The story
Tony's Original Steakhouse has been a fixture on Wellesley Street West since 1963, earning its reputation as one of Auckland’s oldest restaurants. Mark Wiens calls it a "historic Auckland institution" with a "preserved old-school atmosphere," and he notes its "serious heritage and classic heritage food." The setting feels like a time capsule, steeped in decades of tradition.
The menu leans into that same unapologetically classic sensibility. Wiens highlights the "incredibly tender New Zealand lamb shank" as a standout, alongside a Prawn Cocktail and Roasted Vegetable Salad. These are hearty, no-fuss dishes that honor the steakhouse’s legacy without pretension—simple, satisfying, and deeply rooted in the city’s dining history.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2024.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 6 dish mentions say about the food
“It is a little bit more sophisticated than my version of the sauce. Has a nice like tartness to it, a creaminess. The shrimp is really nice. Really cool and refreshing. Really bit of acidity to it as well from the fresh squeeze of lemon juice.”
“This is a classic New Zealand style prawn cocktail. The sauce is a bit more sophisticated than my version — it has ketchup, mayonnaise, and some brandy. It has a nice tartness, creaminess, and the shrimp is really nice, cool, and refreshing with a bit of acidity from fresh lemon juice. The sweetness of the prawns comes out and they just melt in your mouth.”
What creators say
2 creators have covered Tony's Original Steakhouse. Most active: Mark Wiens
- Mark WiensLoved
Ultimate NEW ZEALAND Food Tour!! 21 Best Meals From Auckland to Queenstown [Full Documentary] · @ 24:25
One of the oldest restaurants in Auckland since 1963, with serious heritage and classic heritage food.
Dishes mentioned
Prawn Cocktail
It is a little bit more sophisticated than my version of the sauce. Has a nice like tartness to it, a creaminess. The shrimp is really nice. Really cool and refreshing. Really bit of acidity to it as well from the fresh squeeze of lemon juice.
Roasted Vegetable Salad
It has this warmness from the roasted vegetables with the cool fresh salad, cucumber, the saltiness of the cheese. Really good.
Lamb Shanks
Oh man, I literally did not even chew. My top teeth just came down and it sunk through the lamb. Oh man, it's so tender. Actually just melts in your mouth. See, it literally just comes off. It just falls off the bone. I didn't need to bite. Unbelievable. Oh, it's good. This is about as good as it gets for a lamb shank here in New Zealand. It just collapses. The bone is just completely clean. It's almost no effort to chew. And then also served with a salad. Served with some mashed potatoes. A side salad. And the lamb. Oh, look at this piece. It's glistening. It's shining. Just collapses, leaving that lamb oiliness on your lips as it goes down.
- Mark WiensLoved
5 Must Eat Foods in New Zealand!! 🇳🇿 I Can’t Stop Eating!! · @ 29:10
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant is a historic Auckland institution since 1963, serving classic hearty dishes like the incredibly tender New Zealand lamb shank in a preserved old-school atmosphere.
Dishes mentioned
Prawn Cocktail
This is a classic New Zealand style prawn cocktail. The sauce is a bit more sophisticated than my version — it has ketchup, mayonnaise, and some brandy. It has a nice tartness, creaminess, and the shrimp is really nice, cool, and refreshing with a bit of acidity from fresh lemon juice. The sweetness of the prawns comes out and they just melt in your mouth.
Roasted Vegetable Salad
This is a classic New Zealand salad with roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and kumara, with nuts and seeds. It has a warmness from the roasted vegetables with cool fresh salad, cucumber, and the saltiness of cheese. It's a great combination of different temperatures.
- Lamb Shanks
