Absolute Rubbish. I ordered Lamb – two pieces that you could barely see, but tasted like cardboard. My wife had a steak – not the highest one on the menu, but one that in other restaurants is reliable. It was so tough she sent it back. I did the same with my lamb as it was inedible at $33.00. The server said how sorry she was and suggested we pick something else from the menu. She suggested a particular steak, which didn’t thrill me as I can do a great steak at home, but we took her suggestion and it was “edible”. Then, as I was drinking my beer, my wife noted there was lipstick on the glass. We called the server over, she looked at it and took it away – no comment, no replacement, no offer of any kind. How can a properly washed glass still have lipstick on it? When she brought the bill she did note that she took the one beer off – big deal as I had one sip! – and billed us the extra for the higher priced steaks she suggested. We were furious, hence this review which I seldom do unless things are really bad or really good.

Rubbish food, mistakes that were poorly handled, indifference, and a very unpleasant meal. Please do not eat here. Pick a real dedicated restaurant nearby, not this hotel restaurant wannabe. Novotel should be ashamed!

I was told the food here was great so tried the restaurant on a very quiet January day for lunch with two others. The food was actually very basic, did not come out as expected. My medium rare steak was almost gray in colour, hubby’s chicken salad was way more lettuce than meat, yet the prices were still high for a standard lunch menu. The meals were also slow coming to the table. Really disappointed after hearing reviews. Perhaps dinner service is better (and would hope so!)

When you walk in its clean, tidy and classy looking, the staff are very friendly and the service was great. The menu had lots of yummy things on it and very reasonably priced too. All the entrees and meals were beautifully presented and yum. I would recommend this place to anyone and we will definitely be going back! We had 4 entrees, 4 mains and 5 drinks between us and it was only $200. Most places that would be the cost for 2-3 people. Loved it..

Me and my bf recently stayed at the novotel which is where the restaurant is attached. We ordered room service from the restaurant, the chicken dish and it was superb!! So full of yummy flavours the only problem was we wanted more!! Also the bar staff were lovely as we came downstairs to grab drinks a few times. Would recommend this restaurant to everyone! Lovely staff, lovely service and divine food!

We used this Restaurant for our wedding breakfast about 5 weeks ago. It was superb. Many of the guests were “foodies” just like us and all agreed the food was to die for. The service was first class in a friendly relaxed but very professional manner.
So , when visiting Hamilton again just last week for 4 days we decided to go back to the Novotel Tainui again for a meal for 2. We were not at all disappointed. In fact we “oohed and aahed” our way through the menu. Service was great. Young, nice looking, clean cut , well dressed , men and women.
Would highly recommend it to anyone with a discerning palate.

what to say… it all looks very classy and the staff professional. We had booked for four people and as two were arriving a bit late, two of us were shown to our table; after the other two members of our group arrived after about five minutes, it took about ten minutes before the waitress arrived with the menu’s apologizing profusely for the delay;
we ordered some drinks, which also took ages to arrive; the juices for the ladies, containing more ice then juice; we ordered s variety of breads and our meals; after what seemed ages (and was in fact 45 minutes !) our meals arrived with more apologies for the time it took… when we asked what happened with our breads, it was more oops and apologies; the meals were rather mediocre and certainly not what you would expect from a classy looking place like this and not presented with great flair or anything like that;
it was not busy at all, and we hate to see how this place would perform on a busy night; it wasn’t quite faulty towers, but certainly had a few touches of it; We dine out a lot, and find that restaurant on alma all though having good looks, view and atmosphere , that it fell short in delivery of service and food quality.
we certainly wont go back there.

Large group @ the bar so a little noisy in the restaurant until the crowd left!
Service VERY professional,friendly & quick!
The pork & salmon dishes were cooked to perfection!
Intimate setting & a little bit posh with candles & lights on dim & tables facing out to the river!
Next time the brunch would be worth trying on the balcony in warmer weather!

great place for dinner, food and desserts always great, service good.