Italian-inspired eatery Amano has been named the Cult Icon of the Year in the inaugural Cult Icon Awards.
The Britomart-Quay Street venue surpassed 120 finalists across 10 categories in the awards run by hospitality reservation site, Dish Cult.
Diners voted for their favourite places across 10 categories – ranging from Cult Favourite Dish, Dessert to Die For and the Hottest New Opening. The judging panel, made up of Dish Cult New Zealand editor Grace Noles and two Auckland-based food reviewers, then determined the ultimate “Cult Icon of the Year” from the 10 category winners.
The public chose Amano as the Café We Love from a shortlist of 14 places around Auckland. Other category winners included Soul in the Viaduct for Classic Kiwi Service; Duck Island in Ponsonby for Dessert to Die For, and Best Ugly Bagel’s King Salmon Bagel, was the Cult Favourite Dish.
“The Dish Cult team unanimously declared Amano the winner, saying it is consistently reliable, and an institution in the city’s hospitality scene,” Jordan Foord, Dish Cult CEO, says.
“We hope the awards drive customers to Amano, and all the other finalists. These awards create a go-to list of the best places to eat and drink, a valuable tool for diners across not only the city, but travellers from around New Zealand and the world.”
The category that received the most votes was Ones to Watch: Hottest New Opening – won by Lucky 8 in Ponsonby. There were accolades for city fringe haunts too. Kiss Kiss Eatery in Mt Eden was awarded the Favourite Signature Cocktail with the Go-Go Mango and Archie’s Pizzeria in Newmarket took out the Whānau Friendly award. Knowing Aucklanders love to explore the rest of the country there was also a Food Worth Travelling For category, won by Amisfield in Queenstown.
Supported by ResDiary and G.H.Mumm, the Cult Icon Awards are a new initiative to help drive patronage within hospitality. Powered by ResDiary, Dish Cult is the booking partner of more than 400 of New Zealand’s most popular dining venues. It launched in Auckland in November 2019, and in little more than two years has grown into a world-wide hospitality hub, expanding into 50 countries across the globe, featuring venues from more than 80 cities and locations.
The full list of Auckland’s 2022 Cult Icon winners:
Bottomless Brunch:
Winner – The Lula Inn, Viaduct
Highly-recommended – Wu & You, Mount Eden
Cafe We Love:
Winner – Amano, Britomart
Highly-recommended – Crave Cafe, Morningside
Classic Kiwi Service:
Winner – Soul, Viaduct
Highly-recommended – Prego, Ponsonby
Cult Favourite Dish:
Winner – Best Ugly Bagel, Auckland CBD – King Salmon Bagel
Highly-recommended – Sneaky Snacky, Auckland CBD – Donut Burger
Day Kickstarter – Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For:
Winner – Odettes Eatery, Auckland CBD
Highly-recommended – Urban in East, Howick
Dessert to Die For:
Winner – Duck Island, Ponsonby – Hand-crafted Ice Cream
Highly-recommended – The Pie Piper, Auckland CBD – Banoffee Cream Pie
Favourite Signature Cocktail:
Winner – Kiss Kiss Eatery, Mount Eden – Go-Go Mango
Highly-recommended – Soul, Viaduct – Pornstar Martini
Food Worth Travelling For:
Winner – Amisfield, Queenstown
Highly-recommended – Luke’s Kitchen, Coromandel
Hottest New Opening:
Winner – Lucky 8, Ponsonby
Highly-recommended – Nanny’s Eatery, Kingsland
Whānau Friendly:
Winner – Archie’s Pizzeria, Newmarket
Highly-recommended – Sugar at Chelsea, Birkenhead
