OB真人视讯

The Verdict

Another day, another crushing blow for Auckland hospitality with the announcement of the closure of Everybody's & Roxy in downtown Auckland after 12 fabulous years. Below is some of the text posted to Instagram.

It is with great sadness that Everybody’s & Roxy was forced to close their doors permanently yesterday (20 Feb).

Although it will not be a surprise to anyone who understands how tough trading conditions have been for the hospitality world for the past 4 years, it was still a shock to us. 

We had been fighting so hard to make what we were doing better, despite all the headwinds, however, yesterday those winds blew us over. 

Fare thee well team, thanks for all the good times.

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If you haven't checked out downtown hotspot just yet—nigh is the time. This stunning, split-level venue—located in what was once the country's first-ever cinema—is one of the city's absolute best places to sink a drink/grab a bite to eat/have a boogie, especially now that they have two all-new bar and dining menus to get amongst.

Ascend the stunning spiral staircase hidden along Imperial Laneway, and enter into an oasis of glam, old-world charm. Lush greenery, exposed brick and chandeliers the size of small cars create a distinct art deco vibe, which you can soak up from a dedicated bar area with outdoor seating or the main restaurant, complete with cosy booths and a stunning second-storey mezzanine (aka the best seats in the house).

If you wanna keep things casual, head to the bar for a tipple or two. As well as the usual suspects (beer, wine), there's champagne, a six-strong gin selection, and an enviable cocktail menu. Their espresso martinis always hit the spot—in fact, they regularly appear on our best espresso martinis list—and their latest version comes laced with salted caramel syrup. Bliss.

However, we're also rather partial to the pineapple and chilli margarita—their popcorn old fashioned—and finally, the strawberry and lychee spritz (if you like your drinks quaffable, you're gonna love this). Now might be a good time to also mention that Everybody's has one of the city's best happy hours, running every day from 4 pm-7 pm.

Be sure to take advantage of the bar snacks while you're here—they're kind of incredible. We're talking crispy, melt-in-the-mouth haloumi corn dogs that you'll dunk in IPA ketchup and sprinkle with smoked salt (aka the most boujee hotdog you'll ever eat and bonus, it's vegetarian)—a fancy-pants version of prawn toast, featuring crunchy seeded bread topped with soy, mayo, and flakes of bonito—and saucy fried chicken wings, which you'll load with salted cucumber before dipping in gojuchang vinegar. Even better, get all of these treats and more when you order one of their incredibly epic platters, or 'boards'.

Rounding out the bar food is a short but sweet menu of pizzette, including an incredible mortadella number with burnt pineapple, juicy chillies, and a lush fennel cream slathered across the base—talk about an epiphany.

If you really wanna go to town, treat yourself to Everybody's dining menu—where fancy French haute cuisine is given a fresh spin. Expect Croque madame, oysters (which, FYI, you can snap up for $1 a pop between 4 pm and 6 pm daily), pork cotelette, and a tonne of other drool-worthy dishes that are big on luxury and even bigger on taste.

The standout here has to be the deconstructed big-eye tuna and beef tartare, with fermented chilli and duck fat mayo. A real hands-on affair, this one requires you to slice and dice the ingredients yourself until you get the perfect tartare texture (read: teeny tiny pieces that will legit melt in your mouth).

This is closely followed by the poisson du jour—that's fish of the day, served with a vibrant Basque sauce, smoked yoghurt, hazelnut and bonito, and the chicken liver parfait—dusted with nori and served with pickled carrot and onion gelee, plus crunchy prawn crackers for the scooping.

Finish with dessert (we'll be opting for the bombe Alaska), or perhaps a nightcap at Inwards Goods (the hot new street bar, owned by the same crew, that's just opened downstairs). Depending on the day, you may even be able to stick around for a dance—Friday and Saturday nights see appearances from some of the city's best house DJs and other musicians.

So whether you're down for a simple drink and some bar snacks, in the mood for a full-blown French feed, or up for cutting shapes until the wee hours of the morn, this spot definitely lives up to its name—offering something for everybody.

Image credit: Eric Jang.