Aldo’s

After working together at a family-owned Italian restaurant in Mission Bay for nine years, restaurant manager Amandeep Singh and chef Nikola Stojkovski decided it was time to take a leap of faith and control their own destiny.

It had to be the right place, however, and after a year-and-a-half of looking all over Auckland they found Aldo’s in Warkworth, which they say was the perfect spot.

Taking over from restaurant founder Aldo Franckin, who retired at the end of last year, Aman says the pair have since been working to continue in the same trademark Italian style with a few new features and additions.

“We’re keeping Aldo’s spirit alive but we have brought in a few new dishes and extra choices,” he says.

As well as new seafood, meat and pasta options, they have also introduced popular $20 lunch specials and are looking at opening seven days a week, instead of Monday to Saturday, after winter.

They are also flexible and work to accommodate customers’ needs, such as staying open later than their usual 9pm close or opening up on a Sunday for group bookings.

“Because it is just the two of us working for ourselves, we can open when there is demand and stay open longer when it is busy,” Aman says.

He says locals have been welcoming and supportive, and they’ve both enjoyed the move from a city restaurant to Warkworth hospitality.

“We love this town, it’s a beautiful area. I’d like to live up here one day,” he says.