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Artisan Restaurant & Bar

4 star rating
14 reviews

Cuisine: New Zealand, A La Carte, Family, Organic

12 Bolton St
(Level 1, Bolton Hotel)
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-462 3770

Hours:

  • Breakfast:
  • Mon – Fri 6:30am – 10am
  • Sat & Sun 7am – 11am
  • Lunch: 12 noon – 2pm
  • Dinner: 6pm – late
  • Facilities/Features:
    • Business Dining
    • Children's Menu
    • Conference Facilities
    • Out Catering
    • Private Dining Room
    • Private Functions
    • Private Parties
    • Romantic Dining
    • Wedding Functions
    • Breakfast Meetings
  • Payment Types: EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Diners
  • Price Range: Spendy, $25 - $35
  • Dress Code: Smart casual
  • Alcohol: Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cocktails
  • BYO/Corkage: No BYO
  • Parking: Free Off-Street, Free On-Street, Pay, Pay & Display
  • Good For Groups: Yes
  • Good For Children: Yes
  • Takeaways: No
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Soy-free
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Meals: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Dessert
  • Wi-Fi: Free

Artisan Restaurant & Bar is an engaging and dynamic dining destination with furnishings and art from around New Zealand – a testament to the Bolton Hotels story.

Artisan showcases contemporary NZ cuisine through creative imagination, ingenuity and zeal.

The table is our stage, this is our trade but we let the food be the star!

Come visit us today.

14 Reviews for Artisan Restaurant & Bar

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One of Artisan Restaurant & Bar's Favourite Reviews What's This?

RS S.

1

20th May 2012
5 star rating
I dined at this restaurant last week with my family and was very impressed. The restaurant had a relaxed atmosphere and the decor was beautiful. Service was fantastic – friendly and efficent. We jumped straight to mains and found the ‘design your own meal’ concept great, especially as some members of my family are very fussy! Meals were cooked to perfection. I had the venison with potato gratin, vegetables and plum sauce – meat was cooked to perfection was obviously very good quality, presentation was simple yet effective. My family agreed that the food was superb. For dessert the majority of us had the chocolate fondant, a great choice, it was cooked perfectly! A restaurant definitley worth trying!

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 25/05/2012   
Hi RS S Thanks for the great review, I am very pleased to read of your experience and I know the team will be pleased to see that you have had a memorable dining experience. Regards Mark Angus General Manager
16th January 2013
5 star rating
One of our children has multiple food allergies and the Chef was willing and able to accommodate his needs. The waitress came out and went through the menu and he was over the moon at being able to eat out.

Your attention to detail was greatly appreciated – he’s running around with no itches or ill-effects which is basically unheard of after eating something from a restaurant.

The other little touch which didn’t go unnoticed – our middle son is unwell and has just spent almost a week in hospital – he was getting pretty peaky by the end and asked for a cup of hot chocolate which, without asking for it, came in a wee cup which he could quietly drink and finish which made him feel proud and pleased that he’d eaten something (and finished most of it with a bit of outside nibbling from big brother) from every dish.

So – thanks so much for all your help and for making this birthday lunch both possible and a happily memorable event.

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24th August 2012
4 star rating
The Artisan had a very relaxing atmosphere. The service was friendly and helpful and it was a bonus to get a free dessert because of Wellington on a Plate. The lamb was delicious although I would have liked it cooked slightly longer and the sauces that went with it were yummy. I want to know how to make the lemon sauce- it was so tasty. The rhubarb and ginger crumble was pretty tasty too. My partner had the scallops entree and wild pork main that was cooked to a tee. The apple pie, sour apple sauce and lavender ice cream was pretty special too. It was a great evening!

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Lara

1

2nd August 2012
5 star rating
My partner enjoyed a very lovely meal here on Saturday night. Great friendly and informative staff! Beautifully presented and delicious food and all round excellent experience! Loved the concept of building your own meal with sides and sauces.
The cosy and intimate restaurant was nice on a typically evil Wellington evening!
Would return here in a flash. Thank you Artisan!

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Tonya

1

25th July 2012
5 star rating
Our family dined and stayed at the Bolton Hotel on Saturday night for a bit of a winter treat…and what a treat it was! We thoroughly enjoyed a 3 course meal on Saturday evening. I had the fish of the day – beautiful, my husband the Beef Wellington which he loved and my daughter the vegetable strudel which she really enjoyed also. I liked that I could tailor my meal to my own taste with the many options available – great if you are a bit fussy! I have to admit we were all fascinated with my daughter’s chocolate fondant dessert and a bit jealous, even though ours were sensational. The atmosphere and staff were great, food service excellent and timely. Breakfast the following morning had so much on offer, enjoyable friendly and relaxed. Thanks so much!

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Mark R.

38

2nd June 2012
4 star rating
Great food and attentive service.

My wife had the scallops (delicious), venison with gratin potatoes (lovely – her words, not mine), and chocolate fondant (the highlight for her). I had the chicken and mushroom fettuccini (OMG, supreme awesomeness – had the small serving, would choose the big size next time), rack of lamb with garlic mash (very good – but for the price, should’ve been bigger) and the granny smith and raisin pie (delicious).

Our only issue is the time it took to get the food out. There were only about 10 people in the place but you would have thought it was packed and the chef’s were run off their feet trying to catch up. This is where the attentive service came in, there wasn’t a lot else for them to do and we were just sitting there…waiting a long long time. This was not good.

Once this is addressed I would think this will be a very nice place to eat.

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24th May 2012
1 star rating
The 3 of us ate at Artisan last night. It is a nice warm atmosphere, spacious and low noise level. The waiting staff are warm and friendly. But I am afraid it is about that is all I can (nicely) say about this. We ordered bread and the Pulled Wild Pork for starter – was at least 30minutes before this arrived after ordering. 3 mains ordered (1) duck con fit – not crispy at all and did not finish (2) my son ordered the razorback pork – dry & tough! he could hardly get his knife to cut this and only finished it because he was hungry (3) I ordered the grilled sirloin (medium rare) – it arrived well done and was not possible to finish.

I fully understand that occasionally it goes wrong – but for someone to serve this load of rubbish up to us could only have held us in contempt. I find it hard to believe the person did not know they were putting a well-done steak on the plate??!!

I would have complained and sent the steak & the pork back but we had to wait close to 90 minutes and not prepared to wait even longer. Paid the $188 and ran as fast as I could.

Give this place a wide berth!!!!

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 25/05/2012   
Dear Chris, I was very disappointed to read about your experience while dining with us, and I have looked into the matter. I would like to personally apologise for the issues you experienced. The restaurant has had some very good reviews and been very well…    More »
14th May 2012
4 star rating
Had a wonderful lunch here the other day. Have eaten at the hotel on previous occasions and I really like the new decor. The service was friendly and attentive and the food was great!. I particularly liked the venison which was fantastic. The menu is almost understated – not too wordy as menus can be these days – so when my meal arrived I was really very pleasantly surprised. I will definitely come again!

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 25/05/2012   
Hi Catherine, It’s pleasing to read of your experience while dining with us – Thank you for the comments. The venison is something we get a lot of comments over – glad you enjoyed it – I’ll be sure to pass this along to the chef… Regards Mark…    More »

Joanne

1

8th May 2012
5 star rating
My husband and I came to Artisan Restaurant + Bar about two weeks ago. We did have some reservations about dining here as we had a bad experience about two years ago when it was called Bisque on Bolton, however, we were absolutely blown away by the service and the food at the newly re-branded restaurant. I had the prawn entrée while my husband had the scallops to start. Both of which were very yummy! For our mains, I had the venison while my husband chowed down the rib eye which in weight is 450g. Both our meals were cooked to perfection. To finish we shared the chocolate fondant, which was very decadent but not so rich that it ruined our meals. The service from a young blonde girl was just outstanding. Her knowledge of the menu and wine-list really stood out when she helped us decide our sides, sauces and wines to match our meals. Many restaurants could learn from this place, not only in how to cook good food but how to give great service without being over the top and intrusive. Only one thing that really got to me was the female receptionist who took our booking was very abrupt and boarder line rude. I do wonder weather the hotel and the restaurant are in sync? Other than that, this hotel restaurant is just great. We will be back.

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 25/05/2012   
Hi Joanne, This is fantastic feedback – thank you! I will be sure to pass along the commnets to my team, who revel in learning that they have generated such a response. That’s what hospitality and food is all about – creating that WOW experience… The…    More »

Simon

1

5th May 2012
5 star rating
Stayed at the Bolton the weekend of the rugby. Popped in to the resturant on my way to the stadium. Best steak I’ve had in a long time. Love the menu layout and the make-your-own style. Friendly staff as well topped it off. A++ team. Keep it up

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 25/05/2012   
Hi Simon, Thanks for the feedback and great to hear you enjoyed the steak, the perfect dish prior to the rugby! Regards Mark Angus General Manager
23rd April 2012
5 star rating
Dined here Monday (23rd). Restaurant wasn’t too busy, so service was very prompt. Meals were excellent. My venison main was cooked exactly how I wanted it. My wife’s sword fish was quote “delicious”. Desserts were really well priced for what we got. Overall extremely happy, and will be back for seconds!

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 24/04/2012   
Hi Jack, Thanks for the wonderful feedback – its great to be able to have provided an enjoyable experience. Regards Mark

Mary

1

23rd April 2012
5 star rating
I went to Artisan for dinner, I had to wait a little longer than I expected for my table but it was well worth the wait.
The food was excellent, started with the venison which melted in my mouth followed by the eye fillet which was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the chocolate fondant which was presented beautifully and absolutely delicious.
The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed and the decor very tasteful, staff were tentative but not intrusive. A lovely evening, I will be back!

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 24/04/2012   
Hi Mary – Thanks for the feedback. Pleased you found everything to your satusfaction. Regards Mark

Kiri

1

11th April 2012
2 star rating
My partner and I ate here for dinner and were extremely disappointed. The staff were unhelpful, bordering on rude, and the food was decidedly average. My main course did not match what was described on the menu (my chicken was supposed to come with mushroom sauce but instead came with a lump of butter on top). There was no apology for the mix up and the missing ingredient was only brought out when I had almost finished eating. In addition to this, the crockery was unclean. On the whole, this place had a very amateurish feel to it. I do not recommend dining here.

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 24/04/2012   
Hi Kiri – Thanks for your feedback, and I apologise for your poor experience. Unfortunately there were some teething issues with the offering in the early days however I am confident this is behind us. You will see there are positive reviews starting to flow in…    More »

Fiona

1

20th March 2012
2 star rating
Love the Bolton but was very disappointed this time with the quality of the food and the service at their new restaurant. Did get a discount for the poor food – but filled in a form outlining my concerns and no response yet. 2nd rated hotel on Trip Advisor in our capital city – they need to do better and fast.

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Comment from Sarah W. of Artisan Restaurant & Bar 24/04/2012   
Hi Fiona – Thanks for your feedback, and I am sorry we were not up to our usual expectations/standards. I have endeavoured to contact you a couple of times since your feedback, and I would value the opportunity to put things right, and address your concerns. Feel…    More »
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