First Mates, Last Laugh Menu

First Mates, Last Laugh sits beside the boats at Westhaven Marina, using its harbour setting as more than a backdrop. Created by Judith Tabron, the restaurant brings South American and Japanese ideas to New Zealand coastal produce, with full table service throughout the room and a sunny courtyard looking towards the water. The space can accommodate a relaxed lunch, drinks that stretch into dinner or a larger booked gathering, and the courtyard is dog friendly for diners who want to stay outside.

The opening part of the menu is made for assembling a lively shared spread. Smoked kahawai dip and mussel escabeche keep the coast close, while prawn and avocado, ahi tuna and salmon taquitos turn seafood into compact bites. Kingfish ceviche draws on Peru, and snapper with octopus appears as tiradito; sashimi provides a cleaner Japanese counterpoint. Beef-cheek croquettes, prawn toast and Szechuan squid add crunch and richness, creating a progression that can function as snacks or a substantial first round.

Seafood remains central when the larger plates arrive. Grilled snapper is paired with scampi bisque and mussels, spicy salmon with coconut, and John Dory with shiitake and white wine. Umi meshi gathers seafood around rice, while the fish burger and market fish with chips offer more familiar formats without disconnecting from the waterside setting. The combinations move between delicate raw preparation, deep shellfish sauces and straightforward frying, giving seafood diners several genuinely different experiences rather than variations on one plate.

The kitchen also makes room for wagyu picanha, lamb cutlets, chicken and slow-cooked beef cheek, supported by vegetable sides for a table that wants to share across land and sea. Desserts continue the cross-cultural play through dark chocolate with yuzu, apple-crumble cheesecake with miso caramel gelato, and sticky date pudding with Jerusalem artichoke gelato. With daily service from late morning, harbour views and a broad drinks setting, First Mates, Last Laugh works particularly well for an unhurried meal that can move naturally from small plates to dessert.

Address: 121 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011, New Zealand

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