Black Salt bar and eatery, New Lynn. Photo / Michael Craig
Address: Cnr Totara Ave and Great North Rd, New Lynn
Phone: (09) 826 0060
blacksaltbar.co.nz
I hate driving to New Lynn. There's something depressing about the endless roadworks and the strange feeling that, once you've arrived there, you've died and gone to strip-mall hell. Anyway, I made the effort, because someone had mentioned Black Salt to me favourably and there surely had to be something
there to make that hideous journey worthwhile.
And it certainly looks good. Fronted by a nice paved courtyard area, it looks welcoming. Sadly, on the day I was there, that impression was demolished as soon as I walked in and was greeted by what I can only describe as the smell of unwashed clothing.
Still, I bravely approached the bar, and was greeted by a tremendously friendly and happy woman, who deserves a pay rise purely for her warm welcome to weary travellers.
It's a DB bar, so you already know what the beer will be, although there were a few nice surprises, including the Monteith's Brewer Series beers and Murphy's on tap. I tried the Murphy's but it had clearly been some time since anyone else had and my pint had a yellowed, bubble-ridden head (although my second pint looked much better, in fairness).
