AMAZING! Went for dinner tonight. Service was great! Lovely staff and very friendly! Food was outstanding! Recommend the John Dori fish and salt and pepper squid and languini! Atmosphere was great and amazing decor. Service prompt. Will def be returning very soon! Highly recommended! (:

I have been a semi-regular cusotmer of Squid Row over the past three or four years. I used to go there with friends for the $6 cocktail happy hour, we liked the decor, the little outdoor area, and it was just a fun new place to go to. But I’m sad to say the quality of the food and the service has declined steadily over time. My last visit will be the last indeed. To put a long story short, I sent my meal back – the first time I have ever sent a meal back in my life! – because I was not about to pay $32 for an inedible plate of food. The staff are plain disinterested. There are much better places to eat and spend your money in Auckland. But the happy hour margarita’s are still pretty wicked.

Risotto…..my mouth is watering… with one of the superb wine’s on your menu…..heaven

I’m actually not that impressed. I have been twice now at lunch time, eating from the $12 lunch menu. The first visit I had spicy bean burritos. Not spicy and not terribly warm either.
So, today I decided to give it another go – try everything twice I say! Again, I’m afraid it wasn’t that great. The waitress was a little self obsessed, the penne carbonara that I had was horrible. The sauce was very thin (not a hint of the white wine it promised) very scant on the bacon and mushrooms and not at all seasoned. The sauce was so thin I actually had to ask for a spoon I was with two work friends, one had the mussel fritters and the feedback was they were quite tasty. My other friend had something from the main menu – Salt and Pepper squid. She is a big fan of squid – feedback, too expensive for what she got, bit bland and the chips were soggy! The man who brought the plates over did slam it down a bit hard and send a squid flying onto the floor! (They did replace it though) I really don’t think that the quality should be compromised just because you have a special lunch menu. Quite honestly I would have preferred a microwave dinner.
Ross Burden was in the room today so I guess they were thinking he was far more important than us!??

I’d go again and give them one last chance outside of lunch hours but only if someone else pays!

We recently celebrated a birthday with dinner at Squid Row.

It has a great atmosphere, and we really enjoyed the fun decor of old-school surfing photos and memorabilia.

I can highly recommend the mushroom risotto. It was a huge serving, and very tasty.

You can see photos and read more on our experience at http://celestereviews….

We will definitely be returning.

We liked the relaxed warm atmosphere, we had a grab one voucher and the squid was devine, cooked to perfection. Great prices. We liked the food and atmosphere so much we have booked a big group lunch for a birthday in a few weeks.

very disappointing, tiny oyster that doesn’t seem that fresh, crowded and noisy, size of meal tiny, flavour too simple. Snobby staff. Not a good experience, will not be back.

[I have just been contacted by the owner of this place and I am impressed with how he dealt with the issue. Hence I will be giving Squid Row another visit when I get back from overseas and update my review accordingly.]

Service was good, except for the very end when we went to pay. He couldn’t find our bill from the table we were at. Food was average but reasonably priced. The salt and pepper squid was great, would definately go back for the squid.

Always good value, tasty fresh food, good service. Have been at least six times and we often go for Sunday lunch on the spur of the moment. A great place to take overseas visitors to show them our great seafood.

The food here is gorgeous, loved that it was obviously fresh and made with care.

What a pity that it is let down by the service, the staff seemed completely disinterested in being there and agree with others that there appears to be enough staff to offer table service.

Nice place but could be better with table service

Have been a few times and had Mussels, Calamari & Chips, Salt & Pepper Squid

Pluses:
– All seafood is very fresh
– Szechwan pepper and salt flake on Salt & Pepper Squid is yummy!

Minuses:
– You have to get out of your seat and walk to the bar to order drinks and food even though waiters were free
- Salad is too small

Interesting:
- Each visit we would have spent another $30 on drinks if they would have taken our order at our table

Verdict:
– We will go back again

most enjoyable experience. salt and pepper squid was really good. Great service, staff and prices. We will definitely be back

I love Squid Row!! We looked through the entertainment book, and thought we would give this a go. We have been back atleast 10 times since, I even celebrated my birthday there.

The food is amazing, and the service is fantastic!

If your looking for a great meal, great atmoshphere and great service then you wont beat Squid Row!

I am a regular at Squid Row for lunch. The food is always consistently good and it is hard to go past the fish & chips.

If planning a lunch make it at 1 when the place starts to become less busy and there is always the option to sit outside. They have a good range on their specials menu.

If you are on foursquare there is a great battle for the mayor and they run a number of events through Twitter.

Been here several times and always enjoyed the food.
Nice relaxed evening out.

Went here for lunch food is well presented and of good quality especially if you like seafood.
Service was good, but we were the only ones there so I would hope so.

Relaxing seafood & surf restuarant. Varying service tho – one time we ordered at the table and another we waited ages to find out we had to order at the bar (both for dinner). Their garlic bread is super awesome and best thing is cocktail happy hour 5 – 7pm for $6!! Food is good but sometimes has an average component (e.g. boring shrimp with a good steak). Good place to hang out casually too.

You know sometimes you just want to go for a meal. Not an experience, not an earth shattering moment, just a meal and a beer. With old 50′s style surfy decor this place fits the bill perfectly. We had a beer first at the bar then sat down, setting up a tab was easy, ordering was relaxed from young but smiling girls, and the food was perfect. I had the squid which was amazing, then my son and I shared the platter with all sorts of yummy treats of prawns, mussels, squid, lobster, bread, and dips. You can’t put this place in to a particular category, it’s where I will choose to go when I can’t really decide what I want, but when I know the meal I do get will be fresh, good quality, and the place is cool and relaxed.