Boy oh boy, what a delight. Came here over the long weekend. Sun was out, drinks were flowing and the food was hitting every note. Shout out to the service because it was great! The cauliflower and corn were an absolute treat and I'm still thinking about the aged sirloin. A must visit for sure.
We came here for lunch on a Sunday and were met with friendly and efficient service along with a nice atmosphere.
We ordered some Bread w/ Treacle Butter, Asparagus w/ Butter & Hazelnut, Market Fish (forgot the name) w/ Chilli Jam, and Lamb w/ Carrot & Creme Fraiche.
The bread was super fresh and paired well with the sweet butter, asparagus was cooked perfectly and had an aromatic flavour with the butter and nut combination. The fish was delicious and the chilli jam was reminiscent of curry and incorporated a lot of Asian flavours into the dish. Unfortunately, the lamb was rather tough to cut as well as chew, everything else on the plate was a bit lackluster and wasn’t seasoned that well.
At first i had no clue on what to get here as the menu is quite minimal but the outside exterior and view is so stunning. There’s hardly any noise as it’s not near any main roads or anything which is good. Really enjoyed my salad and didn’t think I would to be honest but they did surprise me but the drinks i wasn’t too much of a fan off. The service was so good as well.
Came here for lunch today and shared a bread entree, lamb main and carrot side with my partner. Everything was delicious and service was attentive. Would love to go back and try the other food again.
The best Lamb i have had ever is here. Melted in mouth.
We went at a private wedding reception and the food was portioned and prepared so well.
Loved it
Will come again soon✌🏻
I’ve been wanting to come here, and finally I went with my husband this afternoon. The staff are very nice and accommodating, we didn’t have booking but still they gave us a table since we came there at exactly 12nn. The restaurant got really crowded and busy after an hour. Indeed, this is a hidden gem. I love the vibes and ambience, but most especially their food was amazing. We ordered poussin, pork, bread, potatoes, and for drinks the rhubarb and rosemary. We enjoyed and devoured everything. Such delish food!
Food:5/5
Service:5/5
Ambience:5
Had the potatoes along with the lamb followed by panna cotta for desert. The lamb was meant to come with aubergine but they changed the purée along I do think the Aubergine would have been a great accompaniment. The panna cotta had just the right amount of jiggle and was one of the best I’ve ever had! there was definitely a hint of indian spices through the food which made it a great surprise
What a great place! We went for a late Sunday lunch with my wife. We had the meatballs, lamb, ceviche and potatoes. Ceviche was a bit small portion, not really a proper south american ceviche, but good taste. The meatballs excellent so was the lamb. Good wine variety, they could offer more options in a glass. Definitely returning soon 😉
This place is a gem, love the setting and rustic decor. Service was good and the lady guided us on what dishes to order.
We tried all the mains, the two fish dishes were amazing, one had Asian flavours to it and the other was sticky and buttery but both sensational. The beef short rib was really delicious and the pork was good too.
Sides were the potatoes, so yum we ordered two!
The big negative for me were the portion sizes, there was no consistency between tables. The table next to us paid for the same dish but got bigger portions. We tested it by ordering a second round of food and they were bigger than the first. So a table that orders a lot of meals at once gets smaller portions and a smaller table ordering less dishes get bigger portions, but we all pay the same price! Mmmm not good in my books
If you're passing by Kumeu, this place is not to be missed!
The Tasting Shed offers fresh, seasonal ingredients, accentuated by a wide array of wines. With the outdoor dining overlooking the Cabana and lovely garden surrounds, and indoor dining (known as 'the living room') featuring beautiful rustic, country aesthetics and hanging lanterns, this restaurant is hard to beat!
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This place is foodie heaven. Yes, it is a little on the expensive side, perhaps $50 per head with out alcohol, but it is well worth it. Food is amazaballs!!
We had a group of 7 so ordered pretty much the whole menu (except the soup, which wasn't available), some dishes twice since it was so good. All the dishes are the size of a small to medium entree, and the intention is that you share. All of us agree, every single dish was presented beautifully bursting with flavours that pop in your mouth and textures that delight your tongue. Each item had been prepared with thought and care. You could tell the chefs had poured over hours to perfect these.
Staff were excellent, from knowing the ins and outs about the contents of the menu to recommending wines to go with. Service was tops, it looked fairly busy with almost a full house for lunch today but there were no delays to note.
Great place for a weekend lunch or dinner, to take your kiddies along to or have a small gathering. Plenty of space outside to run around and on a sunny day like today you couldn't ask for more. Highly recommend a visit, worth the short commute for all the city dwellers.
I'll say 4.5/5 if I can. The food is fresh and good unfortunately it's not my cup of tea.
The restaurant staff recommended us to order a few dishes to share when we were seated. It's a bit inconvenient if you go with people you're not that close to.
However you should give it a go if you'd like to try something new and different.
Went here for dinner on Thursday night. Absolutely amazing food and service. Would happily come back at any time. Staff were so on to it and lovely 10/10 would recommend
Beautiful food, tasty and exciting! Lovely staff, great environment ❤️ the cerviche was amazing, loved the rhubarb dessert also, the venison tartare was mmmmmm perfect evening
Terrific out-of-town multi-use venue with a casual country atmosphere amongst stylish decor.
We attended a wedding event so not traditional restaurant fodder, more shared plates and ample food for 50+ guests
Staff absolutely went the extra mile to work with the guests and soon to be married couple
And the food? An amazing array of tastes delivered in what must be pressure circumstances for a larger crowd.
Fall apart lamb, juicy pork belly, perfectly cooked fish and interesting vege and salad options.
Well worth the effort for a weekend drive, you’ll be impressed
A tad expensive but soooooo worth it for just that lazy sunday brunch vibe. They even have a dj playing some nice relaxing music. They also have table tennis! :D
Absolutely mind blowingly amazing food. The food started off extremely strong and ended ever stronger. After the main they could have given us mouldy fruit and I would still give this place a 4.5.
I booked ahead and asked for a quiet table and they were super accommodating and gave us the table in the corner. Waiter knows his stuff and all the staff are very pleasant. Very fast service too for this quality of food.
All the food was amazing, each so perfectly paired and balanced. I am not able to pick a favourite as all were superb.
This is not pricey at all for the quality and standard of the food. It is in my opinion in the top three of the restaurants I have tried in New Zealand.
The coconut dessert ended the night with a high, who knew you could use a coconut so many different ways and have all the elements work so well together.
No doubt I will come back to try more of the menu.
A long time stalwart of the Metro Top 50 Restaurants list, The Tasting Shed has long been on my to-do list, yet I’ve never quite made it there. Its semi-rural location in West Auckland’s farming region of Kumeu means you either need a dedicated driver who doesn’t mind missing out on wine tasting at neighboring Cooper’s Creek, or a lot of people to pitch in for what is no doubt a substantial taxi ride. Heading up to Matakana for a weekend away with friends, the opportunity to finally tick The Tasting Shed off the list was too hard to resist.
The Tasting Shed has some of the most delightful foods around, great location out in Kumeu, great for private function and accommodates kids really well. The space is just lovely and rustic and homey. You go in the gate and a patch of vineyard greets you, really motivating you to enjoy their wine and drink. The share plates are just lovely, my way of eating. In my meal I was totally blown away by (1) the pork belly, absolutely balanced dish, melted in my mouth (2) Hapuka, moist and perfect, light and complemented perfectly and (3) the quinoa-rice bowl is absolutely delicious.
The big let down of the food was the meatballs. Maybe it's my personal taste, but I found them quite bland, sauce was not that fresh and they are way too dense for me. Would also be nice to have the restaurant open to more landscape than the courtyard but that does not really matter. Would love to come back.
Came here on a whim on a Friday night. Got dressed up just for fun but this place is classy casual so you can pretty much wear whatever you want. And it’s child friendly. Very tasty and creative food. The beef was a bit dry but can’t fault anything else. Love the sharing concept, can’t wait to come back and try everything!
A real gem west of Auckland. The Tasting Shed could be recommended for its great environment only, but food is actually the main attraction.
Full of local ingredients, Tasting Shed praises creativity and simplicity proving that kiwi cuisine has a lot to offer. The lamb shoulder with fennel and the pork belly are all times favourites.
Gorgeous spot for some very tasting food. Fresh ingredients. Interesting techniques and flavour combinations with an Asian flare. Lovely wine list and great friendly service. Absolutely an amazing meal at the end of a great afternoon of wine tasting in the Kumeu region! Love! ❤️
Trust the chef is my favourite here. They amaze me every time with what they put together and how they present the dishes.
The staff are awesome, friendly people who cater to every need.
Gorgeous place to be through summer with stunning outdoor area to enjoy afternoon drinks before your evening dinner
Fine dining is not my thing but credit where credit is due. The food was presented impeccably. Tasted amazing, the staff were exemplar, and the atmosphere was great.
Lovely service, stunning ambience and deco, amazing food.
Hard to fault.
My fav was the pork belly, followed by the lamb. Tasty, fresh ingredients - all beautifully presented on a plate. Recommended wine list made it a winning combination.
Was hoping for the stingray but they ran out of it today. The market fish was equally as good. Bomb Alaska made it a lovely finish.@
Thank you for a lovely time. I'm a huge believer of doing a small finite number of dishes right, to perfection... and The Tasting Shed definitely delivers.
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+4.5
Very nice environment, very hard to get a table if you don't book ahead. The food taste very good, can be a little pricey, but acceptable. I like it how it's designed to be shared, so if you go with a couple of friends you can try a lot of different dishes.
Lovely little place..Service is good..Food has alot of flavour..Was not thrilled to try toe sting ray but it was ok for the first time..Baked kumara was wonderful and flavoursome...Prawns was full of yummy flavours...
My husband and I have been here on a couple of occasions and both times the food and service has been amazing. Interesting dishes and great atmosphere, if not a little quiet if you're there late on a Friday night.
Fantastic casual dining restaurant halfway between Huapai and Waimauku! Huapai being where I grew up but back then there was nothing like this around :-) Perfect for a summer lunch, or evening meal with it's different areas for indoors and outdoors. Food sharing selection also very vibrant and service top notch. Lots of comfortable seating and the setting is very relaxed, definitely recommended!
What a fantastic lay out. I love how they have design this place, with a rustic wood design with plenty of space to sit especially in summer with their outside deck. We were seated in their shed which was very cool. There was about 14 of us. The shed was great because it was away from other diners. It was pretty private that we didn't have to be mindful about other diners. Food was interesting a lot of fused Korean fermented flavours. Portions are small so it's good to order more depending on your appetite and size of group. Service is very good attentive and friendly staff.
Visited the Tasting Shed on a couple of occasions now. While the manager is great- service, chat, and wine knowledge, some of the other staff seem as though they could use some more training on how to deal with certain situations a bit more professionally. On one occasion, we queried something and then the fellow avoided our table for the rest of the night, which bothered me particularly as it's a pet peeve of mine to sit with finished plates on the table for so long. Definitely ask about the wines, and definitely order desert. You're welcome! ;)
Sticks, Fork & Knife
+4.5
Slightly inconspicuous and situated adjacent to Cooper’s Creek vineyard, just off State Highway 16, The Tasting Shed was a place we had wanted to try out for some time now, and we are very glad with did.
After having visited a few wineries in the nearby Kumeu region, we (a party of three) arrived at 4pm, and were the only ones there when they were starting to set up for the night. We were greeted by a “rustic chic” interior (farmhouse-y, but in an elegant way), with lanterns attractively suspended from the ceiling, and the menu chalked on large blackboards on the surrounding walls.
Wine tasting had made us quite hungry, so we started with a cold platter to take the edge off (salami, prosciutto, bread, cheese, jalapenos), washing it down with a few drinks (the frosé is highly recommended). In line with the waitress’ recommendations, we ordered for dinner the ceviche with blood orange, the beef cheek, the pork belly, and the potatoes.
The food came out all at the same time, and was beautifully presented. The flavours and combinations were all well-thought out, and worked remarkably well together – it is unsurprising that The Tasting Shed is on the Metro Top 50! Of particular note was the beef cheek (with its amazing melt-in-the-mouth, smokey eggplant accompaniment), which is a must-order.
The service was attentive but not intrusive. When we asked for the food to come out a little later (while we were waiting on another of our party to arrive), this was done without hesitation, and the food ultimately arrived exactly when we requested.
Overall – amazing food, amazing décor, amazing service. Would definitely recommend popping in when you are next out in Kumeu!
On a sunny afternoon, one of The Tasting Shed’s Sundowner Sessions seemed a perfect way to spend the day. Tunes spun by George FM and a manicured lawn to lounge around on beanbags followed a long, lazy lunch in the sun. Situated in Kumeu and nestled amongst vineyards, The Tasting Shed is a great spot for lunch or dinner in between all those wine tastings! It is also a great space for events such as weddings, work functions and birthday parties.
Where To Next Auckland
+4.5
This place has bumped up the list of easily being one of our favourite weekend hangouts. Beautifully decorated inside, moving into an equally beautiful outdoor setting. Choose to sit and dine in their covers area, or grab a bottle of wine and chill out in the grass with a been bag and good vibes. We can't fault the food or wine! Our pick? Try one of their platters!
A lovely way to spend a summer afternoon/evening. We came for an early dinner and the food was delicious. Everything is to share so we ordered almost the whole menu and it was divine. Great grassed area as well for little ones to run around in.
"Sharing is caring". The tasting shed is a great restaurant to share beautifully crafted delicious foods with your family and friends. The portions of the food is quite small so if you're really hungry you might have to order more food but they're quite pricey. My friends ordered the Stingray, Meatballs, Scotch Eggs, Beef Cheek and Potatoes. Our favourites are the stingray, beef cheek and potatoes. They do good coffees too. Overall a good cafe and the waitress who served us was really friendly and informative too.
Perfect spot for a long ladies lunch! Had the olives and kingfish ceviche to start, so fresh and delicious. I did enjoy the fish selections more than the land. The market fish was unique in flavour and the beef cheeks were rich and tasty.
Five stars for the chocolate and mandarin dessert! We've come back just to enjoy this dessert again! The potatoes with whipped feta are so good and we love the stingray laksa!
Amazing dinner as always. The snapper was cooked to perfection. The staff were friendly and helpful. We arrived fairly late but that was no problem at all
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Everything was lovely; I would've given a 5 but I believe that there should always be room for improvement. 1-Great ambiance, I especially loved the wood and black drop lights interior. The outdoor was endearing, it would make you want to stay longer for a few more glasses of wine and just de-stress. 2-food was interesting. Daring yet not scary for the not so adventurous diners. As for me, i love variety and the stingray laksa was commendable. The ceviche had a special twist to it with the slight fresh taste of wasabi. The poussin was simple yet one of my favourites, I have to say. 3-service was speedy and the staff were friendly and child friendly!!!! And just because I am into details, I have to mention also that the staff's uniform is very suiting to the overall feel of the restaurant. Rest assured I have to come back to review their wine selection and of course, I missed to visit their toilet so those are definitely on my to do list next time. Obviously, I love food but I am in search of restaurants that would give me not just the degustation experience but the extraordinary factor that would make me come back for more. My Tasting Shed encounter was spot on!
The place is nicely decorated and seemed like a great place for function. The customer service were great. Have been meaning to come to try this place for sometimes, and had the chance this afternoon for dessert. Wish we should have try this place earlier. We tried the Potatoes from the Earth section and Churros for dessert, and they were very very good. Would defintiely come again to try their main meals.
Customer Service: 9/10
Food: 8.5/10
Atmosphere: 8.5/10
Date: August 2016
Went here for a friends birthday! Loved it so much! Had a lot of great vibes and awesome ambience when eating dinner. I wanted to go back a few weeks later only to find out that they were closed for winter! I was guttered. They back now though - great work
this is an interesting place to go to, not just because of the location but also the food, it boast such different types of dishes like kangaroo to simple ingredients like potatoes with the most tasteful sauce. every dish was cared for and you can taste the respect that the chefs had with the food, it was such a joy to try everything out. on top of that the staff was helpful and engaging
Rustic interior design with laid back vibe and amazing food. Totally what I was looking for tonight :)
The foods are sharing dishes which is awesome as I am a small eater. It's great to try a bit of every dish you order. Great place to catchup with a friend or even a date. Peaceful surroundings with helpful staff attending to their customers.
We ordered three dishes. Firstly, the kangaroo meat with pistachio and figs with sumac yoghurt. Omg amazing! I've never tried kangaroo meat, but wow that was lovely. Secondly the snapper grilled fish with quinoa and vegetables. Yummy..
Lastly, the potatoes with feta and spring onion. It's amazing how a simple dish tastes so good!
Furthermore the kingsmill pinot noir was smooth with fruity notes..seemed like citrus flavours. Lovely. Desert was salted caramel icecream. Omg yummmm 😊😀
Definitely recommend it for those that love quality food and wine.
We booked here for a Mothers Day lunch... Great rustic atmosphere... Nice friendly service but maybe needed more staff on as it took awhile after our meal to get a menu for dessert. We really enjoy sharing plates so we ordered nearly every item they had!... We could see why they won people's choice award with the pork.. Delicious.... Market fish was yum too.. Scotch egg-delicious! The flavours in each dish worked so well... The only dish that was abit ummm was the meatballs ... We then tried 3 of the desserts and it was a nice way to end the meal... Definately worth the drive....
Confessions Of A Foodaholic
+5
Simply delicious. Definitely visit this place in a group because it gives you the opportunity to try more of what their menu has to offer. We shared 5 dishes, the market fish, scotch egg, meatballs, carrot and kumara. All beautifully presented, melt in your mouth delicious. We all had a dessert each, best decision you could make at a place like this. Beautiful relaxed setting, friendly wait staff. We'll definitely be back for more.
Had the best time here on a perfect sunny day. Booked in advance and got here slightly early (before they were open), so visited the vineyard next door for a taster beforehand.
Service was amazing, we were seated in our own private area and the views of the sky and grass were so serene.
Food was impeccable! True to its name, they were sharing platters, so we ordered nearly everything on the menu, and as the food came, we couldn't decide which ones were out favourite because they were all so good.
Ended on a sweet note, and desserts did not fail us either.
Highly recommend if you felt like a trip out of the city and want to indulge in good food :)
I wanted a relaxed,location which offered delicious food, large wine selection and good service. Sharing a special birthday with friends.
The food is nicely presented, varied (no chicken on the menu) very tasty and cooked to perfection. Small dishes (4 of us needed 8 dishes and could have gone to the dessert menu but held back on account of leaving room for more scrumptious wine) Previous reviews had indicated high prices so no shock here.
Tried Rose, bubbles, red and stills - all on recommendation of Elliot (duty manager) All were bang on - he was a very obliging, attentive and engaging staff member. Only one surly waitress who thankfully kept herself busy elsewhere .
The indoor/outdoor flow is great with amenities very handy. A little disappointed with no beans bags on offer as shown on the website - we had a beautiful day and these would have been great after the lunch!
Highly recommended ....
Amazing! On par, if not better than Mudbrick Bistro food! Flavours are perfectly balanced. The olive starter was a delight! We ordered the potatoes, beetroot, ostrich and snapper. The honeycomb beetroot combo was divine and the smoked cherry tomatoes with the snapper were so full of flavour. To finish, we had the mango sorbet, chocolate chilli ice cream and the scrumptious donuts. The chocolate chilli ice cream was rich, the chilli gave a nice warming sensation after the initial chocolate taste. The donut dessert dish was mindblowing! Small banana stuffed slightly spiced donuts, fried banana, butterscotchy tasting salted caramel sauce and a beautiful scoop of banana ice cream! The service was impeccable! Reasonable price. Book in advanced. Can see why it'd make a great wedding venue!
The service and atmosphere at this place are top notch. We didn't have a booking but the wait staff made room for us on a busy night and were very attentive.
As for the food, two out of our four dishes were outstanding (highly recommend the doughnuts for dessert).
The other two dishes were just aiight for me dawg. For instance, the mushrooms three-ways was presented really nicely, but the textures of the dish made it feel like I was eating it out of the dirt haha. It was probably just too fancy and I didn't get it.
Overall though, a very positive experience and I'd recommend this place for a romantic night out :)
How the food was presented was already a feast to the eyes. More so when one puts it in the mouth. The tasting shed has a sharing plate concept and am so happy to have a taste of every plate that was served to us. I can only advise to order what you fancy and you won't go wrong.
Amy @ My Dining Journey
+5
Heading into Kumeu for dinner is not a usual venture considering it’s about 45 minutes away from home but my friends and I have heard such great things about the Tasting Shed including their stunning location, we decided to break the norm and enjoy the drive while at it.
With the menu split into from the sea (seafood), land (meat) and earth (vegetables), it is designed for sharing with your dining companions. What I admired the most about the menu is the chef’s creativity on the vegetable dishes. We are all avid meat eaters so it’s refreshing to see innovative vegetarian dishes that encouraged us to eat our greens.
So here are the dishes we ordered:
Gluten free bread | Olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Mushrooms | Porcini, portobello, oyster, enoki mushroom with deep-fried gorgonzola cheese and chestnut puree. Good variety of texture and was quite surprised at the different assortment of mushrooms used!
Lamb Belly | Harissa and kumara puree with lemon segments. The combination of hot chilli pepper paste provided a spicy kick but nicely balanced with the sweet kumara.
Potatoes | Paprika, chives and buttermilk sauce. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside!
Sirloin Tartare | Steak tartare with kimchi, daikon, nashi and chilli. This Korean take of the traditional tartare is interesting and works very well. My favourite of the night.
Beef Cheek | Fermented chilli jus with slices of radish and sesame and peanut brittle.
Carrots | Fried parsnip crisps, honey and shallots. I’m usually not a fan of carrots but the way Tasting Shed prepared it, this dish turned out very well.
Pumpkin | Spiced yoghurt, radicchio cheese and walnuts
Doughnuts | Spiced pumpkin, quince, pecan and rum. Fluffy deep-fried doughnut balls with ice cream, what more could you ask for?
Rhubarb | Custard, shortbread topped with meringue. This was disappointing. Too much meringue and custard with not enough rhubarb.
Ice Cream | Salted caramel and double chocolate with waffle cone
Broccolini, Meatballs and Pork Belly not photographed
What a delightful meal at the Tasting Shed! As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I adore the concept of sharing plates because that means that everyone got to try everything on the table. We all enjoyed the different dishes, friendly service and the gorgeous dining room. Highly recommend and totally worth the drive.
Great atmosphere and great service. The dishes are quite small, but the waitress explained that their dishes are designed to be shared. We ordered the pork belly and lamb belly and both were pretty delicious but not anything amazing. All in all was still a good meal.
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Aucklanders are notorious for being lazy commuters. We mutter and shake our heads at the petrol prices then complain about our public transport system. But even with all this new dining sparkle in Auckland CBD, The Tasting Shed in Kumeu has always had a firm reign in the foodie household since opening in 2011.
We set out nice and early at 4.30pm for an early dinner in case we were to meet traffic along the way. Heading into Kumeu and beyond always promises an adventure and a smug wave to the congested Auckland life. Instead of moaning about how far it was and how much the car was licking up petrol, we relished the drive into the “countryside” of Auckland.
Formerly a 1945 pear cider shed, it was converted into The Tasting Shed by TV professionals turned restauranteurs Jo and Ganesh Raj. Just across from Coopers Creek Vineyward, the Tasting Shed lives on one simple philosophy – “where wine craves food”.
This is an idea of what the menu looks like. My after-work brain probably took more time than necessary to figure out what the bobbles meant on the Savory to Sweet scale. With 25 items on the menu (including dessert), it was difficult to nail down what to order. We were advised to order 4 to 5 dishes because they were all entree sizes.
Watermelon – smoked olive, goats cheese, baby ganoush
This was one surprising combination. I've always been one to systematically eat my way through my plate because I didn't like mixing things together. Give me a fruit and cheese platter, I'd eat each individually. But this is something you'd want to pile a bit of each onto your fork. The watermelon and goats cheese blend beautifully into a creamy smoothie in your mouth. Rich and cooling at the same time – it's a weird sensation.
Venison – carpaccio, mushrooms, beets, juniper, walnuts
This is a great well-thought out dish with plenty to leave you taste testing, tilting your head and thinking. It was called the Venison dish, and with so much going on, the venison was the solid foundation to bring out the flavours of each ingredient. The sweet tang and slick texture of the mushrooms was paired with the crunch of the walnut and hokey-pokey chunks. We had fun melting the walnut powder on our tongues and poking at the different elements on the dish. The hokey pokey was not your average golden syrup variety but was made with beetroot juice – so even with this explosion of textures, everything blends together.
Kingfish – sweet & sour grapefruit, fennel, fennel, fennel
You did not read wrong – fennel, fennel, fennel. The orange zestiness and icy fennel was paired with beautiful kingfish sashimi. Most of the dish was made by fennel – into different styles and textures. If you're a fan, you would have loved the scent. There were generous slices of kingfish and I found myself magnetised by the fresh and icy sensation that made my fork go back and forth from the dish to my mouth.
Pigs head – pickled onion puree, carrot, cumin, coriander
I wasn't quite sure what to expect. My first impression when seeing 'pigs head' is something with ears, nose and a mouth – but this was more like a minced up version that's been concentrated into a patty – though not so much that you can't taste the texture of the meat at all. The texture was quite slippery with tendons and fat wrapped up inside the crispy shell. The carrot was soaked in cumin, giving it that distinct punch with the onion puree.
Coming all the way to out here, rabbit is a must-try – especially because it's not an everyday meat, and knowing it's a bit of a pest for farmers as well. The meat was not as lean as I was expecting. Being tightly hugged by pancetta, you'll know at once that this dish won't be short on seasoning. The ring gave it a salty and stringy texture and you'll find beads of quinoa seeds nested inside.
After a mini degustation, one shared sweet dessert was enough! The rosewater was not an understatement – the scent was clear, and sweet, followed by an even sweeter strawberry parfait. It had a subtle summer breeze to this dish and the strawverry parfait an excellent substitute for your average ice cream. The saffron leaves a distinct after taste and cures the dish from being too sweet.
Beautiful ambience, wonderful food. Dessert was to die for. Best dessert I have had. Didn't think the Valrhona chocolate would work well with Mandarin but What a pleasant surprise! Definitely worth a trip out west.
Wow, what a fantastic spot for a Sunday afternoon. I came here for a friends birthday and we were picked up by the shuttle service (great idea). We had the $50 set menu. The food was fantastic and fresh. We started with a selection of bread, cured meats and olives. The balsamic vinegar and oil was the best I've ever had! We were then given a huge variety including, beef cheek, pork belly, fish, kumara, curried beans and potatoes. Everything was amazing, except the pork belly was a little tough and dry. Overall, I highly recommend this place for a nice lunch, the venue and the whole concept of the restaurant is great.
I love the location of this place. The outdoor vibe and flow of this place is really welcoming. I've dined in all of their three dining rooms and all offer a different feel to it.
I do agree that the prices are quite steep and dishes are small so you do have to order quite a few dishes to become full and with a group of girls thats ok but with a lot of guys definitely not!
Their dishes have loads of flavour and I loved the beef cheek (when it was on the menu) and their kumara dish is heavenly! If the dishes were larger I would rate this place a lot higher but seeing as I have been here a few times its not obviously been a huge factor since their flavours make up for it.
I would say go here if you want a quick snack after a day out wine tasting with the girls, it will be a good way to end the day but if you want to spend loads of money go for lunch or dinner cause it will set you back quite a bit!
Superb visit again on Saturday night
Food, service and atmosphere were brilliant. It's great to see a restaurant that understands the customer and delivers every time. I would definitely recommend and will definitely be going back.
Plenty of parking. Scenic vineyard setting. Bright sunny day. Cheerful chirping from a nearly-full restaurant of happy diners. We were well attended by several friendly and professional wait staff, who advised us of the specials and explained how dishes were prepared. We probably over ordered, but no-one cared. The Beef Cheeks, The Clams with Chorizo, The Pork Belly, The Asparagus, even the humble Potato. All were excellent and all came with a slight tweak! The curry in the pumpkin. The Squid "fettucine" with the pork! The Wasabi foam.
The food is not cheap but definitely worth the money. I own a restaurant myself, and I would be very proud to own such a beautiful and thoughtful place as The Tasting Shed. The clue is in the name. You don't come and stuff yourself on a big steak. You sample and savour, with a well-matched drink.
Well done Raj and team.
Thank you for a wonderful afternoon!
Came here for a family dinner, 6 of us. Food was amazing, awesome quality....service was amazing, setting was amazing. Would come again for sure and would definitely recommend. My parents hadn't been to a restaurant where you share the food before but they loved it.
Also so nice to also be out of the city and not have to worry about parking.
My husband took me here for my birthday for a Sunday lunch and what a great little place this is! I guess because it's not in the city it had more of a private/special vibe to it and the food was delicious - couldn't fault it.
Will definitely go again, a great place for large groups or more intimate rendezvous...loved it.
I thought I had written a review for this place! We came here in May 2012 for an anniversary dinner, so we were after something really special. We definitely found it at the Tasting Shed.
The Tasting Shed is delightfully different. You order small plates which can be shared, the ambience is eclectic, they give you little torches to look at the menu with, the bathroom is the best I've seen.
Great location, wonderful service and even better food. They had great vegetarian options and I would like to see more!
P.S. Try the beetroot dish.
Christmas lunch for 12 today and there were another 3 big groups in so whilst I was hopeful (from previous experience) I was also ready to allow for the seasonal issues around feeding big groups. So then I was amazed to find that it didn't matter. At all. The food was sublime and well just stunning. My 11 guests were raving from start to finish. Vowing to return as soon as possible. And as always Jo was the relaxed but attentive host. Finding rugs and sunhats without being asked. Moving us from inside to outside to under the trees. Nothing was too much trouble. My only gripe is I feel compelled to write this review but in doing so I promote a restaurant I would dearly love to keep hidden from the masses as long as possible!
Jo and Ganesh have hit the sweet spot and are a unique restaurant that actually walks the talk. Keep it up. But please don't tell too many others!
I took my sister here for her birthday in September. The ambiance was cozy and warm for a cold day. The food was lovely, we ordered the Rolled pig's head, Squid dumplings, duck tasting plate, pork belly and spatzle. For desert we had the pistachio cake.
I thought that all the dishes were exceptional, except for the Duck and the pistachio cake. Although the pistachio cake was delicious, you really just get one bite, I know it is fine dining, but when I order something I do expect more than a bite.
The Duck to me was just very disappointing, it was not very flavoursome, and I felt that it was mediocre for this type of dining establishment.
All in all, the food was tasty, and up to a high standard, I do think thought that the options are very rich.
A fantastic place to spend a Sunday afternoon, however you would need to book. If fine they have outside seating which would suit a large group.
We stuck to the Small Plate menu and the highlight for me was the Seared scallop, jerusalem artichoke, curry and marshmallow.
A wide selection of wine is available, served by fast and friendly staff.
Well worth the trip out west.
Had read the rave reviews and been wanting to call in for the longest time. Finally had the opportunity to take eight out for dinner and the Tasting Shed was my pick - and what a beauty pick it was! Everyone was highly impressed with the ambiance, staff and (most definitely) the food - and all have said they'd return. It is so very pleasing to see a Kiwi take on tapas - so very innovative, not to mention delicious.
Brilliant! Next door to coopers creek vineyard ( so you get to stock up on wine on the way out) the building is amazing. They have tapas style menu as well as a regular menu. We went for tapas... Had a great venison terrine and also a clam dish. Sampled just one of the desserts... Churros con chocolate ( spelling??) which was awesome. Nice place to chill outside.
I have been to the Tasting Shed a few times having first discovered it with a friend who is local. I live in Mt Wellington so travel across town to enjoy their food and ambiance. I love the concept, the food, the great wine advise! and am looking forward to a better summer next time to enjoy a blanket under the trees. Highly recommend - even those that seemed to have had a bad service experience - try it again. I've always had a great service. Now .... open one out my way please!!
Another amazing meal from Chef Sara Simpson! WOW!
I've had Sara's food before at a different venue and she has always been innovative with ingredients and flavour combination.
Just when I thought she couldn't possibly outdo herself, she did!
My friend and I had dinner at The Tasting Shed Easter Sunday and were pleasantly surprised with unexpected treats: specials for the day not listed in their on-line menu.
We indulged in pig's head and sweetbreads, salt cod and tongue and cheek. The flavours were absolutely sublime: the tongue literally just melted in my mouth.
Dishes are perfect size, so we tried a little bit of everything and still have room for dessert. That was another treat: delicious beyond description Creme Caramel.
We went to the tasting shed for lunch today and had rolled pig head dish, snapper dish and chicken wings, wow it was really good and we will be going back.
The food really suits the environment and the service was outstanding.
Would definitely recommend.
Awesome awesome awesome!
Last weekend I held my 30th birthday lunch at the tasting shed - in the grotto area! Not only was the wine amazing, the food amazing, the setting amazing but the staff were EXTRA amazing! They made the whole day so easy... I had corresponded with Jo before the event to sort out a set menu... she was so helpful!
We had a group of 19 adults, 5 toddlers & 3 babies - everyone enjoyed themselves... the kids had a great time playing on the lawn!
I cannot recommend this place highly enough!!! We defiantly will be back!
One of our friends is already going to book it for a hens party lunch!
Thank you so much!
Glenn & Stacey
Had our first visit to the shed today for Fathers Day lunch and we weren't disappointed! We have eagerly awaited its opening as we drive past most days, so thought we'd give it a go. Great atmosphere and setting - it'll definately be a regular haunt in the summer! Food was fab - perfect sized portions to share and excellent quality. We had bread & oil and spicy almonds to start, then the Duck and the Meatballs and some gorgeous veggies followed by the best rice pud in the world (I'm not kidding!!), a cheese plate and an ice-cream for the munchkin. Beers and coffees went down well too. Said munchkin was pretty happy (& entertained) by his goody bag and the staff were lovely with him. The best news is that they have a courtesy shuttle bus for us locals - stunning idea! Look out, we're coming back soon. Well done guys!
Everything single thing The Tasting Shed does is magic. It is real. Soulful. Authentic. Loving. Quality. Genuine. What an asset to the growing gastronomic NZ experience. We stayed for 4 hours on a Saturday afternoon with a long-lost friend...and were treated the same way by our gorgeous hosts, Ganesh and Jo. It is the quintessential olfactory day spa. I feel loved and completely satiated. Thank you.
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What an outstanding place.
A brilliant location right beside Coopers Creek winery, excellent seating indoors and outdoors (can't wait for summer!), and wonderful hosts.
Oh yes, and the food!
The food is excellent. I went with a group of 12 so instead of ordering individual dishes they suggested we had a bit of everything. So we did, and what a great idea. My favourites were the pork belly, and the meatballs, and the marinated chicken, and the cauliflower fritters, and the triple cooked potatoes, and the mushrooms, and the fish, and and and...
And of course the rolled pig's head. Oh yes indeed, the rolled pig's head. No really, don't be put off, it's sooo good.
And I haven't even mentioned the desserts (which were outstanding, particularly the rice pudding and the churros).
The wine was gorgeous, especially a sweet one they recommended for dessert, which was just beautiful. I have no idea what it was, but it was perfect. They certainly know what they're talking about.
And they even have a complementary shuttle service if you live within 10km. What service!
I'm definitely going back. Not sure what I'll eat this time, maybe a bit of everything again?
I was here with my friend for lunch. I must say, the staff was very friendly and had good customer service skills. The ambience was great. They had good selection of wines and the food was amazing. It was a fusion style cuisine and was delicious. The presentation was good too. It was a good experience. I would highly recommend them and would definitely visit them again! :) Cheers
Valentine's dinner impressions.
Is nice to be out for a change and enjoy well presented whitty food with a twist of the unusual. Yummy.
Just really need to keep the gluten stuff separate from the other stuff when presenting on a shared plate for a gluten free guest.
Incredible food and super friendly service. Best dinner I have had out in a long time. I ate way too much (and I knew it at the time) but I just couldn’t stop eating because it was so delicious. We had had Gnocchi, Lamb Shoulder, Beetroot with Goats Cheese and Bread (even the bread was out of this world!) Will definitely be back.
This place never disappoints. Well thought out and executed dishes, super flavourful. Service is attentive and kind. It’s 100% worth the drive out to Kumeu. Go with a couple of friends so you can try a bit of everything.
Very nice environment, very hard to get a table if you don't book ahead. The food taste very good, can be a little pricey, but acceptable. I like it how it's designed to be shared, so if you go with a couple of friends you can try a lot of different dishes.
food was great! me and my friends were enjoying the food so much that we didn’t talk to each other for awhile. interesting menu. oh but the price is abit high for the amount of food served. that’s why one star taken away. if you’re in kumeu, it’s worth checking this place out! good for instagram worthy pictures :)
Great food. Highly recommended. Just a bit pricey but worth it.
Excellent service and atmosphere. Loved the wine and drinks. A bit overpriced, we felt 36$ for a small cheese platter (3 cheeses ) was a bit rough, sorry! But quality of food good.
The dreamiest (boujee) place around here for a lil lunch and spritz. Be sure to book ahead and check they’re not closed for a wedding. It’s nice to sit outside amongst the trees for the spritz part, and enjoy rural time. 💐
Amazing food,service and ambience we all had a beautiful day in this gorgeous setting xxx
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