Testimonials & Reviews
Hi Chris,
Lunch was very pleasant and thoroughly enjoyed by all. What a lovely spot, delicious food and great wine you have at Ake Ake. Please pass on our appreciation to the staff and John.
Craig
FLTLT Craig Kenny
Aide-de-camp to the Governor-General (Feb 4th 2014)
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Guests loved the food last night and of course the wine.
Thanks
Wendy (Sept 28th 2012)
(Winners of the prestigious "Travellers Choice 2012" Award on www.tripadvisor.com
Rated in the Top 25 in the South Pacific.)
Hi Chris,
We just had a stunning meal at your restaurant. We found your restaurant by chance, what can only be regarded as a serendipitous discovery and we thank God that we did!
Kind regards,
Virginia A. Beniac-Brooks (Sept 27th 2012)
Principal & Legal Director
"Dear John, I came to visit my friends in kerikeri from the UK and wanted to take them out for dinner at the end of my stay. I did some research before I left and decided that I would love to come to your place based on the previous testimonials and the great wines. Suffice to say you lived up to my expectations and I wish you were around the corner from me in London as I would be a consistent diner and taster of your excellent wines. La doulce is delicious. Once again many thanks for the great food,wine and atmosphere. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves."
Paula Hayes - London (September 2012)
"Thanks for the excellent meal last night. Great food and wine. Our friend from the UK had Googled the restaurant before she left on her holiday and was determined to go to 'the best restaurant in Kerikeri' before she goes home on Saturday. You didn't disappoint. Thanks for the fantastic service"
Mark (September 2012)
"Just thought we would drop a short note of thanks. We really enjoyed the lunch yesterday.
We know we like the wines, but the matching of the food and the build up of flavours was excellent. Congratulations Chris for superb presentation of a great menu and thanks Judy for the usual service."
Mick + Elaine (September 24th Winemakers Lunch)
"Hi Judy,
Thanks for a spectacular night! The team, especially Harry had a wonderful night, the food and wine was phenomenal (as per usual) and everyone is raving about it. I’m listening to them all now and thought I should let you know some of their comments…
“What a start with that platter, right from the bread onwards!”
“It blows your mind away, fantastic hosts.”
“My fish was gorgeous.”
“The flavours were fantastic.”
“That pate/taurine was just amazing.”
Are just some of the things I am hearing as I type. Thanks again."
REAL Kerikeri
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Thank you Chris and Judy. See you next year!!
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Dear Judy,
Thanks very much for hosting Els and Rob. They had a wonderful evening and they enjoyed the food and the wine very much. Thanks again and next time we’re visiting Kerikeri we’ll have dinner at Ake Ake.
Rob Boeve – Netherlands. July 2011
Thank you Judy for making my parents so welcome on Sunday. They both had a lovely time and were touched by your hospitality. So thank you to you and your team at Ake Ake for putting a little bit of icing on their special day.
Kind regards – Mark Dixon
Just wanted to comment on our recent visit to your restaurant. We were there Friday night last week (3rd June) we did some tasting’s with the wine in front of the fire and then settled in for a meal. The food was fantastic, the wine great (bought a couple of bottles). Thanks for an awesome night, we will endeavour to visit again when we are next in the area.
Cheers, Greg & Sara Dearsly
Hi Judy and Chris
Just wanted to say a very special Thank you for our lovely Valentine evening with you. What an incredible setting, fantastic food and service it couldn’t have been nicer! Thank you once again, it was the first time Matt and I have had dinner together on that evening since neither of us could remember!
Kind regards Debbie Sutcliffe
Dear Chris & Judy,
On behalf of all the people affected by dementia I would like to offer a special thank you for your support for our Charilty Golf Day auction held on Friday 11 Feb 2011.I would like to personally thank you for your most generous support.
Alzheimers Auckland Inc.
Dear Judy & Chris,
On behalf of Hospice Mid-Northland, our members, staff and volunteer team, and most importantly our patients and their families/whanau, we would like to thank you for your very kind sponsorship of lunch for two with a bottle of wine at your restaurant, in support of our Mystery Movie fund-raising evening….
Hospice Mid-Northland
Some feed back for you, recently we have sent three different couples to you with great feed back re the wine tasting and the excellent food. Our guests that checked out this morning went to 4 different restaurants while staying with us and rated yours the very best of all, by far.
Wendy & Tony, Treghan Cottage
“We absolutely highly recommend the team at Ake Ake. The atmosphere was exactly what we wanted relaxed yet sophisticated. The staff were helpful and friendly, beautiful setting and exceptional food and wines. We had the most brilliant day because we could relax and not worry because everyone was so professional and calm. We can’t thank Chris and his team enough.”
Sally and Matt Gee
Thank you for making our mother’s 80th birthday so special. The cake was superb and we didn’t even mind the power cut. A night to remember!
Joanne Davis and Karen Griffith
Thank you all for putting on a most enjoyable lunch for Lindesay Construction, two very professional waitresses.
Philip Lindesay
This restaurant was recommended to us by some friends and we couldn’t have picked a nicer time of year during the Autumn to enjoy its ambient, restful charm – such a change from the hustle and bustle of Auckland – and a cozy fire added to the atmosphere.
There appears to be a very big selection of wines on offer, which is rare to find in Northland, as well as wine-maker/owner John’s own vintages. He has a large planting of Chambourcin grapes and we found the red wine he produces from this a good accompaniment to the meals we had. We also did a little wine-tasting (he does this for free on request) prior to the meal, and can also recommend his Chardonnay.
Highly recommended. Marie Pretty – Dine Out
I think this terrific restaurant is on here because I put it forward, so I’m really happy to be first in with a review. Obviously it was not on my list compiled by lengthy research on TripAdvisor prior to our NZ holiday, so we are indebted to our hosts @ 88 Lodge for directing us there on our first night, a Friday, which just happened to be “Friday Tapas Night” (only their 2nd) @ Ake Ake. Tapas being a dining style we enjoy decided us, so on a wet and stormy winter night we found our way there. The restaurant is run independently of the winery but serves their own wines, some of which we sampled before dinner, but we chose the featured Spanish wines to accompany our meal, which was, quite simply, exquisite. The selection of tiny morsels is good, the presentation lovely and each is a taste sensation. Adding to the atmosphere was a total power blackout soon after we ordered, presenting a challenge in both kitchen and dining room to which the chef & waitress responded splendidly and with good humour. Candlelight was obligatory, reading menus an interesting exercise. All in all a terrific experience, which we concluded with luscious desserts of Pear & Ginger Pudding with Toffee Sauce for me & Raspberry & White Chocolate bread & Butter Pudding for my husband. Feeling our way back to the car, guided only by a guttering candle held by our waitress merely added to the sense of adventure on our Spanish night in Kerikeri Oh yes, and we reckon it is very good value.
Review on Trip Advisor