The ideal location for when you need to take a break from the stresses of everyday life is a drive over the Harbour Bridge to the North Shore suburb of Takapuna.
And if you want to bring that experience up a notch, have a boozy brunch - or even a nice early dinner and enjoy the best local fare at Catch 21.
Adorned in a nautical-themed interior, Catch 21 offers an idyllic respite from the city. The popular eatery also overlooks Hurstmere Green and is just perfect on a sunny day. The stunning Takapuna beach is just a stone’s throw away, and sunsets provide an extra special spectacle on some days.
It opens early, serving breakfast, lunch and coffee - and has started to open for dinner from Thursdays to Saturdays as we move towards spring and the daylight gets longer.
A star dish on the menu that we have tried and tasted is the Lobster & Crab Fettuccine Pasta – a creamy base with shallots, garlic, chilli, mixed mushrooms, parmesan reggiano, crispy sage and pine nuts is sure to keep appetites satisfied.
Or you can go with the Slow Cooked Beef Rib with pumpkin purée, Korean sweet plum chilli sauce, baby potato, baby carrot, pickled red onion and toasted pistachio or the Pan Roasted Whole Flounder with prawn cutlets, hazelnuts, chilli, garlic, fried caper and onion.
Good news too, they're fully licensed and offer a great selection of beer, wine, and bubbles. Plus, you can enjoy Beer Happy Hour on Fridays and Saturdays with $7.50 ice-cold tap beers.
The Catch 21 team is led by experienced restaurateur Robin Lee and talented head chef Bob Lun, who are also behind other successful operations, including their sister restaurant, 21 Days, in Browns Bay.
“We love coming up with creations that excite tastebuds with unique flavours that you don’t find elsewhere in both our food and drinks,” Lee says.
“We take pride in making everything fresh daily, and our menu is an eclectic mix of Asian, international, and local flavours.”
They also offer half-priced cabinet food every Tuesday, making it easy to enjoy some of their freshly prepared dishes at a great price.
The team is equally passionate about making exceptional coffee, with half-priced coffee available every Wednesday.
Favourites on the day menu include their signature Lobster Open Burger, creamy Seafood Chowder, juicy Wagyu Beef Burger, and three tasty Eggs Benedict options, all available on the all-day breakfast menu.
Private evenings can be specially booked at Catch 21 for groups of 30-40 people, with set menu options available.
Get in touch with Robin and his team to discuss any upcoming functions you may have.
Catch 21 Eatery Shop 8/33 Hurstmere Road Ph: 09 484 0005
Tried and Tasted: Lobster & Crab Fettuccine Paste, Slow Cooked Beef Rib, Seafood Chowder
This article is brought to you in partnership with Catch 21.
