What an awesome experience. Everything was great, superb food, superb atmosphere. The staff all very helpful and pleasant. Expensive but left feeling we got what we paid for. What a treat. I am looking forward to returning for a further experience.

I have been to been to this lovely restaurant numerous times over recent years and would always have rated it 5 star and the best in Hawkes Bay bar none. We went there a few weeks ago and although good, my wife and I both thought it had lost its edge. The previously faultless service was still okay but not as sharp and the food good but lacked the whow factor that we’ve had in the past.

If you need upmarket and friendly for the visitors – go here. Slightly more expensive but worth it. Views and ambiance to match.

Wow, this place is great. We spent a friends birthday lunch here, and the service was fantastic, the meal great. Its always nice to see a good children’s menu being available and it was touching to see staff bring out a couple of lovely blankets for two children who were feeling a little chilly. Mission staff really know how to provide great service and how to make everybody feel special. Thank you.

It is always a joy to dine at The Mission, top class service and excellent cuisine to boot – then there is the wine! AAA+

Fabulous place for any occasion i have taken younger sisters there for lunches and my partner for romantic meals, even my mother to have a bit of glam in her visit. Great food beautiful setting and wonderful wait staff. Have only had 1 or 2 minor problems that can be put down to people having bad days and one offs. I love to that you can go a spend only a bit for a small light meal and still have the experience or you can really treat yourself and go all out for night of luxury.

Love the Mission … the setting, the food, the service, this place is consistently good, great even. The food is always superb and the service puts nearly every other restaurant in the Bay to shame. Always take visitors there and have not been disappointed. Must also comment on the desk staff however, they do not seem to have received the same training or hired to the same std as the wait staff. A real let down especially since they give the first (and last) impression!

We booked for lunch on a Saturday which turned out to be very busy. We enjoyed our meals but I thought the menu was rather limited although that is more than made up for by the magnificent setting. Our wait staff were very pleasant and kept a good eye on us. I was however rather annoyed by the attitude of the front desk staff. We arrived exactly on time, had to wait some minutes at the front desk even though there were 2 people there not appearing to be dealing with any people at the desk and were eventually bluntly dismissed to couches in the bar area until we could be dealt with. Similar problems at the front desk when it came to paying and leaving. Left to wait although 2 staff were there, one rifling through a phone book. We waited some minutes before we were taken notice of and when I gave our name as reference were asked for table number which I had no idea of as numbers weren’t visible as far as I could tell. Eventually got it sorted after indicating where we had been sitting but I really got the impression that the front desk staff could really have done without the inconvenience of us being there. Now that we have experienced the wonderful setting I think next time I make a booking I will be choosing from among the many other fabulous restaurants in Hawkes Bay.

The Mission is the yardstick others are judged by. EJ the maitre d’ operates with a strong, well trained team in wonderful surroundings. The food, service and ambiance are hard to find fault with. I have been a professional caterer for over 40 years and as a package of price, quality of food and service the Mission is my no1 choice when recommending places to lunch/dine, long may it continue.