The Honest Lawyer gets a lot of bad press from experiences in the past. I think they have done a great job of reinventing their menu and tidying the place up. Went here for lunch the other day with my husband and sat outside in the waning winter sun. Was a lovely lunch and would definitely do it again. The food was very nice and the service was good too. Their day time service let them down in the past, but they have some lovely ladies there now that make a huge difference. They have also put some strings across to deter those pesky birds and that is working brilliantly.

A much improved experience. As long as they continue to hire those pleasant waitresses they are on to a good thing. Food is always good.

I had visited the Honest Lawyer about 2 years ago and had a great time, oh how things have changed, firstly they have torn out the beautiful gardens there, replaced them with bark and the whole place looks unkempt plain and boring . We were quite a large group and we poked into a corner inside where we literally froze out backsides off, we asked the waitress if the fire behind us could be lit as we had elderly guests who were shivering, she said she “would see” last we saw of her. We were only offered A la carte menu had to go up to the bar and actually ask if they had a lighter lunch menu (they do and was much more affordable, by the way i had to stand at the bar for a good 5 minutes before anyone came out to help) Asked our waitress (who it took an awfully long time to get to table when the place was dead empty) if one of our group could have a small soup instead of a large plate, were told emphatically NO chef wont do that so no soup it was onto mains, these were very nice but goodness they served the butter in the sealed plastic containers that your normally get at McDonalds, didnt fit well with the prices this place charges. Our entire lunch time conversation was based on how cold we were Im afraid, we were frozen, i still dont know why we actually didnt get up and walk out. Outside didnt look any better tables were covered in bird poo, furniture looked broken and unsafe. The whole experience was disappointing for what it costs, the place looks terrible, stark and unkempt, freezing cold and bad service, we will not be going back and wouldnt recommend it to anyone

THE LACK LUSTRE LAWYER.
In order to relive fond memories, we decided to eat at the restaurant/pub where we had our wedding reception, The Honest Lawyer. Unfortunately rather than a night to rekindle and expand earlier fond memories we were in for an experience not to be relived. We had or reception here several years ago and things have definitely taken a turn for the worse.
The service we received at the The Honest Lawyer was for all intents and purposes inexistent. Apart from making sure that they had my credit card before taking any order we were told to find our own table and carry our drinks there. We could come back to the bar to place our order when we were ready. Perhaps they would have been happy if we washed our own dishes as well?
We decided to eat outside, however almost every table was covered with two or three days remains of seagull occupation. We finally found a table with minimal seagull excrement, however this table was next to a vacant one covered in old beer bottles and desert dishes. This I felt would not be an issue as one of the wait staff would surely clear it down in the near future. Unfortunately on this point I was mistaken, for the hour and a half that we were there the majority of the four wait staff seemed preoccupied with lounging around at their own table rather than worrying themselves with unimportant tasks like clearing down.
Our first course was scallops which were lamentably undercooked served in an oily batter which provided a contrast to the mushy centre surrounded by watery bacon. We also a green salad, which although being fairly nice was certainly not worth of the $15.50 price tag. After finishing this lack lustre entree we waited for our main. Once again I was proven wrong in my assumption that it is common practice to clear a guests table promptly after they have finished eating. Our starter dishes were not cleared until our mains arrived, over 45 minutes laMoreter.
For mains we ordered a beef and Guinness pie, if any dish screams gastro pub it is the humble pie done well. Unfortunately this pie would not have even found a place at the now defunct ‘Geogie Pie’ franchise and if it had they may have lasted an even shorter time before going bust. The pastry which resembled out of the packet filo was burnt and the filling dry, stringy and tough. This sorry excuse for the beloved Kiwi treat was accompanied by lumpy mash and a (red wine?) reduction that was so over reduced and sticky that it would have been more at home leaking from the bottom of a badly maintained Morris Minor than festooning my mash. Our other main was fish of the day, which was so overcooked I would have to seriously question whether it was really ‘fish of yesterday’ reheated in the microwave. The texture resembled corrugated cardboard that has been subjected to extreme food processing and then dried out in the sun for several days.
I understand that The Honest Lawyer does not claim to be fine dining, however for the all up price tag of $100+ for these courses and two cranberry juices, I tend to expect a better quality of food and at very least the pretence of service. I could have perhaps forgiven some of the numerous issues with the quality of the food had I not been furious with being treated like a potential thief and an inconvenience to the staffs relaxation time. If I was the owner of The Honest Lawyer I would seriously consider the broom of reform. I have eaten in many pubs which serve much tastier food without the pretensions and price tag of adding ‘Gastro’ to their name. Needless to say we will not return.

I rate this experience 3 out of 10. WINNER’S WINNER

Not sure about the word “Honest” in the name…we went for lunch, ate a mediocre meal, then were surprised to see a “public holiday surcharge” slapped on the bill. When we queried it we were told it was common practice – well we have lived in New Zealand for 3 years and have not had to pay any such surcharge before. Perhaps telling diners BEFOREHAND would be a good idea? Way to rake in extra cash though…..