SCORE: 17.5/20

We’re not sure what comes first at Londo, the bar or the restaurant. Either way, both the food and the drinks are superb. Chef-owner Robert Fairs heads up this tiny kitchen and bar and, boy, does he deliver big! With a commitment to supporting the local community by using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in both the drinks and the food, you’ll be inspired by the beauty of the plates that come out of this teeny space. This is clever cooking where simplicity rules on an ever-changing menu and hero ingredients such as raw fish, heritage tomatoes, blackfoot pāua or creamy vibrant avocados are elevated by clever sauces, dressings and vinaigrettes. Onto every dish goes just the right element for crunch and texture and we will forever remember his almighty Brussels sprouts with stracciatella and wild onion from 2024. Drop in and grab a table or pull up a stool at the bar, and while you are there you will probably run into many of the local hospitality crowd who treat this Merivale hotspot as their own. Attentive service and interesting chat with a team that is eager to provide recommendations will have you feeling like a regular in no time.