Bodrum Kitchen
A taste of Turkey in New Lynn.
Overview
The Brickworks development is a welcome addition to the ever evolving New Lynn town centre. The handful of new bars and eateries give the area to the side of Lynn Mall a bustling vibe and a level of service that mimics parts of Ponsonby and the inner city.
Bodrum Kitchen is a big, open air restaurant with a large bar area at the centre, white walls, and dark blue Mediterranean tiles and decorations. The food is billed as a fusion between Turkish and Greek shared plates, platters, and expertly made cocktails. Bodrum is the brainchild of established Auckland restaurateur Alex Isik, the man behind the Mozaik cafes as well as Casablanca, Nomad and Deco.
We popped in on a Wednesday after work and the place was fizzing with families, groups of friends, and a couple of suspicious looking Tinder dates. We took a seat in the outdoor dining area; the tables were nice enough but the whole thing didn't quite feel right. It's no fault of the restaurant itself, and the developers have done great but it still feels like you are sitting outside a shopping mall. Maybe this will change with time. We went inside. Good move.
The staff were attentive and helpful and clearly well trained but perhaps lacked the years of hospo experience that make things flow with ease. All food is brought out at once and shared among guests.
We went with the halloumi bruschetta ($10.50), falafel ($10.50), stuffed Istanbul mussels ($12.50), and the Chicken Kadinbudu Kofta ($16.50). $50 was enough to feed two light-ish eaters. The food came out quick. Ridiculously quick. We had all our food in five minutes quick. The falafel was nice enough, though a little bland. The halloumi was decent but to be honest we could have brought something similar from supermarket. The Kadinbudu Kofta were deep fried chicken mince meatballs, covered in a crispy coating, they were flavoursome and I would order again. We were onto a winner with the mussels though, full of little additions and cooked just right.
Bodrum Kitchen is a well run operation, with a lovely fit out and attentive staff. The food gets a pass mark but is by no means something to write home about. If you live close by it could be worth a visit for food and drinks with a group of mates, but it is not worth driving half way across Auckland for.
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