Number 5 Restaurant

Number 5 is something of an institution in Auckland, wth a long tenure as a fine restaurant serving contemporary food with a French flair.
We had a private room for a group of 8 or so, and I am not sure if we had the standard menu or one for the group, but it was lovely
The setting is very old school, with a lovely old style interior, leadlight windows in many windows and the stairwell. Starched linen, candle light, good smells, attentive staff — nothing to dislike here at all.
The menu was very nice, including a special of Bluff oysters, which I believe (and many other travellers at the table concurred) to be the best in the world. Of course I was always going to have that.
Then a delightful duck breast cooked several ways, artfully presented and very flavoursome — very good indeed.
I think I had a wonderful desert (pretty sure it was a caramel banana something) but by then we had imbibed a fair quantity of the excellent Ata Rangi Celebre pinot noir and I really can’t be sure. Damn waitress just kept topping it up, and, well, that tends to creep up on one.
HIghly recommended.