Margot — Restaurant in North Island

Went to Margot last night for the first time for their one-night-only burger night and was so pleasantly surprised. The interior felt instantly homely and welcoming, with beautiful art, hanging plants, and soft candlelight that made it feel really special.

We both got the cheeseburger and shared a portion of chips. I’ll admit, at $25 I was doubtful it would be worth it, but I was completely wrong. They’ve taken a simple cheeseburger and made it exceptional through perfect cooking and top-quality ingredients. The meat had a lovely charred flavour, the pickles and ketchup had a zingy vinegary tang, and the soft, slightly sweet milk bun tied everything together perfectly. It had just the right amount of cheese, salt, and texture.

The chips were honestly the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly crisp, golden, and I think lightly vinegared. The waiter mentioned they’re triple-cooked, which explains the crunch. I loved how they came in different sizes, including tiny crispy bits that made every bite interesting.

My boyfriend ordered the brownie for dessert, and wow — it tasted like molten chocolate with a crisp top layer. So fudgy, rich, and indulgent. Exactly what you want in a brownie.

The atmosphere was fantastic too. Relaxed, friendly, and full of happy chatter. The staff were lovely and even took a photo for us. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

A fantastic first visit. We can’t wait to come back and try their regular seasonal menu....

Put simply, everything was great: the food, the cocktails, the staff, the setting.

I had a range of cocktails (jalapeno margarita being my favourite - loved that it's properly spicy) plus a wine with dessert, partner had the Santa Vittoria Chinnotto which is an interesting little drink, and together we had the Ortiz Anchovies with bread and butter, fried courgette, the corn on the cob, tua tua, flounder and ganache for dessert.

Particular standouts for me: How accomodating they were for my partner, who is pregnant. We let them know ahead of time of this given a lot of the sample menu featured raw foods. When we arrived, we were stepped through everything on the menu that might have posed an issue in light of this which made the process of ordering carefree. all the food was great, but the Tua Tua Clams and the Flounder with Tomato Butter in particular were standouts. the Chocolate Ganache paired with the Valdespino 'El Candado' Pedro Ximenez. This was recommended by staff as "the best pairing on the menu". Calling it the best pairing on their just their menu is an understatement. While I'm not the most versed in these things, it is easily the best pairing and best overall dessert I've ever had at a restaurant.

10/10, would...

An intimate dining experience with unpretentious, friendly and attentive service. These folk KNOW food. You can tell in their honed-to-perfection menu that these guys explore flavours and put everything into their craft. My partner and I have been twice and we have come away absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm for a newfound love of food, all thanks to the chef and those that work at Margot. We always find we are stepping outside our comfort zone in terms of ordering food from the menu; there’s always something that when reading, we aren’t sure about or don’t usually like, but when we try it anyway, it never fails to blow us away. Examples being the straciatella cheese dish which has pumpkin (I usually despite pumpkin) and it was my favourite thing I ate that evening. My partner normally barely tolerates beetroot but that too was a standout.

In short: it’s incredible here. It deserves more public attention and I hope they remain in business for as long as they wish to keep making glorious creations. But keep it understated and intimate - it’s so magical and romantic. Feels like some kind of jazz bar in Paris.

I did not mind one bit paying over $200 for 5 savoury dishes, 2 desserts and 3 drinks between two people because everything was...