Culprit.

Would have to be one of the best restaurants I've been to in a very long time.
Service was fantastic, they explained everything to you.
The food was wonderful, full of flavor and texture.
You go to this place knowing that your in for a new food experience and you definitely walking out happy.

This restaurant is incredible. We are so lucky to have access to this level of professionalism, passion, and delivery of world-class food. Front of house were just as passionate as the food wizards. It was such a privilege to dine here. #theamazings #ourbackyard

Food was amazing. Everything was well balanced and thought out. The buns were a surprising favourite. Wait staff were also very diligent and friendly. Will 100% be back.

I travel 80% of the time for work all over the world, and I can honestly say this was the best meal I’ve had this year.

I did the chef experience (and selected the “epic” upgrade) and it did not disappoint. We sat at at the counter by the kitchen and got to interact with the chefs while they cooked, and it was such a fun experience. With every dish that came, I couldn’t believe how amazing it was. There wasn’t a bad dish in the whole lot.

The shiitake mushroom bread rolls were to die for (we ordered two extra orders), and the Brussels were equally as delicious. We had the brisket and fish between the two of us and both were melt in your mouth amazing. The brisket won out over the fish though.

I cannot recommend Culprit high enough. Chef Bertie runs her kitchen like the captain of an elite ship, Sam makes the most amazing concoctions, and Scarlett is the most attentive friendly waitress. If you come to Auckland and don’t visit Culprit, you’re missing out on a once in a lifetime experience.

I recently revisited one of my older reviews and to my surprise, it had been deleted. It seems that the restaurant couldn't handle the truth about their food, so they resorted to manipulating reviews. Well, let me share exactly what happened that night, as it deserves to be heard.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were filled with anticipation for a delightful dining experience. Little did we know that our expectations would be shattered. We were made to wait an excruciating 40 minutes just to receive our mains, and that was solely for the mains! It felt like we were going through a never-ending degustation, only to be met with disappointment at every turn.

The food itself was nothing short of a disaster. My favorite dish of the day, if it can even be called that, resembled a lump of coal. Honestly, I believe a cup of cold water would have offered more flavor and satisfaction. Each bite was an assault on the taste buds, leaving me wondering how such a tasteless creation could make its way to the table.

To add insult to injury, the staff displayed a shocking level of laziness and apathy. Instead of attending to their duties and ensuring a pleasant dining experience, they were more engrossed in their own chit-chat and personal enjoyment. Not once did they offer an apology or show any remorse for the excessive wait or lackluster service.

It's disheartening to see a restaurant prioritize manipulating reviews over genuine customer satisfaction. Deleting negative feedback only proves their inability to accept constructive criticism and improve their offerings. It's a clear sign of their lack of integrity and dedication to providing a quality dining experience.

In a world where honesty and transparency are valued, it's disappointing to encounter such behavior from a restaurant. Customers should have the freedom to express their opinions and share their experiences without fear of censorship or manipulation.

I write this review in the hopes that others will be spared from the same disappointment and frustration that I experienced. Before considering dining at this establishment, I urge you to think twice. There are countless other options out there where you can truly enjoy a satisfying meal and receive the service you deserve.

To the restaurant, I hope you take this review as an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. Learn from your mistakes, value your customers' feedback, and strive to provide a dining experience that exceeds expectations. Only then can you regain the trust and respect of your patrons.

In conclusion, my deleted review speaks volumes about the restaurant's inability to handle honest feedback. It's a shame that they choose to manipulate reviews rather than address their shortcomings. As a discerning customer, I believe it is essential to shed light on such practices and encourage transparency in the restaurant industry.

P.s. Let's not manipulate reviews, as it is pathetic and disgraceful

Edit: I see that you didn't read my entire review from start to finish. Yes, you're right that the review and photos were from two years ago. But didn't I mention that? I deleted and re-uploaded my review because you removed it to boost your restaurant's rating, just as you wanted. Furthermore, if we follow your logic, then the $120 I spent on food at your restaurant two years ago should no longer be considered my money, right? Haha what a mindset you have. And if you truly couldn't find any areas where you need to improve based on my review, then it's clear that you didn't read it properly. I listed everything in detail. Also, if you wanted to say that things have changed since two years ago, why not invite me back politely with a welcome drink? That's what I would have done if I were you. Let's think before we act, please.

Went here because of all the positive reviews. Had the restaurant month menu on a Wednesday with a group of 7. The restaurant is very loud so it made it difficult to hear each other. Apart from keeping the water topped up the whole evening, the service was slow. Took 30 minutes- 1 hour between entree and mains, and mains and dessert. The waiter tipped over some of the group’s bottle of wine and simply wiped it up and didn’t replace any of what was tipped over, which I found strange.

I really liked the TV dinner entrees, it was a great start to the meal. Most of the group didn’t enjoy the small dessert at the end, I found it nice. The pig face main dish not so good, both me and my partner had it and felt very ill after dinner, it’s now 4am and I can’t sleep from an upset stomach as I write this. I think the main dish was way too fatty.

This one is a hard review - impressions left after visiting Culprit.are more than mixed.
Staff is really friendly, the service was good. However, I was expecting much more from kitchen.
First, not clear how they decided on meals from Chefs menu - for a company of 4 people, they brought 1 tartar, 2 pumpkins, and 2 brussels sprouts for bites part. Tartar was a really good one. However, sharing one meal gave a thin impression instead of full experience. Pumpkin was plain, sprouts were honestly burnt and bitter. Sprinkling sprouts with cheap chips supposed to add a glimpse of fast food? Strange move.
Second, portions are really small, and the ingredients didn't seem that premium. Watermelon jelly tasted like soap. Brisket and duck were quite mediocre for a 600+ dollars bill. Subjectively, value for money is about 0.1 here.
Long story short, this place should rethink the value they are trying to create before I come back here.

Set menu was delicious! Some that really jumped out as something different was the Shitake Milk Bun with Mushroom Butter and the Salt & Vinegar Brussel Sprouts which was served with small pieces of Salt and Vinegar chips. The dessert was also delicious and well sized in relation to the set menu

Delectable selection of divine three meal courses. And my favorite dessert to top the night off. And in the background 90's rap music. Finished food with Snoop Dogg playing in the background

My wife and I really enjoyed our meal at Culprit. We elected to do the present multi-course dinner and boy it did not disappoint! Each course's flavors flowed smoothly into the next and we did not get anything that was not delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant to locals and tourists alike!

Elliott the bartender,

The passion
The intelligence
The experience provided
The quality of the drinks
The passion to continue to innovate.

You will not regret it.

Culprit had been on my list for a while for their contemporary New Zealand cuisine. We had a chance to dine in on our 10th year wedding anniversary dinner and we really enjoyed the dining experience. We had their seasonal menu with wine matching and added a culprit classic too. Love it, love it, love it!

The restaurant's soft music, style and lightings gave it a romantic and relax ambiance.

Thank you also to the professional and friendly staff who attended to us. Keep up the good work.

This is now one of our favorite date night place in Auckland CBD.

Flawless. Great mix of flavour and texture. Set menu but worth adding the kaimoana starters to share. One of Aucklands best restaurants.

Culprit offers a great dining experience. The menu is thoroughly thought out yet quite simple and apparently changes often. I was blown away by the quality of the food and the attentiveness of the staff. Very relaxed vibe as well. Valentina who served me was super attentive and was really knowledgeable about the menu and the area as it was my first time in Auckland. Definitely make a reso here!

Excellent service by the lovely Valentina.
The team went out of their way on nye to make it a special night.
Food was exceptional. I like how they highlight local produce.

The wine matches are well worth getting!

Lovely atmosphere for our Staff Christmas function, polite, non intrusive service, our set menu was well timed and scrummy, mmmmmm delicious, good space between tables could popover to our other table easily.

Being my parents wedding anniversary but being out of the country I wanted to surprise them by covering the bill and adding some surprises to their menu. The head chef/owner personally took care of the details and even checked in on them throughout dinner. Absolute legend! They love the whole experience.

Amazing NYE dinner! Service was 10/10, catered to coeliac with the best tasting GF bread I’ve had in a while. We sat at the kitchen bar which a fantastic experience watching the chefs in action. Our favorite were the wild paua and pork sausages and the heirloom tomatoes with the tarragon leaves.

We really enjoyed the NYE menu at Culprit, would definitely recommend!

The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and vibe to it, you can watch the chefs as they prepare everything, really fun experience!

We had the New Year’s tasting menu and it was the most delicious set of dishes we’ve had in a long time. Even the cocktails were on point! I wish we had a Culprit in Sydney