Now Open: Advieh Is Auckland's New Go-To Eatery for Middle Eastern Food with a Twist

The InterContinental has officially opened its doors in downtown Auckland, with the hotel's main restaurant, Advieh, following suit. The eatery's bookings are already filling up fast — despite only opening in January — with Aucklanders eager to try out the brand-new spot.

Advieh is the brainchild of UK-born chef Gareth Stewart, who has served his time at various dining hot spots around Auckland, originally making the move to New Zealand to head up Soul Bar and Bistro, before making his way around the kitchens of Jervois Steak House, Euro and Adiamo.

Stewart has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to Advieh's menu. "I'm confident there is nothing like Advieh in Auckland, and I'm looking forward to surprising guests in the best possible way and creating a world-class restaurant and bar experience," he said.

The waterfront restaurant is serving up Middle Eastern fare with a contemporary spin, producing food that is heavy on spice and flavour. Each dish is designed to be shared with the table, with the dinner menu divided into snacks, starters, mains and desserts. The snacks — which are still a generous portion of food — consist of smaller bites like paua-stuffed dolma, whipped carrot hummus and a savoury version of baklava filled with rich chicken pâté and manuka honey.

The main course is not just a meal — it is a performance. The talented waitstaff and kitchen team carve tender wagyu off the bone and succulent pieces of duck right in front of you. The dishes are simple yet delicious, with other options including fried market fish, Kawhia Coast flounder, lamb neck served with Advieh's signature pickles and grilled eggplant sprinkled with black tahini and caramelised whey.

If you're willing to push through your inevitable food coma and try a dessert or two, you can't go wrong with Advieh's pistachio cake, slightly warm and served with yoghurt ice cream, tart cherries and topped with pistachio granola for some crunch.

For those who may have trouble deciding between these mouth-watering options, Advieh offers two different banquet menus. The Advieh Banquet is suited for two or more people and features small plates like the savoury baklava and freshly baked flatbread, then a choice of lamb neck, fried fish or veggie option as a main, and pistachio cake for dessert.

Advieh's Signature Banquet is designed for a group of four or more people, with six small plates to start, side dishes of fried cauliflower and a watercress salad, served alongside two choices of main: wagyu bavette or fresh market fish. For dessert, diners will be served up a bitter chocolate cremieux that is covered in crunchy filo pastry and served with pistachio ice cream drizzled with manuka honey.

Advieh can be found at 1 Queen Street in the Auckland CBD. It is open every day, from 6.30am until late on weekdays and 7.00am until late on weekends. The restaurant is open to both hotel guests and the general public for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks.