The French Cafe
The French Cafe would arguably have to be one of the best restaurants I have dined at. We were fortunate enough to get a table without prior reservation on the day. If you know you are going to New Zealand, I advise to book to avoid disappointment. On this occasion we had the 6-course tasting menu for $100 per person with the matching wines for $60 per person. Every course was sublime as were the wines.

Tasting menu with matching wines

Amuse Bouche porcini mushroom soup

Marinated Tuna with summer radish, pink grapefruit, spanner crab and asian flavours
2009 Martinborough Vineyards Manu Riesling, Martinborough

Langoustine, Basil and Truffle Ravioli with crushed peas, tomato confit, pea shoots and jus of langoustine
2005 Domaine Emilian Gillet Quintane Vire-Clesse, Burgundy

Roasted French Goats Cheese with caramelised onion and beetroot tart and red wine syrup
2008 Neudorf Tom's Block Pinot Noir, Nelson

Seared Duck Breast with sweet spices, celeriac puree, young spinach and roasted figs
2007 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy

Fresh Market Fish with cauliflower cream, butter-poached lobster, asparagus and nasturtium
2007 Domaine Pinson Chablis, Burgundy

Watermelon and Rosewater Granita with white chocolate cream, crushed strawberries and raspberry meringue

Apple Crumble Souffle with apple feijoa compote, butterscotch, feijoa sorbet and walnut praline
2007 Baumard Coteaux Du Layon, Loire Valley

Te Whau Vineyard
Make sure you check out the opening times when planning your trip as Te Whau Vineyard has limited trading hours. Featuring a bar with wine tasting and a minimalist restaurant Te Whau boasts the best views on Waiheke Island with great tasting food.  On this occasion we got the later ferry back to Auckland just to dine there for lunch.  

Aoraki Salmon

Paddle Crab Salmon

Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant
Another stunning restaurant  is the Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant with rustic brick floor, bagged walls, aged recycled timber beams, a roaring fire and views to die for. 
The menu was interesting with entrees of Asian Duck Consomme, Waiheke Oysters and Foie Gras Mousse or mains of Smoked Confit Duck Leg and Seared Breast with red cabbage, celeriac potatoes and crispy black pudding and Mudbrick Red Wine Poached Eye Beef Fillet with potato risotto, bone marrow, sweetbreads and tarragon. Not sure about the excessive use of foam though (See Lamb below).

Taste of Waiheke Lamb with eggplant mille feuille, olives and sauce Vierge

Waiheke Snapper and Coromandel Smoked Kahawai Dumpling with spannercrab choucroute, parsley and lemon

For more information, see our travel page http://www.qldfbi.com.au/travel/other-places