Paname Social

The Verdict

No one does food quite like the French. Don't believe us? Treat yourself to a meal and a drink or two at Auckland's hot new Parisian-inspired cafe/bistro and wine bar, Paname Social, and see if you don't agree.

Geographically speaking, this chic new spot on Lorne Street may be as far from France as one can get, but the fit-out, food, and all-'round vibe are not unlike what you'd find on the streets of Paris.

And that's exactly what co-owners and Parisians, Matt Gosset and Matt Ferrgati—who also happen to run another one of our fave Frenchie destinations, Atelier on Karangahape Road (along with Wander in Wynyard Quarter and Ambler in Point Chevalier)—were after with this latest venture.

If you're up to speed with your French, you may have picked up on their affinity with the city already (Paname—pronounced puh-nam—is what the locals affectionately call Paris).

In typical Parisian fashion, Paname is an all-day establishment for much of the week (see left for their exact hours)—dishing up everything from the city's staple breakfast of coffee and croissants in the morning, to charcuterie platters, cocktails and other delicacies until late in the evening. Did we mention they also offer an oyster and champagne bar?

This stylish yet relaxed spot can be found on the ground floor of the newly-refurbished HB Building, located conveniently in the centre of the CBD. As a heritage site, you can expect plenty of exposed brick and other character features, married with clean, modern touches—including one hell of a bar—across an expansive space that seats up to 100 people. Parts of the interior are still being finalised, with plans to showcase local artwork, and a whole lot more wine (a bit of a speciality here, with more than 40 drops available by the glass and counting).

We especially dig the night-time vibe, where the space takes on a more intimate feel—think ambient lighting and chill tunes, best enjoyed from one of their cosy booths.

The evening is also when you'll come across some of this spot's best food. Whet your whistle with a drink while you go about making the hard decisions—suffice to say, you can't go wrong with a glass of vino, but we also rather like the Belleville (a punchy riff on the New York sour featuring peated whisky and red wine foam), along with the Bonne Nouvelle (a lush, low-alcohol number laced with lychee, lemon, and Noix de St Jean liqueur).

Ferrgati tells us that the mark of any good Parisian restaurant is its charcuterie platter—no surprise then that the offering here is not to be scoffed at (scoffed, on the other hand, yes!). Piled high with juicy cold cuts, crunchy cornichons, divine pork rillettes (like paté, only better), caramelised onion and crusty sourdough bread with house butter to bring it all together, this should absolutely be your first stop on the menu. In fact, we already anticipate many get-togethers taking place over this particular dish.

It'd be remiss not to save some room for the wider menu, however—the lobster tail mac and cheese is a particularly good time, for obvious reasons (you did hear us say mac and cheese, right?). This rendition of the beloved dish is much more extravagant than the kind we're used to, and we're here for it—think finely chopped pieces of lobster tail added to the sauce, and a cheeky chipotle-dusted topping to finish. No judgement here if you take it upon yourself to order seconds.

We're also rather partial to the smoked kahawai croquettes. These bite-sized morsels, hiding fragrant pieces of flaky fish beneath a golden crumbed shell and served on a rich chorizo romesco sauce, are far too easy to eat. In fact, their only downfall is that they're served in threes (meaning that again, we wouldn't be opposed to ordering seconds).

Of course, French desserts are second-to-none in the culinary world and that is certainly true of Paname's deconstructed apple tarte tatin. A mouthwatering medley of caramelised apple, vanilla ice cream, sweet biscuit pieces, whipped cream, and shards of a creme-brulee-like 'crack' on top, this is the pièce de résistance of an altogether incredible menu.

And if after all that, you still need convincing of whether French food is some of the best in the world, there's only one thing for it—make a return trip to Paname Social for brekkie or lunch. Don't be surprised if you see us there.

Image credit: Dave Marano.