Went for our anniversary so we did all three courses. We were not disappointed. Everything was just great all the way through to the desserts. I had the oysters for entree, pork for the main and creme brulee for dessert and I enjoyed the whole lot immensely. My wife had the scallops for dessert the groper for main and also the creme brulee for dessert. She also very much enjoyed her whole meal. The only teensy observation was that the scallops did not come with the roe attached that we like. It is only the adductor muscle that is prepared and served. I know that this is probably normal for restaurants and chefs however we do like the whole scallop as there is more flavour that way. Everything was wonderfully presented and service was very good. Thank you.

I returned to The Trading Rooms last month for a lunchtime treat. I sat outside in the sunshine, ordered the fruits de mer, a seafood platter. Kathryn, the waitress, brought it out, I was not disappointed. With mussels, Akaroa blue cod, different types of salmon, squid and more, I was in my element. The fish was all fresh, and cooked to perfection.
The restaurant has had a bit of redecoration since I was there last, it is a warm and inviting place with new outdoor lighting for the seating area. I am looking forward to returning in the summer for a night outside under the stars with great food.

A group of us had lunch here a few weeks ago and it was very disappointing all round. The lamb burger had tough, (just about raw!!) lamb in it, the salmon salad hardly had any salmon at all and the seafood chowder certainly wasn’t anywhere as nice as we’ve had elsewhere. For the prices charged here, we would have expected a much higher standard of food. Definitely will never go there again.

Last Saturday evening we dined at the Trading Rooms Restaurant. Upon being seated a very nice and cheerful waitress told us that all the menus were in use and there would be a short wait until some become available, very odd!! There were four of us dining and two had ordered entrees. One entree ordered was the Kaituna asparagus with prawns, this was served minus the asparagus which had to be asked for!! There was a long wait until the main meals arrived at the table, the two other guests dining with us didn’t order an entree and had a wait over an hour for their main meal. We thought for the price the meals were very small. We overheard diners at another table when served with their main meals that this was the smallest meal they had had in 32 years. The meals were nice, but very over priced for the size, and additional cost if you wanted vegetables with your meal. On the Friday evening a girlfriend also went along to the Trading Rooms with 5 other girl friends, after being seated they decided to leave because of what she describes as a very miserable waitress.
Very Disappointing!
LL

Our company recently held an annual conference in Akaroa. Stephen and Kathryn provided us with fantastic service and excellent food.

Stephen worked in with our group requirements providing a top of the line meal and still being flexible with some of our choices. The team at the Trading Room also opened both mornings as an extra to start the crew off with a freshly cooked breakfast during our stay.
I would definetly recommend this restaurant. Everything was top class

I took my wife to Akaroa for a weekend away, and stumbled across this restaurant in the late afternoon. We sat outside with a nice bottle of wine, watched the sun go down on the other side of the harbour, and then inside to have a meal. The red decor made the place warm & welcoming, and the service was friendly. We both had salmon and tamarillo entrees, sounds strange, but the taste was amazing! My steak was cooked perfectly, but the bread & butter pudding is what will get me back there when we are in Akaroa again.

My husband & I ate here a week ago on a Saturday evening and were very impressed with the inviting, warm ambience of the place – loved the hearty red walls, jewel colour taffeta curtains and excellent background music – modern jazz. The current owners had only been in situ for 6 or 7 weeks and were very attentive. We couldn’t fault the service at all except for maybe the delay in receiving the bill – we both asked for it individually but it failed to transpire and eventually we approached the till to pay on our way out. The menu had promise but it was the food that let this establishment down. I ordered slow cooked lamb on mash, and David ordered the beef. My lamb was a cheap cut (shoulder I think) and it most certainly hadn’t been slow cooked – it was grey, and almost impossible to cut it was so tough. The Brussels sprouts were the most peculiar thing on the plate – they were smoked. Many things can be enhanced by smoking but I don’t think Brussels sprouts are one of them. The nicest thing on my plate was the mashed potato. Dave’s steak was tender enough but had not a scrap of flavour – tasted as if it had been soaking in a water bath – all flavour leached out. We shared a dessert and had the cheeseboard which was ok but we were surprised that none of the three cheeses were local – given the rather good blue that Barry’s Bay cheesery produces nearby. Great service and nice atmosphere are all very well but if the kitchen can’t deliver, then people, like us, won’t be back

We had a delightful meal in very pleasant surroundings – Duck Terrine / Scallops to start followed by Sirloin of Beef (cooked to rare perfection) / Salmon, with a side of steamed vegetables. Dessert was Cheeseboard (a perfectly matched selection of three cheeses with crisp apple and tomato chutney) / Rhubarb crumble (which I gather was superb). The service was attentive and unobtrusive with the courses being served with perfect timing, unhurried without feeling you were having to wait. While it was fairly quiet there was still a nice feel, destined to become an Akaroa classic!

Had lunch there on Saturday. Sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful view. We ordered the seafood platter which was stunning and matched beautifully with the wine that was recommend to us. Will def be going back for another day trip. Cant’t wait to try the night time menu