Northern Italy comes to the North Shore: The Grove and Baduzzi founders Michael and Annette Dearth’s new Auckland restaurant, Zamboni
Renowned restaurateurs Michael and Annette Dearth are opening a new Italian-inspired restaurant called Zamboni at Smales Farm on Auckland's North Shore. This venture follows the closure of their long-standing fine-dining establishment, The Grove.
Why it matters
The opening highlights resilience and shifting trends within the New Zealand hospitality sector despite broader economic turbulence.
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Michael and Annette Dearth and an artist's impression of Zamboni, their new restaurant on Auckland's North Shore. Photo montage / Ollie Rusden
Two of New Zealand’s highest-profile and influential restaurateurs are opening a new eatery on Auckland’s North Shore — defying a turbulent period for the country’s hospitality industry.
A little over a year ago, Annette Dearth had a clear message for her husband Michael: Can you please stop answering the phone?
After two decades running one of New Zealand’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants – The Grove in central Auckland – the pair were ready for a breather.
With The Grove closing in March 2025, their second restaurant, Baduzzi on Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, would fill their plate.
Or, at least that’s how the story was meant to play out.
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