About one year ago, a new restaurant with a colorful facade opened up in the vicinity of Symonds Street. Surrounded by takeaways and busy junctions, it is located along a street nobody would consider “high-class”.
After entering the curtained entrance, and walking through a narrow corridor, visitors are welcomed into a wide, estate-like room aptly decorated with a confluence of Eastern and Western designs. With their black sofas and dining tables, diners feel as if they have entered another world. Although the interior is by no means bland, neither is it too loud, and many a patron has expressed admiration at the remarkably well-designed interior.
Appearances can be deceiving as well. Although the name of the place, as well as the all-Japanese staff brings to mind images of a Japanese restaurant, this is not the place to order traditional Japanese cuisine. Neither is it the place you visit to enjoy standard French or Italian fare.
Instead customers are treated to a mix of classical Italian tomato dishes, spicy Indian food, New Zealand duck and wine, and French sauces. Chopsticks are provided and the courses are served at a pace that allows customers to truly savor all the flavors. The menu also changes every 2 months or so.
Despite the mix between East and West, the food cannot be categorized as purely Fusion Cuisine. Instead, the people at Kazuya prefer to describe it as Original Creative Cuisine. All in all, it combines New Zealand’s fresh ingredients and refreshing wine into Euro cuisine created with Japanese attention to detail.
Although it may appear that one needs to order a lot of food to truly appreciate the concept, Kazuya actually aims to deliver the complete experience to each guest, whether he be ordering for one or for many.
What really sets Kazuya apart, though, is their dedication to attending to customer’s needs and their impeccable spirit of service.
Each member of the staff specializes in his/her individual duties and responsibilities. This includes the chef himself, his wife and business partner, Akiko, and the wine sommelier, Mojo. However, they work together beautifully to deliver to each guest the entire experience.
Kazuya’s chef has an innate talent for bringing out what is pleasurable in the concept, preparation and taste of food. With the perfectionism so characteristic in many Japanese, he has honed his skills with years of training and experience working with Italian Cuisine in Tokyo.
Given the staff’s desire to please and attention to detail, though, it is best to allow some time for preparation. For a party of 4 people, 30 minutes would probably be sufficient to allow them to prepare the food in such a way that the individual flavors are blended together perfectly, to make sure that the food and wine is served at just the right temperature, and to make sure that the sequence and timing of each course is just right to allow you to enjoy the dining experience to the highest level.
That praise about Kazuya has been spreading through websites, various media, and word of mouth is no surprise. It is probably the perfect place to take a newfound acquaintance, an old friend, or a loved one.
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Darryl Robinson, 11 years ago
This is one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long long time
I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates fine dining.
We are grateful to our friends who pointed us to this fantastic experience.
We will be back
Matthew, 12 years ago
Awesome. No other word describes. Service, food, hospitality. I’ve been back four times now – highly recommend this place to anyone who is willing to be blown away and with reasonable prices too. $85 is a bargain for what you get on the plate here.
I disagree with the reviewer above who thought that the restaurant might not be suitable for those with large appetites – I always eat lots, and came away full each time. Because it takes at least 90 minutes to get through the longer course menu, your stomach has enough time to tell your brain that you are full…
Capt K, 12 years ago
Went here last night and enjoyed the 7 course tasting menu. Stunning presentation and divine flavours. Great service and delicous cocktails to start (and finish) made the whole experience superlative. Will definitely be returning to try the chef’s degustation.
Corn, 12 years ago
Kazuya is very amazing and there is no other restaurant like it here in New Zealand. I went there with 3 other people and we all ordered the 7 course menu. We were amazed at all the dishes that came in front of us.
The attention to detail towards each dish was just amazing. The way they cook their food is something no other chiefs or restaurant has come up with. Talking to the waiter/waitress, you can really tell they are very fussy about the quality of food as well. They import food from countries such as Japan, Europe, and also use quality New Zealand ingredients that really gives something special to the dish. The Scallop from Hokkaidou (Japan) were simply delicious and the Wakanui beef was so soft and delicious.
The highlight from the 7 course menu for me was a salad called “Texture”. Texture is a salad made from 30 selection of vegetables. The presentation was superb and the dressing was so nice I never thought I would enjoy salad like this.
My only concern is however, if you have a LARGE appetite this place way not be suitable for you. I know it has not been long since this restaurant opened, but in the future I would like to see more variety in the menu as well. But Kazuya is easily one of the best Auckland restaurant. Highly recommend coming here if you are fussy about the quality of your food. Will be supporting this restaurant and wish them the best of luck.
Amy, 12 years ago
This is real fine dining otherwise not found in New Zealand. Every dish is a piece of art unto itself.
Rosemarie, 12 years ago
I’ve heard KAZUYA’s great reputations by word of mouth,so we’ve visited there as a couple lately. The food was exceptional, every single dish or bite was just amazing. I can’t express my fabulous experiences well. Just “Seeing is believing”, I strongly recommend to book this restaurant for a special occasion, then you will know how wonderful they are! Probably one of the best I’ve ever been to in NZ.
I look forward to visiting there soon again.