Hi I came in for lunch a few months ago, I had a couple of beers and the duck wonton lunch meal it was delicious and I like the way the dish was layered very tasty and visually appealing, my partner had the risotto, the only complaint a little on the large side (risotto), but she loved it. This is the second time I have been to this restaurant and it won’t be the last well done.

Great place to dine, went with a big group and although the food took a wee while longer than expected, they were very accommodating. Sadly not much on their menu that was vege/vegan friendly and my partner resorted to eating roasted potatoes for his meal (which he said were amazing, but that’s not really a meal). We had a great time, although when one of our party asked what a Bistro was two waitresses didn’t know the answer. Hmmm?!

Fantastic experience made better by exceptional service. I hosted my mother-in-law’s 80th here with 13 of her close family and friends. Due to the size of the group they offered us a set menu which included something for everyone. The quality and size of the dishes was perfect and quirks of a fussy group catered for. The afternoon was topped up when the birthday girl’s dessert was brought out with a candle and decorated plate – something they organised with no prompting. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

October 2012: This place is rated fairly highly, and I can see why. Certainly nothing much to complain about from our perspective.

Food was very well prepared and presented. Very tasty. Only concern was that the portions are small (ish). My Lamb Tagliatelle was great, albeit a bit “oily”. Partners fish dish was rated very well.

Service was very good and professional. Only one or two small things like having no seasoning on the table (or being offered any), but still a 4.5 effort.

For those waking up to NZ craft beer, there are some options available e.g. Galbraiths, Tuatara, and Monteiths. A few more would be good.

Overall though, well worth checking out this place.

Jan 2013: UPDATE: I returned to this place in January 2013 and it was the best dining experience I can recall. Moved it from 4 stars to 5 stars. Brilliant. Unsurpassed food and service.

A work group recently attended for a special work lunch to celebrate an award we won. We wanted a treat! and we got it.

Each of dishes were fresh, tasty and what we would expect when attending a fine dining resturant. Every -one was happy with their choices and oohed and ahhhhhh’d over the flavours!

Service was excellent and the gent that served us was friendly and tentative, even though when we had two babies joining us!

Great restaurant – one of our favs in Hamilton! We go frequenlty keep up the good work!

Surrounded by cafes and restaurants of all persuasions Victoria Street Bistro is an oasis of culinary delights, comfort and charm. While award winning Chef, Andrew Clarke presents food of outstanding quality and imagination, his wife Julia, oversees front of house, ensuring diners have the best possible care and attention.
The menu provides a great choice of entrees, mains and desserts. We were impressed with the entree of Tempura Courgette Flower stuffed with French goats cheese on sweet peperonata, beetroot and baby basil, beautifully plated and each mouthful a moment to savour. The Peking Duck layered with crispy cassava won tons, salad of orange, coriander, green onion and roasted sesame with hoisin and ginger sauce was a stunner. The balance of texture and flavours was intelligent and inventive.
With Harpuka being offered as the “fish of the day”, we broke our usual rule of ordering two different mains in preference of a species of fish not usually on Hamilton’s menus. Panfried to perfection, served as a semi stack with cooked seasonal vegetables on a bed of Israeli couscous and a swish of fresh tomato jus. Clarke really knows his combinations.
We found Lawson’s Dry Hills Riesling a perfect match for all our dishes and with a leisurely ambiance of an early evening reservation we were surprised to find we had an appetite to share a dessert. The Black Forest Bombe Alaska is a superb confection of dark chocolate ice cream and balsamic chocolate cake encased in Italian meringue with cherry coulis, chocolate anglaise and flambéed with cherry brandy.
I cannot think of a better way to celebrate a special occasion.

This is my favourite restuarant. Whenever we have guests stay we come to this restuarant. We have never had a bad experiance yet. Food is gorgeous and service i can never fault.
Staff are friendly and lovely people. We always feel spoilt when we leave.
I dont mind paying a bit more for gorgeous food and wonderful service alhtough i feel for the flavours of the food and variety of gorgeous dishes that this is appropriatly charged.
Always recommend!

Sensational !
I was taken here for a treat recently and found the food to be amazing. All courses lived up to my expectations and the pudding was divine (I shouldn’t have had it as was so full already but can never resist!)
The service was OK, waiter seemed a little spaced out – must have been having a bad night.
I love the fact the tables have plenty of space around them, you don’t feel like you are dining with the table next to you.
Hope to be treated again soon!

Four of us dined here Saturday evening. The bruschetta and warm baguette with flavoured butters made for a good start but the mains let us down . One of us ordered the oysters and pronounced them “divine” but the three of us who ordered the fish – hapuka – were very disappointed. The fish was on the dry side and apart from the two scallops perched on the top completely overwhelmed by the amount of rice served with it.It had been described as a Thai red curry, but apart from a small amount of sauce in the corner, the plate was filled up with plain tasting rice. This may be nitpicking, but why is a restaurant serving out of season imported from America fresh asparagus, when there are wonderful winter veges around? However the blueberry and pomegranate clafoutis we all ordered for dessertdid go some way to redeemng our evening .Fresh out of the oven with ice cream – yum. Maybe the seafood chef was just having a bad night. No one enquired as to how our meals were, so we didn’t get the chance to tell them. Friendly staff.

This is my favorite restaurant in Hamilton! The food is very flavorsome and the waiters are helpful and friendly.
Pork belly is the best! I got the duck main last time, that was lovely too.
I had been to Euro in Auckland the weekend before and ordered duck there too, and VSB beat it hands down!
Can’t wait to go back again !

Have been to this restaurant for dinner before & found it wonderful so we returned for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Absolutely divine! Eye fillet sandwich was gorgeous, mum loved her pork belly. My fave dessert the bombe Alaska was as yummy as the last time I had it. We felt the lunch menu was very reasonably priced. Service great. Overall awesome

We had dinner there with some friends from Auckland.
The decor was good and the atmosphere is intimate.
The service we had was excellent and very attentive with our drinks being constantly topped up. We though the wine selection was good and not completely over the top in price. We had a 3 course meal and everything that came to the table was well presented and tasted divine. We loved it all & thought it was good value for money and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone!!

went for a meal with good friends last week and just bland, unexciting food. very mediocre wine list. lucky I was with good friends and they were great company! I could name half a dozen restaurants in that area that are far better and don’t proclaim themselves as award winning (what awards by the way)… going to palate next time

Couldn’t get a table at Chim Choo Ree so (4 of us) decided to try here since we’d heard some good things. There was nothing dreadful about VSB but, apart from the service, there was nothing to rave about either. An hour is too long to wait for mains when you’ve skipped entrees. I had the eye fillet which was ok. Mum had the gnocchi. She thought it was a stingy amount for the $34 it cost. Dad and Aunt seemed to be satisfied with their fish of the day and duck but no one was in raptures and that’s how it should be at an establishment like this. Dessert wasn’t great. The sundae had a tiny amount of Kohu Road dark chocolate ice cream floating on a soup of sugary sauces. I know I ordered it but there’s something Cobb & Co-ish about a parfait glass. The souffle special was more like the centre of a pavlova and looked pretty sad on the plate and the creme brulee was too runny and looked silly in the triangular bowl it came in.

I expect much more from a place that touts itself as a premium dining experience.

it was “nice”. the food was a little over priced but staff and friendly and attentive, so over all a “nice” dinner

I don’t know how anyone can rate VSB below a 5/5. The food is amazing for a fine dining restaurant. Yes the prices are a little high but you pay for what you get and that is a high quality restaurant, excellent service, high class atmosphere/modern decor. I tried a feijoa juice…best I’ve tasted. Juices made from real fruits. Mains were cooked perfect and flavours go together well. Small meals but you feel very full afterwards. Definitely a treat on the tastebuds.

I have been to VSB a couple of times now and it has always been a pleasant night.
From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed by the friendly staff. They are all happy to be there, very knowledgeable and attentive. It is hard to find very friendly waiters these days.
The food follows the staff’s high standards. The menu is very balanced and combines classic Kiwi ingredients with exciting asian and european influences. I have tried a lot of dishes and it is hard to pick a favourite.
However, the hawkes bay lamb is absolutely amazing. I have never tasted lamb so great, although I have visited lots of fine dining restaurants around the world.
Being a new restaurant, VSB has set the standards very high and can compete with famous restaurants around the Waikato. The definitely deserve your visit.
Thanks for some wonderful nights VSB. I will be back soon

The service was the best thing here. The meals are small and overpriced. They were also very average tasting. You can get way better in Hamilton.

Very intimate setting! Great booths in the front windows! Service & memory of the specials from the waitress 10/10
Moscow mule cocktail fab & Bombe Alaska dessert VERY cool as they light it @ the table!
One complaint keep the menu updated don’t tease me…if something like the courgette flower is out of season TAKE IT OFF THE MENU please sooooo disappointed! Will be back to try…

Great service each visit (3). Awesome food. Great presentation of food as well as taste. Finally a restaurant with carpet and soft chairs. I’ve had enough of polished concrete and plastic furniture at most other restaurants/cafes in Hamilton.

Went here last night as part of a group of eight. Had a fantastic time, great service, great food, great wine, great decor. All the meals were beautifully presented and everyone agreed the food was some of the best they had tasted. Go here with confidence, you wont be disappointed!!

Had dinner with my wife at Victoria Street Bistro last night.

I was really impressed with the renovations they have done, the place has a great atmosphere.

Jules, Andy and the team provided an excellent service and it is obviously paying dividends as the resturant was full.

I ordered the beef cheek and it was easily the best meal I’ve had in a long time! The taste was fantastic and it was so tender that it just fell apart.

We will be returning very soon, and I know what I’m ordering.

Went for a girls lunch today.
Beautiful decor – love the lighting and the colours, not to mention the curtain draped booths at the front.

Staff very friendly and efficient

Food – tasty, well presented and great selection. Reasonable price.
Love the wine glasses.

Look forward to an evening out here.