Culprit.

1 Reviews on “Culprit.”

• Natalie Dolan

  What an incredible gem hidden on Wynyard St. I am gobsmacked.A friend of mine was desperate to go here and so we went in tonight ready for the set menu. It was an absolute treat. The koha with savoury panna cotta dip was a great way to start, and was followed up by the most beautiful oysters served on ice, beef tartare and parsnip cream cone, and kingfish sashimi. The oysters were so fresh with the most incredible dressing, the beef tartare cone was intimidating but once we (elegantly) shoved it all into our mouths, the flavours were all there. Lastly, the kingfish sashimi with kaffir lime was bright and fresh and light and a perfect way to end the trio. Next, we received a pumpkin, creme fraiche and pastry dish. I don’t like pumpkin unless it’s from Culprit. It was beautifully cooked, and the creme fraiche and pastry provided the perfect accompanying flavours and crunch. The duck confit brussel sprouts afterwards were crispy and salty and so so delicious, and this was followed by donuts with chicken liver parfait. Considering this was the first time I’ve had parfait, I’m still going to say I’m impressed. The sweet syrup underneath distracted me enough to forget that it was liver I was eating, and man those donuts were unbelievably fluffy. Lastly for this course we received the duck in lettuce tacos with plum sauce and a homemade hot sauce. I did not expect that hot sauce to hit like it did but it was so delicious. A little painful, but so, so delicious. Before we moved to mains, there was a brilliant segue in the menu for a refresher, which came in the form of a kiwifruit shaved ice dish with gin and tonic jelly underneath. A little boozy, but the perfect palate cleanser. For mains we received slivers of perfectly cooked steak and a beef cheek croquette (holy mother that croquette will haunt my dreams for years) as well as kumara waffle fries with crayfish head mayo. The waffle fries were good enough to come back for on their own, regardless of how incredible the meat was. I am in love. Lastly, we finished off with chocolate mousse with mandarin and crunchy goodness around it. Deceptively large and banging in taste, the dessert was the perfect end to the evening.Mix this in with fantastic service from all four waiters who looked after us tonight (and who all seemed to get along and vibe well with one another) and a really great ambience and aesthetic appeal, and I would say all in all that this is the best restaurant I have been to in Auckland.Absolutely props to FOH and BOH here, I can’t wait to come back. You guys are killing it.

  August 23, 2019, 6:31 pm

  Log in to Reply