Hello Beasty
The Hungry Mr Wolf is a former restruaratuer and wine industry professional who has taken on the daunting task of finding the best dining establishments in New Zealand. Why you may ask? So you, our valued readers, know who’s kicking butt in the hospitality industry and where the must go spots are no matter where you are. Hunting high and hunting low, Mr Wolf is always hungry for an epic dining experience.
Hello Beasty, Customs Street West, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland hellobeasty.nz
When it’s a glorious winter afternoon in Auckland, the Viaduct is the place to be, so that’s where I headed with my trusty eating partner by my side.
Hello Beasty opened almost a year ago and has already made quite an impression. Included in this years Metro Magazine Top 50 Restaurants (nice to see a fresh face in there…) and winner of the 2019 Lewisham Foundation Outstanding New Venue Award, it seems Hello Beasty is winning the hearts of both diners and the hospitality industry.
Upon entering, the pink neon cat on the back wall catches my eye and I debate for thirty seconds before deciding I like it, my dining companion however isn’t a fan. This is a funky, bright and fun space filled with friendly faces. We were greeted and seated swiftly and offered water, sparkling please.
Sitting on the comfortable bench seat, I read the opening statement “Dear Beasty, this menu is our take on contemporary New Zealand fusion cuisine and is inspired by the warmth, freshness and delicious kind of complicated simplicity that we love about the cuisines of Japan, Korea and China.” My tummy rumbled with excitement; I was hungry.
We started with the Beasty sashimi selection, spicy edamame and the Sichuan tuna tartare with a glass of Perrier-Jouet champagne each. The wine list is interesting, well priced and is obviously well considered with many options to match with the cuisine. As you would expect, the sashimi was super fresh, perfect little slices of deliciousness and the tartare was a textural wonder! Pretty as a picture with golden crispy wafers on the side, ready to be loaded with slightly spicy tuna.
Next came the KFC, Korean Fried Cauliflower, with the kind of spice that slowly builds as you devour it, this was the best vegetable dish I’ve had in quite some time! The Prawn and Crab Toast with seared wagyu rump sounded like an odd mix of ingedients, but my mind was set at ease, every single bite was amazing.
We decided to try the Pan Fried Nikuman Pork Buns and the Beef Cheek Bao, both were tasty and well executed, but on reflection there are more interesting dishes on the menu and next time I wouldn’t fill up on bread so I could order other items.
As our final dishes graced the table, along with another glass of champagne, I realised we have over ordered, but in the name of research I would soldier on! The Crispy Fried Soft Shell Crab and the Pan Fried Hapuka with a side of Spring Onion Flat Bread looked too good to eat, but that wasn’t stopping us. I’m a huge soft shell crab fan and was in raptures over this one. Cripsy on the outside and juicy and delicious on the inside and the accompanying sauces were so good, I mopped them up with the super soft flat bread that reminded of a thick pancake, but better. The Hapuka was a delight, cooked perfectly with the seaweed butter adding an umami element to the dish, it was one of the highlights of the entire meal. The only thing I would mention is the jersey benne potatoes were over cooked and seemed unnecessary. In my opinion, they didn’t really add anything to the dish.
With my hunger more than satisfied, I can honestly say that Hello Beasty is ticking my boxes. Friendly and attentive staff, a great beverage selection, delicious well presented food and the kind of menu that makes you want to come back for more (the Crispy Chinese Pork Belly is calling my name). I highly reccommend paying a visit!
Rating: 4/5 Thumbs Up
Top image: Samuel Harnett