Due Amici Manly

About Due Amici Manly

Due Amici is a classic Italian restaurant on Rawhiti Road in Little Manly, Whangaparāoa, established in 2019 by hosts Niko and Svetlana. The kitchen turns out freshly prepared pasta, pizza, seafood and traditional Italian desserts, paired with a curated selection of New Zealand and Italian wines — all built on traditional recipes and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Chef Niko brings 25 years of experience in Italian cuisine to the menu, which runs from antipasti like burrata, calamari and carpaccio di salmone, through pizzas made with the house's original Napolitana sauce and mozzarella, to fresh pastas, chicken and veal mains, and steaks aged 21 days and cooked to your preference. Dedicated gluten-free, vegetarian and kids' menus mean almost everyone at the table is covered, and many dishes can be prepared low-gluten or dairy-free on request.

The dining room is cozy indoors with a relaxed outdoor setting, and the team regularly hosts birthday parties, anniversaries, family gatherings and Christmas functions. Reviewers consistently praise the warm atmosphere, appealing staff and spectacular service — the restaurant holds TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice awards for 2021 and 2022 and a 4.8-star rating across hundreds of Google reviews. If you'd rather stay in, a takeaway menu runs through Order Meal and handcrafted dishes are available for delivery via Uber Eats.

Due Amici Manly: Authentic Italian Dining on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula

On Rawhiti Road in Little Manly, Due Amici does things the classic way. Since opening in 2019, this family-run Italian restaurant has built a devoted following across Whangaparāoa with freshly prepared pasta, characterful pizzas, seafood and traditional Italian desserts, all paired with a curated selection of New Zealand and Italian wines. The numbers back up the locals' enthusiasm: a 4.8-star average across hundreds of Google reviews, TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice awards in 2021 and 2022, the #1 ranking among Whangaparaoa restaurants on TripAdvisor, and the top spot for pizza in Whangaparaoa on Restaurant Guru.

Meet Niko & Svetlana

Behind the kitchen door is Chef Niko, who brings 25 years of experience in Italian cuisine to every plate. Together with Svetlana, he has shaped Due Amici into the kind of neighbourhood trattoria where the cooking follows traditional Italian recipes and the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced.

That philosophy shows in the details. Pizzas are built on the house's original Napolitana sauce and mozzarella. Steaks are aged 21 days and cooked to your preference. The antipasto platter arrives loaded with salami, ham, prosciutto, pancetta, smoked chicken breast, smoked salmon, a trio of cheeses from burrata to gorgonzola, olives, artichokes and sundried tomatoes.

What to Order

Seafood is a genuine strength. Guests regularly recommend the calamari and the seafood pasta, and the kitchen's specials are worth a look — Spaghetti alle Vongole pairs fresh New Zealand clams with olive oil, garlic, anchovies, chilli, lemon zest and white wine. The Linguine di Mare stacks mussels, clams, king prawns, calamari and tuna into one generous bowl.

Torn between pizzas? Order a half-and-half and combine any two (the Burrata and Calzone are the exceptions). The house namesake pizza layers spicy Italian sausage, pancetta and prawn cutlets with onion, fresh chilli and oregano. Meat lovers lean toward the veal scaloppine — Marsala, porcini or putanesca — and the 500g Costata di Manzo rib eye, finished with a creamy garlic and mustard sauce over polenta.

Save room for dolci. Diners single out the Italian tiramisu, gelato and crème brûlée, ideally alongside a great espresso or a glass of marsala from the wine list, which runs from Tuscan Sangiovese blends to a full-bodied Primitivo from Puglia.

The Experience

Due Amici works for almost any occasion. The indoor space is cozy, the outdoor setting relaxed, and the team regularly hosts birthday parties, anniversaries, family gatherings and Christmas functions. Reviews consistently mention the appealing staff and spectacular service, along with the terrific decor and fair prices.

Dietary needs are genuinely catered for: there is a dedicated gluten-free menu, a vegetarian menu and a kids' menu, gluten-free pizza bases and vegan cheese on pizzas, and many dishes can be prepared low-gluten or dairy-free on request. The kitchen notes that all products are prepared on equipment that may have contact with allergens, so do let the team know about any allergies.

Can't make it in? The takeaway menu is full of flavour and ready when you are — ideal for a quiet night in or a seaside picnic — and handcrafted dishes can also be delivered straight to your door via Uber Eats.

To book a table, call 09 424 7201 or email [email protected]. The friendly team is ready to welcome you — fittingly, due amici means two friends, and guests say that's exactly how they're made to feel.

Signature items

• Linguine di Mare
• Pizza Due Amici
• Spaghetti alle Vongole
• Costata di Manzo 500g
• Tiramisù
• Antipasto to Share

Menu

Pasta

• Cannelloni — Fresh pasta rolls filled with beef and onion ragu, topped with béchamel, Napolitana sauce and cheese.
• Fettuccine Vegetariane — Mushrooms, olives, capers, capsicums, spinach and garlic in Napolitana with a touch of truffle oil.
• Fettucine alla Panna — Ham, mushrooms, garlic and white wine in a creamy sauce with Grana Padano.
• Gnocchi — Homemade potato gnocchi with free-range chicken, pumpkin, creamy gorgonzola and walnuts.
• Lasagna — Layers of fresh pasta with traditional Bolognese ragu, béchamel, Napolitana sauce and mozzarella.
• Linguine con Gamberi — Prawns, anchovies, garlic, fresh chilli and lemon zest in a white wine sauce.
• Linguine di Mare — Mussels, clams, king prawns, calamari and tuna in homemade Napolitana sauce.
• Linguine Due Amici — Prawn cutlets, spicy Italian sausage, pancetta, fresh chilli and garlic in Napolitana sauce.
• Rigatoni Amatriciana — Bacon, onion and Grana Padano in Napolitana sauce.
• Rigatoni di Pollo e Funghi — Free-range chicken, mushrooms and garlic in a creamy white wine sauce.
• Risotto Pollo e Funghi — Free-range chicken and porcini Arborio risotto with truffle oil in creamy mascarpone.
• Spaghetti alla Bolognese — Spaghetti with traditional homemade Bolognese ragu and Grana Padano.
• Spaghetti alla Carbonara — Spaghetti with bacon, garlic and egg in a creamy sauce with Grana Padano.
• Spaghetti alla Mamma Mia — Bacon, mushrooms, capers, chilli and garlic in creamy Napolitana with a touch of truffle oil.
• Tortellini di Pollo — Free-range chicken and Amaretto liqueur in a creamy sauce.

Pizza

• Amatriciana — Pancetta, onion and oregano.
• Burrata — Burrata, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, sundried tomatoes and rocket leaves.
• Calzone — Folded pizza with mushrooms, ham and salami.
• Capri — Ham, mushrooms and oregano.
• Carne — Mild salami, pancetta, ham and prosciutto.
• Crudo — Prosciutto, rocket leaves, shaved Grana Padano and oregano.
• Diavola — Spicy Italian sausage and fresh chilli.
• Due Amici — Spicy Italian sausage, pancetta, prawn cutlets, onion, fresh chilli and oregano.
• Funghi — Mushrooms and oregano on the house Napolitana sauce and mozzarella.
• Half / Half Pizza — Combine any two pizzas (except Burrata and Calzone).
• Hawaiian — Ham, pineapple and oregano.
• Margherita — Fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
• Marinara — Calamari rings, tuna, prawn meat, anchovies and mussels.
• Pepperoni — Mozzarella and Napoli salami.
• Pollo — Smoked chicken breast, pumpkin, baby spinach and gorgonzola.
• Quattro Formaggi — Fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola, brie and taleggio.
• Salmone — Smoked salmon, artichokes and capers.
• Vegetariana — Baby spinach, mushrooms, olives, capers, capsicums, sundried tomatoes and pumpkin.

Steak

• Costata di Manzo 500g — Prime 500g rib eye with creamy garlic and mustard sauce, polenta and vegetables.
• Filetto al Pepe — Premium 200g eye fillet with creamy peppercorn and garlic sauce.
• Filetto con Funghi e Pancetta — 200g eye fillet with porcini mushrooms and smoked bacon sauce, touch of truffle oil.
• Filetto Paesana — 200g eye fillet with mushrooms, onion, capsicum, oregano and Napolitana sauce.
• Guanciale di Manzo — Beef cheeks slow-cooked in red wine with vegetables and fresh herbs.

Salads

• Insalata di Rucola — Rocket leaves, pear, shaved Grana Padano and white balsamic dressing.
• Insalata Mista — Mixed leaves, carrots, red onions, olives and tomato with white balsamic dressing.

Specials

• Spaghetti alle Vongole — Fresh New Zealand clams with olive oil, garlic, anchovies, chilli, lemon zest and white wine.
• Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli — Napolitana and truffle cream sauces, fresh basil leaves and Grana Padano.

Antipasti

• Antipasto (To Share) — Salami, ham, prosciutto, pancetta, smoked chicken and salmon, three cheeses, olives, artichokes and ciabatta.
• Burrata — Handmade burrata on tomato-basil salsa with balsamic crema, ciabatta and prosciutto.
• Calamari — Deep-fried calamari rings with garlic and lemon, served with salad and tartare sauce.
• Calamari Rossi — Pan-fried calamari with chilli and capers in a creamy homemade Napolitana sauce.
• Carpaccio di Salmone — Smoked sliced salmon, capers, Grana Padano and rocket with white balsamic dressing.
• Cozze — Steamed fresh NZ mussels with chilli, lemon and thyme in creamy Napolitana sauce.
• Crepe di Pollo — Baked chicken breast crepe with mustard cream sauce, mozzarella and Grana Padano.
• Fegatini di Pollo — Sautéed chicken livers, bacon and mushrooms in creamy Porto sauce on fettuccine.
• Olives — Premium selection of mixed olives.
• Zuppa del Giorno — Soup of the day.

Beverages

• 2018 Feudo Della Trappola Ricasoli Toscana — Sangiovese and Merlot blend, silky with dry herbs and cedar wood — very savoury.
• 2018 Sessantanni Primitivo Puglia — Full-bodied with prune and cherry aroma, tobacco, cocoa, coffee and vanilla notes.
• 2019 Astrale Chianti Riserva — Harmonious, velvety Chianti with notes of licorice and chocolate and balanced acidity.

Vegetables

• Funghi con Burro e Timo — Grilled mushrooms in garlic, butter and thyme.
• Patate Arrosto — Roasted potatoes with rosemary.
• Verdure Miste — Roasted potatoes with carrots, green beans, broccoli, zucchini and cauliflower.

Fish & Meat

• Pesce — Pan-seared market fish with prawns, capers and garlic, roasted potatoes and vegetables.
• Pollo all Frangelico — Free-range chicken sautéed in Frangelico with creamy sauce and roasted hazelnuts.
• Pollo alla Cacciatora — Chicken breast with peppers, olives, onions and herbs in homemade Napolitana sauce — the hunter's way.
• Pollo alla Firenze — Chicken breast with apricots and brie in a creamy sauce.
• Pollo alla Parmigiana — Chicken breast with ham, Napolitana sauce, mozzarella and parmesan.
• Pollo Involtini Galliano — Chicken stuffed with ham and provolone in a creamy Galliano liqueur sauce.
• Scaloppine con Funghi Porcini — Veal medallions with porcini mushrooms, garlic and herbs in creamy white wine sauce.
• Scaloppine Marsala — Veal medallions in a creamy Marsala wine sauce.
• Scaloppine Putanesca — Veal medallions with olives, capers and anchovies in homemade Napolitana sauce.

Pizza Bread

• Bruschetta Caprese — Three toasted slices of ciabatta topped with fresh tomato, basil, bocconcini and olive oil.
• Garlic Bread — Classic toasted garlic bread; available low-gluten on request.
• Pane e Salse — Ciabatta and focaccia with basil pesto, sundried tomato and ricotta pesto, olive oil and balsamic.
• Parmesan Bread — Toasted parmesan bread; dairy-free on request.
• Rosmarino Bread — Rosemary-scented bread, vegetarian-friendly.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Due Amici located?

At 49 Rawhiti Road, Manly, Whangaparaoa, on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

How do I make a reservation?

Call 09 424 7201, email [email protected], or send a booking request through dueamici.co.nz/bookings.

Can I get Due Amici food to go?

Yes — order takeaway through the Take Away Menu on Order Meal, or have handcrafted dishes delivered via Uber Eats.

Are there gluten-free and vegetarian options?

Yes. There are dedicated gluten-free and vegetarian menus, gluten-free pizza bases and vegan cheese on pizzas, and many dishes can be made low-gluten or dairy-free on request.

Is Due Amici good for groups and celebrations?

Very much so — the restaurant hosts birthday parties, anniversaries, family gatherings and Christmas functions, with cozy indoor and relaxed outdoor seating.

Is there a menu for children?

Yes, there is a dedicated Kids' Menu alongside the main, dessert and beverage menus.

What do diners say about Due Amici?

It rates 4.8/5 on TripAdvisor and Google with hundreds of reviews, holds TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice awards for 2021 and 2022, ranks #1 of 39 Whangaparaoa restaurants on TripAdvisor and #1 for pizza in Whangaparaoa on Restaurant Guru.

Tips

• {"body":"This is one of Whangaparaoa's most-loved restaurants — call 09 424 7201 or email [email protected] to reserve your table.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"Guests recommend the seafood pasta and calamari; the Linguine di Mare piles mussels, clams, prawns, calamari and tuna into one bowl.","title":"Let the seafood pastas lead"}
• {"body":"Can't choose? Combine any two pizzas — the only exceptions are the Burrata and the Calzone.","title":"Try a half-and-half pizza"}
• {"body":"Diners rave about the tiramisu, Italian gelato and crème brûlée — pair one with a great espresso or a glass of marsala.","title":"Save room for dolci"}
• {"body":"Order the takeaway menu through Order Meal, or get handcrafted dishes delivered via Uber Eats — ideal for a seaside picnic or a quiet night at home.","title":"Night in instead"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' menu; welcomes birthday parties, anniversaries and family gatherings, with indoor and outdoor seating.","dietary":"Dedicated gluten-free, vegetarian and kids' menus; GF pizza bases and vegan cheese; low-gluten and dairy-free on request."}