The Metro Top 50 List is announced for 2010:

Metro magazine’s annual Top 50 list of the best restaurants around Auckland has been announced.  And even though it’s been challenging for many restaurants during the 2009 recession, nine restaurants that opened last year were good enough to gain a hard-won mention on the list.

They were: Sidart (Ponsonby), Casita Miro (on Waiheke), Ponsonby Rd Bistro (Ponsonby), The Mulberry (Mt Eden), Coco’s Cantina (Karangahape Rd), Ella Cafe & Lounge (Ponsonby), La Cigale (Parnell), Mondial Cafe Bar(Grey Lynn), Teppan Dining Bowz (Epsom).

Next Monday night, 26 April, a gala dinner reveal winners of the 15 categories and the Supreme Winner of the Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Award for 2010.  The event will be attended by those ranking amongst the 50 top restaurants, along with media and distinguished guests.

The genre of restaurant that has seen the greatest growth in the Top 50, is bistro or bar-bistro.  All but two of the brand new restaurants are in these categories.  A typical Bistro Bar is focused on informal pleasure, where the setting is often a noisy, good-humoured, busy bar.   Bistro restaurants can produce astonishingly good food, given the often casual ambience of the place.

This year the Top 50 List has pinpointed some excellent family-friendly places (like Monsoon Poon, Casita Miro and The Mulberry . There’s no reason not to eat well and have a damn good time, says Metro, just because you’ve got kids in tow.

Details of the restaurants recognised in the 2010 Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards will be published in the May issue of Metro (on sale Tuesday April 27)

Source:  “Scoop”