WAR pacific island fusion( wild and raw) — Restaurant in Waitematā

We were looking for something Polynesian or Asian and stumbled upon this option on Google. They didn't have a lot of reviews but most reviews were positive. I didn't quite get the title until I went to their website. I'll save you the trouble of having to do so - WAR stands for Wild and Raw. The cuisine is primarily Fijian and Indian. It blends seafood, meat and veggies into dumplings, pakoras, spring rolls, rice, noodles etc.

To start with, the restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the building, so the entrance is in the back. You walk up 2 flights of stairs to get to the seating area. The ambiance is quite plain - lots of tables, a bar, and a view of the city below.

We ordered a bunch of different appetizers and some desserts and drinks. The snapper Kokoda was the Fijian version of ceviche but VERY fresh. The base was a coconut cream base which added some mild sweetish/savory flavor to the veggies and the snapper. The snapper itself was cured with citrus, so it was all very delicious.

The Palusomi spring rolls were filled with a paste made out of taro leaves. The coconut cream that came with them was delicious but I didn't enjoy the taro leaf filling. It was too gooey in the mouth and reminded me of a gravy we make in India out of aalloo (read in Marathi) leaves, which isn't one of my favorites either. My friends liked the rolls though.

The prawn Hargaw were my personal favorite dumplings. They were filled to the brim with the filling and a prawn. What elevated the taste was the chilli sauce, which was spicy and delicious. I highly recommend ordering this.

The jungle dumplings were pretty good. My problem with them was that I think schezwan peppers (the ones that cause a numbing feeling in the mouth) were used either in the filling or in the chilli sauce. I can't stand schezwan peppers. So, the moment I felt the numbing sensation, I lost my appetite for the dumplings. Before that, they were delicious. So, if you don't mind the numbing sensation, chives or pesto, go for it!

The Vakalolo dessert was like a solid kheer (a sweet milk and vermicelli or rice or lentils based dish in India) with additions of banana and ice cream. It was actually very very good and I recommend ordering this too. The pudding itself comes warm, while the ice cream is cold, so that mix of temperatures creates a perfect harmony on the palate.

The Fire ball was good, but more for show than flavor. It was fried ice cream covered by grated coconut (not a fan of fried grated coconut with ice cream) that was set on fire with rum. I saw the rum being poured and then lit on fire but the end product was just ice cream and coconut without any rum flavor. Since the ice cream is vanilla, there wasn't any flavor there either. So, as compared to the Vakalolo, this didn't quite reach the mark.

Among the drinks, my friend ordered the Coconut bread Negroni. I didn't like it, likely from the rum. But it is an interesting drink and if you don't mind rum, you should try it. The Cojito (pronounced co-ji (not hee)-to) was a nice twist on the mojito with rum and lime. This one surprisingly didn't taste as much of rum, so I was able to drink the whole thing.

Pricing is as expected for Auckland. I would recommend them for the Fijian food experience. Parking can be an issue in the area so, street parking or a parking garage would be...

I've been meaning to try this place for a while and it truly did NOT disappoint!

We tried ALOT of food last night.. ALOT! And we loved EVERYTHING!

I highly recommend the Masala Fish with the Spicy Mango Chutney - The fish is insanely fresh, lightly crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside. And that mango chutney is so flavoursome, I almost ordered another side of it to have with my meal! I also highly recommend the Cumin Lamb Cutlets and that GORGEOUS silky, smokey, garlic sauce it rests in. I would travel back for these two dishes alone!! Both the Butter Chicken and Palusami Springrolls were such a treat - So well seasoned and the portions were really generous. The Tavu Octopus and Snapper Kokoda were also superb!

For mains, we had Leonida's Lamb Shank - A wonderfully flavoursome Fijian Curry with the most tender, fall-off-the-bone lamb shank. And the Sasalu Suruwa - The Seafood Curry with Crab, Mussels and Prawns. The prawns were GIANT and juicy! The mussels were fresh and the crab stunningly meaty. Be warned - This curry requires a bit of eating with your hands and a seafood cracker and hand bowl is provided for your convenience.

Dessert proved delicious, with our favourites being the Pineapple Dumplings and the Gulab Jamun - The absolute PERFECT way to end a stunning lineup of food.

We enjoyed a few Watermelon Margarita's and Virgin Colada's to keep our palates refreshed in between courses.

The cutomer service was wonderful! The Fijian people in their homelands are reknown for their beautiful hospitality and it was no different at WAR! We wanted to thank the chef for turning out our 11 plates of food so quickly but we were so full, we could've popped!

My only criticism would be that some traditional Fijian Masi is needed to adorn the walls to give that real Fiji feeling. And maybe some Masi fabric table runners also. The music is great! The food, freshness and overall quality goes up against some of my most favourite restaurants in Auckland and WAR Pacific Fusion really deserves their flowers! So here is ours 💐

I give this place a 10/10 and I cannot WAIT to return! I ate here last night and am already booking back in this week with my friends so that they too can experience the deliciousness that is WAR!

Vinaka Vakalevu Team @ WAR Pacific fusion! See you all again...

I traveled far from Miami to venture off to New Zealand and try delicious Pacific cuisine along the way. I've always been curious about the islands as we know very little about them and their food. Thankfully, a google search guided us to try Fiji cuisine for the first time in WAR Pacific Island Fusion Restaurant. As soon as I entered, I was delighted by the beautiful pictures of flags of Fiji. Even better yet, I was warmly welcomed by the owner and the chefs. I was suggested a unique beverage called Kava so I decided to try it and I absolutely loved it. Kava was refreshing and just what I needed on this rainy evening. Next up, me and my friend looked at the menu and ordered lamb, cassava, fish, curry and some yummy Fiji style Palusami spring rolls with chutney sauce. Everything was exquisite and packed with flavor. The savory dishes were all devoured within minutes as it was truly out of this world amazing. We also had a cocktail and their signature "fireball" dessert with rum. Overall, I am truly satisfied with my first experience of Fiji and Pacifica cuisine here at WAR. I would like to thank the owner for being so kind, attentive and helpful. She has truly created a gem in Auckland and I hope that more people come to enjoy such perfect dishes. I have already recommended this place to everyone visiting New Zealand and I intend to visit again soon in the future. Thank you so much for everything ❤ 🇫🇯...