WOW!! My wife and 2 children ate there for the first time tonight, We cannot find fault with any part of the experience,We pretty much stumbled on the place wandering around Parnel,
The service was prompt & polite, the meal was absolutely perfect, I had the fillet ,my wife the sirloin and the children the chicken and for desert one of the best fried banana I,ve had,will definately be going back,oh yeah the cream & mushroom sauce was soooo! delicious.

We love this place been 3 times and will go again and tell others to go. The food is always great and the special coffee’d divine. A great place with great atmosphere. The lamb is yummy and my other half cant get enough of the steak.

Seems like some people get good food and service and some not. So not too consistent. Went in a large group. Chose seafood chowder for starter. Horrible consistency which I assumed was split cream, but when I asked, was told that there was no cream in it, but ‘a different dairy product’. And also that it was actually a Boston Chowder. It had hot and cold areas in it. Very unpleasant. Was given the option to swap but decided to keep it as I was very hungry and didn’t want to wait. But when I finished it and saw it taken back to the kitchen, the staff was clearly laughing at the fact that I did finish it – very rude. Then for mains I had the seafood paella. Now that I couldn’t finish. Not even the king prawns. Overcooked and rubbery. But I didn’t feel like being mocked by the staff again so I went back to my hotel and had a sandwich. Won’t be back.

I live in Darwin, Australia and visited Auckland for the first time earlier this year and was taken to Di Mare for dinner … three times.
It is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. The hosts and service are impeccable, the ambiance is fantastic and the food … AMAZING. you must, must, must try the Oysters Cleopatra. I cannot recommend Di Mare highly enough.

This has got to be one of my favourite restaurants in Auckland. The food is divine the service is great and really friendly. After reading some of the reviews it makes me wonder if they are going to the same restaurant that i have now been to several times. As for the Maitre D. Shes lovely and couldnt be more friendly and helpful. Shes aprtof the reason we go back. She always greets us as if were long lost friends and knows what we like. We hardly fit into the “rich” regular clientele though! I recommend this as a great, relaxed, homely, down to earth Italian restaurant with that real sense of relaxed atmoshere. I wouldn’t suggest it if you are in a hurry its one of those places you spend an evening or a long lunch at. Its great!

this is a hidden gem and maybe i shouldnt be writting such a good review here as maybe i wont be able to get a table here soon. the meals at Di Mare are to die for, my 2 favourites are the lamb with yummy creamy misnt sauce cook perfectly everytime, the chicken breast is simply divine, and of course the eye fillet mmmmmmmmmm, what more can you ask for, my pick of the entree is the squid salad yummy yummy. this is not a ponsy swanky restaurant just dam good food thats not art when it turns up , keep up the great work.

We were walking down Parnell Rise one evening not really knowing where to go. We were stopped by someone on the street who invited us in. And that how our love affair with this wonderful place began. Be careful when you walk down the alley, the windows look like small doors! I tried to get in through there the first time! The embarrassment turned to sheer delight once we started eating and I have raved about this place ever since. I organised our mid winter Christmas party here and everyone bar one of the forty odd present loved it!! Habib can do your food the way you want it. That’s what I love about this place. Its like eating at home! Marcia is a delightful host. If you are after a posh, snobby, rich girl Parnell restaurant, this is not for you. If you want a romantic, homely, cosy place…you have it right there! The food is just divine! No questions! My mouth is watering as I speak of the food! I have eaten in lots of places but this is one of the few I return to and I actually bothered writing about! I am looking forward to summer. My plan is to get Habib to do a Mediterranean Feast in the courtyard for my family!! Rick Stein – Try this one!!

We had a special birthday celebration in a group of 23 which was just wonderful all round. The ambience of the restaurant was just perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon, the service was excellent, Marcia was very helpful and attended to our every wish. As for the food, it was superb and Habib is a perfectionist in the kitchen. Thank you for a special celebration. We certainly will be back.
Yvonne and Bob Bray

Hey!!!
This place will make you think! Why the hell have I not been here before? The Eye Fillet is too Die For!!!!!! the company is top notch real family feeling. And WOW that guy in the kitchen ( The Owner No Less ) Actually loves what he is doing for you. I love It
Gary Meaden ( Prop Charles Lewis Fine Jewellery )
Were Coming for another Xmas Doo

Maitre de was just awful – very rude and obviously just looks after the wealthy regulars!
Food was OK but for those prices I expected better.
I wouldn’t go again.

Always enjoyed the fantastic food at De Mare BUT we have stopped going as the maitre de Marcia is too insincere and simply rude which taints the whole experience.

An off chance visit! What a gem!
Service good..( with no grumble when I changed my mind) plenty of food- served fresh and hot. BYO an advantage here too. Will be back with friends soon.

Fabulous little restaurant, with a cozy friendly atmosphere, and quality food. Really enjoyed the Rack of Lamb with mint sauce. Marcia looked after us well, Thank you.

This restaurant I just brilliant the food is just the way you want, the size of the steak is so big that I couldn’t’t finished my friends had seafood for 2 their were so impressive how good was, the staff was really good and they could show us the menu if no problem, the environment remember me Greece, is just fabulous.

Thoroughly disappointing experience, particularly as we were there in a large group and I felt very sorry for my friend who had organised the event. Waitress surly and unhelpful, we were unable to order an entree as our main and were forced to order a main we didn’t want to comply with “policy” (alternatively could have ordered 2 entrees?!!) Pasta dishes were small and very uninspiring – far too much canned tomato and little taste. Menu was small yet descriptions were unhelpful and wait staff offered no additional help or advice. Lamb overcooked and wait staff tried twice to give me a dish I didn’t order, and begrudgingly eventually cooked my original order – and it wasn’t nice when it did arrive. Restaurant was not busy for a Saturday night and now I know why. Definitely don’t recommend- particularly with their high prices, appalling attitudes and terrible service.