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Our Story
The beginning of The Engine Room —
In 2006, after a year of looking, we finally found a beautiful old post office in Northcote point to house our dream of a neighbourhood bistro. Having spent our entire working lives in the hospitality industry working for other restaurateurs in New Zealand and for many years overseas, we felt that it was time for us to create a restaurant of our own, back home – A place where we could share our passion for hospitality in a fun and friendly environment. Seventeen years on, many awards later, a host of customers and staff we now consider to be a part of our restaurant family, The Engine Room still remains our home. - Natalia Schamroth and Carl Koppenhagen, Owner Operators.
Where you ate it, who you were with —
It goes without saying that we cook seasonally. Wherever possible, we use local product or grow it ourselves. While good produce and technique are at the heart of what we do, we believe that the best meals are about the experience. All dishes are inevitably tied to a memory: where you ate it, who you were with, the surroundings, the weather, the ambience — these all contribute to the taste of a dish.
Cutlery and glasses clink —
There’s not a spare seat in The Engine Room, customers are packed at the bar, the place is alive with laughter and talking and music. The aroma of delicious food fills the restaurant. Plates, cutlery and glasses clink, the staff are heads down, moving swiftly and in the zone. There’s a buzz, an atmosphere that’s just going off.
— A passion for food
We’re proud of the restaurant we’ve created and the community of staff and customers who have become good friends. Most of all, we’re proud that we can share our passion for good, damn-honest food with you and look forward to seeing you soon.
