A scenic 40 minute drive north of Auckland, perching over the stunning Kaipara River in histotric Helensville, is ‘The River View Bar & Grill’. Chef & owner Andrew McPherson purchased the place on his return from Australia. Previously a run down 80’s style restaurant serving everything from exotic concoctions to Thai takeaways, things have changed dramatically.

Owned for 2 years by young business partners Paul & James, Red Tomatoes Pizzeria has a brilliant location overlooking the trendy Kelburn Village in Wellington. Previously a run down shabby pizzeria serving a directionless pseudo Italian menu, believe it or not the place even served curries and pumpkin pie. Staff had no idea about service - some didn’t even know what fettuccine was. But now, things have radically changed.

Owned for 15 months by artist Lou Lou and her business partner Deane, ‘Lou Lou At The Beach’ is a perfectly positioned, cafe by day, and restaurant by night, with a spectacular outlook to Waiheke Island. Previously an over-the-top ‘gallery type’ haven for Lou Lou’s very bright art and ceramics, the decor was not for the faint hearted. In fact, for most, it was enough to put you off a good meal. That said, the food wasn’t much better; an eclectic mix of anything from Mexican fare to apple crumbles...but now things have radically changed!

Owned for 16 months by ex New York Lawyer Vito & his wife Gina...Vinnies is situated in the heart of one of New Zealand’s favourite summer locations...Raglan. A cafe by day & restaurant by night...it’s virtually a Raglan institution, having been around longer than the other 8 cafes and restaurants here...anyone that’s travelled to this neck of the woods should know about Vinnies.

Owned by Brits Chris & Marie – ‘Minstrels’ was opened 6 months ago on the site of a former sports bar in the swanky seaside suburb of Devonport. A supposed English theme that’s reflected across a confused mix of ‘cafe by day’ serving everything from gluten-free biscuits to tacky flavoured slushy’s – by night, a ‘fine dining restaurant’ serving everything from Sausage Buns to Ostrich Filets, and then a Jazz lounge as well thrown into the mix – the old Minstrels has a ridiculously overblown menu and was trying too hard to be too many things to too many people.

The quaint seaside community of Howick in Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs is home to ‘Chocolat’, formally ‘The Chocolate Cafe.’ Opened 12 months ago, it is owned by Victoria who manages the place and Jared, her partner and weekend sidekick. A supposed decadent theme, I can see where the owners vision lay for the cafe, but the old ‘Chocolate Cafe’ was anything but decadent!

I’m excited to be heading down to stunning Greytown in the Wairarapa, less than an hour’s drive from central Wellington. Blessed with an ideal climate for growing grapes and other produce, Greytown has become one of New Zealand’s top wine and food destinations – sounds like a dream come true! While Greytown is thriving though, restaurant Wakelin House has been struggling ever since the new owners Dave and Helen bought in 2006.

The owner of Sandringham cafe WKA initially hails from Hokitika, but came to Auckland for the bright lights of the big city – strange then that there was nothing ‘big city’ about little cafe WKA, in fact it felt more like it too had come straight out of Hokitika, but rather 1950’s Hokitika! A dated tearoom at best, WKA was suffering a major identity crisis, and struggled to pull in the punters now accustomed to trendy modern cafes.

Balmoral Auckland is home to a vast array of tasty walk-off-the-street bites, and ‘Haleems Indian Cuisine’ specialising in Hyderabadi flavours is no exception. Owned and run by Haleem himself who took over the previous Indian restaurant 4 years ago, the food here has always received a good review, as a cheap, flavoursome and authentic Indian bite...but food is only a small part of the equation!

The night time hustle of downtown Auckland’s Commerce St is home of only 3 years to New Zealand icon of 60 years: ‘The Whitelady’ Pie Cart. Originally opened in Fort St by ‘Pop’ Washer as a milkshake cart back in 1948, it was more significantly home to Auckland’s first decent coffee. Son Peter later took over the cart in 1974 and has been running it as a burger joint every single night, ever since...but this icon was losing its touch; a loved Kiwi institution that looked like it may have to shut up shop.