My husband and I went to Pillinis for dinner last week. We decided to have the seafood chowder as a mains. It was a total disappointment. Chowder is a thickened soup, this wasn’t chowder we were served, it was curried soup, its consistancy was like water, and it had about 8 or 9 small tough overcooked mussels and a few shrimps in the bottom of the bowl. The service was good, the food not up to standard. Won’t be back.

We had a birthday luncheon on Sunday for 24 people. We had a few discussions with the staff beforehand about menu, seating,drinks etc. Well they did it all magnificently I must say – it was a 6 dish menu and each dish was taken up, as the ages ranged from teens to oldies and in between. The meals, after everyone ordered, were brought virtually all the same time, likewise the drinks.The dessert goodies were so popular, and then their chef, after the birthday person did the initial cut, then cut the big cake into suitable pieces, which the teenagers distributed. Afterwards, so many of our guests commented on what a great meal it was, and how Pillinis had gone the extra mile to make it so successful

We took our two young sons for tea here – great kids menu I had the calamari salad which was wonderful and my husband had steak. Good simple food and friendly service nice wine list as well. Nice spacious dining room

A group of 6 of us dined here on Sunday night for a birthday celebration. We didn’t know at the time of booking but were pleasantly surprised to learn all mains were $15 each if either an entree or dessert was shared between each couple. Portion sizes were good and service was friendly. We had brought a birthday cake in for dessert and it was a nice touch by the kitchen staff when they added strawberries to the platter for decoration. A good experience overall.

I ordered the CALAMARI SALAD, was the best I’ve had ever, so tender, I’m going back again soon for more. service was lovely too.. Thank you

We organised a nice finish to a great full day double date with some friends, this was to have dinner at Pillinis.

When we arrived, our booked table was stuck in the corner with no open windows near and in open view of the sun. What a sauna! When we told the waitress (manager?) that we were going to move outside because it was hot, she seemed to be annoyed that we wanted to be more comfortable. ‘It will be just as hot outside, I think, are you sure?’ she said. It was much, much nicer outside. Even if the table that we had, hadn’t been properly wiped in a few days and the mould was building up over the cigarette butts stuck on the base of the table.

We ordered drinks, that was average, the lemon lime bitters we had wasn’t fizzy and the mixer was missing lemon.

As for the meal, 3 out of 4 were alright. We asked if the ‘vietnamese dressing’ on the salad had peanut. She checks with kitchen. All okay, no peanut. After we’ve ordered, she comes and tells us, we are actually changing the dressing for one not meant for the salad, because we are not sure about the peanuts. This is after we ordered. The salad and other meals came. Fish and chips were good, burger was tasty. I tasted my chicken and thought, oh its smoked, only to find out that it was normal chicken and it wasn’t cooked properly. This put me right off and it was time to leave. What a fumbling and funny end to a very nice day. We had to laugh about it, mainly because there is no point complaining at a place where bad excuses are made for shortcomings. We wont go back anytime soon.

We return to this place again and again. As regular customers (go once or twice a month) they are FANTASTIC. Sometimes the food isn’t the best compared to other places but it is far exceeded by their attitude and service (which is not valued highly enough in NZ – we lived o’seas for nine years and in many different countries). I love this place and I hate to see bad reviews as they always look after us, remember our names and our children’s names… never had any restaurant anywhere take the time to make us feel so at home and welcome. Your the best Pillinis (even if sometimes – rarely – your food isn’t)!

terrible experience, certainly won’t be back.
waiter started by calling everyone darling except my mother who organized the night , she was called boss!
didn’t have the wine we ordered or our second choice, waiter told us we would have to order the much more expensive wine.would have walked out at this point if it wasn’t for my mother being there.
prices fair food OK, but damage had already been done.

I don’t think I have ever complained or taken the time to write a review, but the experience at Pillinis wasn’t that great. Went to lunch on Saturday 28 Feb 09. The service was poor. The staff had to be reminded about the drinks. The crumbed calamari although edible was just a darkened brown just on the point of being black. Both salads were tired and oily. My wife’s crumbed scallops were over cooked and the crumbed portion soggy. We had to go somewhere else for coffee to clear the taste.