Fodor's Expert Review Mecca on the Viaduct

It's buzzy and busy and in the heart of the Viaduct, downtown on the water. Mecca serves New Zealand cuisine with a Middle Eastern twist. Open all day, it's designed to cope with anything—from tables for two to larger groups without fuss. The menu changes at least four times a year. The two signature dishes are lamb shanks slow-cooked in a fragrant tomato gravy and in-season fish baked with fresh vegetables, garlic, and chilies. People have been trying to get the shank recipe out of the owner for years. Like many of the Viaduct places, it can get busy, and only a limited number of reservations are taken. The wine list has a great selection of the bigger (and a few smaller) New Zealand producers.