RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
PABLO ARRASCO PAZ
MADAME GEORGE
SPONSORED BY DE’LONGHI

ADDRESS:   490 Karangahape Rd, Auckland CBD
CHECK WEBSITE FOR OPENING HOURS
MAINS:   $29 – $85
WEBSITE:    madamegeorge.co.nz
CONTACT:   09 308 9039
SCORE:   17.5 / 20

Decisions, decisions. K Rd’s fun side offers an abundance of options, but Madame George makes for an easy choice. Kickstart the session with a famed pisco sour or a glass of champagne from the finest French producers, then sit back and watch the fascinating Karangahape world parade by. Your only distraction will be the tapas-style food drifting past, heady with aroma and plump in portions. Dig into tender, tangy and moreish raw and cured fish dishes. Grab the dreamy grilled chicken with its arroz verde dressing. And Madame’s tallarin saltado is a showstopper. Owner and host Pablo Arrasco Paz is the star turn. He never seems to stop and has the art of making you feel like a valued friend while never venturing into the over-familiar. This magical mix of Peruvian-inspired food, a consummate host and one of the best observation spots in Auckland makes Madame George a guaranteed go-to for an entertaining night out.

IN BRIEF: A street-front, taste-filled Latin flourish