What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Sidart
Review
About
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
Sidart Restaurant is an award winning fine dining restaurant located in the Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. We are open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner from 6pm and Saturday's for lunch. We are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Features
CUISINES
International, New Zealand
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Free off-street parking
Full Bar
Gift Cards Available
Mastercard
Non-smoking restaurants
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Visa
Wine and Beer
Location
Is this an Indian restaurant?
Reserve a table
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 6:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thursday
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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4.8
(960)
Excellent
808
Good
98
Average
38
Poor
14
Terrible
2
Tommo
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • couples
My wife & I had always wanted to visit Sidart based on its stellar reputation, and did so for our Wedding Anniversary dinner. We knew the cost would be above average for fine dining, but it was far from excessive, and worth every dollar for the exceptional quality of the food & presentation. We chose to dine a la carte, but would be tempted to try the 6 or 10 course degustation menu next time, as we both had 4 delicious courses anyway. Every single bite was fabulous & delicate, and while it was all great, the poached fish curry entree was a delight, and the Aged Wagyu maybe the most stunning piece of meat I have ever tasted, I could so easily ordered another as it was sublime. This one superb dish will be reason enough for me to return again soon. The meal was perfectly accompanied by 3 excellent wines by the glass, each outstanding. A final word goes to our friendly & informative presenter of each dish, she was lovely.
Written 20 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cc
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • business
Been to Sidarts several times, have never been disappointed. Food is beautifully presented, every dish is an art piece. Service was great too. Some suggestions - kingfish was a bit salty. When introducing the dishes perhaps the waiters can speak a bit more slowly. I know they repeat this multiple times each evening but the customers only hear it once, it is a good story to tell.
Lastly ., I thought the portions have got smaller .. it’s haute cuisine I guess it it’s cost cutting. I personally don’t mind paying 10% more for a slight larger portion of the mains. Photo attached is the seared mullet main.
Written 21 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raptor72
Auckland36 contributions
May 2024 • couples
Great Scran ... wasted on a neanderthal like myself as I eat anything that moves .. literally.
However my good lady was more than impressed with her birthday night out and a 10 course tasting for her dinner, paired with wine to suit it put a constant smile on her face... she's the classy one in this sketch
But Seriously .. the Menu and Wine was really out of this world in both taste and presentation and I would rate the whole experience worth if you want to experience fine dining plus great creative food art and flavour.
Nailed it Sidart Thankyou !!!!
Written 6 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Appreciate the finer things
8 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
The shift from a degustation menu to an al la carte was a big disappointment. The menu options are limited, and the serving sizes are small. We usually never walk away hungry from a restaurant, but we did after this meal. Prices have been raised, especially for bottles of wine. Service was mediocre, evidenced by no happy birthday wish (which was noted when booking). There may be a rationale for the shift in food and service, but unfortunately it has fallen flat for us. We quite enjoyed Sidart's before, but will now give it a miss.
Written 23 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russ T
Auckland5 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
I have to be honest, I had high expectations, and unfortunately they were not met. I was underwhelmed and a bit disappointed. We opted for the plant based option, hoping to taste something really different and new. Was not the case. Maybe 2 out of the 5 we’re good. The rest mediocre. I mean a half roasted carrot, with carrot purée and a few slices of picked carrot does not rate for me at all.
I’m addition, our waiter, although lovely and friendly, could not speak English very well, so we could not understand the description of the dishes served. Mostly had no idea what we were eating except visually. Two of our courses were over salted and we complained. For the cost of this experience I felt a bit ripped off because of a plant based diet. Sorry guys, this was not your finest moment.
Written 25 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francie S
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • couples
We had a seriously amazing experience at Sidart, enjoying the 10 course taster menu with non-alcoholic drink pairing that we were gifted. The food was out of this world, delicious and beautiful works of art. All the staff were incredibly attentive and friendly and we were made to feel really special, especially as we came for a special occasion. We will definitely be coming back!!
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
richjacobson18
Tel Aviv111 contributions
Dec 2023 • solo
Dining at Sidart was incomparable, memorable beyond my expectations. I opted for the Tasting menu, a ten course tour de force of culinary inventiveness and creativity. As each course was presented, I would think to myself, the next course can't be as good. And then, to find every single course was better than the last. Highlights were Aged Wagyu, Quail, and a chocolate dessert that was an out of body experience. Service was impeccable. Perfectly timed. Each dish was carefully explained, not robotic, bit passionately introducing the diner to these complex, yet brilliantly conceived unique recipes. Sidart, kudos for an evening that was just amazing!!
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander24880012210
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • friends
Sidart exceeded expectations! It was the perfect choice for celebrating my birthday with loved ones. The entire experience, from the delightful array of flavors, textures, and visual artistry to the impeccable service operated like clockwork. The menu featured dishes that sparked intriguing conversations at our table, challenging our palates in the best way possible. A sweet touch was the chef's thoughtful gesture of organizing a mini birthday cake with a candle. I wholeheartedly recommend Sidart for any celebration. A big thank you to Chef Lesley Chandra and the exceptional team at Sidart !
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie W
Auckland7 contributions
Sept 2024 • friends
Unfortunately this restaurant was a big disappointment. The service was terrible, slow even though it was very quiet and we had to ask for our drinks to be refilled throughout the night and the waitress made us feel like we were just an inconvenience. The food was ok at best, trying to look fancy but nothing amazing. To be honest it wasn’t bad but for the price we expected to be wowed by at least 1 dish. The atmosphere was sad and empty and it seemed like the owner hadn’t stepped foot in the restaurant in a long time. It’s sad to see what was once a nice spot turn into a forgotten destination.
Written 5 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N F
Raetihi63 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
Food was fantastic, we tried the 18 (small) courses meal with wine pairing, the cheese selection was amazing too. Presentation of each course was great, fantastic service overall.
Sadly, the main thing we remember from the evening now was seeing them beg for a tip after with some pre-filled US-like percent of total price. This is NZ, this has absolutely nothing to do here.
Written 21 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zoe C
1 contribution
Jan 2023 • none
As soon as you open the door to the restaurant you're transported into a lovely ambience with views of the Auckland CBD skyline. The restaurant feels high-end while also still feeling warm and intimate.
My partner and I were so impressed by the food, service, and wine pairing and thoroughly enjoyed our night. Joe (who is the restaurant manager and sommelier) served us most of the night and gave us beautiful descriptions of the food as well as the wine pairings. It felt like he knew so much about the wineries and every explanation felt very personal. Sidart is very lucky to have him! Lesley (exec chef and owner) also served us a few of the dishes which were very inventive and delicious.
Through the wine pairing (I picked local wines!) I discovered so many NZ wineries that I definitely want to visit, and Joe even printed off the menu and wine pairing list for me because I asked a few times about the wines we were served.
I would highly recommend coming here, and make sure you uber so you can enjoy the wine pairings together as it elevates the entire dining experience. Thank you so much to Lesley, Joe and the team at SidArt for a lovely dinner!
Written 12 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine S
Vancouver3 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
We had the most incredible meal and they totally catered to 2 people in our party being celiac and allergic to dairy. When each dish arrived you couldn't tell that ours looked any different--they totally recreated the dish sans gluten and dairy. The staff was also amazing. I can't say enough good things. A must dine for a very special meal.
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony H
Auckland Central20 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
We went to Sidart to celebrate a special birthday, with a special dinner. We opted for the 6 course tasting menu, which was both very well presented and of course very tasty. For our group, the six courses was enough to fill us up, but we did have the option of adding in a bit more if it was required. The team at Sidart were very friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine. Our first choice of red wine was not available on the night, however our wine we settled on was excellent.
This is a top end dining experience, which I rate as good as any top end dinner we have had overseas.
Written 15 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soon L
25 contributions
Sept 2024 • friends
Sidart changed last week from fine dining to a more relaxed Italian a la carte, and it is terrific. With the same front of house & kitchen staff, service & food remain top notch. The flavours are Italian but with some inventiveness. For example, the fried lasagna was delicious. And if you go, the Fijian fish curry arrabiata with handkerchief pasta is not to be missed: it uses Chef Chandra's mother's curry paste recipe & is just simply outstanding.
Written 17 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KiwiCpl2
Auckland3 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
An interesting concept with the 4,5 or 7 course options but don't come here hungry. The 5 course degustation menu did have some standouts but the volume of food for the price is disappointing. And don't expecting change from $200pp if you include 2 glasses of wine each. I may be wrong but I don't believe there is any A La Carte dining option.
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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