Lilian is a Grey Lynn neighbourhood bistro and wine bar shaped around a compact room and the glow of its wood-fired oven. The roughly 70-seat space has the enclosed warmth of a European wine cellar, but the restaurant behaves like a relaxed local rather than a formal dining room. Lunch, dinner and set-menu formats all centre on sharing, allowing a table to begin with bread and smaller plates, add several seasonal dishes and finish with pizza or a larger course.
Wood fire is the thread that gives the menu continuity. Puffy bread arrives ready to pull apart with burrata or a savoury spread, and pizzas carry the oven's blistering into a series of changing toppings. The same heat also suits vegetables, seafood and meat, so smaller plates and larger courses feel related even when their ingredients differ. A short seasonal structure keeps the cooking responsive rather than forcing an oversized catalogue of fixed dishes.
Recent examples capture that range clearly: wood-fired octopus is paired with romesco, fried potato and fennel, while bavette comes with tomatoes smoked in beef fat. Grilled market fish brings together courgette flower, Meyer lemon purée and ricotta, balancing smoke with brighter and creamier elements. Lamb ribs with black garlic and pistachio provide a richer shared plate, and pickled mussels bring acidity and salinity back to the opening part of the meal.
The wine list ranges through New Zealand, France and Italy, matching the bistro's balance of local ingredients and European technique. Guests can treat Lilian as a wine bar for a small plate, bread and a glass, or build a full progression through shared dishes and dessert. That flexibility is central to its neighbourhood character: the food is carefully composed, but the table decides whether the visit becomes a quick drink, a pizza night or a long meal passed around among friends.
Address: 472 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021, New Zealand
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Lilian Menu
Lunch – To Start
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request. Please notify a staff member of any dietary requirements.
Market oyster
NAG, DF
Raw market fish, cara cara orange, red onion & capers
NAG, DF
Woodfired bread
DF
Lunch – Add +
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Marinated olives
NAG, DF, V, VE
Whipped snapper roe, pickled radish & dill
Anchovy & caramelised onion butter
NAG
Burrata
NAG
Pickled mussels, cucumber, chilli & horseradish
NAG
Chicken liver parfait
NAG
Beef tartare, chicken fat, roasted peppers & fried potatoes
NAG, DF
Lunch – Smaller
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Baby cos, ranch, parmesan crumb & lemon
NAGO, DFO, V, VEO
Endive, piqa boo pear, red leicester, pickled shallots & walnuts
VO, NAG
Grilled cabbage, caraway cream, dukkah & prosciutto
VO, NAG
Woodfired eggplant, macadamia & agrodolce
NAG, DF, VO, VEO
Lamb Ribs, black garlic & pistachio
NAG, DF
Grilled beef tongue, tonnato, capers & rhubarb mostarda
NAG
Lunch – Bigger
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request. * Please allow at least 40 minutes.
Woodfired octopus, chard, polenta & fermented chilli
NAGO
Market fish, mussels, confit leeks & smoked albariño sauce
NAGO
Duck breast, pickled radicchio & parsnip
NAG, DFO. * Please allow at least 40 minutes
Bavette, bone marrow bordelaise & duck fat potato
NAG, DF
Lunch – Woodfired Pizza
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Tomato, mozzarella & basil
DFO, V, VEO
Potato, pancetta, mozzarella, rosemary & caramelised onions
V, VEO
Coppa, cherry tomato, pecorino & rocket
VEO
Spicy sausage, mozzarella, garlic, sliced lemon & rocket
VO
Chorizo, mozzarella, fermented chilli cream, pickled onions & oregano
VO
Prosciutto, grapes, parmesan & thyme
DFO
Ortiz anchovy, tomato, parmesan, stracciatella, basil & chilli
DFO, VE
Clams, garlic, parsley, chilli & pecorino
DFO, VEO
Lunch – To Finish
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Tiramisu
V
Choux bun with peanut, dark chocolate ice cream & rum soaked prunes
V
Mandarin & white chocolate bombe alaska
V
Express Lunch
Wednesday–Sunday 12pm–4pm. Express lunch to share for 2+ | $45 per person. Quantity of dishes will be determined by your group size. For dietary requirements please ask your waiter.
Woodfired bread
WITH Burrata OR Chicken liver parfait
Woodfired eggplant, macadamia & agrodolce
OR Lamb ribs, black garlic & pistachio
Market fish, mussels, confit leeks & smoked albariño sauce
OR Woodfired octopus, chard, polenta & fermented chilli OR Bavette, bone marrow bordelaise & duck fat potato OR Woodfired pizza of your choice
Baby cos, ranch, parmesan crumb & lemon
ADD ON $5 PP
Dinner – To Start
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request. Please notify a staff member of any dietary requirements.
Market oyster
NAG, DF
Raw market fish, cara cara orange, red onion & capers
NAG, DF
Woodfired bread
DF
Dinner – Add +
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Marinated olives
NAG, DF, V, VE
Whipped snapper roe, pickled radish & dill
Anchovy & caramelised onion butter
NAG
Burrata
NAG
Pickled mussels, cucumber, chilli & horseradish
NAG
Chicken liver parfait
NAG
Beef tartare, chicken fat, roasted peppers & fried potatoes
NAG, DF
Dinner – Smaller
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Baby cos, ranch, parmesan crumb & lemon
NAGO, DFO, V, VEO
Endive, piqa boo pear, red leicester, pickled shallots & walnuts
NAG, DFO, V
Grilled cabbage, caraway cream, dukkah & prosciutto
NAG, VO
Woodfired eggplant, macadamia & agrodolce
NAG, DF, VO, VEO
Lamb Ribs, black garlic & pistachio
NAG, DF
Clams, fennel, roast garlic & chorizo pangrattato
NAG
Dinner – Bigger
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request. * Please allow at least 40 minutes.
Woodfired octopus, chard, polenta & fermented chilli
NAG
Poached market fish, crayfish butter, duck fat potato & grilled greens
NAGO
Duck breast, pickled radicchio & parsnip
NAG, DFO. * Please allow at least 40 minutes
Dry aged t-bone steak & roast bone sauce
NAG, DF. * Please allow at least 40 minutes
Dry aged Porterhouse steak & roast bone sauce
NAG, DF. * Please allow at least 40 minutes
Dinner – Woodfired Pizza
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Tomato, mozzarella & basil
DFO, V, VEO
Potato, pancetta, mozzarella, rosemary & caramelised onions
V, VEO
Coppa, cherry tomato, pecorino & rocket
VEO
Spicy sausage, mozzarella, garlic, sliced lemon & rocket
VO
Chorizo, mozzarella, fermented chilli cream, pickled onions & oregano
VO
Prosciutto, grapes, parmesan & thyme
DFO
Ortiz anchovy, tomato, parmesan, stracciatella, basil & chilli
DFO, VE
Clams, garlic, parsley, chilli & pecorino
DFO, VEO
Dinner – To Finish
Monday 6pm–late, Tuesday–Saturday 5pm–late. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Tiramisu
V
Choux bun with peanut, dark chocolate ice cream & rum soaked prunes
V
Mandarin & white chocolate bombe alaska
V
Set Menu – $80 per person
$80 per person. Minimum of 8 people. Extra $10 per person for market oysters. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Raw market fish, cara cara orange, red onion & capers
NAG, DF
Woodfired bread
DF
Burrata
NAG
Chicken liver parfait
NAG
Woodfired eggplant, macadamia, agrodolce
NAG, DF, VO, VEO
Lamb ribs, black garlic, pistachio
NAG, DF
Poached market fish, crayfish butter, duck fat potato & grilled greens
NAGO
Baby cos, ranch, parmesan crumb, lemon
NAGO, DFO, V, VEO
Woodfired pizza of your choice
Tiramisu
V
Set Menu – $65 per person
$65 per person. Minimum of 8 people. Extra $10 per person for market oysters. Dietary codes: NAG = no added gluten, DF = dairy free, V = vegetarian, VE = vegan, NAGO/DFO/VO/VEO = NAG/DF/V/VE on request.
Raw market fish, blood orange, red onion & capers
NAG, DF
Woodfired bread
DF
Burrata
NAG
Chicken liver parfait
NAG
Woodfired eggplant, macadamia, agrodolce
NAG, DF, VO, VEO
Lamb ribs, black garlic, pistachio
NAG, DF
Woodfired pizza
Baby cos, ranch, parmesan crumb, lemon
NAGO, DFO, V, VEO
Cocktails
Acqua di Cedro Lemonade Sour
Lemon Verbena infused Burnt Hill Vodka, Acqua di Cedro Liquore, Balm Mint
Cosmopolita
Vodka, Apple, Elderflower, Chilli, Basil
Strawberry Guava Daiquiri
NZ RumCo McJaggery Rum, Strawberry Cherry Guava, Lime, Mint
Caña Blanca Mojito
Pineapple, Carta Blanca, Coconut, Mint, Fizz
Non Alcoholic
NA Amaretti Cherry Sour
Lyre’s Amaretti, Sour Cherry, Lemon, Whites, Zero ABV Angostura
Blackberry Lychee Bramble
Lychee, Lilian Botanical, Blackberry, Lime, Fizz
Feijoa & Botanicals (0%)
House made Tonic, ButterflyPea Flower, Lyres NonAlc Gin, Feijoa
Cranberry Grove Fizz
Cranberries, Botanical Hydrosol, Coconut water, Rosemary, Fizz
On Tap 420 ml
McLeods Longboarder Lager 5.0%
Canyon Brewing Hazy Pale Ale 5.2%
Sawmill IPA 5.8%
Bottles & Cans 330 ml
Heineken Lager 5%
Hallertau #2 Pale Ale 5.3%
McLeods Brewery Seasonal IPA 440ml 6.8%
Canyon Brewing ‘The Front’ Pilsner 330ml 4.9%
Sparkling
Monday to Sunday.
NV Quadri Prosecco DOC Extra Dry Veneto, Italy
NV Champagne Collet Brut Art Deco Ay, France
NV Champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut Tours-sur-Marne, France
NV Louis Roederer NV Collection Pinot Noir Champagne Champagne, France
White
Monday to Sunday.
2024 Cantina di Gambellara Monopolio Soave Classico Veneto, Italy
2024 Deepdown Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, NZ
2025 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, NZ
2025 Halite ‘Sel de Terre’ Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough, NZ
Rosé & Skin-contact
Monday to Sunday.
2024 Coeur Clementine Cotes de Provence AOP Rosé Provence, France
2024 Kenzie ‘Changes’ Merlot Rosé Hawkes Bay, NZ
2024 San Marzano Tramari Rosé Puglia IGP Puglia, Italy
2023 Tincan ‘Echo Sun’ Field Blend skin contact Nelson, NZ
Red
Monday to Sunday.
2022 Jk14 ‘Nonno Mario’ Carmenére IGT Veneto, Italy
2025 O’Natural Pinot Noir Crowmwell, NZ
2023 Valli ‘Gibbston’ Pinot Noir Central Otago
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Against typical prices in Auckland
- Tiramisu Typical in Auckland: $16.75 $16.00
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