The iconic Eight is back leading the way with classy dining overseen by executive chef Volker Marecek and his innovative buffet package.
It’s hard to keep such flair on track from one kitchen to another let alone eight different workstations! The menu depends entirely on you, a culinary journey with a variety of dishes from the likes of the US, India, Italy, and Japan that includes everything from seafood to salad to sweet treats and everything in between. You might start with entrees of sushi, sashimi, rock oysters, prawns, dim sum, or a simple handmade fresh salad. And if temptation rules, a wiser suggestion for mains would be small samples rather than normal servings.
Leading the way from the seafood kitchen is a selection of wet fish, crab, oysters, mussels, bugs, and squid. Awaiting on the grill are premium meat cuts of venison, sirloin, eye fillet, lamb rump, kangaroo, ostrich, wild pork and a range of pork, angus, and chicken gourmet sausages. The frequently changing Indian route has its own tandoor ovens with offerings of butter chicken, fish tikka, lamb korma, prawn biriyani complete with rice, chutneys, yoghurt dips, naan bread and poppadums.
Passion lurks with pizzas, risotto, and chicken pasta from the Italian station while the Japanese chef works his magic expertly preparing salmon, tuna, kingfish, snapper, squid, and prawn sushi. His attention to detail will have you re-evaluating benchmarks.
With no limit to how many times you can fill your plate, don’t pass up on dessert and the pleasure of sweets. Chocolate mousse, creme brulee, sticky date pudding, chia passionfruit, tapioca and mango, bread and butter pudding, fruit salad, sorbet, ice cream – and a chocolate fountain for chocoholics!
The wine list is a big hitting line-up of local and imported vintages including an excellent by-the-glass selection to engage with all the senses.
And the verdict? Eight has some of the most adventurous and exemplary food in Auckland with dishes that continue to push the envelope from the inevitable boredom of smorgasbord dining. This is a must-do, fasten-your-seatbelts dining experience that never misses a beat. Expect to pay $149pp (weekends) and $105pp (weekdays). Bookings essential.
RATING
Menu: 9.5 | Cuisine: 9.5 | Wine list: 8
Service: 8.5 | Décor: 8 | Value for Money: 9.5
EIGHT
Cordis Hotel, 83 Symonds Street, CBD
Phone 09 379 5132
