Culprit

Tucked away up a narrow central Auckland staircase lies Culprit, a trendy and sophisticated inner city hideout serving nostalgic New Zealand cuisine with a modern global edge.

Owner and chef Kyle Street is well known for his time spent at Depot, where alongside Al Brown, he helped bring modern Kiwi dining to Auckland. Culprit is an evolution of this style, where local seasonal ingredients are championed in a fun and novel way. It’s degustation, but without the fuss.

On offer is a rotating ‘chef’s choice’ set menu, heroing local suppliers and diverse ingredients. Inspiration is taken from Kyle’s uniquely Kiwi upbringing, the result being that each dish is playful, always innovative and big on flavour. Seafood lovers will definitely want to upgrade to the ‘Epic menu’, which adds on an assortment of kaimoana, including oysters, sashimi, fish tartare and whatever else may be in season.

Keeping with the rest, the drinks menu is also edgy - offering both classic and inventive cocktails and a wine list clearly created with thought. Take your pick or opt to pair with the chef’s choice menu. 

Culprit is all about creating a fun, relaxed and quirky dining experience. Kyle and his team seek to deliver fine dining sensibility and sophistication in an unpretentious, energetic and generous way.

Striking the perfect balance between upmarket and casual, Culprit is the perfect spot for your next meal out. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are always recommended.