Cocoro

Amazing Japanese Restaurant that´s almost hidden behind a bamboo wall in a side-​street off Ponsonby.
To think that I was just working around the corner for a few months and that I have never been able to find something equally as good in my hometown (Berlin, which actually has a Cocoro) makes me and my mouth sad.
The food is always fresh and it´s presented in a such a beautiful way that you actually have second thoughts of eating it

Degustation is not normally my cup of tea — I find it to be a bit overwhelming. However, the focus on fresh, clean flavours at Cocoro makes it much more enjoyable.
From delicate sashimi served with fresh South Island wasabi presented in a three-​tiered lacquer box to snapper fried in a light tempura served with buckwheat in a ten-​dashi broth, each is expertly prepared and beautifully presented!
The service is also flawless — perfectly timed and not at all intrusive. We never had to ask for anything and each course was cleared promptly after it had been finished.
Since we were in a Japanese restaurant, we of course thought it only right that we order a flight of sake. There are a couple of options here and unfortunately I can’t remember what our was called but it came with 4 different sake (s?). The waiter brought each bottle to the table to pour it and explained a little bit about each sake and which dishes they went best with. Very helpful!
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cocoro to locals and would happily show it off to international visitors!

The best thing about Cocoro, other than it’s superlative staff and the one and only Makoto, is the bright and shiny fresh fish. New Zealand sushi restaurants, inexplicably, do not serve the wide range of fish you’d find in Japan or the U.S., but what Cocoro does serve (maguro, sake, tai, uni, several styles of shrimp, mackerel, crayfish, Bluff oysters, etc.) is excellent. They understand the temperature at which sushi should be served. Their knife and presentation skills are top notch.
I try to go here at least once a month and have become dependent on Makoto and his staff for their generosity of spirit and deep-​seated reverence for the joy in Japanese cuisine. It’s the type of place — rare these days — where you want to get to know the staff and strike up conversations with Makoto about what’s fresh and what he recommends. He’s good, if you’re a regular, at figuring out your tastes, but is always happy to recommend something new.
You definitely lose something from the absence of a bar (the inability to spark up a conversation or ask your itamae about the fish), but the wait staff are well informed and quick to ask Makoto if they don’t have an answer. And Makoto, once you get to know him, will be happy to come out and chat with you. He’s great, one of my favourite people.
The sake selection is excellent and, again, the wait staff can articulately explain your choices. It’s a pricey joint (somebody has to pay for all that fabulous white linen), but you will come out satisfied. I’ve eaten lunch there for about $ 45. That bought me 4 pieces of nigiri sushi, 6 pieces of sashimi, and 3 or 4 Bluff oysters. Generally, I spend a lot more because it’s all so good and I have to have a bit of it all.
Two for dinner costs $ 200 if you’re liberal in your selection of small dishes and your bill includes beer and sake.
Highly recommended. During dinner, they have a prix fixe menu if you choose the private tables, but you can order whatever you want if you sit at the large centre table designed to accommodate about 15 people.
Some people have remarked that the interior is spartan, but I disagree. The liberal use of wood gives all those straight lines a sense of depth and warmth that makes me feel quite comfortable.

Excellent food and service. A little lacking on ambiance with the minimalist décor.

Cocoro was an incredible experience, in all aspects. We were in Auckland and while walking down Ponsonby Road we found a TV crew outside filming an episode of a new show for Channel 3 in New Zealand. We agreed to be filmed tasting dishes that were being prepared by the chef on the street and during this some of the crew members on the TV show said they loved Cocoro and that we should definitely try it out.
We walked the few blocks and arrived at this hidden gem set back off of Ponsonby. The interior of the restaurant is very sleek and modern. The service was perfect as well, very friendly and they helped us to understand the menu better. We ordered a la carte off of the menu and got to try a wide variety of the dishes. Everything was extremely well presented and flavorful. I would highly recommend Cocoro for anyone looking for a great Japanese dinning experience.

Ate here a while ago and went for the degustation menu. Absolutely LOVED every minute of the entire experience!
The food was all beautifully presented and the flavours well matched to showcase each ‘standout’ item per course.
Service was impeccable, although it was quite hard to hear the very softly spoken staff at times.
Setting is fabulous as well. Probably my favourite Japanese restaurant in Auckland to date! Already looking forward to my next visit!

My very first experience with a set degustation menu was at Cocoro and I loved every minute of it. Six gorgeous courses presented with a wine match, often from New Zealand wineries; bliss! Over the course of the evening I sampled some pretty amazing food — oysters with snapper sashimi, kingfish lovingly tossed in breadcrumbs with a miso scallop companion, wagyu beef in garlic teriyaki sauce and bluefin tuna. The degustation element to the meal meant that we got to sample all of these sublime dishes without paying for a full main size, and as each dish came, we got curiouser and curiouser about what was to come, which added to the excitement.
Cocoro itself is beautifully presented with low ceilings, low lights, a stunning bar set up and a little window into the world of the kitchen. I love this place and will be back as soon as I have to the money to go!