A little bit about JAX Wine & Tapas bar

After a full on day of consultation, City Rail Loop presentation, and general this-and-that with only coffee and a bun to fuel me since 7am, it was time to grab a feed.

At 5pm, Newmarket was accommodating the last retail customers of the day, the buses carried the workers home and I sat down at Jax for after work drinks/ pre-dinner with jt.

I loved how we were practically the only customers at the time. Allowed us to chat properly about me managing a small part of a project, the dating hierarchy and The White House's current anticipation for a mormon visit.

Jax is a small espresso/ wine and tapas bar and had a sophisticated 'after-work Ponsonby' relaxed feel without the intimidating 30+ vibe.Their website says they hold private functions and photography exhibitions as well.

JAX Wine & Tapas

40 Remuera Rd

Newmarket

(next to the train station)

Open Tues- Sat 4pm-11pm

A White Russian for me and a Heineken for the simple man :)

White Russian, the manager explained to me, is vodka and Baileys. Which tastes amazingly satisfying especially in the humid evening. But I can definitely drink it all day.

We ordered 4 tapas. You can find the Jax menu here
Tapas is basically a shared platter. You order a few things to share over drinks.

The pate of the week is duck with orange and cointreau, served with toasted ciabatta.

I've never had duck before, but fyi it tastes like chicken with an after taste.

Beef eye fillet served with a mozzarella & potato fritter topped with a rich dark ale reduction.

THIS was absolutely EXQUISITE.

Firstly, the beef eye fillet.

I didn't know there could be such a difference between good steak and excellent steak.

I've had good steak before and this was definitely the excellent steak. Tender, juicy, flavorsome, not chewy and not dry.

The mozarella and potato fritter...

jt described it as amazing.

I said, let's try make it at home.

Butternut & Parmesan risotto cakes served on tomato salsa

Delicious. Love the texture, unfortunately not a fan of the slightly spicy (but almost unbearable in my mouth) taste.

Braised Merino lamb spare ribs on potato mash, fennel & drizzled port reduction

Fuzzy photo of "the best lamb ever" -jt

I'm not well experienced with lamb but it was specially tasty and the mash was perfect.
There was a moment of weird silence when I watched as jt closed his eyes to savour the food.

Food: excellent.
Service: impeccable, friendly, informative.
Price: only affordable for students if it's a special occassion or you have a voucher like us :p
Place: comfortable, quiet and sheltered from the busy Broadway intersection.

Must try: the beef eye fillet with the mozarella potato fritter. Must.
Next time: I'm keen for the goats cheese balls with herbs, coated with bread crumbs on fresh honey comb. Will definitely keep a lookout on grabone again


And to conclude,
The end of Sherlock season 3.


Signed,

Elisa