When lockdown forced Sean Bone, Bryan Anderson, and Nick Fury to put their expansion plans on hold, they did what all great entrepreneurs do—they scrolled Instagram. And what they found would become Parade, Ponsonby's most unique new eatery specializing in Chicago-style stuffed pretzels.
Built between lockdowns, Parade was born from the team behind Newmarket's beloved Mutual Friends. During six weeks of self-isolation, the trio began experimenting with pretzel recipes after spotting the Chicago stuffed pretzel trend online. It took nearly eight months of testing to perfect the dough.
"We explored both traditional German recipes and American styles," Nick explains, "but eventually settled on a recipe combining the best of both worlds."
The signature pretzel dough is made from scratch daily and comes stuffed with everything from meatballs to barbecue jackfruit. The spiced apple pretzel has become the house signature, while weekly specials have included an indulgent cookie dough pretzel and another filled with slow-cooked beef, jalapeño, and cheese.
Smash burgers round out the menu, served as singles or doubles with fried chicken or vegetable options—all sandwiched between pretzel buns. Hot Cheetos have even made appearances between the buns. Sides include loaded fries with guacamole and sour cream, street corn drizzled with mayo, and crispy broccolini.
The restaurant opened just before Auckland's week-long February lockdown, demonstrating the resilience that defines Auckland's hospitality scene. Despite the challenging timing, Parade has earned a devoted following among Ponsonby locals looking for something different.
It's a story of pandemic pivots and Instagram inspiration turning into something delicious—proof that creativity thrives even in the toughest times.