This one is a hard review - impressions left after visiting Culprit. are more than mixed. Staff is really friendly, the service was good.. However, I was expecting much more from kitchen. First, not clear how they decided on meals from Chefs menu - for a company of 4 people, they brought 1 tartar, 2 pumpkins, and 2 brussels sprouts for bites part.. Tartar was a really good one. However, sharing one meal gave a thin impression instead of full experience. Pumpkin was plain, sprouts were honestly burnt and bitter. Sprinkling sprouts with cheap chips supposed to add a glimpse of fast food..? Strange move. Second, portions are really small, and the ingredients didn't seem that premium. Watermelon jelly tasted like soap. Brisket and duck were quite mediocre for a 600+ dollars bill. Subjectively, value for money is about 0.1 here. Long story short, this place should rethink the value they are trying to create before I come back here.

If it weren’t for the staff’s impeccable customer service; being so attentive to my dietary needs and constantly checking how we are with everything- dinner at The Culprit would have been a complete let down. We were looking forward to checking them out as the images on their website and on Instagram looked extremely delectable and the presentation of their dishes looked visually pleasing and the idea of American Style infused with traditional Yum Cha was intriguing. However, The trolley service dishes all lacked flavour for me except maybe the sashimi dish. We upgraded to the duck for a few extra dollars as our main which was the only dish that was to my liking. Overall, the food was average.

I recently revisited one of my older reviews and to my surprise, it had been deleted. It seems that the restaurant couldn't handle the truth about their food, so they resorted to manipulating reviews. Well, let me share exactly what happened that night, as it deserves to be heard. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were filled with anticipation for a delightful dining experience. Little did we know that our expectations would be shattered. We were made to wait an excruciating 40 minutes just to receive our mains, and that was solely for the mains! It felt like we were going through a never-ending degustation, only to be met with disappointment at every turn. The food itself was nothing short of a disaster. My favorite dish of the day, if it can even be called that, resembled a lump of coal. Honestly, I believe a cup of cold water would have offered more flavor and satisfaction. Each bite was an assault on the taste buds, leaving me wondering how such a tasteless creation could make its way to the table. To add insult to injury, the staff displayed a shocking level of laziness and apathy. Instead of attending to their duties and ensuring a pleasant dining experience, they were more engrossed in their own chit-chat and personal enjoyment. Not once did they offer an apology or show any remorse for the excessive wait or lackluster service. It's disheartening to see a restaurant prioritize manipulating reviews over genuine customer satisfaction. Deleting negative feedback only proves their inability to accept constructive criticism and improve their offerings. It's a clear sign of their lack of integrity and dedication to providing a quality dining experience. In a world where honesty and transparency are valued, it's disappointing to encounter such behavior from a restaurant. Customers should have the freedom to express their opinions and share their experiences without fear of censorship or manipulation. I write this review in the hopes that others will be spared from the same disappointment and frustration that I experienced. Before considering dining at this establishment, I urge you to think twice. There are countless other options out there where you can truly enjoy a satisfying meal and receive the service you deserve. To the restaurant, I hope you take this review as an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. Learn from your mistakes, value your customers' feedback, and strive to provide a dining experience that exceeds expectations. Only then can you regain the trust and respect of your patrons. In conclusion, my deleted review speaks volumes about the restaurant's inability to handle honest feedback. It's a shame that they choose to manipulate reviews rather than address their shortcomings. As a discerning customer, I believe it is essential to shed light on such practices and encourage transparency in the restaurant industry. P.s. Let's not manipulate reviews, as it is pathetic and disgraceful Edit: I see that you didn't read my entire review from start to finish. Yes, you're right that the review and photos were from two years ago. But didn't I mention that? I deleted and re-uploaded my review because you removed it to boost your restaurant's rating, just as you wanted. Furthermore, if we follow your logic, then the $120 I spent on food at your restaurant two years ago should no longer be considered my money, right? Haha what a mindset you have. And if you truly couldn't find any areas where you need to improve based on my review, then it's clear that you didn't read it properly. I listed everything in detail. Also, if you wanted to say that things have changed since two years ago, why not invite me back politely with a welcome drink? That's what I would have done if I were you. Let's think before we act, please.

Have been to culprit three times now and would describe the experiences as great, average and good - in that order. The atmosphere is a trendy vibe (one of my favourite in Auckland), service is quick and friendly (third time they replaced a dish on the set menu I had already tried no questions asked), the signature duck - 10/10. The chef can create some ‘questionable’ alternative dishes however, burnt Brussel Sprouts on a set menu? We’re not in London. And the prices have certainly increased, while dare I say servings seem smaller. But perhaps that’s a review I should pass on to the government. Anyway…a must visit place, if the set menu they have at the time doesn’t appeal too much the duck is safe.

We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen, it was great to see all the plates of food coming together. We had tried the epic menu. Overall an enjoyable evening and food.

The dining experience at Culprit is like no other. The care and thoughtfulness from the staff was felt throughout the entire evening, the atmosphere was phenomenal, and the food was out of this world - both in terms of flavour and texture. 10/10 would recommend!

Culprit had been on my list for a while. So when we started looking for restaurants that could host lunch for a large family reunion I reached out. Rebecca the Manager was AMAZING. She was quick to respond, detailed, and even offered to open the restaurant for us on Sunday! First the space is beautiful. Second, the food was generous and delicious. Would highly recommend for private events!

Culprit had been on my list for a while for their contemporary New Zealand cuisine. We had a chance to dine in on our 10th year wedding anniversary dinner and we really enjoyed the dining experience. We had their seasonal menu with wine matching and added a culprit classic too. Love it, love it, love it! The restaurant's soft music, style and lightings gave it a romantic and relax ambiance. Thank you also to the professional and friendly staff who attended to us. Keep up the good work. This is now one of our favorite date night place in Auckland CBD.

Highly Recommend if you’re looking for a tasting-style menu highlighting local fare. I recommend you get the duck for 2, well worth waiting for!! The add-on you can get is great for seafood lovers. As a table of 4, we got it for 2 people as not all of us were that hungry.

Really enjoyable food. Couldn't believe how nice the Cauliflower soup was. Service was great. I'd be back here again. Love that there is essentially a set menu.

We had a set dinner, chef’s selection. The ambiance was nice, but they started to play hip-hop/rap style music which I found awkward for the location. I had the brisket which was tender and delicious. I tried bone marrow as an extra. It was not as interesting as I thought it would be. All in all it was a good experience except for the music.

Wow what an incredible experience!! Delicious food, the younger staff could be a little more eloquent.. rough around the edges and could have more of a softer touch but food was great !

Thank you Zoe! From the Lai family, MELBOURNE 😎 What an amazing experience! We have been "foodie-ing" around Aukland and this is the best restaurant of this trip. We opt'd for the extra seafood option, duck option and a whole bottle of wine and ONLY spent $600 for 4.5 people. Pricing is CHEAP for what you get. Portions were VERY generous, sophisticated yet simple. Very deserving for the chef hats for this restaurant. Service as good as the food. When we visit AUK again, we will definitely be back!

Would have to be one of the best restaurants I've been to in a very long time. Service was fantastic, they explained everything to you. The food was wonderful, full of flavor and texture. You go to this place knowing that your in for a new food experience and you definitely walking out happy.

Best foodie experience in Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland to date. Thank you Culprit x

Set menu was delicious! Some that really jumped out as something different was the Shitake Milk Bun with Mushroom Butter and the Salt & Vinegar Brussel Sprouts which was served with small pieces of Salt and Vinegar chips. The dessert was also delicious and well sized in relation to the set menu

I want to give a massive shout out to the Team at Culprit who were ultra flexible with my booking and then prepared an absolute screamer of a dinner for me last night. I had their epic menu which to a bite was *sensational* in every way (I don't use that term lightly, I have very high standards). Usually, I find, in a tasting menu, you will get 2-3 dishes you'd write to tell someone about or recall for days afterward, a couple of really good ones, and a couple that might not be to your particular taste on the day (Not because they aren't quality, or well prepared, but just because everyone has different tastes). Not the case with this particular menu. Everything was inventive, well executed, delicious and interesting and honestly, I'll be very surprised if this doesn't go down as on of my top 3-4 meals of 2022. Service as mentioned was top notch, little things like the fact I mentioned I don't love Oysters or Olives and finding that they had substituted for something else, and the Olive Yoghurt was considerately put in a side dish. We are really blessed with some excellent restaurants in Auckland, and this now rates in the top echelon. I can't say enough goods about it, I was blown away. If you are a foodie, drop whatever you are doing, and go make a booking. I don't often tip in NZ, but I did last night. My small bit of feedback was that the portion sizes are pretty small, though I was very hungry.

Had an absolutely delightful dinner here. The bites were amazing, but the Curried Mutton sausage rolls topped it all. Had the Beef Brisket for mains and it was most delicious. A topped off with perfect sweet bite to finish. Yum!

I got the epic menu with wine match and enjoyed every dish, and every drink. Great service too.

Loved this place. Enjoyed the tasting menu and the bar seat experience was excellent with the fast-moving kitchen giving plenty to see. Food was also plentiful as we ended up taking some of the duck away to eat later.

Service and atmosphere was great. Overall we really enjoyed our meal. The smaller trolley plates ranged in popularity at our table but the main was an absolute hit.

One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Amazing.

We really enjoyed the NYE menu at Culprit, would definitely recommend! The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere and vibe to it, you can watch the chefs as they prepare everything, really fun experience!

Culprit are one of those OG suggestions that everyone was telling us to go. We live withing the area so we didn't really rushed on a weekday we suddenly thought of going out and having an impromptu date night. We were lucky to actually get a table within the day. The service was great we had the set with the duck add on. My win is the asparagus with filo pastry and gruyere dip, that is something i will remember and go back for. We had a couple of cocktails but I sticked to my godfather. No fuss here ambiance service and food compliments each other. If you dont feel like having a full meal go check our little culprit such a delight.

Amazing NYE dinner! Service was 10/10, catered to coeliac with the best tasting GF bread I’ve had in a while. We sat at the kitchen bar which a fantastic experience watching the chefs in action. Our favorite were the wild paua and pork sausages and the heirloom tomatoes with the tarragon leaves.

Fusion-style restaurant. It's inspired by Asian cuisine especially Japanese and Indian. Recommended for pre booking course menu. You can enjoy a different variety of dishes, taste smell, chewy and umami. They have stolen my heart, let us be followers for Culprit's way.

Nice little restaurant, lots car parks nearby with charge. Set menu only. The food is quite unique that you don’t get to try elsewhere.

We had the best experience at Culprit, the staff was attentive and friendly, the atmosphere and environment is so beautiful, comfortable and cozy, and the FOOD is amazing, such a reasonable price for what you get, the chef sends out beautiful food that is tasty and interesting, I could honestly not recommend this place enough as it was so good. We left on such a high from this whole experience, exactly what you want on a night out.

Great dining experience and outstanding service. We did the restaurant month 7 course set menu and it was fantastic.

A tasting menu to share, created with flair. Using the finest local ingredients and aiming for perfect balance, all dishes are top notch. I enjoyed the raw fish entree the best 😋 and the donuts with chicken liver parfait were a pleasant surprise. The lamb main was cooked to perfection and delicious. The dessert was also creative and sweet. Great and attentive staff, couldn't fault them or the overall experience

Wow wow wow this place is a must. The reviews speak for themselves! Incredible food, fantastic staff and mastermind chef. 11/10 would recommend to everyone! Thank you Chef for a great meal!