Valentines North Shore

About Valentines North Shore

Valentines North Shore is a classic, family-friendly all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant located on Wairau Road in Glenfield, Auckland. Known across generations for generous spreads, the venue features an extensive lineup including daily live cooking stations, made-to-order grill selections, fresh seafood, hearty hot mains, international dishes, and an elaborate dessert section.

Guests can watch chefs prepare meals fresh to order at the live meat fridge, seafood griddle, and noodle station, or choose from an ever-evolving hot buffet featuring roasts, curries, and comforting homestyle favourites. A dedicated cold seafood selection, vibrant salads, and soup station complement the hot dishes, ensuring options for varied appetites.

Rounding out the dining experience is a comprehensive sweet selection, complete with a chocolate fountain, soft serve machine, crêpe station, popcorn, and traditional desserts like pavlova and banoffee verrines. Takeaway meal packs and burgers are also offered for diners on the go.

Valentines North Shore: Glenfield's Ultimate All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Experience

For decades, Valentines has been synonymous with family celebrations, milestones, and hearty communal dining across New Zealand. Situated prominently on Wairau Road in Glenfield, Valentines North Shore carries that legacy forward with a comprehensive buffet dining setup designed to cater to every age group and palate. Whether you are bringing together a large multi-generational birthday party or stopping by for a filling weekday lunch, the restaurant delivers an expansive selection that stretches across fresh seafood, grilled meats, comforting hot curries, and theatrical dessert bars.

At the core of the Valentines North Shore experience is the philosophy of abundance and variety. Guests are welcomed into a lively, spacious dining room where the smells of simmering soups and sizzling hot plates set the tone from the moment you step through the entrance.

Cooked-to-Order Grills and Fresh Seafood

What sets Valentines apart from standard buffet concepts is its commitment to live interactive cooking stations. Rather than relying solely on pre-cooked warming trays, the North Shore branch operates a dedicated Meat Fridge and Grill Station where diners pick out their cuts—from seasoned venison kofta and flame-grilled beef meatballs to herbed green goddess chicken—and hand them to chefs who sear them fresh to order. During dinner sessions, this grill lineup expands to include prime sirloin steak cuts and succulent lamb chops cooked directly in front of you.

Adjacent to the grill, the seafood griddle and noodle station allows guests to build custom stir-fries with their choice of noodles, seafood, vegetables, and savoury Asian-inspired sauces. For cold seafood lovers, the chilled bar delivers a revolving lineup featuring tender shrimp cocktail, New Zealand half shell green-lipped mussels, calamari salad, and an Island-style raw fish ceviche marinated in rich coconut cream. Dinner services elevate the cold offerings further with chilled Vannamei prawns, blue swimmer crabs, and fresh oysters whenever supply allows.

Homestyle Comforts and International Flavours

Beyond seafood and steaks, the central hot buffet offers a culinary tour through beloved comfort foods and diverse cultural dishes. Classic Kiwi carvery favourites such as glazed champagne ham sit alongside international mains including Greek chicken with fragrant pilaf rice, slow-simmered butter chicken, spicy coconut steamed mussels, and traditional Island-style palusami made with taro leaves and coconut cream. Hearty noodle dishes like pork chop suey, freshly baked pizzas, cheesy vegetable mornay, and crisp vegetable spring rolls ensure even the pickiest eaters find plates they love.

Comfort food lovers frequently gravitate to the soup station, home to Valentines' renowned signature creamy seafood chowder—a thick, deeply flavourful soup ladled out with warm garlic bread and freshly baked focaccia. If you prefer to dine at home, the venue also runs an extensive takeaway kitchen packaging up generous tubs of chowder, Island Kokoda, gourmet loaded mac and cheese bowls, and hefty brioche burgers.

A Showstopping Dessert Buffet

No visit to Valentines North Shore is complete without touring the extensive dessert room. Diners can sample slices of traditional Kiwi pavlova piled high with cream, warm apple bundt cake slathered in cream cheese icing, dense cassava cake, or delicate dessert cups such as Lotus Biscoff panna cotta and banoffee verrines.

For children and dessert enthusiasts alike, the interactive elements provide unbeatable entertainment: a towering chocolate fountain complete with dipping treats, a live crêpe station turning out warm pancakes, a vintage popcorn maker, and a self-serve soft serve ice cream machine.

Signature items

• Live Cooking Grill Station
• Valentines Seafood Chowder
• Ceviche in Coconut Cream
• Chocolate Fountain & Crepe Station
• Blue Swimmer Crabs & Prawns
• Glazed Champagne Ham

Menu

Salads

• Japanese Wakame Salad — Seasoned Japanese-style seaweed salad.
• Potato Salad — Diced potatoes tossed in creamy dressing.
• Tangy Coleslaw — Crisp shredded cabbage and carrots in a tangy dressing.
• Sesame & Edamame Salad — Green edamame beans tossed with sesame seeds and light dressing.
• Kale, Chickpea & Croutons — Fresh kale tossed with chickpeas and crunchy croutons.
• Beetroot, Feta & Walnut — Earthy beetroot paired with crumbled feta cheese and crunchy walnuts.
• Garden Salad — Fresh mixed seasonal salad greens and vegetables.
• Pasta Salad — Chilled pasta tossed with dressing and seasonings.
• Greek Salad — Cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese.
• Assemble Your Own Salad — Selection of fresh greens, vegetables, and dressings to build your own salad.

Desserts

• Strawberry Cheesecake — Creamy cheesecake topped with sweet strawberry glaze.
• Chocolate Mudcake — Rich, dense chocolate mud cake.
• Island Style Cassava Cake — Traditional dense, sweet baked cassava cake.
• Apple Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Icing — Spiced apple bundt cake finished with sweet cream cheese icing.
• Orange Cheesecake — Citrus-infused creamy cheesecake.
• Banoffee Verrine — Layered banana, caramel, and cream dessert cup.
• Biscoff Panna Cotta — Silky panna cotta infused and topped with Lotus Biscoff.
• Pumpkin & Banana Lote with Coconut Custard — Traditional sweet pumpkin and banana lote served with warm coconut custard.
• Lime & Coconut Haupia — Hawaiian-style chilled lime and coconut gelatin dessert.
• Assorted Jellies — Chilled fruit-flavoured jelly cubes.
• Fruit Salad — Fresh seasonal diced fruit.
• Cookies & Cream Mousse — Airy mousse folded with crushed cookies and cream.
• Mango Chia Pudding — Chia seeds soaked with sweet tropical mango purée.
• Coffee Eclairs — Choux pastry filled with cream and topped with coffee icing.
• Rainbow Bark — Brightly coloured sweet confectionery chocolate bark.
• Kiwistyle Pavlova — Crisp meringue base with a soft centre, topped with whipped cream and fruit.
• Brandy Snaps — Crisp golden brandy snaps (weekend lunch & dinner).
• Fiesta Fruit Salad — Tropical-style mixed fruit salad.

Hot Buffet

• Thai Roast Chicken — Roast chicken infused with Thai-style aromatics and seasoning.
• Crunchy Chips — Crispy golden hot chips.
• Vegetable Spring Rolls — Crisp fried spring rolls filled with seasoned vegetables.
• Fish Goujons — Tender battered fish pieces.
• Chicken Nuggets — Crispy golden chicken nuggets.
• Teriyaki Meatballs — Savoury meatballs glazed in sweet teriyaki sauce.
• Greek Chicken & Pilaf Rice — Greek-seasoned chicken served alongside aromatic pilaf rice.
• Palusami — Traditional Island-style coconut cream and taro leaf dish.
• Glazed Champagne Ham — Tender sliced glazed champagne ham.
• Freshly Baked Pizzas — Assorted freshly baked pizza slices.
• Pork Chop Suey — Stir-fried pork with vegetables and noodles in a savoury sauce.
• Macaroni and Cheese — Traditional creamy baked macaroni and cheese.
• Spicy Coconut Steamed Mussels — Mussels steamed in a fragrant spicy coconut broth.
• Kale Moa Chicken Curry — Hearty chicken curry simmered with spices.
• Butterchicken — Tender chicken pieces simmered in a creamy, spiced butter sauce.
• Nacho Station — Corn chips with savoury toppings and melted cheese.
• Spiced Cassava — Cassava cooked with warming savoury spices.
• Parmesan Potatoes — Roasted potatoes tossed with parmesan.
• Beef Stroganoff — Tender beef slices in a creamy mushroom stroganoff sauce (dinner only).
• Honey Mustard Chicken — Tender chicken cooked in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce.
• Vegetable Mornay — Assorted vegetables baked in a creamy cheese mornay sauce.
• Char Siu Pork Ribs — Barbecue char siu marinated pork ribs (weekend lunch & dinner).
• Dumplings — Steamed savoury filled dumplings (weekend lunch & dinner).

Cold Seafood

• Ceviche in Coconut Cream — Island-style fresh fish cured and marinated in rich coconut cream.
• Shrimp Cocktail — Chilled tender shrimp served with classic cocktail sauce.
• Half Shell Mussels — Chilled New Zealand half shell green-lipped mussels.
• Seafood Salad — Chilled mixed seafood tossed in dressing.
• Calamari Salad — Tender calamari pieces tossed with seasoned salad ingredients.
• Vannamei Prawns — Chilled whole Vannamei prawns (weekend lunch & dinner).
• Blue Swimmer Crabs — Chilled blue swimmer crabs (dinner only).
• Oysters — Fresh oysters on the half shell (subject to availability).

Soup Station

• Valentines Seafood Chowder — Signature rich and creamy house-made seafood chowder.
• Seaweed & Miso Soup — Classic savoury Japanese-style seaweed and miso broth.
• Freshly Baked Foccacia — Warm freshly baked focaccia bread.
• Buffet Rolls — Fresh dinner rolls.
• Garlic Bread — Toasted garlic bread.

Grill Station

• Fresh Vegetables — Fresh vegetables cooked fresh to order on the grill by our chefs.
• Venison Kofta — Seasoned venison kofta cooked fresh to order from the meat fridge.
• Green Goddess Chicken — Herbed chicken grilled fresh to order at the live station.
• Flamegrilled Beef Meatballs — Beef meatballs cooked fresh on the grill.
• Lamb Chops — Tender lamb chops grilled fresh to order (dinner only).
• Sirloin Steak — Sirloin steak grilled fresh to order by our chefs (dinner only).

Treats & Delights

• Popcorn Machine — Freshly popped warm popcorn.
• Crepe Station — Live station serving warm freshly made crêpes.
• Soft Serve Ice Cream — Dispenser machine serving cold soft serve ice cream.
• Chocolate Fountain — Flowing chocolate fountain with assorted dipping items.
• Kids Corner — Dedicated station with kid-friendly treats and bites.
• Cheese Board — Selection of cheeses served with crackers.

Takeaway Hearty Eats

• Smokey Truffle Burger — Beef patty, cheese, caramelised onions, onion rings, BBQ sauce, and truffle mayo on brioche.
• Seoul Fire Crunch Burger — Korean fried chicken in smoky-sweet Korean BBQ with slaw and bread & butter pickles.
• Cream Of The Coast — 800g of Valentines signature creamy seafood chowder.
• Valentines Kokoda — Half a kilo of Island-style marinated raw fish in coconut cream with vegetables (GF).
• Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese — Buffalo-style crispy chicken served over rich and creamy macaroni and cheese.
• Butterchicken Mac & Cheese — Creamy macaroni and cheese topped with tender butter chicken.
• Mac & Cheese — Traditional creamy macaroni and cheese (700g).
• Lil Bites Box — Mix of 5 chicken nuggets, 5 fish bites, and a large side of golden chips.
• Burger Bros — Any two signature burgers.

Takeaway On The Side

• Chips — 300g portion of seasoned chips.
• Garlic Bread Roll — Warm 9-inch toasted garlic bread roll.
• 420ml Drink — Choice of Coke, Coke Zero, L&P, or Sprite.
• Sauces — Individual tub of Tomato, Garlic Aioli, BBQ, or Sweet Chilli sauce.

Takeaway Value Combos

• BBQ Rib Feast — Half kilo slow-cooked BBQ pork spareribs with side choice and 420ml drink.
• Wing Feast — Half kilo crispy chicken wings in choice of sauce, with side and 420ml drink.
• Combo Upgrade — 420ml drink plus your choice of large fries or garlic bread.

Takeaway Sweet Endings

• Nutella Oreo Mousse — Chocolate mousse layered with Nutella, cream, and crushed Oreos.
• Biscoff Berry Bliss — Cheesecake cup with berry coulis, Biscoff drizzle, and crushed Biscoff biscuits.
• Berrylicious Cheesecake — Creamy cheesecake cup topped with vibrant berry coulis (GF).
• Triple Treat — Three cheesecake cups of your choice.
• Brandy Snaps with Chantilly Cream — Six crisp golden brandy snaps filled with silky vanilla Chantilly cream.
• Molten Rocky Road — Warm chocolate cake with gooey marshmallows, maraschino cherries, and crunchy nuts.

Takeaway Gourmet Pizzas

• Green Goddess Pizza — Napolitana base, cheese, onion, capsicum, mushroom, olives, pineapple, and Green Goddess dressing.
• Seafood Marinara Melt Pizza — Garlic aioli base, cheese, seafood marinara mix, shrimp, tomatoes, and spring onion.
• Meatstorm Pizza — BBQ sauce base with champagne ham, grilled chicken, sausage, and salami.

Seafood Griddle & Noodle Station

• Made-to-Order Griddle & Noodles — Fresh seafood, fried rice, and noodle dishes prepared live with your choice of ingredients, sauces, and toppings.

Frequently asked questions

What are the buffet session times at Valentines North Shore?

Lunch is served daily from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Dinner service starts daily from 5:30 PM till late.

How does the dinner buffet differ from lunch?

The dinner buffet includes the daily live cooking stations plus around 20 additional dishes compared to lunch, such as sirloin steak, lamb chops, beef stroganoff, and blue swimmer crabs.

Are there special rates for seniors and children?

Yes, Valentines offers discounted pricing for Gold Card holders (65+) and tiered pricing for children aged 1–4, 5–8, and 9–12 years. Infants dine for free.

Does Valentines North Shore cater to gluten-free or allergy requirements?

Yes, gluten-free and allergen-free menus are available upon request at reception, and staff or the duty manager can assist with specific dietary needs.

Can I order takeaway from Valentines North Shore?

Yes, Valentines offers an extensive takeaway menu featuring burgers, seafood chowder, Island kokoda, pizzas, loaded mac and cheese, ribs, and dessert cups, also available via Uber Eats.

Does the buffet menu change?

Yes, buffet selections rotate based on stock, seasonal produce, and current promotional themes.

Tips

• {"body":"Head to the meat fridge and grill station early in your session so the chefs can cook your skewers, sirloin steaks, or lamb chops while you enjoy soup or cold seafood.","title":"Visit the Live Grill Early"}
• {"body":"The dessert lineup is massive—make sure you leave room to try the warm crêpe station, chocolate fountain, and signature Kiwi pavlova.","title":"Save Room for the Dessert Station"}
• {"body":"Weekend and dinner sessions feature extra seafood like Vannamei prawns and crabs, drawing big family crowds, so table reservations are recommended.","title":"Book Ahead on Weekends and Holidays"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Very family friendly with dedicated kids pricing, free entry for infants, and a Kids Corner dessert station.","dietary":"Gluten-free and allergen-free menus are available at reception; speak to the duty manager for assistance."}