Words —
Jess Waddell
Bringing a touch of joie de vivre to the city’s dining scene, La Marée on Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour pairs French influences with the best of New Zealand’s seasonal produce.
La Marée translates to ‘the tide’ in French, a fitting nod not only to its waterfront location but also to the ever-changing nature of its menu which shifts with the seasons while celebrating the best local produce around.
Located within Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, the restaurant brings French influences and New Zealand ingredients together under the guidance of Executive Chef Maninder Panesar, or Chef Mani as most people know him. His approach balances considered technique with local flavours where he creates dishes that are refined without becoming too complicated.
Entering Sofitel’s elegantly large lobby, you’re guided through a series of thoughtfully designed spaces that seem to naturally lead you towards the water, and for us, towards La Marée, which revealed itself as instantly breathtaking.
Part of this comes from the location perched right on the harbour, but the interior also deserves just as much attention. The restaurant is expansive, although cleverly divided into intimate spaces that make each table feel tucked away and cosy.
Separating these areas are striking feature walls that I thought resembled layers of earth exposed over time. They seemed to be lit from within, glowing with shades of amber, gold and charcoal, and anchored by a crackling fireplace.
As wonderful as La Marée is for a summer dining spot, in winter it is especially warm, intimate and inviting.
From our booth overlooking the fire, we also had a view of the kitchen. This added another layer to the experience. Watching Chef Mani move quietly and confidently through service was a treat in itself, and when we had the opportunity to chat with him, his gentle, welcoming nature immediately stood out. It’s very clear that calm confidence he brings to the kitchen extends to the team around him too.
Swiftly after sitting down, warm bread and butter arrived. An amuse-bouche in spirit, you could say. A simple gesture, yet one that immediately transports you to a European restaurant. Settling in with a glass of red wine, warm bread and good conversation feels exactly right on a winter’s night.
To begin, we had the Tartare de Boeuf, featuring hand cut beef fillet topped with a velvety egg yolk, cornichons – plus crisp sourdough that served as the perfect vehicle for each bite. Alongside it came the creamy burrata, paired with beautifully ripe heirloom tomatoes, basil and dukkha spice.
We also tried the Chou-fleur Rôti. Roasted cauliflower is having a moment on menus and this version starred silky harissa emulsion and toasted macadamia nuts. Flavour and contrast packed into one dish.
For a main, I’d typically gravitate towards something protein heavy, but there are certain ingredients that I find impossible to resist. La Marée’s Gnocchi à la Parisienne had me immediately. Perfect on paper, and on the plate. Potato gnocchi, butternut purée, oyster mushrooms, sage both through the dish and crisped on top, plus… truffle. Some combos simply belong together, and this is one of them.
The second main was the Croupe d’Agneau. Hawke’s Bay lamb with parsnip purée, confit carrot, green peas and black olive tapenade. We found the richness of the lamb was excellently balanced by the salty tapenade. This was both a classic and elegant dish.
Dinner with a best friend is special in itself, but La Marée elevated this evening into something far more extraordinary. Thoughtful food, great service, a stunning waterfront setting, and a chef who clearly understands both his craft and people. Much like the tide itself, this is one spot you’ll be drawn back to.
To book or to find out more information visit sofitel.accor.com
