New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Covo Pasta Pizza Bar

by Greg A.
28th January 2012

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

Wow we finally found the best Italian restaurante in Auckland!
We had a great experience last night eating at Covo, downtown. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, with a singing Italian accent that makes you smile (we are French, we missed it!) and a great sense of service.

We had bruschetta as a starter, very simple meal regarding the ingredients but yet excellent and perfect balanced in taste.
Then we had the risotto of the day which was one of the most amazing we have ever had (mushrooms and Gorgonzola)! And the Johnny pizza, prosciutto, mozzarella and rocket, really good as well. With a glass of Chianti, mmmm.

We couldn’t help taking the Tiramisu which is THE ultimate Italian dessert, and this one was excellent.

The service was quick and the prices enjoyable, especially regarding the quality of the meal and the quantity you have in your plates.

Just one thing to know: one should always book as the restaurant is really small, but that’s also part of the charm!

Not used to put review on restaurant but this one really deserves its 5 stars!

by Jade L.
15th June 2013

A cozy little authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of the city.
Great food and warm friendly service!

by Jessica G.
10th May 2013

This is a great little place in the City and highly recommend if you have not been there before.

The food was great and the staff are friendly. They are happy to accommodate with your needs (for example I asked for a salad minus a few ingredients) and I received it just how I asked.

Thanks again and I will definitely be back.

by Lena
16th February 2013

Recently came here with a friend and ordered the small Express Lunch with a slice of pizza and roast potatoes. Staff are very accommodating – the Hans pizza sounded delicious but as I am not a red meat eater I asked if it could be made without the bacon and was assured this was no problem at all. The pizza base was probably a bit crunchy for my liking but didn’t detract from the great toppings. The potatoes on the side were really good, the service was friendly and attentive and our glasses were constantly replenished.

We went in the late afternoon and it was half full with business types. The mobster theme is fun, a good place to have a long lunch and I hear good things about their tiramisu. Will be back soon!

by Adeline
11th February 2013

Lovely place, lovely food, lovely service. Very impressed. I ordered the pasta alfredo and had the bruschetta for starters too. It was tasty – yummo! The owner is a really friendly guy – he promised he’ll make spinach pasta (with pine nuts) for me the next time I return! Thanks for such a wonderful experience.

by Keith E.
21st January 2013

Both my wife and I really enjoyed our lunch here. We shared the cheese Bruschetta for Entree., but decided the one should try the pasta and the other the pizza. She had ” Tara” – Carbonara, pasta and I had “Rollo” – Chicken, pizza.

We both comment on how nice and tasty both the Entree and Mains was.

Service was very prompt and friendly, we were checked on several times to see how our food was and if our additional drinks were required. The waitress refilled our tap water glasses several times as she noticed.

We will certainly return next time we are that way.

The atmosphere will be much better once the construction of the surrounding shops has finished.

by Sheila R.
11th January 2013

Good coffee, but at $5 a small cup at 11am with only one other table occupied, that’s exorbitant! Nothing in the cabinet to have with it, either, and a couple who popped in for your lunch time special (as advertised on the sandwich board in the street), turned away as being too early! I think you need to reconsider your value and service ethic.

by Max T.
9th October 2012

My parents were visiting in Auckland and they decided to take me, my girlfriend, my sister and her boyfriend out to dinner. After looking on this very site for reviews for a good restaurant. We thought we would go with Covo
We had entrées (the bread/cheese/salsa type one) to share between us which was a great starter and opened up my appetite.
The whole night I was thinking about what to review this restaurant; the food alone was enough for me to merit a 4/5 star review, I had “The Best” Alfredo – which – incidentally, was the best I’ve ever tasted, my girlfriend had the “Tony Cannelloni” – which was delicious, and my sisters boyfriend had the “Butcher Pizza” – which had a delicious spiced sausage that brought out all the flavours. What made it bump up to 5 stars was the excellent and polite service… Our glasses were always fill with water – or out beverage of choice. The main man was extremely Italian – which of course solidified the authenticity of this establishment, and one of the waters was French – my family being french as well got on well with her and she was extremely nice. They told me that the very meal I was eating was only $10 (full main meal) at Lunch times – a deal which I will be sure to take advantage of.
Not only that – but they took half the price of the deserts we ordered as well.

A very good restaurant that I would recommend to anyone seeking a flavourful lunch or dinner. Perfect for couples (very small – cosy interior). And perfect for friends wanting a meal.

5 stars.

by Tom S.
4th August 2012

Well, what can I say?

A tiny place (around 10 seats only), and tucked away in one of the seedier areas of town, but extremely authentic Italian. Perhaps the best pizza in the city (Italian, thin crust), and lovely pasta. Good wines too.

We used to live around the corner, and would eat here regularly. A fantastic little place that deserves to be better known.

Try it on a night out – I would ring and book first.

by Antje F.
22nd July 2012

This is a cool place. Friendly guys serving good pizza. My only critique would be that the dough is to thick for my taste- it is more an American style rather than Italien. I asked them for a thinner crust- but everything is prepared in the afternoon, so they cannot do that. But the pharma ham is really nice and pilling up on the pizza YUM
sorry- i have to change my opinion, and have changed the rating now to average. I think that the owner changed, and the last 2 times I went there were disappointing. there is now not much topping on the pizza, and I think that the cheese they are using has changed, too. the pizza is still ok- but nothing special. I don’t enjoy the food anymore, and I am not coming back- Sorry.

by Janice T.
18th July 2012

Good service for a take away order. The portions are very generous but I feel for the generous portions it’s mostly just pasta?

I’d pass on the bruschetta but the mains are good. The price is well set for what you get. Not my first choice of italian restaurants and not the best under my books. But good enough.

by Jemimah K.
20th June 2012

Wonderful little place to visit with a wonderful environment and excellent service.
Pasta is very good, with it being freshly made on site, as well as the roast potatoes. Great variety to chose from. Coffee is very good.
Definitely a favourite

by Jana
23rd May 2012

Went to Covo to grab a quick bite late on a Friday night and it wasn’t crowded thanfully. The waitress was warm and friendly. Our orders arrived fairly quickly. Had the canneloni with spinach and ricotta, it tasted nice and the portion size was just right for me. The desserts menu looked great. Will definitely go back and try a 3-course meal at Covo.

by Jenny
23rd April 2012

We live just around the corner and were really impressed positively when we ate there about a year ago. We returned for dinner about 3 months ago and it seemed to have changed a lot! We ordered the prawns as an Entree and were really disappointed! The prawns were not fresh, they were covered in dried herbs, not fresh italian herbs and there were only a few in the bowl! Not worth the money! After that I had the Risotto of the day (which was already the Risotto of the day about a year ago) and again was really disappointed. The portion was very small and it was lacking flavour. It was meant to be a mushroom and blue cheese Risotto, but it was hard to find either ingredient! After that, we bought their vouchers for Pizzas and the last one was for Entree, Mains and Dessert. The Pizza was Ok, but the topping was rather scarce. The last visit was with three courses, Entree was Bruscetta, which was not very nicely presented. Mains were Pasta Carbonara and a Pizza. Both were fine but again, the Pasta portion was small. Dessert was not to choose from, only Tiramisu was left but it was nice. The staff does not really talk to the customers and seems rather unfriendly, no smiles at all Really sad to see that the quality has been decreasing to this extend!

by darren
31st March 2012

This review is just for the Covo on Fort street. I recently got 2 vouchers for a large pizza for $9. Having been here before I expected to get the same quality and quantity. When I arrive to redeem my voucher the lady and man at the counter were rude. Moreover they told me it would take an hour to prepare my order! Granted it was a Friday night but an hour to wait was just insane. So I order the pizza and when to get some other stuff done while they made it. I come back 45 mins later and the pizza was made and sitting on top of the oven to keep it warm. I’m not sure how long it was sitting there for but it was definitely cold when I open the box just minutes after leaving the place. Whats even worse was the toppings. I ordered the Luke (or Submarine) and there was only 3 chucks on calamari and 2 prawns. With the other voucher I ordered the Darren (or Butcher) and it came with very small pieces of Italian sausages and a few shreds of bacon. This was definitely not the same kind of quality and quantity that I got when I when here a few months back. Overall very disappointed and I would never go back.

by Mariska F.
30th December 2011

Very tasty Italian food, with great ambience and very friendly staffs. I had their spaghetti with lamb meatballs ($20) and even though the price is tad steep for a plate of pasta main, it tasted really good.

One of the downside of dining in Covo at Fort Street is the availability of seats. There are so many times that I stopped by for some meals but they were always fully occupied, as there are not many of seats available in the restaurant.

by HJM
13th October 2011

Best little Italian restaurant! Really cosy and cute interior, brilliant staff, and of course exceptional food. Recommend that you don’t neglect the selection of entrees – they are superb, as is the pizza. Thank you Covo!!

by Carine F.
14th May 2011

I have been there to celebrate a birthday and me and my friends had a perfect night yesterday in this restaurant. We are all coming from France and we expected a lot by going to an Italian restaurant and the Covo restaurant of Fort street amazed us. The food was delicious, the quality of product on our pizzas were exceptional and the chocolate soufflé amazing !!! Prices are not expensive at all and you can go on their website before going to have an idea of the choice and price. Th extra large pizza for only 33$ is really large! The Italian wine was more than good and not so expensive 50 to 60$ per bottle.
The team were all perfect : funny, smiling and very attentive to our needs. And the waiter speak French and Italian which was really appreciate by the table as one of my friend was 50% Italian !!!
The girls also really appreciate to receive a kiss of the server before leaving and a free glass of liquor.

I warmly recommend this place and come back again !

I also do not understand the few bad comments I read for this place as everything was perfect.

by Noe
5th May 2011

This place is great! Me and friend had dinner here tonight as I had a voucher, and we were not disappointed. The cheese garlic bread for an entree was very nice, and both of our mains – alfredo pasta and seafood pizza – were both very nice too. I also had the panna cotta for dessert (which is like a flan) and it was very delicious, while my friend had tiramisu and she said it was very nice too. Last but not least, the service was super friendly, and the place is small but cosy. Me and my friend happily and comfortably sat outside as it was a nice, clear night. Thank you Covo for a wonderful dinner! I hope to be back again soon, and I will not hesitate to recommend you

by KirstyT
17th April 2011

Alfredo, Hans Pizza & side mixed salad between two. Delicious! Stefano is a great host with true Italian flare! On a side note – small inside, could do with some updating in future.

by Carolina T.
11th January 2011

such a great idea for what an Italian Sicilian restaurant has to be. the mafia thin is the best!
just great to come in and see this guys dressed like Vito Corleone in one of the scenes from the
godfather.
the food is good, the selection of sauces just the perfect Italian traditional (putanesca, napoletana, bolognesa)
what else can you ask for?

by amy
9th June 2010

After reading the reviews on here I expected some traditional Italian pizza, and was rather disappointed with what we received. Don’t get me wrong, the waitress and service were great, and food is very reasonably priced…but the pizza was far from what we expected. Its good, but nothing more than that, not traditional Italian pizza at all.

by rachael k.
10th April 2010

Wonderful atmosphere, delicious pizza and divine wine. With authentic Italian hosts and this place was a hit with my partner and late on a Thursday night.

by george
11th March 2010

The pasta was warm and resembled some sort of rubber meal, the atmosphere.. there was none and the drinks rather expensive. The place itself is nicely decorated but the food and customer service needs to be addressed. If this was in Italy, the mob would have shut it down to avoid embarrasment..

by Tania
1st March 2010

A group of 23 headed to Covo for a hen’s night and we weren’t disappointed. Great food, great service and a great atmosphere. The place on Fort St is small but we were comfortable. ‘The Don’ is eager to please and succeeds here. Will definitely be returning with more friends.

by margins
29th August 2009

totally excellent REAL italian food
excellent service
actually it’s the best italian food in Auckland -

Write Review