Canton Cafe

If there was ever a more appropriate spot for the BYO blowout o'clock to strike midnight, it would surely be Canton Cafe in Kingsland. An iconic Auckland institution for Chinese cuisine, Canton is legit.

Bland decor and brisk/almost rude service is the mantra here (for a while I was sporting a raw knuckle from being brandished by a wooden spoon wielding waitress after using a fork instead of a chopstick). But don't let this put you off - after all you don’t go there to admire the art or attempt chat with the service staff.

The food is designed to be shared. From beef and black bean sauce to sweet and sour pork spare ribs, salt and pepper squid and of course the classic Cantonese Peking Duck, Canton will have you food coma'd up in no time; bowls of MSG to assist are naturally provided.

Canton is in its element for a raucous Thursday, Friday or Saturday night [insert reason to celebrate] BYO. Book three tables and load up those Lazy Susans. Past experience has shown that making it through dinner without being asked to leave is an achievement in itself.