle-Helene are scrumptious! 😋
Beautiful food. A shame no one tried to take my drink order and it seems as though the tartin had been sitting for a while before being delivered to my table. Fifth time I've been and will go back.
I really enjoyed the crepes! Best crepes Iv had so far. Service was excellent. Will definitely come back. Everything came out together with not much waiting time 😀
Been here for lunch on a Saturday. The decor is rustic and nice. We had ordered the onion soup, escargot and goats cheese salad for entree. For the mains I had the beef scotch fillet, it comes with salad and potato scallop on the side with blue cheese sauce. The best steak I have had at a restaurant! it was cooked medium rare and seasoned perfectly and the blue cheese sauce with the steak was delicious and I usually dont like blue cheese but the sauce was that good. Then for dessert we had ordered the chocolate mousse, apple tarte tartin and I had the crepe william which was also delicious- it is a crepe with a poached pear, caramel sauce and the waitress comes and flambes the brandy for the crepes at the table. I also had a normandy cider to drink which was very nice. So the highlights for me was the scotch fillet steak with the blue cheese sauce, the crepe william and the normandy cider. Delicious would go back again.
I love Le Garde Manger. It is the traditional French cafe with the best selection of Crepe, savoury and sweet. That's the real difference with this place. Onion soup, escargots and all other delicacies are definitely there too. Managed by French staff, it's delicious and definitely a must go.
My family came here to farewell my sister-in-law on her trip to live in France for a few months The staff were friendly and despite how busy the place was they went out of their way to make us comfortable whilst we waited for our table to become free. The food tasted good and there was a wide range of options on the menu. Very pleasant experience!
I have had a very nice experience here with very friendly staff and i love the atmosphere of the place, it just feels so French. I love French food so I ordered crepes and galletes, wonderful as always and just as good as the ones in France too
Have been wanting to try this place for the longest time! Finally got a chance to come with a couple of friends during a quiet lunch time. We ordered duck ravioli and escargots for entrees, beef scotch fillets and a lamb casserole for mains. Two baskets of free baguettes were also provided to complement the entrees and also the mains. The duck ravioli was creamy and rich and simply divine. Would eat this as a main if they offered it. As for the mains, the scotch fillets were quite over cooked even though we had asked for medium rare, however the lamb casserole had made up for the flaws in this meal. I am normally not a fan of lamb but the lamb here was cooked just right, so tender and juicy and just so delicious, ended up being my fav dish that meal. If you're a fan of French food definitely give this place a go as it offers fair portion sizes with reasonable prices.
This restaurant is such an odd little place amongst all the Korean and Asian food restaurant on upper queen. But it seems pretty popular as its always packed!
The place was cosy! But seat were too closed to each other, me and the mrs was even having a conversation with the group next to us.
Food was good, hearty French home cooking done well. We ordered lamb shanks and the boeuf bourguignon and an entree to share.
Both meat was soft and tender. The meat on the shank just falls off the bone like you would expect.
Food:4.5/5 (spot on!)
Service 2/5 ( French waiter we had was a bit useless. Seems new and lacks simple waiting skills)
Will be back to try their crepes!
excellent meal! Comforting French food at its best. Friendly efficient service, broad range menu, fair pricing. Thank you Le Garder Manger, all of us said we would be back for some more favourite flavours.
Quality! It Shouldnt Be That Hard! Love A Wonderful Mouth Full Of Wholesome FOOD!
+5
What an amazing French cafe!
I stumbled across this cafe as I was going for a walk after checking into my hotel having been told my room was not ready.
If u can imagine a little cafe tucked away in Paris in a little romantic lane way. This is that place, it has soft music playing in the background giving it that 100% pyre Paris felling!
From the moment I walk in I was waited on, taken to a table and the waiter poured me a glass of water, I had a coffee and the pear and brandy crape! It was something I have never tasted like this before. It was sweet then it had a sour taste of the brandy it was mouth watering.
Can not wait to go try more of the menu!!!
On the ever-changing food-scape of New North Road, this little French eatery sits quietly. Don't let its humble exterior fool you, it has a considerably large fawning over their beautiful selection of crepes and galettes; in fact, they've got a sister-restaurant on Upper Queen Street.Their servings were generous, flavours wholesome and hearty ' Innie's onion soup stole the show with a moreish topping of croutons and melted cheese' ah. The only critique would be: their d'cor does NOT do them justice, but we're just humble Kingsland pixel pushers' what do we know? ;)
Check out our individual comments here: husk.co.nz/lunches/le-garde-manager-oct-2014
I went there with 5 friends few months ago and everyone was happy of trying new, different then burgers, meals. It's a very nice place to have first experience with snails and other french delights. Creme brulle was amazing. I also had flank steak which was tender and melting in mouth with a tasty red wine sauce.
A really romantic place, and service is really great - super french. Quite a hidden gem in Auckland. Price is very decent for what we are getting.
Began with the onion soup - the toast was really good! Continued with the steak, and damn - the mushroom sauce. Everything was well seasoned and the meat itself is very tender and well cooked. Closed off with chocolate crepes, and all I can say was yum! Will definitely come back to try other things!
Great food, great service, nice and comfortable atmosphere. It was my first time trying french restaurant and I enjoyed very much! Couldn't try their dessert as everyone was so full. I will make sure I leave room for dessert next time when I go back!
I had midweek dinner here with my partner and a friend, it was simply superb. We all had a two course meal, which was excellent value and everything was delicious. Finishing off with a crisp French cider was perfect. One of the best dining experiences I have had in Auckland, I will be telling everyone I can about this little gem!
Been here a few times and it never fails to deliver high quality food and experience. Their beef bourguignon is to die for and a few desserts I've tried (crepes, apple tart tatin, bavarois au chocolat) are all wonderful. Absolutely love this place!
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Where do you go to find rustic, hearty, traditional French food in Auckland? On first glance, you might not think that Upper Queen Street would be the first place you would venture to but you’d be mistaken. Tucked in between a host of Asian eateries is this French gem, complete with red and white checked tablecloths and the menu displayed on a rustic chalkboard.
It is the perfect place for a cosy, hearty meal on these chilly winter days. Complementary French baguette is provided with every meal which is always a bonus. Make sure you ask for the full menu as on a weekend lunch time they will give you a brunch menu but the full menu is in fact available also.
We started with the Chicken Liver Pate served with Toast and Gherkins. A generous slab of pate, this was smoky in flavour, rich and creamy. This is served with garlic toast and a wonderful caramelised chutney with pickled onions and gherkins to offset the richness of the pate.
This is quite a large portion so unless you have a very big appetite we would suggest splitting this between two.
If you’ve never tasted the French classic Tartiflette you have been majorly missing out. Baked potatoes with onion, bacon and cream and topped with Reblochon cheese this is a very tasty heart attack on a plate.
Comfort food at its best, Tartiflette is from the Savoy region in the French Alps and is warming, delectable and really warms you up from the inside out!
To finish we ordered one of Le Garde Manger’s signature crepes. Crepe Calva was served with Caramelised Apple and Vanilla Ice Cream and flambéed with Calvados at our table.
With a sister location set to open In Ponsonby soon, enjoy a perfect winters warming meal at this great French gem.
we came with a group of about 25 people, so got a set menu with 1 of 3 choices of savoury crepes for main and 3 choices for dessert. Food quality was really good, I had the smoked salmon crepe which was fresh and the chocolate crepe for dessert, which was not too sweet nor bitter. Service was also good, and food was reasonably priced.
Le Garde Manger is a small French restaurant in Queen St, I came here for lunch today, it was empty and I was the only customer. Their service was good and food was delicious. I ordered smoke salmon crepe, probably because I am a big fan of salmon.
The food is awesome, I love the mushroom sauce and baked potato so much. Near my home and come to there regularly :D The waitress is very friendly and the price is good as a French cafe
This is a very first time I tried this place.
We had some lamb drum and Scott filet with some potato bake and mushrooms souce and have glass of French red wine.
I tell you what I never had a amazing French food .
It was tasty and cooked the way I wanted.
And customer service were 5point out of 5.
I think I'm in love with this place.
You have to try their desert.god it is on point.
Such friendly and welcoming place.
Will come back for sure.
Must recommend.
Last night i went with friends to Le garde manger on Queen st. We love the French decorations in the cafe. The waiter which is also the owner of the shop was very nice to us. I asked him to introduce me the menu he seems to be a very patient person even though the restaurant was very busy when we came. The food was lovely since I used to travel to Paris, France and the dishes that i ate have exactly the same flavour to the one in France. I will definitely be there again next time! Recommend it!
Le Garde Manger is like a small slice of France on Queen Street. When you walk through the door - from the tablecloths, to the music, decor & accents of the staff it's a really lovely escape from the bustle of the city.
We were having such a great night catching up that I forgot to get photos of all our dishes, but I must say all were enjoyed. The star for me was the beef bourginon - a hit on a cold night & one of the best I've had. Other dishes ordered were coq au vin & the flank steak. True flavours came through in all our dishes.
It was awesome to experience their wine list as well which again made you feel like you were a world away - the Beaujolais in particular went well with our dishes.
We luckily left room for dessert - their crepes are to die for. Thin & delicate as they should be. My fave is still the lemon & sugar - just so simple. The chocolate is always good too - & the pear adds nice texture.
A great place to visit, especially for a touch of France.
Auckland was getting cold and we thought it would be nice to have something to warm up. We ended up on this place after a quick search on Zomato and the convenience of the distance we were at that time.
Once there we decided to have an onion soup, a tartiflette (kind of potatoes with bacon, cream, and cheese), the special of the day which was grilled fish with vegetables and to the grand finale we had a white lady crepe.
The food was alright and services were ok. The only problem we had with this place is that is quite small and you didn't have much space. We were setting pretty much a couple of centimeters of other people which is quite uncomfortable and annoying.
It's not a bad place after all but if you are like us that enjoy having your meals with a bit of space, we definitely suggest you pick a more free time.
French food is the food of love they say and damn whoever said that is right 👅💕. This restaurant is tucked into the section of shops on the upper end of queen street (not actual upper queen street though haha) and you definitely need to check it out, ASAP! The service is very French (prompt and polite), the interior is cute as a button and oh my god the food is mind blowing. Definitely try the escargot 🐌😜! And most importantly THE CREPES MMMMM 💕✨
As part of a group I finally came to experience the culinary works and services of Le Garde Manger, one of just a few French restaurants in Auckland. Being priced mid-range I hoped to get value. Its been a long time since I ate French food and really looked forward to the snails as a starter. I found the garliciness of the snails sufficiently pleasant unlike my fellow underwhelmed diner.My main course of scotch fillet was a bit of a letdown in that the fillet was well-done rather than medium as ordered. The blue cheese sauce was way too salty and could only be eaten with the potato gratin that lacked seasoning altogether.The service was friendly and forthcoming although completely overworked with a full house. Would I recommend it? Yes, but go on a weekday when it may be quieter so that the chef does not forget to take the steak out of the pan and the waitress does not need to be reminded of a steak knife. Adequate staffing does make a difference!
Passed a hundred times in front of this French restaurant in the heart of Auckland, and always found its mood so charming and cozy. Fortunately, very different from what we imagine of what comes to mind when we think about the good places from the country who is a symbol of quality food.
My choice was a beef scotch, that came cooked to perfection, medium rare, as I asked. I think the salad that came along was unnecessary, but the blue cheese, my god, it was amazing. I had it til the last drop.
Couldnt say less also about the crème brûlée. It was simply the best I've ever tried.
Besides that, they're service is remarkable, friendly and respectful, and the wines are good for a reasonable price.
I've walked past this place many times and I always thought it looked quite dark, but actually it had a pretty nice atmosphere. It was lively, but not busy (not jam-packed full of people). Friendly staff. DELICIOUS FOOD. We had the French Onion Soup, Chicken Liver Pate, Tartiflette, and the Crepe White Lady. All dishes were very nice with reasonable portions. At first it didn't look like much, but we were nice and full when we left. There were, however, many small flies that kept bothering us while we ate. Might be due to the change in climate, but it was nevertheless annoying.
They accommodated a large group of us earlier this week. The food was very quick especially considering how many diners there were. Can't believe I haven't been there before! I think they will get a lot more regular customers from our group now
Having a mis-spent youth in the South of France, I'm a sucker for a good fish soup and it definitely was that. It was served with toast and oddly an aioli sauce rather than a rouille but that still worked and it was delicious.
My companions had the onion soup, a side of beans, 2 different galettes and the fish special, they were all well pleased with their meals, (even more so with the price $138 including an excellent bottle of wine)
The atmosphere is very French bistro with the chef popping out occasionally to shoot the breeze with the patrons.
I will have to go back as they ran out of the Ile flottante which is my favourite dessert not that I will need an excuse.
We have been here often over the past five or six years and can recommend it. The food is always good without being off the scale, - good honest descriptions of what you order, etc. - the service is excellent - prices very reasonable - AND, very important for the hard of hearing, there is an absence of invasive music and if the background melody is still a little too loud to make conversation easy, they happily turn it down. In fact the only thing about the place that I could criticise is the fact that it's a bit of a hike up the hill to get there. On the other hand, the climb is definitely worth the effort!
When i think of le garde manger it reminds me of first date. This cute, unique little french restaurant feels very intimate with its dimmed lighting and small tables covered with red and white tartan tablecloths. Its classy but not intimidating, perfect for a decent meal without breaking the bank.
I tried this lively place for the first time last week with a French friend. The crepes are so good and it's great value for money. The lovely French girl who works there is always so friendly and attentive and Always suggests things to try :) I don't think I will be eating the snails anytime soon but definitely recommend!
Great meal tonight at Le Garde Manger. Galette was delish (goat cheese, honey, sundried tomatoes and walnut) and a good French onion soup (although the was lacking a little something I can't put my finger on).
Service was friendly, although a little slow at times. They appeared to be a bit understaffed for a Saturday.
Solid dining experience all and all. Had a great lemon sugar crepe to finish the meal of perfectly.
For crêpes they have a lot of choices to choose from. A friend and I came here for some after dinner dessert and they didn't disappoint. Their Crêpe Martiniquaise (which had banana, coconut, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce) was divine! As far as I know from the service to the food, it was all very authentic. The restaurant was also very cute.
Today, We went to French restaurant which name is "La garde manager". It's my first visiting to French store. All ingredients are fresh! Especially, even though I don't like mushrooms, but today I changed my opinion. This restaurant's mushroom is really impressive to me. I recommend you who wants to try French food! My English skill is not good yet. Thank you for your time.
Temptation Cakes Auckland
+5
Awesome place my brother in law who spends a lot of time in France we have only been once but loved it the 4 days we were in Paris has said this is the closest to the real thing he has tried in Auckland food is very authentic and tastes amazing A+++++++
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Le Garde Manger deserves a shoutout as our absolute favourite French restaurant in Auckland, really. We have been here numerous times over the past couple of years – usually for brunch, but also twice for dinner, and this place has yet to disappoint us.
There is an extensive menu of crepes and galettes (buckwheat crepes) available for brunch, as well as various aperitifs (alcoholic beverages served before a meal). The crepe belle-helene (poached pear, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce) and crepe suzette (crepe with orange syrup flambeed at the table with Grand Marnier) are my personal favourites. On the other hand, the boy tends to prefer savoury meals for brunch, so has usually opted for the galettes – he was a big fan of the la limousine (buckwheat crepe with steak mince, mushroom, tomato coulis, and egg). Their ciders are an excellent accompaniment to the meal, as well.
Despite being an authentic French restaurant with all the trappings, their dinner menu is fairly reasonably priced, with mains in the $20s and entrees in the $10s. Their escargot is excellent – not at all like the overdone rubbery bits that tend to put folks off escargot, and their French onion soup was lovely and thick with generous servings of cheese and croutons.
In terms of their main dishes, I’ve never managed to get past their duck confit – can’t bring myself to order anything else if it’s available. Rich flavours of duck melting in your mouth, with a delicate hint of orange – absolutely divine. The boy has tried their coq au vin and beef bourguignon – both were good, though in my opinion they pale in comparison to the duck confit, and the coq au vin might strike some folks as a tad too simple for a restaurant dish.
As the cherry on the top, their decor makes you feel right at home, with checkered tablecloths and little candles. Their service is always friendly, though it was a little slow for our first dinner there – to be fair, though, that was on Valentine’s Day, so perhaps they get a pass on that one. It was fairly quick when we visited for dinner last weekend. Do go, try their crepes and escargot and duck confit, and down one of their aperitifs traditionnels with it.
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I first laid my eyes on Le Garde Manger about 2 months before I dined there. I was going to a BBQ joint further up the hill on Queen Street when I passed by the place which was packed full. It seemed a bit noisy at the time but that's not exactly a problem for a fun night out. The night I came to dine however it was raining heavily so it wasn't as busy, but still half the restaurant was full and the function room was occupied. They seem very popular so making a reservation would be recommended. The place really has a charm to it. All the decor and lighting is somewhat rustic and simple, quite a homely feel. The waiter for our table was very informative and helpful. He noticed that my knife was not polished properly and had a mark on it and changed it right way. Kudos to the excellent eye for detail and service.
We started with the galettes. They are a great choice for people who are looking for a gluten free option as they are made from buckwheat. I had La Fermiere (mushroom, onions, herbs and cream with either chicken or bacon) while my partner opted for La Nordique (smoked salmon, leek, lemon and salad). The flavors and texture were delightful and we were blown away. Everything was seasoned just right! For desserts we had the normal crepe with poached pear and the crepe Suzette which was spectacularly flambeed at our table. Seeing our dessert on fire brought the night to an exciting end.
We were so full with 2 crepes each we missed out on the other main courses. We ordered the crepes because they were the reason we were drawn in but we definitely will give the other dishes a go on our next visit. The beef bourguinon and tartiflettte look so appealing.
On another note the drinks list is decent. I was going to go for a glass of red but then decided to try their cider instead which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommended the Dry Britanny Cider!
For a place that is surrounded by cheap and average eateries and BBQ joints, Le Garde Manger is truly a gem that stands out. We had such an amazing experience and are looking forward to our next visit.
Went here with a friend for a pre-concert dinner after another friend told me they'd had a lovely meal there. We did also & are keen to return. The service was friendly, efficient & well able to answer questions. The food arrived promptly & we had the boef bourguinon & coq au vin. We both enjoyed ours, very tasty & meat very tender. Lovely french wines as well. We shared a dessert crepe (Helene) which was excellent. The atmosphere is country French with red & white table cloths & theme - it feels authentic & cozy. Overall good value too.
I couldn't fault this place! It's the cutest little cafe that many would drive or walk past but don't let first impressions be your judge, you must be tempted by the French music and the red and white checkered table cloths. I had scallops and mushroom crepe (gluten free), with lemon and leek sauce... what a mix! $17. We also had two side dishes that we really didn't need but it looked too good not to order. And then... we had to have the traditional french crepe for desert! I choose chocolat and what a great choice that was!! I'm now struggling to walk but I'm totally satisfied and feel I could sleep for the rest of the afternoon. I will be back for more and I'm bringing more friends... could this possibly be my new favorite cafe? I think so!!
A quant place for lunch with a pleasant, cosy atmosphere, authentic service and delicious food. I really liked that the food was classic French inspired. I had the butternut squash soup and it was heavenly. The side potato gratin was very rich and I probably didn't need it as the soup was filling enough. Because there's always room for dessert, I figured it'd be rude not to enjoy a lemon and sugar crepe. Very well cooked with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. This place is definitely worth coming back to.
Had date night here recently. The steak was delicious, and reasonably priced. Service was adequate, and the ambiance was pleasant. Will most likely be back to try their crepes.
LivingAnExaminedLife
+4.5
Excellent salad and vegetarian-base French onion soup. Coffee and crême brûlée were similarly good. Staff were fast, friendly, and attentive. Wish they had more vegetarian or vegan items on the menu.
Came here for dinner before a movie and loved it! The place it's definitely romantic so ideal for couples and romantic dates. Many many options for sweet and savory crepes, and the main plates are very traditional; we had the tartiflete and the beef Bourguignon, perfectly cokked and exquisite. We shared a sweet crepe for a different and had just a beer and a soda. All was $70. Will return!
Le garde manger is my favourite place in the city! Had my little birthday celebration here tonight with other 3 good friends. Amazing food (always!) excellent service (toujours!) For entrée, We had 1 and a half dozen escargots and chicken liver, as good as usual! And then we ordered from the special menu for the night: lamb shank, sirloin steak, duck leg and fish. Crêpe martiniquaise for dessert. One word : Wonderful! We enjoyed our food + we had a great night.
Will always come back! Lalalala
Really really nice. Great Food ambience and service. Incredibly well priced too. Fab wine list. At last a carafe restaurant . Thursday nite live French music
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This was a charming venue for an evening dinner. The noise level is a little loud for an intimate date since you have to raise your voice a bit to chat with your companion, but the service impeccable with a happy and helpful gentleman that goes through all the specials of the day and keeps your glasses filled. Its decor is much like the inside of an European house, so you feel a little like you're dining at a lovely friend's place. There's a definite checked tablecloth theme with their menus, the tablecloth and the draped lamps above.
I think their standout specialty are their crepes. They're large, main-size, so if you're wanting one for an entree ask to have one to share. We sampled La Nordique, which had a large very very slightly sweet crepe laden with leek fondue and creamy smoked salmon and a touch of lemon. There was also a refreshing salad I liked as well, drizzled with some oil that tasted a lot like the leek fondue. This was the highlight of the evening. That was perfect. The salmon texture and flavour was perfect and extremely well executed. The crepe is a little more burnt than I expected, as they're usually golden brown. This was completely browned and so it had a little bit of a burnt taste, but it seemed like it was deliberately cooked to be slightly burnt, so perhaps that's what happened.
I would highly recommend going back for the crepes, lunch or dinner.
The mains were not to such a high standard, but still a good quality. I just felt they were a little on the expensive side for such portions that didn't taste as amazing as the price would suggest. I would've preferred to get two crepes instead.
One of the specials that night was a seared terakihi with a creamy risotto with onions and mushrooms. I love risotto, so I thought this would be great. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed. They'd overdone the creamy sauce the risotto was in, so it felt more like eating lumpy porridge. The mushrooms had also been overcooked, although I find a lot of French eateries in New Zealand do this, so they had that brewed for ages mushroom taste that I personally dislike. I think mushrooms taste a lot better lightly cooked and fresh, myself. The risotto was slightly improved by copious amounts of lemon to counteract the overcreaminess and rich brewed mushroom taste, but there wasn't enough lemon to counteract the whole dish. There were a few slices of tomato, but they were rather bland and not tart at all.
The salad it was topped with, which seemed like crunchy beetroot and some other julienned white vegetable, was very sour and not to my taste at all.
The fish disappointed me as much as the risotto did. It had a light reddish tinge, so they hadn't blatantly overcooked it, but it just felt rather rough in the mouth for tarakihi. Not the seared outsides, but the inside flaky flesh. Perhaps slightly on the side of overcooked. It also didn't taste that fresh, but there was a bit of the fish taste there so I commended that. Most of you probably know I'm not impressed by how restaurants do fish mostly, so I would conclude they still do a better job than a lot of restaurants in Auckland. I'm not sure what possessed me to order fish this time when I usually avoid it.
At $29, this was a rather pricey main, but as you can see in the photo, it wasn't a large portion at all. I'm a slow eater, and I usually never finish before my companion, but this time I did. The dish was slightly deeper than the average plate, but I still felt like there was very little in terms of portion. Most of the depth was taken up by the sour vegetable topping I avoided.
The sirloin steak with gratin dauphinois and a blue cheese sauce and salad was marginally better because nothing was outright disappointing, but I also felt like it wasn't the best. The steak was very tough, but thankfully flavoursome, and went well with the blue cheese sauce. The gratin dauphinois was outstanding, beautifully fluffy, and full of potato flavour, but putting the blue cheese sauce on it spoiled all the texture and taste and threw a sort of mayonnaisey flavour on it all. Salad was the usual. The steak was cooked as it was asked, it just didn't have the full flavour and texture a truly premium steak should have.
Overall, I think this is a nice place to take someone for dinner if you want to impress them. The dishes are quite fancy, and executed quite well. If you're a foodie looking for an excellent dinner, I don't think the mains here will serve you well, and the choice of desserts here are limited and expensive unless you opt for a sweet crepe.
Their crepe was outstanding and most definitely their specialty. Visit Le Garde Manger for the crepes by all means.
Went there and really enjoyed. Good service and excellent food.
Budget French food with amazing flavours :) it's restaurant month now in Auckland and this is what they offer, steak with red wine sautéed onions served with salad with balsamic vinegar and as dessert it was lemon tart which just ok. The steak was unfortunately tough but flavours are in there. Tart was ok, sour desserts aren't really my thing but overall it was okay
One of my very favorite places to eat in Auckland. I love taking friends along - not just for the food, but for the warm and helpful staff. It pays to book as I learned the hard way last week (usually go very early or very late so this is first time this happened.) But even then the staff went out of their way to recommend another nearby restaurant - which turned out to be just the ticket.
This place is AMAZING! The snails are juicy and beautiful.
The steak is perfectly cooked.
the deserts leave you wanting more.
Nestled in a great location, this place is close to anything.
The ambiance takes you to Paris.
I will definitely be back, and with such prices for such quality food, i am over whelmed. $55 for three meals.
One of my favourite restaurants. Very authentic - you feel like you are in France. I've tried lots of their dishes and never had a fail. My daughter goes for the escargot everytime.
Recommend the crepes - either for dessert (yum) or the savoury crepes which are a satisfying meal (try the salmon one with leeks it's very rich and awesome), particularly good accompanied by a glass of the varous recommended French ciders. Nice selection of French wines too and good coffee. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. Nice atmosphere too.
This restaurant is well positioned for receiving guests before, or after a show as is is nearby the Town Hall, Civic, Q and Aotea Theatres. Bookings are essential, even early in the week.
There is a good selection on the menu and 'specials' board. The food is authentic and excellent, as is the service.
I have dined there 5 times in 2 years.
Went with 4 others to celebrate a 20th wedding anniversary and we were all very impressed. What a change to be able to eat at a restaurant that serves alcohol rather than a pub that serves food. First impressions were that it is light enough to see your fellow diners and quiet enough to have a conversation. The staff are friendly, efficient and know what they are doing. The menu is not extensive (with specials that do sell out) and which consists of traditional French fare with a chef that knows what he is doing. I would happily return and the most important thing for me, I would happily order the same dishes again they were that good.
Awesome stuff. We went in just after they opened on a Sunday so we got the restaurant to ourselves. Order two dessert crepe options from the menu.
Service great, very sexy accent from our handsome waiter and quality food.
Recommend for all occasions!
One of the best meals I have had in the ten years I have been in New Zealand, divine food, well priced great atmosphere wonderful staff. A must if you want traditional french fare. My partner had the Bouef Bourginoin (which i cant spell) and had the Tartaflet (again apologise for the poor spelling). I had cheese and bread instead of desert and was presented with a lovely selection of divine French cheeses, whilst my partner had the creme caramel which was to die for. We had the house red which was delicious and a nice change that the house wine was so good and very well priced. The whole experience bought back memories of holidays in France totally wonderful and on our list for every time we go to Auckland.
Service and food was fantastic and for a very reasonable price. I cannot compliment the waiter enough for his warm and prompt service. The chicken liver pate was delicious and value for money. I had the duck leg confit and my partner had the lamb stew and no complaints.
I would definitely come back and bring all my friends.
Margaret Ubels-Rattray
+4
This is my new favourite restaurant for taking a class load of students since St Tropez is no more. They will do either a crepe menu or a fixed price menu for a really good deal. I'd recommend it to all French teachers and I will be back in 2013.
Every time I have a relative come to stay in Auckland I bring them here, and every time I go, the service and food are Excellent. The Waiters are always cheerful and pleasant, I recommend the Duck...cooked to perfection!
My boyfriend, flatmate and I visited last Sunday. It was my first experience eating French food. I had a succulent rare sirloin steak with thick blue cheese sauce and creamy (but not sickeningly so, as I tend to feel ill after a certain quantity of creamy goodness) gratin dauphinoise. I shared it with everyone on my table and they all loved it too. My boyfriend had a rich red wine beef bourguignon.
The service was fantastic - an enthusiastic but not overbearing waitress was very helpful.
We were so pleased with our mains we ordered dessert and crepes. I had a lemon & sugar crepe which was fluffy but a bit bland, my boyfriend had a creme brulee which was nice but nothing to write home about.
On the whole, very impressed with our mains, crepe and desserts were alright. Would return again for the mains and pay full price (as we used a voucher this time round).
I loved this place on both visits. Both at dinnertime, service was fantastic and the food was the best I've had at a meal out. The atmosphere is brilliant - almost like being in a small cafe in France itself.
Went to check out the set menu for the August restaurant month. Everything was amazing, my fave being the chicken liver pate. Worth going back just for that. Little bit random that it is where it's located. But will def venture back.
One of our favs in Auckland.
Authentic, delicious, great value French food. One of the best meals in France is the unpretentious bistro food with a fixed price menu. these guys have got it spot on.
Classic French atmosphere too. Just such a random location - a real diamond in the rough.
We will be back!
Decent place in Auckland for a French restaurant. Went there for lunch with a friend. Friendly staff with prompt service.
Steak was good. Loved the crepes there also.
Their prix fixe menus are very good value for money.
A Tahitian friend of mine used to French cuisine also went there and found their food to be really good.
Definitely recommend people try it at lunch times, since it's quieter and has more chance of getting a table.
This place is a hidden gem. We popped in for dessert and found them to be absolutely delicious! Great authentic vibe and friendly staff. I highly recommend the pear, caramel, vanilla ice cream crepe!
I've been here 4 times, and its still hard to decide between 3 or 4 stars. Its good value for money, so hey. Just a classic french bistro, unpretentious, decent without being amazing food. Can be HARD to get a seat! The service is a bit below average. I think my sister makes better onion soup- but my partner, who lived in France loves it. Not fancy, but snug and satisfying. I'd usually pick it over Pastis and Torchon.
Great simple french bistro menu, excellent food and reasonable prices. If this place was in Ponsonby you would never get a table. Menumania wants me to say more.....good food, reasonable prices, authentic french atmosphere, what more could one ask?
One of our favourites. Real French food, genuine atmosphere, charming service. Amazing good value and a real gem in the Auckland restaurant scene. We keep coming back here. Had my birthday dinner here and everyone just loved it.
We wanted to have dinner on Friday night, but this place was full, no tables left for us. went back on Saturday for lunch and had savory pancakes, and then sweet pancake with honey and walnuts. They were all delicious. Earl grey tea (tea leaves in a pot) was yum, and coffee was awesome. We will go back again:)
if the waitress was a bit more friendly, our rate could have been 5.
Noelia Gonzalez Quiñones
+4
Had lunch here yesterday as I had a voucher, and I absolutely loved this place. The restaurant is so cute and cosy, and the food was lovely. First we had the galettes (savoury pancakes) and they were very nice indeed; mine was stuffed with egg, cheese and chicken. And then I couldn't say no to dessert, so we had delicious sweet crepes (pancakes) for dessert. I had the honey and walnut crepe, and it was absolutely delicious, nice and sweet with cruchy walnuts on top - I highly recommend it.
We have been here on a number of occasions, for brunch and dinner, each time fantastic. A great range of gallettes and crepes for brunch, with superbly made coffee to match. The staff are so pleasant they have let us mix and match items on the menu. For dinner, the black-board menu is reasonably limited, so between us we have tried all the mains. Each have been extremely tasty, and cooked to perfection. I personally recommend the duck, with a side of snails, and a glass of Alsace pinot gris to wash it all down. Tres bien.
We ate here after the early performance of Rocky Horror Show.
We were lucky we had booked as the restaurant was busy. The food was delicious, very French. We all had the set menu which was reasonably priced at $30 a head for three courses. The staff were efficient and friendly. We will definitely be going back
We recently had the good fortune to eat at this small restaurant at lunchtime and were very pleased we did. Initially we were the only diners but by the time we left the place was quite full and everyone looked happy. The blackboard meals which we chose were tasty and just the right size for lunch, presumably larger servings would be available at dinnertime. The dessert crepes were delicious. Again the size wasn't too large so although we had two courses and drinks we didn't feel we'd overdone it. The prices made the meal very good value and together with the pleasant staff made for a very enjoyable lunch. Recommended.
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Updated review: Still a 4. I came here last Saturday with my Dad as I had really enjoyed the food and atmosphere here on my first visit. I was hopeful that I would get their rating up a bit on a second visit but unfortunately, I just can't justify giving them more than a 4. We both ordered the steak and It was just as delicious as the first time I tried it. I was going to try something else but I just couldn't manage to look past the steak. For dessert we both had a crepe. I thought the dessert was nice but the pear was a bit stringy and the ice-cream (which was placed in the crepe) was melted within a minute. The crepes were a bit too thick for my liking. The wine here is terrible! They really need to work on that wine list. The service here is good but when I asked the waitress what spice went into the potato, she said "no it's just potato, cream and cheese." Lies! She avoided giving me a proper answer, and maybe she is protecting the recipe. I suspect the spice was nutmeg. I'd come back here again and again, they're is nowhere quite like it. I just wish they would make the necessary improvements which would get them to a 5. Previous review: 4: A new favorite spot for dinner! My dining companion and I had an entree and main each and shared a desert. I had the French Onion Soup which was very good but didn’t have quite enough onions and a bit too much cheese. My companion had escargot which she said were very tasty but had a bit too much oil on them. I tried one myself and agreed with her verdict. Duex orders of sirloin steak with dauphinois and salad for the main. Delicious! I ordered my steak rare, which is was. The potatos were amazing and the salad, generous. We shared the creme brulee for dessert which was yum. The desserts are a bit limited apart from the extensive list of crepes. I am looking forward to going back to try one. The service was excellent.
We were here for a birthday dinner, the service, food, and atmosphere were superb. The only down side was the limited selection of dishes, we could only choose from two starters, three mains and 2 desserts.
It was like, “A wild French creperie and cafe came out of nowhere” mostly because this part was lined with mostly Korean and other Asian food places. I love the many details of their decor when we came inside. It looks like a possible location for a chic film.
We decided to go for some crepes (the place being a creperie and all - they have other mains like coq au vin, beef bourguignon and some others I can never ever pronounce but sound delectable).
Our crepe and galette (I thought they were massive) came. Both sweet and savoury tasted good but I think I enjoyed the savoury one, with mushroom, onions, herbs and cream more.
Their ice cream was quite good too. The lemon ice cream was particularly refreshing, great end to a meal.
Nice food, adorable place.
more on: http://sweetsandbrains.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/le-garde-manger/
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Went here for dinner on a cold and rainy Saturday night. The restaurant was warm and inviting, with the red and white check table clothes adding to the ambiance.
They have a large range of crepes, sweet and savoury, so I think this would be a good place to come for brunch as well. I am not keen on crepes for dinner so stuck to the standard French dinner menu. My entree of pate and bread hit the spot. The other entree at the table was the French onion soup which was declared delicious.
The mains are reasonably large. I had the tartiflette which is basically a potato bake with bacon and cream and topped with cheese. It was lovely and hot and quite rich. I did not manage to finish it. The lamb and savory crepes at our table looked good as well and of a good size.
It was sweet crepes all around for dessert. Quite impressive are the flambeed crepes that they come out and set fire to at the table, a nice touch. The desserts were lovely.
Service overall was a bit slow. The waitress seemed to forget about us a few times, however there was a large group at the back of the restaurant, so this may have been the reason. Will probably be back.
I was craving comfort food. This was close to our hotel - and I am so glad it was. We got the French onion soup and Tartiflette and of course crepes for dessert! The food was really tasty and just as good as anything we had in France.
I can definitely recommend the Tartiflette!
Food is great ! 🥰 so is the service 🙏🏻 we were craving for escargot 🐌 and here we go , onion soup is good and sweet, pan fried fish is also good , thank you for the great food and good service , friendly staffs. Highly recommended 👍🏼☺️😍
Loved this place for something different. Had French onion soup and galette. My fiancee had snails and coq au vin. Nice atmosphere. Great food. Would love to try some other options another time. The food was so incredibly fast, but no one seemed to mind that we took out time leaving. Hope to be back again.
Tres magnifique! A popular restaurant with fast and friendly service. We loved the French onion soup avec croutons et la Dijonnaise galette. Crepes Suzette and a Creme Brulee to follow. Superb 👌 (It's an easy walk there up Queen St after a concert or show).
Food was brilliant, decor stunning. I'm not French but if it wasn't 100% authentic, I'm a bad judge. Very popular, even on a weeknight, I would book. Get a crepe, flambed at your table for your viewing pleasure. As we say in Oz, do yourself a favour.
10/10 :Quaint restaurant with a heart! Beautiful service from the staff and to the owner and chef especially. He looked after us the whole night considering we are a group of 12. Definitely made our night memorable and for that we are very grateful. The food was top notch. Worth visiting. Will definitely be back!
Always grabbing foods when I’m available. Le garde manger is absolutely the best choice!
Apple tarte and chocolate fondant are the best since I have a sweet tooth!!
David France - ExploreFeelGood
+5
I was looking for a place to have my brunch/lunch, just passed by this restaurant and was caught by its style, something made me want to have a closer look, without knowing what at first. Once I did, I understood what it was: it is a traditional French restaurant with typical decoration, and it was love at first sight, bringing me back to my home country
I asked the owner, who's not only French but
from Normandy where crepes come from, for his recommendation, he mentioned the Savoyarde galette (a galette being a savory crepe, and the Savoyarde one being with raclette cheese, bacon, onion, potato and cream)
I went for it, and I must say it was really REALLY yummy, just loved every single bite
I warmly recommended this restaurant, best one I've been to in Auckland/New-Zeland
What a quaint wee Resturant.
A real French feel with nice decor and decorations.
The staff were friendly and service was great. Food was very nice and they had a good selection of wines with a couple of locals thrown in too.
Clean toilets were appreciated. Well done would eat here again.
Loved our meal here. Commenced with lamb ravioli, then I had the snapper which was cooked to perfection. My husband enjoyed beef bourguignon. Crepes Suzette was a winner!
Oh do delicious. Hearty meal with good balanced flavor. Nothing too bold, done just right. I like how orders came out together so there is no food envy while waiting for own dish! The bread was good too 😋
Excellent restaurant and exactly as if you really were in France. We had gorgeous venison civet which was one of the specials of the day.
Lovely little restaurant with great food and friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommended!
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A charming authentic French Restaurant serving classic dishes including Escargot, Beef Bourgogne and many other favourites. Kir Royale to start, I had the snails poached in Garlic butter then the Scotch Fillet, with Gratin Potatoes, fresh salad and a Portobello Mushroom sauce. Delicious with a glass of Vaqueras from the thoughtful and carefully chosen French wine list. So cozy and quite romantic - we were lucky to get in because once we were seated the whole place was buzzing with every table taken.. Delightful warm cafe atmosphere with historic pictures on the walls and real decor that made me truly feel for an hour and a half that I was back sitting in a side street in Lyon. A friendly French owner to boot - he flamed my Absinthe at the table to finish a wonderful relaxed dining experience.
Lovely French & European waitresses provided immaculate unobtrusive service. Definitely one of the best kept secrets in Auckland and unreservedly recommended by me! I will be sending many clients there!
A place I have wanted to go to for a very long time so was perfect to go before attending a concert at the Town Hall. It didn't disappoint. It was very authentic, delicious food, lovely service. Enjoyed an aperitif, patē entree and beautiful crepe with mushrooms, cheese and sausage, a Normandy Cider. Will definitely return. Perfect for large group or couple. Very handy to Town Hall.
Nice piece of bread. Friendly staff, average coffee and omelette, yummy salad
Great hospitality, good food at reasonable price. I ordered chicken and fish of the day for mains, together with onion soup. We had some beers and crepe! Everything is good :) Coq au vin (chicken leg) is recommended
Lovely place with delicious food and deserts. We were all satisfied with our meal. Would be good if they had more comfortable chairs. Would definitely go back.
Fantastic food, fun atmosphere and great service! Best place in Auckland to go get a decent crepe and sit down with friends.
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