When acclaimed chef Michael Meredith closed the doors of his much-loved Mount Eden restaurant Merediths in 2017, he told himself he needed time to focus on fatherhood. Three years later, he's returned to Auckland's dining scene with Mr. Morris—a restaurant that honours both his past and his future.
Located in the former Cafe Hanoi site in Britomart, Mr. Morris represents a new chapter for the celebrated chef. Where Merediths served an elite degustation menu, this new venture takes a simpler, more ingredient-focused approach.
"I was very fortunate to be able to take time out and enjoy life with my family," Michael reflects. "However it was always intended that I would eventually come back and establish a simpler, ingredient-focused approach experience."
The restaurant's name carries deep personal significance—it pays tribute to a close family member who passed away. Michael's long-time partner Claire Baudinet manages marketing and operations, making this truly a family affair.
Cheshire Architects has reworked the interior to be "comfortably rough around its carefully crafted edges," creating a space that seats 70 diners across large group booths, perches at the stone bench bar, and intimate tables dotted around the oak, concrete, and plant-lined room. A former loading dock now serves as a conservatory, while the building's old bank vault has been transformed into a 20-person private dining room called Mrs Morris.
Working with head chef Fabio Bernardini, Michael has crafted a menu that fuses flavour with cultural inspiration. His Samoan heritage shines through in pani popo passionfruit rolls, while Fabio brings South American influences like Brazilian pão cheese bread. The drinks list champions 160 wines from organic and low intervention producers.
Mr. Morris proves that sometimes stepping away is the best way to come back stronger.