Great food! We went for the views and the amazing food was a surprise. Great visit and service.
The staff were very polite and friendly. I don’t think I’ve ever had pancakes this amazing. And the view 😍😍😍
A great place to take overseas people for the view of Auckland. Even at night the lights are spectacular. The proprietor was very friendly and helpful. We ordered the steak meal. Good balance of food with lovely fluffy potatoes on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside. Came with roast tomato, kale and prawns. It was a good sized portion, not too big and not too small. In fact we didn't order dessert but purchased a couple of their muffins to take home for supper later in the evening. We were there on a wet chilli evening and enjoyed ourselves but I think sitting out on the deck area in the summer would be fantastic.
the place was welcoming.the people who served us were polite and chatty. we were well served. the food wa nice with a very nice scenic view. will come back to visit this cafe again.. :)
If you’re on your way to Piha and want to stop off somewhere good to eat or have a drink pop off to Elevation for sure.
Had a pretty great breakfast and talk about servings, could have made it one and a half breakfast meals. I had the full breakfast which had Bacon, sausage(chorizo), smoky mushrooms, eggs, tomato, potato hash and toast.
One of the best breakfast I’ve had in a long time.
My wife had the Mountain Benedict with a poached egg served on potato hash with capers, spinach and hollandaise sauce and smoky mushrooms but you can choose bacon or salmon instead of the mushrooms. Lovely breakfast with a view. Will definitely be back for sure.
Nice view with an extended deck, me and my partner ordered a chilli and cheese pizza, and it’s little bit spicier than we expected but liked the bread base. Coffee is all right.
Sunday brunch dining with my sister here yesterday. Views from this place are stunning, I bet it looks absolutely stunning on a clear evening. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Decor was mixed. Some of indoor seating matched and the rest looked outdated. I wasn't exactly sure what the theme was here. There were fairy lights, faux floral blooms, sea shells and country music.
Prompt and friendly service. We ordered:Eggs bene, full breakfast, iced mocha, black forest frappe. My full breakfast tasted delicious, I enjoyed all of it was well seasoned and not bland. Also apparently bread cooked fresh that morning which I thought was a great touch. My black forest frappe was different but I liked it. My sister enjoyed her meal and couldn't get through all the eggs bene.
I would love to come back here for dinner with the great views.
For dessert and coffee only. It was fabulous! Bread pudding and cheesecake was delicious.
It's not cheap, but you pay for the breathtaking view.
I have not been here in a while (about 2 years however every time I have come for dinner here the view is fantastic and the meals are divine. It is not only about the food but the experience that you get while eating your meal looking out and over Auckland city. Its also a great place to stop after a killer bush walk in the waitakere forest for a quick snack or family brunch. A++
Had a wonderful meal at Elevation yesterday. The views are stunning, the service friendly and attentive and the food was very tasty and filling, however the menu is quite simple. Had the tuna melt and the chicken tenderloins both were very enjoyable. The atmosphere is pretty dull but totally worth the visit for the view.
Took my Mum here today and enjoyed every minute of it. The waiter made us very welcome and made sure we were happy with everything. The views are amazing, we could have sat there for hours. The food was fresh and absolutely scrumptious. I had the Thai mussels which were full of flavour. Mum had some fresh snapper and we shared an orange blossom cheesecake (too full to eat one each ) I had an organic feijoa wine which was very tasty too. Great atmosphere but the decor was a little tired and in need of some TLC but everything else was algud
I remember we spent our 1st Valentine's Day here so we wanted to come back again this year. It turned out that we had made the right decision. Although the weather wasn't really good but the great food and service made up for the deficiency of the rainy day. We had the special Valentine's Day three course menu and we love almost all the dishes. They were good value for money. I would highly recommend people who come here to try their Coconut Lemonade mocktail and orange blossom cheesecake. If they can maintain the same standard of food and service in this good price I would always want to come back :)
Place needs revamping not a very good atmosphere, view over the valley is a bonus. Food options were different to what you'd see in a typical European food store, tasted amazing and would deffinetly come back!
Caitlin Chatterley Nsia Connect
+3.5
Food was amazing! We had pizza and the pork buns with chips, great flavours.
However, the service didn't have the same wow factor. The girl didn't look like she wanted to be there and didnt really speak to us at all apart from telling us a beer we ordered wasn't available. She also ended up getting our order wrong which delayed everything a bit. Food was the saviour though!
Amazing new menu style, really delicious food, and fantastic service :-)
My husband and I had fun talking about what meals to get, and we enjoyed sharing them all!
Can't wait to come back!!
First time to Elevation. The service was superb and staff were very friendly and welcoming. Loved the menu choices and chose the Pork Belly, it was delicious and we'll presented. The view was breathtaking. I would highly recommend this restaurant and plan to return.
Service was weird but the waiter was nice I guess. We came at a very awkward time. 5:00 pm from a nice walk. Was skeptical about the food because it's a very secluded restaurant. We walked in and the two waiters saw us and kept wiping tables. So we spoke up and asked if the place was open. The place seriously needs some renovating... The outside view was okay, looks like a scene from twilight. But the balcony and seating area looked faded and ugly. They could really put some effort into decorating such a lovely restaurant. Got seated and ordered our food. Amazing food! Lots of UNIQUE choices which I love. I had the balsamic pear and bacon salad, the chips are amazing but very expensive $9, and my friend had a stuffed potato. Definitely would come back here if it wasn't so far away!
Delicious! We really didn't understand why the place had such bad ratings?!
Firstly, amazing view. Great ambience. Service is also 10/10. I ordered the baked potato with salmon AMAZING! My partner had the vegetarian pizza and he absolutely loved it. It's such a reasonably priced place too - $40 for two meals and two drinks. Great place, will definitely come back!
Elevation Restaurant in the Waitakere (way to Piha Beach) is one of the best spots in the Ranges. We're out with friends that also happen to be the CEO of New York Tourism Council, visiting our country for the first time; and being a resident of Titirangi, I was a little concerned where to take someone who is hardly impressed. We decided to take them to Piha Beach, it was cold and terrible weather but since we are prepared to welcome our American friends well, we carried on with the idea anyway. The Elevation was our choice because it was conveniently placed half way to our destination, the booking was made with a pleasant person called Cushla, who also assured us when we called hours later to inform of our delay. Not just a friendly voice, Cushla was also an amazing host and gave us a great table with breathtaking views of our city. In Auckland, there is no equal!
The food was delicious from the large selection of gourmet pizzas to the 'Catch of the day'. Good wine selection and a good fireplace adding up the experience. We re becoming regulars of the Elevation, thanks to Cushla and her team. Totally recommended.
Be sure to stop off here on the way to Piha!
I've been here twice. The Full Breakfast and French Toast was truly amazing - a must try! While I felt the Coffee was not very good. Also I was not a fan of the Eggs Benedict having mashed potato instead of toast.
The views were nice, and I'm sure a lot nicer on a clear day. The place was very busy both times I went.
Overall I did feel it was a bit over priced, but the food is very nice.
I'm a local, living about 300 yards away from Elevation. It would be fair to say the restaurant has had a series of owners over the years -- some of them OK, others less so. The one consistent thing all owners have had is the best view in all of Auckland. So the current owners had their work cut out for them!
They have risen to this challenge, and created something pretty special. Elevation is an interesting place -- it's more up-market than your typical cafe, definitely not a pub, and not really a fine dining restaurant. It exists in an interesting space in-between.
Brett and Vanny and their team have gone out of their way to make the Elevation experience unique and comfortable. This begins with buying locally-sourced product wherever possible -- I am currently enjoying a Hakanoa Lime & Chilli Ginger beer, made on Manukau Rd, Epsom. If I look hard enough from where I am sitting, I can probably see the brewery where it is made! There's an attention to detail with the menu and the food served on it that's worth noting. The fries, for example, are made from potatoes carefully selected for their suitability for deep-frying. The result is a really crispy exterior, and a really fluffy interior. They are cut very thick, and are a small, satisfying meal in themselves.
Today I had the brisket sandwich. It was superb. Brisket is usually difficult to prepare properly, as it's easy to make it too stringy or too tough. Elevation does it properly, tho', and this was really nice.
Brett spends alot of time working on his business processes, and on refining the technical tasks required to run a hospitality venue properly. So he is always making fine adjustments to the way things are done, always seeking improvements. This is also reflected in the quality of staff he hires -- he is very selective, hiring as much for customer service attitude as for waiting skill. The staff are very skilled and make you feel welcome immediately.
For what you get, the prices are extremely reasonable. They aren't a cheap venue -- Elevation is a place you go for a special treat. To balance that, you get superb value.
It's a great local asset, and a well-kept local secret. You'll find it on Scenic Drive, just before you get to the Piha Turnoff. I highly recommend it, and can't think of a single good reason not to give them 5 stars. Today's experience was faultless -- as has been the case each time I have visited.
We bought dinner for 2 at this restaurant using a voucher. When we arrived, the owner greeted us and very apologetically explained that he had just restructured the menu and that it now didn't suit the voucher setup. However, he offered us a very decent alternative based on the new menu and it ended up costing us a mere $59 (including what we paid for the voucher) for a substantial 2 course meal. Our waiter was very personable and knowledgeable (so much so that we left him a tip, something I'm not inclined to do, being Scottish!) The food was lovely and ample. Succulent slow cooked braised beef, crunchy roast potatoes, a huge mound of fresh garden salad. Not to mention the bread and butter pudding....Yum! However, that was only part of what made this a lovely experience: it was a fair drive from our place and we were thinking on the way out, "why travel this far for dinner?". However, the food, the view out over Auckland and the hospitality (we had a long chat with the owner, sitting by the open fire) made the trip well worthwhile and we'll go back.
Took a girl here for dinner on a date. The views were amazing. The food was great. I met the owner who kept us occupied while we waited for a table. Great guy, who's knowledgeable on wines. I got the impression they really cared about their customers. The date went well and I would definitely go back.
It was a glorious sunny autumn morning, so I thought we would drive out here and see what all the fuss was about.
We we impressed by the cool views of Auckland CBD, Bridge ,Sky Tower, and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The food was quite nice and enjoyable, I had the Moroccan Baked Eggs, and my wife had the Tuna Melt Sandwich. Both our meals had reasonable size portions and left us contently full. The staff often checked on us to make sure if everything was OK or if we needed anything else.
It was well worth the over an hour drive to sample both the food and view of Auckland.
I was worried about visiting as I had read mixed reviews. The place is a bit tired but the views are great and we loved the food. I am still thinking of the eggs benedict with potatoes and capers. Overall, a really nice visit.
Lovely place, looks very nice an tidy an has wonderful staff. Had the B.F.B and was one of the best big breakfasts I've had in a long time, had thought put into it and nice presentation instead of most places that just slap bacon,eggs,hashbrown and the rest together cause they feel like they have to.
Smelled amazing and flavours wen well together, eggs were poached perfectly also :D
I will be back to try more on the menu
The new owners are great friendly
We are having our wedding here they are rrally helpful.best place out west
We came here on a gloomy summers day earlier this year with some family visiting from overseas. They drive up to this place was beautiful. When we first arrived, we were greeted by lovely staff, seated outside with the amazing view, but it started spitting so we were moved inside by the lovely staff. We had our lunch over wine inside, after the weather cleared up we moved back outside to enjoy the view with dessert and coffees. The staff were attentive, but I feel like this place has the potential (like some other reviewers have stated) to be quite a popular place. Could change towards a more Bistro service style other than the average casual cafe style. Also doing a lot more marketing on social media. They interior needs a bit of renovation, maybe add a bit more modern parts to it as I felt it was quite outdated. The menu was perfect, everything is locally sourced which is great that they make use of whats available around them. Overall I had a great experience here, but I was quite surprised that I had not heard about them before I came. Please do more advertising! You guys have great potential!
What a awesome spot! The menu isnt the biggest but what they do have works.
I had the Tuna Melt that comes with Salad & Fries - those fries are to die for, so crunchy and fluffy in the inside, Mr had the Te Henga PIzza
(Lamb, kale, cashew and minted yoghurt).
Had a Hot Choc & Latte total bill $52.
Went for a nice dinner out. Overall good experience - service was good. Food was yum and the views were great. Just think it needs a bit of re decorating on the inside but that will come in time! Would recommend, the food was great and reasonable prices. Both had 2 drinks (non alcoholic) a pizza to share with side of chips and a dessert each was $80
Such an amazing view and when we went today the weather was really perfect for it. Decor is dated but with the new owners I do believe it will become something great. Food was really good,chef delivered some cake pieces to sample for honest criticism and she Truly cared about what we thought which shows care for the food they are serving. Coffee was strong and hot and service was just right. Looking forward to going back again to see the changes as they happen.
We spent the New Year in glorious Waitakere, soaking up the sun and views. :) Speaking of views, Elevation Cafe has some of the best in Auckland - it is situated on the Waitakere Ranges, overlooking lush tropical rainforest, the city, and the harbour. The best views are to be had from the deck, however it is not shaded and we were there on a blazing hot day, so we were actually thankful to be seated indoors next to the windows.
When we arrived, we were warned that food would take about 45 minutes to arrive due to the large lunchtime crowd. This was one of the rare times that a restaurant actually underestimates the waiting time - our food arrived in less than 30 minutes. I had the lamb fillet with beetroot and pea puree, which I had mixed feelings about - while the lamb was delicious and cooked to a perfect medium, there was very little of it. The same goes for the SO's fish, chips, and salad - the fish was tiny and rather dry, although the chips were good.
Despite this, we greatly enjoyed our time there. The service was good and prompt, and while the interior decor was rather dated, I barely noticed it with such lovely views at hand. If we were to return, however, we'd probably just have snacks and coffee/tea, or cheaper and simpler meals. Do make a booking if you plan to arrive during peak periods and want a good seat - I'm glad I did.
A place for dine in on the way from Piha to Auckland with beautiful ambiance with open seating giving you view of Auckland city. We were there on cloudy morning at breakfast time . We ordered a super breakfast which was sufficient for 2 people along with cappuccino. We were first time introduced to continental breakfast which consisted of brown hash , scrambled eggs, bacon and a mushroom dip. Taste was quite yummy and presentation was good too.
Service was bit slow but considering the jam-packed situation they had at that time , it was worth waiting as one could spent time in clicking pics of great view that you get at the restaurant. Staff was quite friendly and was courteous.
I booked Elevation for my birthday party and it was fantastic! The food was great, the staff were friendly and helpful and of course the views were amazing. There is a dedicated event manager so the whole process was stress-free. With free room hire Elevation really is a great option for parties and events. Highly recommended.
Lovely people! amazing view!
I took my wife here for lunch Sun 5th Oct ,after hearing about the view from friends. The first thing you notice is that you are greeted and seated in the proper manner. Then THE VIEW! IT is stunning. We were given water immediately, and coffees came in good time (very good coffees)
The building is a little tired and could do with a makeover.
The service was very good very friendly. We were made to feel very welcome by the manager Cush.
my seared tuna salad was very good very fresh and full of flavour. My wifes black rice salad with haloumi was very tasty with a nice dressing.
We will be coming back to see the view at night and have dinner.
Went to this cafe on a couple of weeks back and Wow! What a view! We were pleasantly suprised. It was a friendly place with great food. The coffees were really good with attractive designs on top . The staff are well trained and checked many times . We were well looked after. We stayed for lunch and coffees and ended up having a few drinks ,didn't really want to leave! Well done elevation you have my vote!
I recently celebrated my 18th Birthday with my Twin sister and about 70+ friends and family at Elevation. The atmosphere was brilliant, it was just what I pictured I love nature and good food with a nice atmosphere and Elevation delivered. The set up, outside deck and cover and heaters were a favorite especially with a view of Auckland city and the Waitakere ranges. I visited elevation last year and it has defiantly had a positive upgrade. The main dinner was simple but was cooked well, the honey glazed ham was moist and tender which made it a pleasure to eat along with the chicken. The sound system was excellent along with the outside area and fairy lights. My favorite platter out of all was the butter chicken pizza and by far that was a favorite to everyone who ate it!.The base was perfectly crisp and cooked, the butter chicken was tasty and had great flavors, the light salad on top made the pizza more lighter and made it more appetizing and colorful. The elevation crew were awesome they did a good job at setting up and were very easy going which made the night relaxing and more enjoyable. Overall we had a really great night, the venue was on point. I love being able to get away from Auckland cities havoc and I find that this place is peaceful and very beautiful. I will being going back soon. :) cheers !
We dined at Elevation last night for my Mums 65th birthday. What a lovely place, looking forward to going back during the day to make the most of the views. Staff were attentive, friendly and the manager Fons checked up on us often to make sure everything was good. The kids meals were such good value for $, and real food not processed crap. The adults mains were generous and delicious. Fish of the day, 2x lamb burgers and 2 x duck confit all cooked perfectly and very tasty. Meals came out in good time. Didn't feel rushed to leave. Will be back.
Edit to add, there should be more lighting outside though, it was very dark getting to our cars - no lit up signage either.
"I Highly Recommend Elevation! This was my first visit to this superb restaurant with its incredible location. Our large group of New Zealand and Filipino friends were welcomed by the lovely Elevation staff. Everyone was taken aback by the incredible views. The vista is substantial - Amazing 180 degree elevated views across the Waitakere Ranges to Auckland City, breathtaking indeed! The lovely Elevation staff were indeed very patient with our group, including our hosts, Boun, Fonz and Cushla who allowed us to begin our evening outside with a fully prepared 'reserved' private dining area, then later moved us to their indoor dining area with an impressive wood-burning fireplace and glass-table-topped decorative seating with fancy table settings. We enjoyed an evening of fantastic atmosphere, food and drinks with great scenic views and laughter. I enjoyed this special occasion and would rate the whole experience ten out of ten in all facets of measure. Thank you so much for a wonderful all-round evening and for your kind patience with our large group of friends."heating, then later moved us to their indoor dining area with an impressive wood-burning fireplace and glass-table-topped decorative seating with fancy table settings. I enjoyed this special occasion and would rate the staff and atmosphere (10/10) ten out of ten in all facets of measure. Thank you so much for a wonderful all-round evening and for your kind patience with our large group of friends."
Table of 21 for a 21st birthday. Meals were delivered in good time and we're delicious. The travel is worth the effort. Stunning view from the deck back to the city. Service was great and friendly
Went to Elevation Cafe today, Saturday 3rd of May and my wife and I loved it. What a lovely surprise to find this place! Amazing deck, with stunning views! The staff were very friendly and we enjoyed the casual environment. We were seated quickly and had our wines brought to us within a couple of minutes, although they were very busy. The waitress was fast ,and efficient and made time to stop for a friendly chat. Our Thai chicken curry arrived in good time and was so tasty! We were checked on regularly by staff during our visit. Most definitely will be back, and will be bringing our friends here.
On the 28th March 2014, I and 43 of my family and friends celebrated my 60th birthday at the Elevation Restaurant. Boun, and his staff went out of their way to make this an amazing night for me, from the presentation of the restaurant, the friendly and helpful staff through to the most delicious food I've tasted anywhere. I've had not one negative comment from any of my family or friends. Everyone was most impressed.
Thank you Boun and your great staff for a truly wonderful evening and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your restaurant to anyone at all. We'll be back!
I had my 21st at Elevation Cafe. Such a beautiful place and beautiful view. The staff are really kind and friendly, and the food is delicious! Boun, you have a really lovely spot up there!! Will definitely be back
I had an amazing experience at your restaurant yesterday. My gorgeous friend Michelle married the love of her life Johnny and had her reception at Elevation. The view was spectacular, the food was delicious and the staff were great. I would recommend Elevation to anyone looking for a space for their special occasion. Loved it!!!!!!!
We called into Elevation totally on spec - the place was busy -parking was at a premium, but, as chance wold have it, a park came available immediately outside the entrance.
Was this a sign?
We were immediately greeted, and seated.
Although it was a fine day, there was a moderate easterly wind blowing, so we chose to sit inside - if a westerly was blowing, sitting on the large deck would have been a no-brainer.
As has been reviewed by others, views to die for - certainly a great place to bring visitors to Auckland.
Menus arrived promptly - and wine order taken immediately - and delivered promptly.
I must say the wine list was disappointing - very "ordinary" selection.
Lunch arrived in very good time (about 15 minutes) - quite impressive considering the number of patrons (although we were lucky in that we just beat two large parties).
My Moroccan lamb burger may have been a little heavy on the Moroccan spice (for my taste); my partners sandwich was excellent. The fries (with aioli) were stunning - crisp outside and mushy inside - brilliant!
OK - the decor does look a little dated - but the staff were all excellent.
A great lunch - we will return.
We recently celebrated my daughters 21st at Elevation Cafe. This whole experience was wonderful - stress free. Boun was very helpful and we asked the staff to join in with the Hippie Theme. I think they enjoyed that. The views were of course spectactular, we had a nice clear evening and the service and food was just as great. No complaints here... They also decorated the venue which took the stress away so we were all able to go and just enjoy the evening.
Thanks to Boun and Staff for all their help..
We celebrated our wedding reception at Elevation Restaurant, when we entered the place looked amazing. The buffet we had organised was delicious and such a large selection none of our guests went hungry.
The staff were great a looking after all our guests and us.
Boun the owner was always on hand making sure everything was great.
We thank all the staff at Elevation for making our evening absolutely awesome....
My 2 kids my husband and I had lunch at Elevation Cafe on our trip back from the beach. We hesitated as we entered the restaurant as it was very busy and I could see that the staff where very busy, but a waitress noticed us and seated us to a table quickly. Although the service was great and the food was delicious, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the staff. My waitress was friendly and attentive but she was clearly rushing and seemed stressed. I noticed only 2 waitresses and 2 waiters on that day and the place was completely packed out. This restaurant has huge potential, but due to their stressed staff it is missing the calm relaxing environment a restaurant should have. I will definitely go back, but I hope they have more staff next time.
Awesome view. Love the ice cream after a huge walk in the Waitakeres
Food, service & views are great. Stay away from the Moroccan Lamb Hamburger and chips or the wild black energy rice salad with eye filet if you want to avoid a really yummy burger or beef salad.
Their wine supplier let them down by supplying a German Riesling and an Italian white which had not travelled well. I can't blame the restaurant for the quality of the wine. The local wines went down very well as did the pear cider.
Forget the glass topped tables and 60's look. This is a first class restaurant.
Last evening (19/12/13) I introduced friends from the UK to this restaurant, on behalf of the four of us who attended, I would like to say the Service was fantastic, quick attentive and very responsible. The food with 4 completely different selected menu's, was absolutely wonderful, and with the location and views of the city really made the evening fantastic. My friends from the UK said that the restaurant was on par with their favourite in the UK. Les
Took a friend to Elevation Restaurant for their first time. They very much enjoyed the view and their meal. Staff checked in on a regular bases. All enjoyed the lunch break. Thank you.
Fantastic entrees, fantastic mains and fantastic desserts - staff were helpful and polite and efficient with our meals. The view is spectacular and the live musicians added a classy touch - would definitely come back!
My partner and I went to the Elevation Restaurant for his birthday this evening. We had a voucher for a set three course meal for two so were expecting limited choice. The drive up from Auckland was narrow and windy but it only took 1/2 an hour. Once there the scenery was amazing. We were perched right on the edge of the hill looking over towards the city. The place was small but cozy and inviting. The food was outstanding. We started with pesto bread and flatbread with dips. Then for the main meals we shared the eye fillet and fish of the day. Both were devine, bursting with flavour and mouthwatering. To top it all off we each had the melting chocolate cake with ice cream and a splash of lemon. We were so pleased with the meal, the staff and the view. Would definitely go back and pay full price. Well worth the money.
We came in for an evening meal and was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of the place. The views were amazing! We were welcomed very warmly by polite friendly staff and were seated quickly and drinks were ordered. We tried the organic wine which was lovely. There was a really nice feel to the place and we both felt very relaxed soaking in the stunning views. I am a Vegetarian ,and we were hoping there would be something yummy to enjoy. my husband tried the pan fried fish ,which he said was delicious! I LOVED the Beetroot and kumara salad. The meals were top notch! The portions were generously sized. and the presentation was very good. We were looked after by Tori that evening and she was pleasant and attentive making us very comfortable. I have to say the only thing that really put a damper on our evening was a table of women that came in and spent the evening complaining about every one and everything very loudly! I could hear them talking about a voucher deal of some sort. It some what killed the ambiance of our evening a little. We also noticed the staff getting a little flustered with all the complaints. Funny thing about it was, all the plates kept coming back past us empty from the complaining women BUT they still kept up with the loud complaining! A real turn off for the other dinners! We will definitely be coming back and will be looking forward to dining out on the deck on a warm summer evening I would love to use this venue for a party it would be delightful. Good on you Elevation for great service and a lovely evening.
I took my grand daughter here for a meal around 6.30. The view is amazing. I was very impressed with the view and the welcoming feel the place had. We were quickly attented to ,and settled in with drinks . I was suggested to try the organic wines and they were very good! The food was lovely . Good portion sizes and very nicely presented. My grand daughter loved it and wants to go back tomorrow! The service was exellent even though they were very busy with a large amount of people all coming in at the same time. Our waitress was very pretty and very friendly and made us feel welcome. We very much enjoyed the relaxing welcoming experience. We will be coming back for sure!
We organized a group lunch for our clients and they were treated to a stunning view looking back across Auckland city
during their visit to the Waitakere Ranges. The feedback from our clients was wonderful and they loved their generous food portions and a special taste of NZ the 'feijoa' slushies! The team at Elevation Café were very welcoming. We will definitely be coming back.
My fiance and I dined at Elevation Restaurant recently. The view of the city lights was stunning, and could be seen virtually wherever you sat in the restaurant as there are windows right across. The service was fantastic. Being winter it was quite cold despite the fire roaring in the background. So we asked if we could be moved to a table nearer to one of the stand up heaters. But the waiter very kindly moved it to our table so we could continue to get the best view as well as be warm. Our meals were superb - very well presented and the quality was amazing. I'm not sure I've had a better tasting meal in my life. I was left satisfied, not full but not needing dessert either. My fiance is gluten intolerant. When we phoned up to make the booking and asked if any of the meals were gluten free, we were assured the chef could accommodate him by making his meal gluten free, which he did. We had a pleasant experience at Elevation and look forward to spending our wedding evening there when we hold our reception at this venue in February next year (free hireage!).
We went to Elevation Restaurant in on our way home from Piha on last Saturday. We were greeted by the coffee making guy with a pleasant positive smile. Food was really good, especially pizza and calamari as we cannot compare this place with fine dining restaurant. Coffee was good too and served in proper time and after all the view is stunning.. Of course this is a good place to in a casual mood.
I thought the service was excellent, home-spun and friendly. The food was simple and the view was absolutely amazing. A real treat when wanting to take visiting friends out for pizza.
This place is amazing!
The meals are fantastic, (hats off the chef!) the staff are great. Dylan, Beth, Deane and Harri you are super and make Faye and I feel like VIP's whenever we turn up.
I am about to hold a corporate dinner function at Elevation and I am sure service and food will be perfect.
I recommend this place to friends and colleagues for any event.
Oh and by the way the view of Auckland from this height is terrific.
Awesome food, pizzas are good, reasonably priced considering how far out of town it is. Pizzas are the best thing I have ever eaten. Dylan and Beth are fantastic, friendly and helpful. Never any problems always service with a smile and all those other compliments..
Im visiting from australia, and called into the elevation resturante.what a fab place, food ambience views ova the city of auckland, and the fanstic staff member who looked afta us beth..she is an asset to the cafe.friendly obliging courteous and professional.tks elevation and beth.u made our holiday.cheers paul
Me and my bf had dinner there last night, the food was amazing and the staff were very friendly and the lady beth who took care of us for the night was extremely helpful and polite that made our night a whole lot better :) would defiantly go there again :)
Saturday Brunch @ Elevation has caused a stir!! They say the best compliments come from telling friends, I can say of the 26 of us that attended brunch, everyone I have spoken to said they will be back!! The meals fantastic, the staff great, Dylan you are a super star!! But the views!! If it was a mastercard ad...Priceless!! Breathtaking scenery a MUST TO GO BACK TO!! Thank you! the only thing I am sorry about is taking so long to get there and see you soon Karina :)
I celebrated my daughter's birthday in February at Elevation.......The place was amazing and great A+ food, during the party when some guests wanted other dishes, the staff arranged and made the dishes without any fuss.....would recommend people to go to this place.
They took extra care of the children when we were busy dancing.
My name is Casey and my husband and I had our wedding reception here.
I was very fussy in choosing our venues (some may say bridezilla at times) but this place was amazing. They went beyond my expectations, and the call of duty. They did all od the setting up, arranged it all perfectly and didn't blink an eyelid when I was very particular about details.
They were very accommodating with all our requests, eg changing the menu items, colour coordination of things etc. they were even ok with me increasing the guest number 2 weeks out (73 guests in total).
Food was great, only heard awesome things from guests. Even my sometimes fussy family.
And of course the view was amazing, everyone enjoyed the sunset and the city lights later were great for the party on the deck. Fulfilled everything we needed. SO pleased with our choice!
Thanks Dylan
Last week we held our corporate dinner function at Elevation and i cant rave enough on how great the food and the staff were. Dylan was exceptionally helpful, the food was cooked to perfection (each of the 3 x course meals) and i had staff members come to me and say that they cant remember when their steak was cooked to perfection like it was that night and would love to go back there again (hats off the chef, he is fantastic). Thanks so much Dylan for the wonderful experience you gave us and also for all your efforts it making sure the event went without a hitch. A++++++++ and i will be recommending your place to other colleagues for future events.
Last Wednesday my family and I had a fantastic dinner at Elevation. View was stunning and so was the food, to top it all off the young lady with the English accent serving us was polite, friendly and really made sure our night was enjoyable.
Very highly recommended.
We went to Elevation for a family lunch and they were very accommodating considering it was a late booking for a large group.
Cons:
Attention to detail could improve the overall ambiance of the place - some cutlery were not clean, a tarpaulin was dumped in the corner of the deck, and the foyer area looked like a storage area.
The wait for our dessert was long and sticky date pudding dessert was hard.
Pros:
Our table was ready and waiting for us as when we arrived.
The staff were friendly and looked after us well. Good service!
Awesome location with fantastic views. The view itself is worth a stop.
My family enjoyed their pizzas and generous portions of thai chicken curry very much.
It was a pleasant experience overall and we will definitely go back to try other food in their menu.
My wife and I where married there end of November and it was amazing. The day and night views where stunning as well. The views along with the service really made it a great day.
We held both the wedding and reception here which made things a lot more simple and with Piha beach down the road a great spot for photos.
Management where very helpful and organised through out the whole process.
My husband and I had our wedding there last weekend. I can not fault it the setting was beautiful the food was wonderful as was the service. They made our day so special for us, I would highly recommend this to anyone. Our friends are still talking about it.
I just had to write and let you know that on Sunday 16th September I was dinning with a party of 10. We had a very helpful, warm natured and efficient waitress by the name of Maddy (Madeliene). She was very attentive and had a thorough knowledge of the menu to be able to help the adults as well as the children with what she thought was great to eat on the menu. We never had to ask to have the water topped up as Maddy kept the water flowing. She made our visit (for me, the first time) a pleasure. So, on that note, thank you Maddy, we will be back. Also loved the view!! Kind Regards Kelly G
We have stopped there a few times on the way back from the coast so decided to try an evening meal...the food was great as was the service..the only complaint was that the room was cold and they had not lit the fire and there was only one heater.
would go again but would make sure they had the fire going...stunning city views
Lovely service, the VIEW'S THE BEST of course.. Ordered a light meal bread and dips and garlic bread pizza.. was a generous amount also :)
The Chef seems Indi or Sri Lankin.. but don't count on it, the Asian guy- waiter was lovely
Must go here for the view dining
We were first time diners at Elevation - Saturday night - the lights of Auckland were brilliant. Four of us all had different mains and thought they were great. It was a bit cool temperature wise - a heater was offered before we asked. Very pleasant service.
We recently booked out Elevation for our wedding and reception. The staff were amazing - nothing was too much trouble. I must have emailed the manager a million different things and he was always receptive, friendly and happy to do whatever we suggested.
We had platters which were awesome. The staff helped with decorations and setting up furniture which was a huge help. We had a subsidised bar and this was no trouble at all.
I would recomment whole heartedly Elevation - they were fantastic!
Me and some friends hired the place out on saturday night for a birthday party. The manager and staff were all very helpful and friendly :) they even decorated the place for us! Yummy wedges and a wonderful view of the city lights.
Recently visited Elevation for an evening meal & were very happy with the service & quality of food. The complimentary entrée was a lovely touch. The décor needs an upgrade but the view has to be seen to be believed even on a wet cloudy night when the scenery is forever changing. Wouldn't hesitate to return & have already recommended to friends.
We recently went to a wedding at Elevation, and were very impressed by the quality of both the food and the service. I am a vegetarian, and even though it was not pre-ordered, the staff made sure I was served with an appetising meal. After the hors d'oeuvre, which were plentiful and delicious, 70 guests were served with their meals in a very short time. The food was hot and very tasty, and the venue is really stunning and very romantic - even on a wet afternoon, such as we experienced! The young waitresses were friendly, efficient and unobtrusive, and the nothing seemed too much trouble for the owner/manager. He even recommended a local marriage celebrant with whom they work closely, and she was great! We had a fabulous time, and I would recommend Elevation as a wedding venue to anyone.
My partner surprised me with a night out for dinner at this beautiful restaurant. We had a table right by the window, and had a beautiful view of the night lights of Auckland.
Menus were bought to us, and orders taken in a timely manner. While waiting (which wasn't long), we were served complimentary chicken entrees, which were very appetising. But what was even more tasty were the scallop entrees. We have eaten scallops at quiet a few restaurants, but my partner and I agreed that these were the best we had ever tasted - we were savouring each tasty bite! My partner ordered the steak - medium, which came out just the way he liked it. I ordered the Thai Prawn Curry, which was absolutely divine! We had the chocolate mousse for desert, and as chocolate lovers, it was just perfect.
All in all, we absolutely loved our experience at Elevations, and will definitely be going back. We are even thinking of having our wedding reception there.
This place is a hidden gem! We eat out a lot (2-3 times per week) and there have been a few places lately that we’ve dined at in Auckland which we have found disappointingly just “Average”.
Elevation however, put a big smile on my dial and ticked all the boxes! I highly recommend this place, we had an all round fantastic experience when we ate there recently on a Sunday evening and it was well worth drive over from the North Shore. Peaceful and quiet, tucked away amongst the trees and overlooking the city, the view is a million dollars. It has to be one of the best in Auckland, second only to the Sky Tower. The staff were lovely too - friendly and attentive without being intrusive.
My partner and I were particularly impressed by the chilli lime calamari which we shared as an entrée. We both thought that it was the best we'd tasted. For mains we had the eye fillet and fish of the day. The food was really tasty, skilfully prepared and every mouthful delicious, a lot of thought had gone into the dishes we tried.
The only not so great thing was the restrooms which were undergoing renovations at the time of our visit, the single reason why I have given a 4 star rating instead of 5.
I think Elevation’s ‘WOW’ factor makes it an ideal destination for a special night out, an anniversary, romantic dinner or first date and they are available for functions. If you have overseas visitors, a memorable finish to a day out at Piha (and a great way to show off Auckland!) would be dinner at Elevation with its stunning views of the city twinkling at night. It made such an impression on us that we have booked Elevation for our Wedding reception next year!
I hadn't been to Elevation for 6 years as the last experience wasn't great. However we decided we should give it a go again since it is only 10 mins from our place in Henderson.
The positive:
-The food we received was amazing! Highly recommend the Thai Prawn Curry!!
-The staff were very friendly.
Things that could be worked on:
-The waitress (who admitted she was new) forgot completely about our starters, however she was very apologetic and helpful. The other waitress however almost seemed over confident and forgot to bring us water when we requested it (something pretty straight forward).
-Our booking made the day before wasn't recorded and tables were being set up around us like they had just opened. Would be good to have it set up earlier not while customers are arriving.
-The toilets are a bit of a let down and were in need of a restock.
Overall though, the manager is very friendly and I can tell trying to bring Elevation up to a high standard and I hope this feedback is appreciated. Would I go back again soon? Absolutely!
Visited 3rd July for my first visit. Really liked the settings, although I can imagine that parking can become difficult when it is busy!
Waitress was very friendly, our order was taken within an acceptable time, we weren't left waiting like in some places.
The food didn't take too long, well my open steak sandwich didn't - the fries on the other hand took about 20minutes by which time I'd eaten the steak sandwich. I also had to remind the waitress, who said "they are coming now" and still took another 10 mins.
I think someone forgot to put my fries on.
However, the portion was excellent and the fries well cooked.
My medium steak was great and really tasty. The portion size for the price was very good, although my only criticism with this is that fries should be included as in many other cafes.
My wife had the chicken quesadilla (sp) and the portion size was also very acceptable for the price
Overall a great first visit for me to Elevation Cafe and I will go back. The stunning scenery and the views of Auckland are well worth it and the food is excellent. I have already recommended Elevation to others.
I just wish they would ease up on the use of pepper!
If, like me, you don't like a lot of black pepper on EVERYTHING, fries included, ask for no pepper and put your own on!
I will return to the Elevation soon...
We had a wonderful time; the fire was cosy, and the staff were friendly and enthusiastic. We had the flat bread with dips to start with, which was delicious. Then we shared an informal pizza meal on the sofa (at our request) and it was tasty, hot, and timely.
Given all the comments made by previous customers about the bathrooms, I'd like to make a special mention of the dried flower arrangement at the bottom of the stairs - which is lovely!
Was hesitant to try this place.. but WOW!! We were very impressed. We arrived just after 6 and were greeted warmly, a lovely autumn evening we were given the option if sitting outside which we did as the view was stunning. The waiter a (young salamlian man) was excellent right from beginning to end we tipped him he was so good, the food was absolutely delicious everything perfectly cooked and arrived in no time. We will be going back as we thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. I highly recommend anyone to give this place a try it is worth the beautiful drive. If you are going to sit outside take a jumper it's definitely worth it.
we LOVE it!!!! great local dining, staff friendly, and very helpful, meals are Divine!!!! my husband and I had the aged eye fillet last night, and my husband {very fussy} said that this was the best eye fillet he has ever had!!! and staff were very happy to change the garlic/herb mash and steamed veges {these go with eye fillet on the menu} to a salad, which was what I preferred, and still charged us the same.We will definitely be back!!!! very very happy with the service, not to mention the view is spectacular!!!
Wednesday 10th was fabulous, I`d sent a friend there thinking it was jam night and felt bad that I`d got the dates wrong anyway he decided to ask if he could play music to the diners there which he did, and the music was simply beautiful and enjoyed by the diners inside,The place was alive the food looked and tasted divine, the ambience and music exquisite,thank you D, the accoustics fantastic.
Love it! Went there for the first time with my partner and a client, really enjoyed the service it was so cheerful and classy and professional. Loved sitting by the fireplace and enjoyed entrees. Will be back for sure.
Our work had a very enjoyable evening at Elevation, we arrived after seeing a show in town and were greeted and shown to our table. I had pre booked as their was quite a few of us.The meal was lovely and we all got our meals delivered at the same time.The fire was lit the service was excellent and Mike even took a photo of our group for us. Well done! Would love to go back in the day to see the view although the night view was awesome.
I was pleasantly surprised as I had read reviews that were quite mixed.
My husband and I went with family to celebrate my mum's birthday. It was a cold, rainy winters night in June and we were pleased come into the warmth.
The first thing we marvelled at was the stunning view of Auckland City. I had reserved a table but I had forgotten to request one with a view. However I was delighted that our table had a magnificent view, in the corner right next to the large windows.
We experienced very attentive service and enjoyed our food. The wine and coffee was also very good.
We would definitely go back and I have already recommended it to people.
I must say I am surprised, even a little skeptical, to read of the bad dining experience of the person who had to wait 15-20 minutes for a table. I'm especially surprised to read that "waitresses and waiters passed us numerous times." My friends and I go to Elevation often and I've never actually seen a waiter there, nor noticed a multitude of scurrying waitresses! Neither have I ever known anyone to wait that long for a table, even in the past, when, admittedly, the service was poor and the restaurant was busy. However, if it's true, perhaps a simple "Excuse me" after three or four minutes might have solved the problem; but I guess it's easier, and more fun to spit anonymous venom on a web site. Oh, and that "dirty" toilet door that someone mentioned? That "someone" must have ex-ray eyes! The toilets are downstairs, and there are two doors between the restaurant and the disabled toilet! But still - don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, eh? Speaking personally, I'd just as soon not share my local with people who want to winge and complain, but I also note that many of the reviews are quite dated. Recently, with a new manager, new wait staff and an excellent chef, dining there has been nothing but a pleasure. The place bubbles with life, the staff is courteous and helpful, the atmosphere friendly and relaxed, and the food is superb. Maybe some of the reviewers should give it another try.
Went down to Elevation on last Friday night with my partner on a friends recommendation and I must say that my experience has been very different from the previous reviewers which surprises me a bit.
The service staff were friendly and attentive and our drinks were promptly delivered to our table.
The Food was excellent..... I had the eye fillet on Creamy herbed potato mash and wild mushroom sauce (mushroom sauce was superb) and my partner had the Fish of the day which was a wonderful Tarakihi on Roasted winter veges with a creamy basil & parmesan sauce. Both our meals were delightful and the view and ambience is beautiful. We will definitely be back.
Judging from the comment below the person must have been having a very bad day,and with an attitude like that it's no wonder you thought service,food and anything else you could pick at was beyond rude. My experience happened to be the complete opposite food was superb,coffee and alcohol was amazing, service was fantastic ( i even tipped!!) and to top it all off weather and views were perfect i could not have asked for a more beautiful experience. all in all we enjoyed ourselves, if you haven't been before don't let the rude woman's experience put you off. :)
Located in the Waitakere on the road to Piha. This Cafe has the most stunning views over all of Auckland and beyond. The service was friendly and informative. The meals were delicious, with a highlight being the homemade style bread. This truly is a hidden gem if you don't know it. Reservations are recommended.
The view is amazing, its a unique and best view in Auckland to dine, a must to try. Service is good, salad is fresh, food is delicious and well prepared. It is a bit expensive but it is worth a try and worth the ride up.
The view is stunning! Like they said on Menu, it is the best view of Auckland. Food is average, but the view is worth to visit.
I love the pizza, steak and fish and chips. It melts in your mouth! Could have been 5 stars but unfortunately i saw the chef mixing the salad with bare hands. :( Definetely will come back again but wont be ordering salads next time.
Great view food.. food was okay. I liked the Thai green curry.. rest of the food was average based on price they charge. Staff was friendly and helpful.
Popped into this place on the way back from doing one of the walking tracks. Chocolate Frappe really hit the spot after the walk! Staff were friendly and were on to it, talking orders quickly and checking in on us.
I had the beef steak burger with chips. The chips were great, crispy on the outside but nice and fluffy on the inside. The burger also gets a thumbs up from me, I usually stay away from steak burgers because I often find them difficult to bite through the meat without looking like an animal ripping into something but this meat was nice and tender.
Will definitely return to this place if I'm in the area.
The view was amazing! The pork ribs and pork sliders were very tasty!! The staff were friendly. The portion was good. The only thing that annoyed me was when i had to pay a surcharge of 9 dollars for the sirloin steak. The terms of the voucher stated that there is a surcharge for the scotch fillet, which is fair because thats 34 dollars. But the sirloin was much cheaper. Also we weren't told about it when we ordered. The steak was tasteless with only a bit of salt and pepper, no sauce. We couldn't finish it. When I seemed reluctant about the surcharge, the staff said that that's just the policy and he also just found out from the manager. It was a bummer!! BUT! With that said, we had an amazing time taking photos and we would like to go back with friends and have the ribs again!
Excellent place for your weekend brunch. Delicious food. Superb view. Must try breakfast of champignon. Very polite and helpful customer service team.
Went here for brunch after our bushwalking around Oratia area with my mates. The place has done some improvements since I was last here. Nice cute landscaping by the entrance. Coffee was good bit cold but maybe I can request for extra hot next time. Food is okay. Great views.
We had brunch at this place with family, cosy, of course elevated with a deck to appreciate nature, food takes a little longer to prepare, delicious however small portions against the price we pay, still highly recommended.
Friendly staff, excellent view, one of the best in the city. The food was delicious and unique. Took many photos of the surrounding views. Worth the ride up, unpretentious and welcoming.
The views are spectacular, this hidden jem needs to be discovered by all, food was fabulous. As a vegan they were more than accommodating for my dietary needs. Even got to meet the owner 😊 will be back.
Added
I read some of the reviews yes the place could do with some tlc but come on, our small business owners are home grown they don't have deep pockets and work bloody hard to survive. They have plans to update the decor but that costs money...
Awesome view! Outside corner table is the place where you and your date should be sitting for a memorable time. Not to mention good food and good service. Their blueberry muffins are really good 😋
Enjoyed our vegetarian food with awesome view. It was heavily packed and service was bit slow but compensation was given by owner😊. Pls keep high chair with safety belt.
Will visit again on sunny days .
Great view, friendly staff and amazing food. I like it 🤙🏼 .. Recommend forcefully.
Kia Ora! Really great view of Piha Beach and the city skyline of Auckland New Zealand. I lived in New Zealand ten years ago and I never visited Elevation Cafe. There's always more new places to visit in New Zealand and I'm always pleasantly surprised by what New Zealand has to offer. Thanks for the pizza! ❤️
Elevation is one of my favourite places in Auckland. Rightly famous for its spectacular view of the entire city, yummy food. There are two beautiful beaches and Karekare waterfall nearby. Staff is a family of super friendly kiwis; fully aware of needs of different cultures and believes. Highly recommended....
It's a long drive to get there but it's totally worth it! Brilliant view of the city and great food.
I'd recommend going there for lunch if you don't want to drive back down the hill after the sky goes dark... Or go for dinner during summer lol
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes