Forties has become a bit of an Auckland institution these days. It is the Toyota Corolla of watering holes - reliable, value for money and has great mileage. Fort Street itself has transformed over the last year or so into a new vista of trees, fancy paving and outdoor eating options - very Melbournish.

The quintessential Friday pub lunch destination, with its inner city open air oasis, FSU is just a cool spot for the coming summer months. Always buzzing with a mix of suits from Shortland St and the derelicts of the former red light zone - this places heaves until the wee hours.

The lunch menu is full of solid options from Portuguese chicken to the Union beef burger and you can't go past the beer battered fish and some hand cut wedges.

Headless Draught on tap won't break that Graduate salary cap in quite the same way as a few Long Island Iced Teas might from elsewhere in the Britomart precinct. Plenty of tap cider choices guarantees you hit your 5+ a Day.

The team behind Fort St know what they are doing and have been pioneers with their loyalty points system and weekly email deals.  This is good stuff. The Fort Street signs say "Share with Care", and we reckon this is just the ticket for your next visit to FSU - beers all round.