Applejack's Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in Howick

I’m a Highland Park local, born and raised. I’m not in a gang, I’ve got a good job as a software engineer, and I was simply out with my mates celebrating a Stag-do. We had literally just walked in the door — some of us, including myself, went to the bathroom. Before going to the loo I made mention to the bartender, “Don’t worry about the lads in the loo, my friend is paying,” just to make it clear we weren’t hanging about. That was my only interaction.

Moments later after walking out, my mates who had not relieved themselves and the designated driver told me we were heading to Tactics bar instead. Confused, I asked why, and they explained I’d been singled out and told to leave. The bartender claimed I was too intoxicated. Out of the 10 of us, I was the only Māori — the rest of my friends are Pākehā. Some of them were far more intoxicated than I was, yet they were all welcome to stay. I can’t prove it was because of my large facial moko, but it’s hard not to see it as racial profiling. My friends had an amicable verbal disagreement with the staff before we left.

Now, before i continue, i trust my friends opinion moreso than a man behind a bar. Plausible deniability is a hell of a drug, but when you’re the only one treated differently in a group that looks nothing like you, it’s not hard to see why my friends thought it was about more than just alcohol. I’ve lived in Highland Park for 28 of my 31 years — I should feel welcome in my own community, My moko is a right in this country. Regardless we all left cheerily for Tactics Bar which is around the corner, and full of peers and familiar community members. The people my father and his father grew up with, where the staff are people from the community that we went to school with.

There are plenty of places in the neighborhood that have the authentic East Auckland feel. Applejacks is not one of them. I will not be lodging a complaint with the Human Rights Commision in this instance and will instead reserve my right to not do business with the establishment again.

Lovely venue, good seating, amicable space and I've heard the food is good and the beers are poured well. Shame I could...

Our waitresses were very nice young ladies who were very friendly. But we had order a meat lovers pizza, a burger, a steak and ribs not only was the ribs stone cold but we asked for no seasoning or anything on the steak because of allergies when the steak came out there was seasoning on the fries and the waitress said the chef put it on anyway. Not to mention there was vomit all over the mens bathroom, all up the walls it was disgusting!!

There was a group of young adults and most of them did not look of age outside drinking who were very rowdy and chugging jugs of beer and it sounded like they were smashing glasses. It was a Saturday night which we understand but the time that we went it was meant to be a family restaurant not a club. When we complained to the waitress about it nothing was done so we asked to speak the manager and he was very rude and came to the table with a smug look on his face, when we told him that we had experience in hospitality he all of a sudden he became the owner of the restaurant. He was very rude to myself and my family and there was no reason for it. He said that we were picking for the argument when we just wanted to let him that he could lose his manager licence over it. Not only that but he also try to step towards myself but also to my wife and daughter trying to look down on us almost trying to intimidate us.

We used to love going to Applejacks because the food was great as well as the service and the owner that we had met was amazing. Sadly because of this experience we will never be coming back. We have also reported this to the Auckland Council as well as the Police for over...

I had heard the place had new management and a new menu.... so I went to have a look "left my phone at home by mistake :( " anyway went in and asked to see the new menu... then took a seat ordered a drink and looked over the menu... waved out to guy walking by turns out he was the barman and didnt have a clue about the food in the menu because he said he couldnt afford to buy it... eeeekk not a good statement from staff... anyway ordered the steak and vegies for the side and mushroom sauce went put 40 bucks on machines in 2 mins had won 100 took it out and cashed in and the waitress asked me for a tip...!!! Bit rude too be honest and then went to my table... whilst waiting I watched the flirty ditzy waitress flirt with other staff and heard the worst language "f bombs" thrown out numerous times from the wait and bar staff i could hear them from my table on the other side of the room "totally unprofessional to hear this language from the staff in the presence of children and paying customers 🤐🤦‍♂️😑 new menu new managment... now all they need is new staff as the food itself especially the mushroom sauce was totally yummy but totally ruined by...