Shakey Isles Cafe - Auckland Central

Great place to eat that was well priced for the quality of food. Around $100 per person with two drinka each. Food was over all outstanding with the octopus being a stand out. Friendly and helpful staff that where more than welcoming to questions and advice on what a good quantity of food was good to start with. Highly recommended to anyone thinking about trying it. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

Ventured to Cafe Hanoi for a special dinner date and opted for this month's $75 per head special course menu. The evening began on a high note with the shiitake and water chestnut netted spring rolls; they were delicious, especially when paired with the accompanying sauce and lettuce. The chargrilled NZ octopus didn’t fall behind, offering a unique and satisfying flavor. However, as we ventured further into the menu, the flavors began to challenge our palates. The standout Bun Cha was a great treat, well complemented by lettuces and rice noodles. The poached organic chicken salad, reminiscent of coleslaw, was an interesting mix of sweet and sour. Conversely, the tofu cooked in tomato sauce felt out of place, coming across as another sour dish rather than a fulfilling main. Additionally, the rice didn't seem to complement any of the mains. The dessert, Coconut sago with white chocolate yogurt, while new and intriguing, didn't quite hit the mark for us. While some flavors felt unfamiliar, possibly owing to our limited experience with Vietnamese cuisine, what truly stood out was the restaurant's inviting ambiance and friendly service. All in all, a worthwhile experience for the ambiance and starters, but the main courses might benefit from some tweaking.

Staffs were friendly and vibes were good too. The prawn was the best dish I guess. Compared to the high reputation, other foods were quite average. Next time, I’ll just grab two prawn dishes

I have got to say I am a little bit disappointed as Cafe Hanoi has a very high reputation. Vibes are good, staff are friendly and restaurant was busy. We tried the set menu for Restaurant Month, which I do not recommend, the Octopus dish is AMAZING, but the rest is just OKAY. Should’ve ordered the prawn, seafood, or green curry instead. Desert coconut sago is directly out of fridge, doesn’t match a good restaurant’s level

Fancy Vietnamese food, great interior and service. Beef pho tasted very flavourful, doesn't seem to contain any MSG! Didn't get a photo of the fried shrimp appetiser but it was excellent! Bill was very expensive!