Last Night's Dinner - Porch Bar & Eatery

Follow Auckland's waterfront to St Heliers Bay and you'll discover an inspired little seaside eatery.

Sitting quaintly on St Heliers Bay Road, you'll discover a bar and eatery that boasts one of the Eastern Suburb's best seaside vistas.

On a Friday night, the newly minted Porch, occupying the grand old dame that was once a famous Auckland hotel, is busy and bustling with thirsty punters.

While growing pains are to be expected with new eateries, the team here have had a good few months to find their footing – and it shows. On arrival, the impressive cocktail list is the perfect accompaniment to the candy pink sunset peeking out behind Rangitoto Island, while the Salmon Tartare and Crème Fraîche Cornets, adorned with edible flowers and nestled in a bed of sea salt, are pretty enough to get you excited about the menu to follow.

Those familiar with Auckland's Eastern Suburbs will understand that it's been slim pickings in this neighbourhood for quite some time. While the Sunday brunch crowd are well-occupied with the heaving Hip Group's St Heliers Bay Bistro, a casual after-work drink or dinner has previously been off the menu around these parts.

The food on offer at Porch is befitting of the view that they're staunchly proud of – fresh, seasonal seafood and vibrant, crowd-pleasing dishes with a contemporary twist. We recommend securing a high table on the restaurant's balcony, a comfortable, breezy perch to watch the sun go down. It becomes quietly obvious that it's the panorama of Rangitoto Island that ensures Porch is a suburban dining destination worth the commute.

As we graze from dish to dish and the sun sets on another work week, Porch's casual dining ambience, calming sea breeze and stellar wine list, ensure we'll be yearning to return to this pocket of calm soon enough.

Porch Bar & Eatery,
1 St Heliers Bay Road,
St Heliers,
Auckland
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–11pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am–11pm