Definitely just city centre? or further afield okay too?
There are lots of places
Only French place I can think of is Cafe Rouge - in the Peace Gardens right in city centre
Noodles - East One in the West On complex. Done this place for some MN meets and it is really good.
Ha Ha Bar - contemporary restaurant, posh fishfingers and chips to more upmarket food. In the Peace Gardens again.
For Indain, there is Nirmals Restuarant on Glossop Road.
A little further out, just off the ring road down London Road (walk from city centre) is a fab Japenese place, Wasabisabi. Not cheap though.
Chinese - Hui wei, again on Glossop Road. Pretty comtemporary and modern.
K Pasa - Glossop Road. Italian but also does some Tex Mex as well.
La Mancha - West Street. Tapas bar.
Mama's & Leonies, Norfolk Street - not far from the theatres. Nice, small more traditional type Italian.
Que-Tal on Glossop Road. Does a good mix inc spanish/tex mex and Italian
Saffron Club on Glossop Road. A new modern, comtemporary Indian. Not tried it yet but looks nice.
Takapuna, West Street. Contemporary modern restaurant. Has music/dancing upstairs.
There are loads of Italians, Indians, etc. A walk down West Street, leading onto Glossop Road will bring plenty up!
This list is a bit mixed. None are really expensive. Some are pretty cheap! I haven't tried all of them, but they are the names I remember and that stand out.
I used to live in the city centre - tried a few