[T2DMan]

Add your review of Toby's Restaurant and be part of the fun .

Contact Details:
120 Park Road
Titirangi
Auckland
ph. 0-9-817 2022

[Nexusgrrl]

Finally, somewhere nice to eat in West Auckland. After a run of two bad places, and a couple of mediocre places, we tried Tobys in Titirangi. Mention the 'Toby Jug' to most people and they'll recall the old tudor style building set off the main drag of Titirangi.

I rang a few days before to get a menu faxed to me, as they don't appear to have a website. The chirpy woman on the phone was as good as her word and the menu arrived - it was even addressed to the right person!

We arrived dead on time on Saturday evening, and seated promptly by the maitre de. The waitress provided menus, which contained a quaint rundown of the history of the restaurant and an old menu, which brought flashbacks of what we used to consider haute cuisine. Thankfully the modern menu is more adventuresome and has a good range of meals for all appetites. There is a selection of proper meals, pizzas both large and small, and even toasted sandwiches and salads for the less hungry.

I was initially worried that we were in for another nightmare meal, (as had at a certain Indian restaurant in New Lynn) as the waitress hailed from somewhere exotic and foreign, and her cutely accented English left me wondering if she did understand what we were asking. However she disappeared to find out about the vegetables of the day and came back promptly to report what they were. She then completed our order and all the food arrived as we'd asked for it, and in good time and order.

We didn't order entrees as I wanted to fit in dessert, so we had some pizza bread to start. I'm not a fan of pizza bread, so I wasn't too fussed, but my partner enjoyed it and scoffed most of it. We both ordered steaks, vegetable sides and fries with aoli. When we enquired as to what 'whitlof' was, we were knowledgebly informed by the maitre de. (It's a vegetable, which came wrapped in proscuitto on one of the steaks). Both steaks were cooked to perfection. Mine came on an onion tartlet, which was simply divine. Flakey soft pastry and succulent sweet filling. My greedy self could have done without the fries as a side, there was sufficient with the steak accompaniments and vegetables. The vegetables were a good selection, and deliciously garlicy.

I found the desserts a little uninspiring (ice cream, chocolate pudding, creme brulee, cheesecake of the day) but perhaps that was because I was stuffed with good food. I managed to fit in a creme brulee, which was interestingly cold. Over all the meal was very good. Excellent value for money and we'll definitely be going back. (I hear the lamb shanks are legendary...)

[Parau Foodies]

Since the new owners took over in late 2005, the service has been outstanding and the food of a consistently high standard. We are always met within 30 seconds of arriving, recognized, treated cordially, all one could hope for. Service at the table is first class, prompt, friendly and efficient. On their opening week a couple of very minor irritations (choice of and volume of music) were attended to promptly. Only observation, we personally would like either an expanded menu or for it to be changed regularly. In particular we think the 'fish' options are a little limited. However we have taken a number of our overseas colleagues who are themselves experienced diners and they have been extremely impressed. A good wine cellar also.
We dine out regularly, usually at restaurants at the top of the range, both here and overseas. Toby's measures up well by comparison.

[domestic goddess]

This old place needs a clean. The drapes that cover the old plaster ceilings has bug bodies in it. The tables have drink coasters under them to stop them wobbling. The waiter never cracked a smile although still polite in going through the motions of service. The food, sent 2 itmes back for being raw, and the main was overcooked. The gourmet potatoes were microwaved then given a quickfry which did not give them the crispness had they been par boiled instead before a quickfry in olive & butter. It lacked flavour. The childrens meals were processed chicken and the chips were obviously not in house made. The cucumber wrapped salad was a waste of tastless time with no dressing. The Special Coffee was made from filtered coffee and not from an esspresso machine giving it a strong but water consistency. Overall a disapointing food experience. Fresh ingredients put to sad use. The setting will always remain lovely. We will give it another 6months before we try this local again.