TESTIMONIALS
The Grange Ponsonby
I recently went to The Grange for Lunch, and have nothing but praise for it. Service was great without being intrusive on our conversation. We were seated immediately on the deck where we chose to sit near the open fire as it was a chilly day. The menu is extensive we choose open steak sandwich and beer battered snapper for mains and chocolate moose and blackberry pudding for deserts and a Nice bottle of wine off their very extensive wine list. Meal were presented beautifully and tasted divine. Lunchtime mains are mostly $21 and deserts $11.95 both real value for money We left feeling fully satisfied and relaxed. A wonderful restaurant to sit and relax and catch up with friends
Via MenuMania | 30 July 2009
I just wanted to say thanks for the venue on Friday. Nice relaxing atmosphere, great food (most notably, it's tough to do calamari well, but yours was among the best I've ever had) and terrific service. I'll definitely be coming back, and I'll recommend you whenever anyone asks for a top-notch lunch venue in Ponsonby.
Ant | 26 May 2009
The Grange Takapuna
Across the Bridge in Takapuna it’s another busy Friday night, and the North Shore’s different nightlife tribes are staking out their positions. The youngest crew of the night seems to be lost amongst the fake beach cabanas at R’toto, and the corner location of the Takapuna Bar is definitely the busiest with punters overflowing onto the pavement. Further along Hurstmere Rd towards Milford, the newly opened Grange is doing good business with an older 35 years plus demographic. My drinking companion is a Shore lad, and reckons the mini-parade of leggy blondes of a difficult-to-define age can only mean one thing. Welcome to Cougar country.
That’s actually very harsh on The Grange, because it’s a great little bar if your tastes skew towards cool R&B sounds, a chilled but sophisticated ambience, and the courage to employ a personable Mohawked barman totally at odds with the bar’s style and décor. This guy should definitely be cloned and employed at a few other under-performing bars around town.
The Grange in Takapuna is the across-the-Harbour Bridge offshoot of the Grange in Ponsonby Rd. There are quite a few outward similarities to The Grange in Ponsonby. Schist rocks, leather seating, and lots of warm timber give both places an ambience not unlike bars in Queenstown; there’s a well-considered wine list, and food is as important as the drinks. We’re kicking on somewhere else, so after a couple of draught Monteith’s vow to return one night for the food menu which come complete with a focus on organic flavours and small tapas-style plates. There’s no live music tonight, but on Sunday afternoons from 3pm there’s live jazz. Across in Ponsonby, Sunday afternoons offer live acoustic covers you’re more likely to know the words to.
The slight differences in musical offerings also sum up the minor differences between the bars. Recent visits to Ponsonby have been slightly more raucous and with a younger crowd. Takapuna seems older, more affluent and sophisticated, and probably a good fit for Takapuna’s entertainment strip. Before or after dinner or a show at the nearby Bruce Mason Centre, it deserves to do well.
Just watch out for the local wildlife.
Brett Atkinson
What a good little find on The Shore. A bit tired of the usual haunts we tried this place on a Friday evening. The place was bustling, with a clientele of a similar age to us (30's), and it was a pleasant relief from the other bars in Takapuna. We were impressed that the food was all organic; the Calamari a stand out. The service was attentive, if a little slow, but the staff were very busy. Oh, and what a wine list! We will be back again, on a quieter night, to get the full experience.
Anonymous | 11 April 2009
Hi Guys
I want to say a BIG thank you to Cassie and The Grange for making my birthday drinks a wonderful success. The area you kept for my friends and I was perfect and allowed us to enjoy a great evening together. Thanks again for your wonderful service and looking forward to my next visit, which will be very soon!!
Jayne Englefield I 5th November
Went for lunch, all the food is organic and very tasty. The entry for the Wildfood was not that good but everything else was delicious, outstanding service too. It was a rainy day but we could sit outside in the enclosed balcony under some warm heaters, which was nice. It can get quite noisy inside. Try the Pumpkin gnocci, it was fab
TMC - July 28th - 2008 - Dineout.co.nz
Had a fantastic meal, beautiful huge eye fillet cooked to perfection. Great service and lovely atmosphere. Will definately be going back.
Aleesha - June 4th - 2008 - Dineout.co.nz
To whom it may concern
I had a birthday lunch at The Grange on Saturday and I just wanted to say thank you so much for a fabulous lunch.
Our waitress Ruby was amazing. The food was delicious and the service was great.
Thank you very much for a great experience!
Kind Regards
Sarah Lewis I Monday 7th July 2008
Hi guys, just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was to sit in your place yesterday and sup on those delicious and reasonably priced bubbles and wine, and snack on the delicious breads and fries - we will defiantely be back after Christmas for our Anniversary dinner, and you are on my list of recommendations for our clients! I'll try and get this group of wine merchants there in March! Don't change a thing! And you have great staff too - cheerful and attentive and polite! Cheers
Derek Green I Wednesday 20th December 2006
Restaurants are like wine. It's all personal taste. If you want to be seen somewhere pretensious on Ponsonby Road go to SPQR if you want to relax and enjoy good food and wine go to The Grange Ponsonby. Enough said.
Maura Cole I Friday 8th December 2006
What an amazing venue, beautiful fit-out, an amazing fusion organic menu as a point of difference to the Auckland market. We love this venue; we are frequent locals now and indulge here at least two days a week.
The bar does get very busy so get in early would be my suggestion. I do find it very hard when reading comments from people like Glen who obviously have nothing better to do with their time. Great venue keep it up!
David Smith | Friday 24 November 2006
Ever since Vicky’s shut its doors a few months back, I’ve been keeping an eye on thisPonsonby Road address to see what its reincarnation would be.
Well, what a difference eight weeks makes! The change is startling. Gone is the drabstudent-safe interior. In its place; a relaxing, sophisticated and down-right comfortable space.The slate and wood exterior isn’t a great indicator of the coziness that lies within, whichincludes a very welcoming roaring fireplace, comfortable couches and big screens.The problem I had, however, was getting in - and I wasn’t alone with this conundrum.It’s not the dress code or the well-dressed doorman stopping patrons from making it inside; rather, it’s the lack of an obvious entrance.
There was a door, but it didn’t seem to be serving its purpose on this night—guests were jostling through a small gap in the wall instead—and when I chose to exit through said door later in the night (and giving dining guests a winter blast when I did so), I was given a perplexed look by the doorman.
Still, the place was humming with a broad mix of people that included a smattering of trade type sales-reps; executive agency types, hunkered in the corner; and junior legal eagles, complete with jackets draped nonchalantly over their shoulders.
Reviewed by Ed Reed |
What an amazing venue, can’t keep away. Probably one of the best wine lists I have seen in Auckland, which in toe fits in with the amazing fit-out and décor. The service was great and we enjoyed every minute of our time here.
Tom Davidson | Friday, 24 November 2006
Excellent, unpretentious and enough hotties here – if only all lounges could be this good! A welcome addition to Ponsonby Road!
Anonymous | Friday, 23 June 2006
“Can I just let you know that you and your team are fantastic. Great environment, fantastic staff, amazing food & wine and there is always a good vibe in your place ‘its my lounge’. Keep it up!”
Alisha
