Quietly tucked away at the bottom end of Queen Street is one of the city’s newest boutique hotels with one of the most accomplished restaurants, Cooke’s.
The spacious and relaxed restaurant complements Fable Hotel’s reputation for high quality, and traditionalists will find tried and trusted dishes competently cooked and attractively plated.
Entrées include Clevedon oysters ($35); tuna ceviche ($26); buttermilk fried chicken ($25); smoked salmon ($28); tomato sorbet ($24); and ravioli ($22). A collection of timeless mains includes lamb rack, peas, sunflower seeds, pinot jus ($46); eye fillet, salsa verde, baby carrots ($48); fish of the day with lentil, smoked red cabbage, fennel, ($37); and chicken breast, prosciutto, mushroom, butternut puree, edamame ($38). Further irresistible textbook creations like tiger prawns, bottarga and lemon oil ($34); kumara and buffalo ricotta gnocchi ($29); and spaghetti, black olives pesto, mushrooms, courgette puree, with crispy bread ($48) all merit recommendation.
And don’t skip desserts ($22)! While some may favour honey panna cotta, poached pear, confit rhubarb and strawberry sorbet millefeuille, perhaps the award-winning cheeses, fresh fruit, quince, honeycomb and crackers ($30) might be a better option.
The wine list, the Achilles heel of so many hotels, leads the way with a vastly focused and consistently impressive package of international and local vintages available by the bottle and the glass.
And the verdict? The latest addition to the Accor Hotel Group comes with genuine hospitality, fair prices, and charming and well-organised service all teamed with a switched-on kitchen that has reinvigorated hotel dining.
A very solid newcomer.
RATING
Menu: 7.5 | Cuisine: 8 | Wine list: 8.5
Service: 8 | Décor: 8.5 | Value for Money: 8
58/60 Queen Street, City | 09 368 9603
cookes@fableauckland.com
