Local Talent Taverna — Restaurant in North Island

🌟 5 Stars – Incredible Food, Vibe, and Service! 🌟

My wife and I recently had dinner at Local Talent Taverna and were completely blown away. This place is a standout in Whangārei — from the welcoming atmosphere to the seriously impressive food, everything was spot on. The vibe is laid-back yet stylish, with a coastal, Mediterranean feel that instantly puts you at ease. We loved the booth seating and the warm, relaxed setting — perfect for a date night or casual catch-up. We ordered chicken souvlaki, it was outstanding. The fried haloumi was packed with flavor, and the souvlaki was juicy, fresh, and beautifully presented with a crisp organic salad. For dessert, we shared the vanilla and honey frozen Greek yogurt with toasted sesame — and honestly, it was one of the best desserts we've had in a long time. Light, creamy, and just the right amount of sweetness. The service was friendly and genuine — it really added to the whole experience. You can tell the team cares about what they do, and it shows in every detail. Huge shoutout to the owners, for creating such a special spot. We’ll definitely be back — this has become one of our new favorite...

Went here with a friend on Saturday night - arrived early and got a table easily. By 6.15 it started filling up - always a good sign! We had the Pintox Gilda (trying to be adventurous), and they were amazing (went back for a second round)! lovely little flavour bombs, perfectly executed. We also had the Salted Fish Fritters as a starter - perfectly executed, too.

For mains we shared the cheeseburger and Shawarma spiced organic Chicken Souvlaki - again, absolutely delicious with a well timed break between mains and entrees.

As an Ex-Wellingtonian, I was reminded of a great hole in the wall restaurant called Mason that used to be down there - and what a fun surprise it was to learn that this Taverna is actually owned by the owners of Mason!

We also had a couple of beers and some delicious negronis.

You guys are smashing it, keep up...

I went here last night, and I was so pleasantly surprised at how amazing this restaurant was. You can tell everything was prepared from scratch and made with love. The flavors were new to me and so wonderfully balanced. Even the booth we sat at was excellent alongside the cutlery and cusom plates and bowls. The table was at an optimal eating height, and the back rest was just right. The staff were lovely and the music wasn't too loud. Overall, this was the best restaurant I've eaten at since moving to Whanagrei. It's been years since I've eaten somewhere and then woken up the next day thinking about how good the food was. Next time, I'll make sure to make reservations so I'll have enough time to order dessert. Thanks for the...