Now Open: GILT Brasserie Brings a Slice of European Sophistication to Downtown Auckland

It may have only been open for a month, but GILT Brasserie is already establishing itself as the cool new eatery of the long lunch summer season.

GILT first emerged on the dining scene in mid-October, following a teasing Instagram post from New Zealand's favourite internet chef and culinary legend Josh Emett. Emett announced he had been working on a new space, combining his hospitality expertise with his wife Helen's knowledge and love for Europe to create the couple's latest destination.

GILT marks the third restaurant venture for the foodie power couple, with the pair also running Onslow on Princes Street (which Margot Robbie happened to visit this week) and Waiheke Island's The Oyster Inn.

Helen Emett said the couple is excited move into a section of Auckland that has been eviscerated by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis: "we're excited to be a part of Auckland's mid-town revitalisation, a transformation that is breathing new life into the city centre".

Perched at the top of historic landmark Chancery Chambers, GILT is an all-day dining heaven in the form of a 130-seat restaurant where diners are encouraged to stay as long as they like.

"GILT is a place where you come for a long lunch and stay until dinner, as much as a place where you can grab a hand crafted deli sandwich to takeaway, or simply unwind with a martini at the bar," Josh Emett said. "It's metropolitan dining that speaks to the hustle and bustle of inner city life, where our menu is designed to evolve as day turns to night."

So what might one find on this day to night menu? There's a big old mix of traditional dishes and emerging food trends, with menu items like a 'tongue in cheek' toastie — a beef cheek and ox tongue dish moonlighting as a sandwich you might find in your school tuckshop. The menu also boasts a whole section of spud dishes on the side: think pomme rosti, lyonnaise and dauphinoise, the perfect fancy comfort food.

As for the drinks, GILT offers a stellar 15-page wine list, with drops heralding from France, Italy, Spain, Germany and of course, a great selection of New Zealand's best. The cocktail list is also extensive, and organised into sections to guide your choices: apéritif, first sips, day drinkers, after dark and non-alcoholic.