The Sugar Club offers fine dining at the "highest level". Situated on level 53 of Auckland's Sky Tower, here you can enjoy a bird's eye view of the city below, only to be occasionally intruded by "SkyWalkers". We went as part of a large group and so had the benefit of ordering everything on the menu.

Seared yellowfin tuna (complementary)

This was a great starter, the lightly seared tuna was seated on a bed of marinated tapioca, which cleverly mimicked the texture and flavour of fish roe.

Hiramasa Kingfish - nori, cucumber, orange, peanuts, wasabi cream

Mackerel and Langoustine - smoked beetroot, miso egg yolk, apple, dill, deep-fried egg

Creamed paua, kiwi dip, frybread - chef Neil's tasty take on three kiwi classics

The paua dip was rich and creamy with chunks of abalone that added extra texture. The dip went really well with the crispy frybread.

Spiny crayfish and marlborough saffron linguine - pinenuts, aged parmigiano reggiano

Mushrooms - parfait, wood ear, shitake, black garlic, cacao porcini crumbs, ketchup

A dish with a simple name and a lot of meaning. The chef's clever combination of various textures and flavours of mushrooms created a powerful experience. This was a favourite for mushroom lovers like us. 

Baked Ricotta - figs, baby carrots, rocket, smoked paprika almond praline

Hawkes bay lamb rump - smoked pumpkin kumara mash, tomato, bone marrow sauce

Goat tagine - goats cheese spinach dumplings, grilled apricot, pistachio crumble, filo

Tempura blue pea inari - panch phoron spiced tomato pickles, rhubarb, guava

Five spiced quail - green tomato, duck liver parfait, aubergine, goji, sumac lavosh

Laksa with cloudy bay clams - spiced shellfish coconut broth, green tea noodles, crispy shallots, herbs

Line caught fish - tempura oyster, mussels, cucumber, dashi

A pre-dessert entremet (complementary)

Peanut butter parfait - moromi miso caramel, sesame, paprika, orange

The peanut butter parfait was rich and creamy. The sweet miso caramel and sesame gave it extra punch. This was our favourite dessert.

Strawberry yuzu meringue - blackcurrant tapioca, candied olives, strawberry basil sorbet

Original beans chocolate Cru Virunga 70% - sticky plums, pickled medjool dates, whipped ganache

Stonefruit brioche - caramel goats' milk ganache, thyme cream, white peach riesling sorbet

Food: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 9/10

Highlight:

• Creamed Paua, Mushrooms, and Peanut butter parfait
• The view is well worth the money

Lowlight:

• Most of the dishes were not memorable
• Some dishes were over-spiced

Website: https://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/the-sugar-club/
Address: Skytower 72 Victoria St W, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Hours: Mon-Tue 5:30pm-9:30pm
            Wed-Sun 12am-9:30pm
Phone: +64 9-363 6365