We have always had great service at the George Washington , Dennis is a great host.
Service is very friendly with good selection of food on offer.

We had our wedding there and Dennis was very helpful in catering for all our needs right down to special food requests to allow for diet needs.

Parking is not an issue as there are parking lanes all along street outside.

We still go there on a regular basis and always get a friendly smile from Dennis.

I was astounded at some of the negative comments about the George Washington. I have been attending this restaurant on a regular basis since 1991 and have always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Especially when there is a live band to dance to. Unfortunately over the last year the numbers have dropped away and the proprietor has discontinued with the first Friday of the month dance and live band, normally Noel Nemia. Maybe the negative reviews have not helped.

I found this Restaurant this to absolutely delicious! It reminded me of homemade soul food! The soup was definitely not tinned soup, so whoever says that must really not have dependable taste buds. We had Chicken or Mushroom soup and you could tell it had been freshly made, I even asked if I could have the recipe for the mushroom soup! We had spare ribs and meatballs which were divine SO TASTY ! Again wanted recipes! There was a huge selection for vegetarians with 4 hot vegetable choices and lots of salads. Yes the beetroot salad must have been tinned but what does one expect when the price per head was only $25!! Definitely very cheap but well worth it! Dessert was just mouth watering! Chocolate mud cake and pavalova, fruit salad and much more! Maybe the staff can smile a bit more, but I was not there for the staff, I was there for the food!!! People say nothing is fresh?? I am confused everything seemed freshly homemade and tasted fresh. It was great. Possibly the best buffet restaurant in Wellington.

We Where a little “shocked ” to read some of the comments regards the GWR so we felt it necessary to give our view ..
As a large family of 7 siblings along with our own family’s ,and including from ,toddlers,teens through to young adults we have Many times over the past few years dined and danced at the George Washington,We have Never ever had a problem with the Fresh food ,the service ,nor the Manager come barman ….
Staff have Always been polite,smiling and cheerful,and as said above the food has always been freshly fabulous,even catering to 2 of the family who are Vegan ,all our family and friends who have attended functions with us have never had or raised any concerns ,if anything they have All said what a fabulous night and gone home content ..
Yes the decor is a little old,but it adds to the awesome atmosphere of the place,and is always totally clean ,plus the entertainment is something that all ages groups can get into …..
Will be ringing them again in the next few days to book for a family members 80th and I know we will get the same fabulous ,entertainment,delectable food and service GWR has always served up !

This venue would make a good set for a movie set in the the 1970, but you’d have to bring your own food because this ‘restaurant’ offers nothing fresh. 1970s food wasn’t all dreary, but the George Washington dumbs it down to just tinned and frozen. No serious thought paid to vegetarians. The service was appalling. The only waitress sullenly dreamed about ignoring many customers and even whole tables. An hour and a half after arriving guests were asked to cue before the buffet where the Maitre D (Perhaps owner) was presumptuous enough to put hid arm around my shoulder! in an attempt to lead me away from the food -astonishing.

I sorry, I have to agree that the food is disgusting. Watery grey tinned soup with dry white bread. Frozen surimi crab-sticks, Frozen fish cakes; Frozen chicken nuggets. Chips. Roast meats. No fresh vegetables, all tinned or frozen. The service also was surly and unattentive. Only a bogan could appreciate the food and retro decor.

I ate here in January 2011 and the first thing I noticed is that it hadnt changed since the first time I visited, well over 20 years prior. What struck me the most was the waiter come barman standing at the buffet to the side of our large group slicing the ham off the bone & eating it while we were engaging in speeches. Totally bizzare. The only waitress that was on that night didnt appear to want to be there. She was rude & dowdy yet attractive but never smiled once. Those were the good things. The food itself I found disgusting. Tinned soup, very thin slice of hard french stick to go with it & mostly brought in food. Nothing appeared made from scratch. It was like tins had been opened & their contents simply sloshed into bowls, the crab meat, beetroot just to name a few. The ham was nice though. Dessert was revolting. The chef came out at one point, tea towel slapped over his shoulder – someone had obviously forgotten to put out the bowls of now melted ice cream. I am by no means a fussy eater, but truely revolting food. I would have preferred a burger from Macca’s. My recommendation: AVOID, even if you are given a free invitation.

We had our wedding reception here in March 2010. Found the owner most helpful and accommodating. All of our guest commented positively on the food, and many went back for more.

A previous comment says “Even made the bride and bridal party queue in line for the food.” We were given the option of the staff serving us at the bridal table, but we chose to line up and select our own.

We looked at a lot of venues and were thrilled with what we got from George Washington. Sorry it took so long for me to post some good feedback.

One of the worst buffet meals or wedding receptions I can remember. It makes Valentines look like indulgent luxury, and that takes some doing.

Doubt much food is actually cooked on the premises, mostly frozen or tinned. Soup tasted like packet or tinned, certainly not fresh. Overcooked meat, terrible presentation. Horrible surimi ‘crab sticks’. Cheese ‘platter’ consisting of cubes of cheddar cheese in a bowl and dry crackers.

Even made the bride and bridal party queue in line for the food.

Bad 70s decor and bad 70s music. Waiting staff were generally hopeless – one walking around with her eyes almost shut.

Truly appalling – avoid at all costs.

I had my wedding reception at the George Washington Restaurant, and couldn’t have asked for a better night! The food was fantastic, I had a lot of great feedback from my guests. The owner was awesome, couldn’t have been more helpful through the organising before-hand and on the night.
I would highly recommendthis place for any function (by the way I love the decore, it has character, that’s why I chose to use the restaurant).

I love George Washington restaurant. Every meal usually starts with fresh homemade soup and bread served at the table and then a very good selection of main meal and dessert. It is a great atmosphere and even better on the nights where entertainment is included.
Like another person noted HEAPS better than Valentines. The food is fresh and tasts like Ma’s home cooking.
The staff are friendly and have excellent service – that can’t be said for so many places these days. This venue is excellent for large groups. I even organised a friends Wedding there. It was fantastic. I highly recommend that you go and check it out. Just make sure to ring first and see if they are open to the public as there are so many functions on there these days. I LOVE IT 5 stars from me all the way .

The decor is completely stuck in the 70s! honestly hasn’t been changed since then, but clean, and would suit a 70s party.

Found the front of house guy quite rude and although restaurant opens at 6, the food wasn’t served till after 7 and we had to stand at the buffet waiting. Other staff were nice.

Food? average but well priced.

In my opinion, one of the Best Restaurants in Wellington! A very nice location nestled away at the top there on High Street, Has a Great atmosphere if dining with your woman or with friends and family.

The Food is of a very High Standard, The Buffet selection may not be that Vast in terms of selection, but they do have a good Solid variety to keep any dinner party Chowing til the cows come home! Desert Selection is the Best!

I love my food and that would be obvious if you saw me, and I have eaten at many Buffet places in NZ and the World. I would have to say,…GW’s has the Greatest ‘ROAST PORK’ I have ever tasted, accompanied by its mouth watering, Taste Bud teasing ‘CRACKLING’!…hmmmm simply ‘DIVINE’!

GW’s, in my opinion beats Valentines Petone ANYDAY! and any other Restaurant that offers a Buffet type setup.

To Dennis and the Team at GW Restaurant, like Arnie says….”I’LL BE BACK”!