Gemmayze Street turns chef-owner Samir Allen's Lebanese family history into a restaurant made for sharing. Opened in 2016, it sits deep inside St Kevin's Arcade rather than presenting itself directly to Karangahape Road, a location that rewards diners who follow the arcade through to its rear. The restaurant describes its story in generational terms, and that idea is most persuasive when food arrives for the whole table. Breaking bread, passing mezze and letting several flavours overlap create the meal's natural rhythm rather than an optional style of ordering.

The dining room gives that communal approach a memorable backdrop. Floor-to-ceiling windows look toward the Sky Tower and across Myers Park, bringing an unusually open view to a tucked-away arcade address. Tiled floors and hanging plants add the feeling of a Mediterranean courtyard, while Arabic music keeps the room connected to the food's cultural setting. It is intimate enough for dinner between two people but has the flexibility for larger bookings, semi-private meals and full celebrations without losing the restaurant's warmth.

Mezze provides the clearest starting point. Silky hummus, charred-eggplant baba ganoush, warm pita and pickles create a balance of creaminess, smoke, bread and acidity before heartier plates arrive. The hummus has particular meaning here: Allen makes it in small batches over three days from a family recipe, finishing the chickpeas with a rich layer of paprika-infused oil. That patient process turns a familiar dip into a statement of the restaurant's broader method, where inherited flavours are handled with care rather than reduced to shortcuts.

Dinner is designed to unfold across several shared plates rather than through isolated individual courses. The kitchen's rich Lebanese flavours are accompanied by signature cocktails and a curated wine list, giving a group room to choose between a concise meal and a longer evening. Private events use the same sharing philosophy, so the food remains central even when the occasion grows in scale. Gemmayze Street's appeal lies in that continuity: family history, an elevated arcade setting, generous mezze and convivial service all point toward eating together.

Address: 15/16 St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

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Gemmayze Street Menu Menu updated on 2 Sep 2026

$32

Kibbeh nayeh

venison tartare, fermented chilli, crispy potato

$28

Samak nayeh

raw market fish, pistachio, basil, crispy shallot

Dairy Free

$30

Octopus manoushi

toasted flatbread, za’atar mayo, coriander zhoug

$32

Chicken shish

grilled chicken thigh, toum, pickles, saffron rice, gremolata

$35

Lahme shish

grilled lamb rump, dill lubneh, muhamarra, chilli crisp

$35

Nana’s yukney

braised lamb shoulder, tomato, cinnamon, pea, crispy kataifi

$40

Jeeb

Please note this is a sample menu and all dishes are subject to change

JEEB

Housemade pide Hummus roasted garlic, paprika Babaganouj smoky eggplant, cumin, pomegranate Falafel pickled green chilli, tahini, coriander … Fattouche lebanese green salad, sumac, pomegranate Jazar roasted carrot, cashew, fennugreek, spiced granola Gemmayze St lamb shoulder slow roasted lamb, pomegranate jus

P.P $65

JEEB

Housemade pide Hummus roasted garlic, paprika Babaganouj smoky eggplant, cumin, pomegranate Kibbeh Nayeh venison tartare, fermented chilli, preserved lemon Falafel pickled green chilli, tahini, coriander … Asparagus cultured cream, oregano, pinenut Fattouche lebanese green salad, sumac, pomegranate Jazar roasted carrot, cashew, fennugreek, spiced granola Nana’s yukney braised lamb shoulder, tomato, cinnamon, pea, crispy kataifi … Knefe kataifi pastry, baked ricotta, passionfruit, orange blossom

P.P $85

JEEB

Housemade pide Hummus roasted garlic, paprika Babaganouj smoky eggplant, cumin, pomegranate Kibbeh nayeh venison tartare, fermented chilli, preserved lemon Falafel pickled green chilli, tahini, coriander … Octopus manoushi toasted flatbread, za’atar mayo, coriander zhoug … Asparagus cultured cream, oregano, pinenut Fattouche lebanese green salad, sumac, pomegranate Jazar roasted carrot, cashew, fennugreek, spiced granola Gemmayze St lamb shoulder slow roasted lamb, pomegranate jus … Knefe kataifi pastry, baked ricotta, passionfruit, orange blossom

P.P $110

Take some Gemmayze Street home with you

Hummus by Gemmayze St

250g jar $16

Beer & Cider

Hallertau #10

5.0% Hazy Pale Ale 330ml tap

Hallertau #2

5.3% Pale Ale 330ml tap

$12

Hallertau #0

0% Pale Ale 330ml

$10

Hallertau #8

5.0% Mr Yakimoto Lager 330ml

$10

Abel Cider NV

330ml

$15

Non-Alcoholic

NON #1

Salted raspberry & chamomile

$16

NON # 3

Toasted Cinnamon & yuzu

$16

Housemade Sodas

Pomegranate Iced Tea $8 Rose Lemonade $8

Gaza Cola

regular $8 sugarfree $8

Karma sodas

Gingerella $8 Lemmy Lemonade $8

Iced Lebanese Coffee

with Oat milk

$8 add broken heart spiced rum + $12

Oravida Sparkling water

800ml

Vodka, Lemon, Mint, Crushed Ice

Bonjus

Pineapple, Passionfruit, Oregano

$16

Khyar

Cucumber, Feijoa, Yuzu Tonic

$16

Bubbles

15 minute bottles “Mildnat” ‘24

Waipara, Central Otago

$19 $90

Paradise Prosecco

Australia

$14 $55

Falceri Extra Dry Prosecco

Italy

$16 $75

1818 Brut NV

By Billecart Salmon, Champagne

Rock Ferry “Orchard” ‘25

Hawkes Bay • Pinot Blac, Pinot gris

$16 $75

Château Garage “le deux soeurs” ‘24

Hawkes Bay • merlot, rose

$16 $75

Orange

Park ‘24

Nelson • Gewurtztraminer Blend

$14 $55

Huntress Waihonga ‘24

Wairarapa • Pinot gris

$17 $80

Chilled Red

15 Minute Bottles “Test Pots” ‘23

Waipara, Central Otago • Pinot Noir

$17 $80

Huntress Kuratea ‘23

Wairarapa • Pinot noir, Syrah

$17 $80

Red

Munroes Road ‘21

Clevedon • Syrah

$20 $95

Mon Cheval ‘15

Waipara Valley • Pinot Noir

$19 $90

Jasci & Marchesani ‘23

Abruzzo, Italy • Montepulciano

$16 $75

Cincinelli ‘23

Arezzo, Italy • Chianti

$17 $80

BQ-Ā de Marsyas ‘20

Lebanon • Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

$19 $90

Unkel “Atlas” ‘23

Nelson • Pinot Noir

$18 $85

Two Hands “Angels’ Share” Shiraz ‘23

McLaren Vale

$19 $90

Sweet

Corrado Tonelli

Pergola, Italy • Visner

$14

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Read the full guide (10 restaurants)

Gemmayze Street Menu

Gemmayze Street Menu Menu updated on 2 Sep 2026

Mezza

Jeeb

Take some Gemmayze Street home with you

Beer & Cider

Non-Alcoholic

Cocktails

G Street Classics

Mocktails

Bubbles

White

Rose

Orange

Chilled Red

Red

Sweet

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