Corner Jellicoe Street & Fish Lane, North Wharf, Auckland Central, Auckland
For Michael Dearth, who opened fine-dining restaurant The Grove in 2004, his new eatery Baduzzi is a way for him to get back to his Italian-American roots.
The restaurant name comes from the Sicilian word for "meatballs" - a staple of Michael's household when growing up. There is an entire section dedicated to them at Baduzzi, as well as a selection of other great Italian dishes.
Go in for a hearty breakfast of Italian baked eggs, a meatball sub at lunchtime or settle in for the evening for a meal of great Italian fare.
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- HolidaysClosed
Reviews
Drop by Baduzzi for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the best of Italy in an upmarket, New York style establishment. If you’re a first timer it would be wise to compliment the chef by ordering something from the polpette (Sicilian for meatballs) menu - Fiordland crayfish, wild deer, or wagyu beef are all succulent treats. For pasta that is handmade fresh daily, it is incredibly affordable ($22 at the most) and a true example of authentic cuisine from the host nation. And last but absolutely not least (this is a condensed version of highlights) is the tiramisu - as good as any you will find, possibly even better…”it’s a structural delight” (taken from the accurate descrption in the love written below by Soyung!)
Baduzzi is a fantastic all-day eatery employing traditional Italian methods and flavours in a modern context. The polpette - meatballs - are a must-try here, and they come in a number of interesting varieties such as wagyu beef and wild deer. The handmade pasta is rolled fresh daily, and their take on the traditional Tiramisu is a structural delight. True high rollers (or salumi afficionados) can even purchase their own leg of proscuitto which will be kept in a temperature-controlled room for whenever you swing by for a slice!
This placed opened in September and has been a runaway hit - which was to be expected with the owner of The Grove at the helm and stellar menu offerings at insanely affordable prices. It’s often called "the meatball restaurant" but is that and so much more, with amazing fish dishes, pasta and desserts also getting the big tick from me.
Had a fantastic dinner here with friends! Baduzzi has only been open for a little while, but the service was flawless, the place is beautifully set up, and the food was delicious - my favourites were the fragrant fish stew and their take on the tiramisu. And despite the high quality of the food, three courses came to under $50 each!
