Culprit.

Someone from this business manages this listing.

808 reviews

#3 of 2,213 Restaurants in Auckland Central$$ - $$$, International, Contemporary, New Zealand

+64 9-377 5992+ Add website

Hours

Tue

5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Wed

5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Thu

5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Fri

5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Sat

5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

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What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?

This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.

Ratings and reviews

5.0

808 reviews

#3 of 2,213 Restaurants in Auckland Central

Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, New Zealand, International, Contemporary, Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

“The Lamb Neck Croquette - what a warm comforting bite with the intelligence t...”

“Best bite was chicken liver parfait and truffle yuzu cevice... Everything els...”

“... were a great start and we particularly like the sashimi with the masala oil.”

“Wonderful tasting menu.”

Location and contact

12 Wyndham St Level 1, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand

+64 9-377 5992

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Details

Manage this business?

About

Culprit serves nostalgic kiwi cuisine with a modern global edge. We offer chefs choice menus that hero local suppliers. Owner & Chef Kyle Street creates playful dishes that are innovative and big on flavour, often with a nod to his New Zealand upbringing.

CUISINES

International, Contemporary, New Zealand

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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5.0

808 reviews

Excellent

709

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NZSammy76

Auckland2 contributions

Fantastic Value for Money on the Local Hero Voucher!

Jul 2020 • none

We dined recently to utilise our Local Hero Voucher (purchased during lockdown), and were impressed and surprised by the amount of carefully curated and delicious food we were presented with, despite the voucher being for a pretty reasonable dollar amount. We had been before and to be honest I'm not 100% sold on the trolley service aspect (the pressure!), so it was nice to sit down to a set menu and enjoy being treated. Service was friendly and efficient and the atmosphere was pretty buzzy and typical of a Friday night in the CBD. A drink across the road beforehand at Little Culprit is highly recommended as well. We will definitely return.

Written July 11, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ripass0

Auckland90 contributions

Nice change of format

Jan 2020 • none

First time at Culprit and were using a gift voucher. Enjoyed a few of the smaller dishes that are brought around the table and you can select or not. Prices for these range between about $4 and $12. First two we were offered and tried were the $12 dishes (both very good) and another couple of $10/$12 dished presented but not taken. We thought we probably should select our two mains at that point. Then some of the lesser pricing items were presented and so we picked a couple of them - good also. We ended up with just one main as we were quite full and couldn't have finished the second main we were going to order. Great night out.

Written January 27, 2020

1973vicky

Auckland Central23 contributions

Dinner at Culprit

May 2020 • friends

As it was my husbands 50th we were rapt to get a table for 9 on the first Friday after lockdown. The support our locals menu for $50 took all the awkward ordering out of the equation and we could get on with long awaited conversations with our friends. The food was well catered to the pescatarians in our group and mostly vegetarian. It was innovative, interesting and very tasty. Service was discreet and restaurant cosy. Just what we needed!

Written May 16, 2020

Mary W

Boston27 contributions

Very clever format and even better food!

Jan 2020 • couples

Spending a couple of days in Auckland at start of trip, and found “Culprit.” (Thank you fellow Trip Advisor reviewers!) Was not sure what the “trolley service” involved, other than variation of dim sum service have seen in Chinese restaurants. Turns out is a way for chef to offer a variety of very good appetizers for diners to choose or not. If you wish to have a main course, you can choose from a separate menu. The “trolley” is actually a human with a tray and not what I had expected - but the analogy works. We shared three different items from the trolley service (king fish sushi, waygu beef carpaccio, and octopus). I can’t do justice to the elements comprising each dish, but they were beautifully presented and garnished - and just enough to enjoy without overdoing it. For our “main,” we shared half a lamb shoulder (plenty for two), which had cooked for twelve hours, was also perfectly dressed. Divine! Chef, we learned, was behind the scenes working his magic, and visible when telling the “trolley” what the next dish was in great detail - sporting a cap bearing “obey” as its label. Reportedly, he has many copies of this same cap that he rotates by the day😊. Culprit. has been in business just over 3 years as I write. The venue is spare, but thoughtfully laid out; the manager and few staff worked seamlessly together to serve the guests. Go if you can as soon as possible to this hidden gem which is an amazing value given the quality and variety of the food.

Written January 28, 2020

Dan L

London51 contributions

Best spot in Auckland

May 2021 • none

Before I mention how unbelievable the food was, let me say a huge thank you to the wait staff who memorized all our unusual dietary requirements (no-dairy, no cucumber or raw food) and made entirely new delicious dishes. Easily the best experience I've had in Auckland - perfect attention to detail, amazing range of flavours on the $45 menu (go for the duck) and great atmosphere with a view into the busy kitchen. I will be returning, and bringing more friends.

Written May 10, 2021

NMVino

Hamilton303 contributions

Epic Menu was certainly Epic, First class and exquisite .....

Jul 2020 • none

Wow, this was one of our best food experiences and made my birthday one to remember. We had pre-booked a table; pre-ordering the Epic Menu and matching wines. The service was first class, relaxed and friendly just like the restaurant itself. The food exquisite. All the plates were beautifully presented and the tastes sensational. We couldn't fault a thing - if there was perfection this was it! Each dish blew us away both with the presentation but most importantly the taste sensation and we tried to savour each mouthful!! We decided to upgrade the main course to their famous Duck dish and this was beautiful. The top quality wines were fabulous and matched perfectly. They were very accommodating when we asked them to give us a little time before dessert as we were quite full. The dessert wine and dessert was stunning and made extra special with a candle. Don't hesitate to book, this is a must do! We can't wait to return the next time we are in Auckland.

Written July 7, 2020

Eddie

Whakatāne24 contributions

Absolute Vibe

Oct 2020 • none

Definitely not what I was expecting but in the best way possible. Place is quite casual and the music they play makes you wish it was a nightclub so you could get up and dance (Nothing head-banging just great tunes). Food is absolutely incredible and makes the place. Had the $99 EPIC menu, every dish was packed full with flavour but the Fried Cheese with truffle was my personal favourite. Service was great to, staff had a laugh with us and were always over filling up our water etc. Definitely recommend as one of best restaurants in Auckland.

Written October 18, 2020

mai_w_www

62 contributions

Lovely meal

Jan 2020 • none

Lovely staff and cozy vibe. Tried their market fish for main which was lovely. Their dishes from trolley service were also nice: sashimi, asparagus and goat pops. The idea of trolley service is interesting but may not be entirely necessary since it is different from the traditional trolley service (it is just pushing out the food through a trolley after all) —- in asian culture, trolley service is usually trolleys with a variety of dim sum and were pushed around the restaurant for customers to order on the spot. Then again, I can understand it is probably hard to execute and I do appreciate their creativity. Would highly recommend Cultprit!

Written January 5, 2020

bistrobaby

Vancouver24 contributions

Innovative! Fresh! Joyful!

Dec 2019 • none

This little restaurant is full of big surprises. We booked well ahead and were asked to choose one of the three proffered menus. I opted for Culprit Lite, thinking we may feel jet lagged and not up to a long evening, but once we saw how intriguing the whole experience is, I was sorry we didn't opt for the trolley menu. They are really pushing the envelope in the Culprit kitchen and it is thrilling. We enjoyed so many explosions of taste and brilliant flavour combinations it makes me hungry to write this review. What they did with ahi, pork, tomatoes.....I could go on and on, but here is my dining tip: don't miss out on the chicken liver parfait. The service was impeccable and we appreciate how knowledgable our server was about local wines.

Written February 12, 2020

ArieArjan

Nijmegen92 contributions

Delicious 'trolley service'

Jan 2020 • none

We had dinner here twice, at the start and at the end of our travels in New Zealand. Both times were great. We especially enjoyed the 'trolley service' where you are presented with a number of unique small dishes (hot and cold) that you can accept or not, the choice is up to you. We chose all but one and all were delicious. Also friendly and attentive staff.

Written February 5, 2020

Mikemikr

1 contribution

One of the best

Mar 2020 • couples

Culprit has some of the best food you will find in Auckland, or anywhere actually. The chef is somewhat of a wizard, and the wait staff professional, informed and engaging. I simply cant recommend this place enough. Oh, and Little Culprit, across the road is highly recommended for a pre dinner drink or two.

Written March 11, 2020

Bridget

30 contributions

A special night

Jul 2020 • friends

We went to Culprit because it had been so strongly recommended by family, particularly the smashed pig face and doughnuts and pate. So we went ready to be delighted and adventurous and were not disappointed! Each plate was an absolute feast for the eyes and tastebuds. I loved all the different flavours and sauces. My top favourites were the sashimi and lemon meringue. Our waitstaff were really warm and friendly while being completely professional. They lead us well through the yumcha style and all the new and interesting dishes. At the end of the night we were amazed that there wasn't a high end price for such a special experience. Thank you Culprit. I'm already telling friends to come!

Written July 10, 2020

coffeeman

2 contributions

Fantastic culinary treat

Feb 2020 • couples

Just eaten at Culprit and had a fantastic experience. Their “trolly” service for starters is a great way to dine- you select as many (or as few) from around 7/8 starters that are brought round on a tray one by one. We had lamb shoulder for main. The lamb was superb. It comes with roast potatoes and “salad”. The bizarre thing is the lamb is unbelievable but is weirdly (almost) surpassed by the salad. Please go and judge for yourself. Great staff too. Please try to go if you are visiting Auckland.

Written February 6, 2020

Dee Perth

Perth17 contributions

lovely evening with interesting food

Mar 2020 • none

We could not go past the food on the Trolley Service. The food was varied and interesting and delivered at pace that you did not feel rushed. However we tried all the items and could not even consider any more food. The Staff knowledge of wine was good with helpful suggestions. Great night out.

Written March 5, 2020

Kjm6565

Katoomba55 contributions

We visited Culprit in Auckland

Feb 2020 • none

We visited Culprit in Auckland in January and it was excellent. The food is served in small plates at first so you get to try lots of delectable items. Then you can order larger or shared dishes. The service was incredibly friendly and accommodating and they handled the gluten free dairy free requirements of one of us really well. The food was delicious - the lamb ribs, the wagyu, the zucchini flowers, the white peach dessert were particularly good. Highly recommend 💕

Written February 7, 2020

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CULPRIT., Auckland Central - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor