I came across Shaky Isles in downtown Auckland recently. It is in a great location and the decor is a blend of funky, modern and rustic. I had Eggs Benedict for brunch and was really pleased to see that it came with both organic bacon and spinach (a la Florentine) on Danish rye. The eggs were almost perfectly poached and Hollandaise came on the side, as requested. Most of the brunch menu seemed to feature Danish rye – not usually my first choice but it tasted great and wasn’t too heavy. The presentation really stood out with my meal served on a wooden board with lines of salt and pepper as part of it. Much more interesting than a conventional plate! Brunch was quite costly (meal = $17.50 and latte = $4.50) so I’d say Shaky Isles is more of a ‘treat’ destination, but it’s definitely somewhere I’d return to when I’m in Auckland again.
22nd April 2013
Bookmark Send to a Friend
1 Wellesley St West
Auckland Central
Auckland City
09 377 1030
Cuisine: Cafe, Coffee & Tea
Remedy Coffee is in a great location opposite the Civic Theatre in downtown Auckland. The menu is small and consists mostly of salads, which makes for a healthy lunch. I had the chicken salad with red onion, lettuce, capsicum and cucumber and my friend ordered the same but with bacon and avocado added. The salad dressing was delicious and the coffee is excellent. The book-lined walls and board games make this a cosy cafe environment and would be particularly inviting on a cold winter’s day. Takeaway coffee in your own cup is discounted 50 cents, which is great to see. If I was a local, Remedy would easily become my regular coffee spot.
11th April 2013
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We went to The White House for the first time last weekend. Wow! Our service throughout the evening was excellent, beginning with a warm greeting from the maître d’ who seated us to the attentive waiting staff throughout our meal. We appreciated the fine touches: bread to start and a palette cleanser before each course. The restaurant environment is simple and understated with a spectacular view across Wellington Harbour peeking out through the fog. Sunday is BYO wine night so we brought our own bottle of sauvignon blanc. It was kept chilled and topped up during the evening along with our water glasses. I had the twice-cooked pork belly to begin and my partner had the rabbit consomme entree. For our main course, I’d highly recommend the Pirinoa Station lamb rack, which was served medium rare. My partner’s grilled Cervena venison was also deliciously medium rare with complementing beetroot flavours. Each course was small but exquisitely formed and beautifully presented. A beautiful fine dining experience.
29th December 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
The menu at Butlers Reef offers lots of the usual pub fare, but also several seafood options. I chose a scallop and bacon salad for lunch which featured seven lightly seared scallops wrapped in bacon on top of salad greens with an Asian dressing. The scallops were juicy and delicious. Our service was good and our meals arrived within a reasonable time. It was great to be able to sit at a picnic table in the sunny back yard. A very pleasant Friday afternoon lunch.
1st December 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
A large group of us (49) had dinner at The Grand on Friday. Now, a group that size is normally a recipe for disaster but we had a great night and came away absolutely full after our meal. Each course (entrees and mains) was simply huge, so much so that just one course would have enough for us. We started by sharing an entree of buffalo wings, which were deliciously marinated. For my main course, I had the Island Bay Surf and Turf stone grill, which was a 200 g rump steak, prawns and scallops with a side salad and chips. While the chips were quite ho hum (not crisp), the scallops and prawns were a nice touch to an otherwise steak-based meal. My partner had the gigantic 600 g T-bone steak with mushroom ragout and baked potato. The service was surprisingly good for such a big group. I am really pleased to see The Grand has turned things around since the last time we dined there (and since the reviews below were posted). We will definitely be back.
4th November 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Atlanta offers an appealing cafe lunch menu as well as a range of counter food available to have with with coffee. I ordered cauliflower and haloumi fritters with cumin and rocket salad – a generous serving and absolutely delicious. The service was very good and our orders were taken shortly after we arrived. Our coffees came before the main meal, as requested, and there was very little waiting time all round. We were warned to get there just before the midday rush and this was good advice – the tables (both inside and outside) quickly filled up. The outdoor heaters made sitting outside in the spring sunshine especially pleasant.
18th September 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We took advantage of a burger and drink online deal and had an early meal at The Craftsman this week. The Lot burger certainly lived up to its name. It was really big and made with beef, cheese, tomato, beetroot, red onions, bacon and an almost fried egg. Fries are charged separately – $3 gave us a decent sized serving. Service from the bar staff was helpful and pleasant. A good value, no frills bar meal.
23rd August 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
360 Jackson St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-568 9557
Cuisine: Italian
After meaning to dine at Soprano for the longest time, we enjoyed a fantastic winter lunch there. The atmosphere is small and cosy without feeling cramped. The window seats would make a great spot for people watching over a fine meal. The menu features a good range of Italian and Italian-inspired options. My partner had the Soprano grill, which was a filling meal of bacon, egg, portabello mushroom, chorizo, rocket and feta potato cake on sourdough while I enjoyed a perfectly executed chef’s risotto. The service was excellent without being intrusive, from calling to make a booking to being greeted at the door and right throughout our meal. We will definitely be back and hope to have room for dessert next time.
19th August 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
In the tiny town of Raetihi on a quiet Friday night, we stumbled upon Volcano Coffee Roastery. Not only do they roast their own coffee beans for distribution around the region, but their cafe is home to some of the most truly exceptional pizza we have tasted. Freshly made with a thin, crispy bases, there are two sizes to choose from (9″ and 18″). I can highly recommend the salmon and basil pesto with capers while my partner went for pepperoni topped with bbq sauce. And then there is the phenomenal dessert pizza: banana with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Wow! We really appreciated the staff staying open half an hour past closing time to serve our group on Friday night and will definitely be back for coffee and more pizza on our next ski trip.
6th August 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Lunch at Cuckoo calls for some tough decisions: pizza or pasta? Daily specials board or extensive menu? We started off with coffee then chose pasta dishes. I had chicken and bacon pasta with sun dried tomatoes and parmesan in a creamy sauce – delicious! I really appreciated being able to have spaghetti in place of fettuccine – all part of the excellent service. Cuckoo’s decor is quirky and spread out in an old homestead. There is plenty to look at, from brightly decorated walls, old fashioned chandeliers and butterfly-adorned toilets. Our only regret is that we were too full from our main course to enjoy dessert. Never mind – next time!
29th July 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
22 Kings Crescent
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-978 7434
Cuisine: Sandwiches, Cafe
Soul Cafe is a pleasant little eatery away from the beaten path of the mall and a great lunch venue. The environment is open and bright, with full length windows and plenty of natural light. There is a small lunch/brunch blackboad menu to choose from along with a selection of counter food and home-style baking that looked appealing. I settled on a salmon and feta salad which was both plentiful and delicious, with salmon pieces atop a bed of rocket. The coffee was good and service friendly, ensuring there is a steady stream of customers eating in and taking food away during the busy lunch time rush.
6th July 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
On a cold winter’s evening, Jackson’s is warm and cosy inside. Our group was comfortably seated in a large booth and we were well looked after until everybody had arrived. As always, the food here is superb. We started by sharing a delicious entree of sauteed prawns with lemon chili and garlic sauce, which came with herb bread. The prawns were large and juicy. For my main course, the lamb shanks were amazingly rich with the meat falling off the bone. My partner’s pan-fried chicken breast with Madiera port and mushroom jus was also very good. We finished off a lovely meal with the Baileys walnut double chocolate tart – yum! The service throughout our meal was really good with the waiter offering to keep some of our excess BYO chilled and frequently topping up glasses and checking on how things were with our meals. Dinner at Jackson’s is always a treat for us and we are keen to return.
30th June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Very little seems to have changed from the previous incarnation of this restaurant. The menu is surprisingly familiar menu and the environment identical, which is fine. However, the food last night was simply dreadful. I ordered gnocchi with chicken – well, that’s what it said on the menu. What I got was dry, overdone chicken pieces and nondescript vegetables underneath something that looked and tasted like overdone pan fried haloumi – I’m guessing this was meant to be gnocchi. According to my friend, the salmon was a marginally better choice. Our service was ok; we had an early meal on the way to another appointment so appreciated being able to get in and out quickly, but we won’t be returning to Big Dogs.
28th June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We had a pleasant brunch at Cafe Thyme this morning. The gas heater makes for an inviting and cosy atmosphere on a cold day. The menu offers good value for money along with a basic selection of counter food. The eggs Benedict was good with delicious bacon and a crisp hash brown. I was glad the Hollandaise sauce came on the side, as requested. My friend and her daughter shared a large 3-egg omelette. We had a reasonable wait for our meals and our coffees arrived first. Afterwards, we were asked if our cups could be cleared before they were finished, then someone came around asking to collect plates that we were still eating off. Other than being rushed to have our plates cleared (possibly in preparation for the lunch hour), this is a good, basic local cafe.
26th June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
25 Tory St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-384 3288
Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
We had an early dinner before a show a couple of weeks ago at Dragons and were impressed with our meal. The prawn dumpling entree was very good. For our main course, we had orange beef and lemon chicken. Servings for both dishes were generous and beautifully cooked. Prices are generally more expensive than most Chinese restaurants but the quality of food is excellent. There is a fine line between attentive service and feeling watched; at times, we felt it was a bit of both but we would prefer to be ‘looked after’ during a meal than completely left alone, so it was fine. The restaurant is very large and furnished liberally with Chinese decorations thoughout. Would definitely recommend Dragons for dinner.
21st June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
49 Pretoria St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-566 6147
Cuisine: Cafe
After hearing great things about Sweet Vanilla Kitchen, I was keen to try it for myself and was not disappointed. Set in an old house, there is a lovely villa-type feel to this cafe with attractive art for sale on the walls and quaint decorations. It got extremely loud when full during the lunch hour and we found ourselves shouting at each other across the table. The counter selection looked very appealing, as did the blackboard menu. I settled on salmon potato cake for lunch, which I really enjoyed, and a delicious chocolate pear brioche as a treat. Yum! We will definitely be back.
15th June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
43 Cuba St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-472 5249
Cuisine: Japanese, Asian
A group of us had dinner at Hede recently before going to a show. Let’s start with the positives: the food tasted pretty good. We had salmon and white fish sushi to begin, which was nice. The chicken katsu was very good and we also enjoyed the beef teppanyaki. Service was average – nothing to brag about but very basic with lots of reaching over the table to deliver/clear plates. The environment is very tired and 13 of us were squashed around a table suitable for 8 (10 with a push). The toilets are absolutely foul: filthy and no hot water or soap available in either the men’s or staff toilets, making us more than a little concerned about the food we had all just eaten. Strangely enough, we could not find their health certificate/rating displayed and the duty manager notice (handwritten on a piece of refil paper) was hidden behind a movable screen.
3rd June 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
It had been a long time since I last dined at Leuven and I see reviews have been up and down for quite a while. We were in the area before a show last night and looking for a quick meal so decided to give it a try. Although the bar wasn’t particularly busy (early evening), we informed our waitress of our time frame and were still impressed with how quickly our meals arrived. We each ordered a ‘light’ meal, which had more than adequate main sized portions. (The prices were very different to their online menu, though, so beware.) I had a lovely warm salad of sweet lamb fillets and my partner had the chicken and duck pie, served European style in a ceramic dish with a crust ‘lid’. Very nice! Our service was really good; our waitress was smiling and friendly and even brought our bill to the table at the end – something we have not encountered for a long time.
15th April 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
337 High St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04 566 8232
Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
We tried out the wood fired pizzas at Mediterranean Food Warehouse over Easter weekend. They were good – a lovely thin base, fresh ingredients and just the right amount of topping on each. I enjoyed the Isle of Capri pizza with tomato, mozzarella, Italian sausage, rocket and cherry tomatoes while my partner had Pollo Pleasure with chicken and roasted onions. The large pizzas are simply huge so we were pleased to take several slices home to enjoy the next day. The decor and food presentation match the service here and is pretty basic – not unpleasant but certainly nothing flash.
10th April 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
25 Bouverie St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-569 8311
Cuisine: Cafe
We had a mid-week lunch at Espresso Garden Cafe. I used to frequently pick up coffee and a bite to eat while we were shopping at Mitre 10 Mega in the past but agree with other reviewers that the standard has slipped in recent times. Several tables had dirty dishes left of them so we chose one of the few clean, empty tables available. It wasn’t easy finding a clean water glass, either. I’ve noticed the price of counter food has gone up significantly over time, perhaps matching the prices charged in other Petone cafes but the general standard of food here is pretty average. I had a toasted ham, cheese and tomato ficelle which was nice and my partner had a breakfast bagel. The triple chocolate brownie was a bit dry but whipped cream helped with that. The coffee was fine, albeit spilled over my saucer. Overall, I would grab a quick coffee here when shopping at Mitre 10 in future but this is not a cafe I would make a special trip to visit.
18th March 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
At midday on a sunny Saturday, Cafe Polo was busy both inside and out. I was first drawn to great selection of counter food with innovative versions of classics, eg sundried tomato and feta scones – yum! The blackboard and brunch/lunch menus are extensive. I settled for basic poached eggs on sourdough with a side of free range bacon while my friends chose chicken and fish meals. Our food arrived really quickly, even given how busy the cafe was, and was delicious. I enjoyed the coffee and would happily go back.
11th March 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
I was a bit apprehensive about dining at Cafe Zilli after reading so many negative reviews about service in recent times. We needn’t have worried; the service was fine – nothing flash but no need for concern last Friday night. The restaurant was full so we were pleased to be able to get the last table without booking. We began with calamari and tabbouleh. The calamari was ok but tasted store bought. Our main courses were huge! I had the mixed shish, a combination of nuri baba (lamb) and chicken shish. I especially enjoyed the lamb which was lovely and tender. My partner had chicken Turkeman with garlic, yoghurt, oregano and basil – very tasty and another generous serving. Yes, the decor is a bit tired, partially hidden by Turkish decorations and dim lighting (making the menu hard to read) but the main courses are great value and worth coming back for.
10th March 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
1114 Tutanekai St
Rotorua
Rotorua District
07-349 6482
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
We had the best Thai meal EVER at Wild Rice last week – seriously, we eat Thai food a lot and this is no exaggeration! Wild Rice describes itself as modern Thai cuisine. The flavours are fresh and the food is superbly cooked. We began with a mixed entree of spring roll, curry puff, prawn on toast, chicken satay and fish cake all with sweet chili sauce. I’m glad we shared one entree between us – the main course was so filling that we wouldn’t have been able to fit in an entree each. We had a creamy chicken panaeng curry for our main and the day’s special of lamb kae sam rod, a medium rare char grilled rack of lamb served on a sizzling hot plate with garlic, chili, lemongrass and basil. Superb! Our sides of roti each came with satay for dipping, making them very good value. Our service was great; our water glasses were inconspicuously refilled, plates were warmed and our food arrived after only a short wait even with a nearly full restaurant. Very highly recommended – Wild Rice will definitely be on our itinerary next time we visit Rotorua.
11th January 2012
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We had a lovely meal at Boulcott St Bistro last week on our way to a Christmas function. Arriving early, there was no waiting for a table and we were served quickly. The poisson du jour was tarakihi poached in lemon butter nage and came with peas and a large, single saffron and prawn ravioli. It was absolutely delicous! The ravioli was unusual and completely filled with prawns. My partner had steak florentine, a medium-rare sirloin grilled in herbs, garlic and lemon with potatoes and a roasted tomato. A really enjoyable meal with pleasant service in a villa-style environment. We will definitely be back when we’re not in such a rush and look forward to sampling more of the menu.
30th December 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
11 Tauhinu Rd
Miramar
Wellington City
04 388 8427
Cuisine: Array
Gasworks is a relatively new pub in Miramar with a really pumping atmosphere. The decor looks great and is varied inside, outside and on either side of the bar and restaurant. Even the toilets look good! We were really impressed with the service at Gasworks. On a busy Friday night with functions going on all over the place and a very full bar, the restaurant staff were friendly and accommodating. The menu looks impressive, with a range of burgers and gastro pub-style food as well as heart bar snacks available. My partner enjoyed the Gas Burger, with an Angus beef pattie, bacon, cheese and pineapple. I ordered the chargrilled cranberry chicken breast which came with a stuffed potato and a cute little pottle of peas. The key word here is ‘chargrilled’; the chicken was so chargrilled that it was tough and dry with the thin cranberry sauce barely able to make an impact. I realise this was probably a casualty of a very busy night and I’d possibly eat at Gasworks again, but I definitely won’t be ordering the chicken.
18th December 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
11 Courtenay Place
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-381 0338
Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
A group of ten had dinner at Majestic Cuisine last weekend. Having experienced their yum cha in the past, I thought I knew what to expect. Let’s start with some positives: our entree of deep fried prawn balls featured tasty whole prawns and was delicious. We enjoyed the orange beef main dish and the chicken and black bean sauce was ok but nothing special. We had some very long waits for service; from sitting down, to finally catching someone’s attention to ask for menus (one menu to share between ten people is a bit rough), to placing our order, then another half hour before entrees started arriving and a further wait for mains. In between all this, we tried to ask for water for the table; again, two glasses between ten people is just frustrating. I would say it’s been a long time since this restaurant was actually majestic. The decor is tired with unsightly water stains on the ceiling. Too many chairs are crammed around the round tables meaning that there is barely enough space to negotiate all the dishes on the Lazy Susan and the noise levels were very high during dinner. In all, a costly meal for the quality and level of service. I’d possibly go back again for yum cha but not dinner.
15th December 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We dined at The General Practitioner for the first time in a couple of years and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. I was really impressed with the spring lamb tenderloin dish which was beautifully presented on tiny pieces of potato, olive, green bean and sundried tomato chunks with tzatziki. The combination of flavours was out of this world! My partner enjoyed a medium rare char grilled rib eye steak with chips and café de paris butter. Our service was extremely quick, which was convenient as we were on our way to a show but would have made us feel time pressured otherwise. The architecture inside this building is spectacular. We were sitting outside in an extension of the main building which got very noisy (and cold), even with the awnings up. The close proximity of the tables and chairs shows just how popular this restaurant is in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Overall, this was a very pleasant meal.
12th December 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
27 Dudley St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-569 3436
Cuisine: Indian, Family
We had a Saturday night meal at Curry Mahal. The food was fine. We had butter chicken, a sweeter, creamier tomato version which my partner really enjoyed. I had boti masala, baked lamb pieces cooked in a spicy yoghurt sauce, which tasted good but the lamb was a bit dry after having being cooked twice. We enjoyed the diced chicken kulcha (bread) which went with our meal. The service was ok, although it took us a while to get someone’s attention when we first arrived; we could hear a lot of noise going on in the kitchen and a something that smelled like burning once the door opened, but nobody out front in the restaurant. The restaurant was completely empty during our whole meal (approx 45 mins). Once or twice a staff member popped out to see if we were ok, but otherwise we had the place to ourselves. The tv was playing above us, most likely so people dining later could watch the rugby while eating out, but the news was on during our meal and we found ourselves desperately wanting to turn down the ads … and, alas, no remote or staff member was to be found. Sadly, we felt this completely ruined the atmosphere in the restaurant and doesn’t leave us wanting to go back any time soon.
9th October 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Sassi’s is a homely restaurant attached to a motel. The menu offers a range of hearty, home-style food with a few surprises at prices that are reasonable by Ohakune standards. We began our meal by sharing tempura king prawns with sweet chili mayo and were delighted to find 12 large prawns on the plate – great value and delicious. I had the braised lamb shank on creamy mash with seasonal vegetables for my main course; the lamb was very tender and tasty. We found my partner’s Thai red pork with jasmine rice an interesting combination but it was a very satisfying meal. Our service was polite and friendly, if a little slow (even on a quiet Sunday night). Overall, a pleasant meal.
19th September 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
95 Jackson St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-589 6199
Cuisine: Asian
Lok Lok Steamboat was a new dining experience for us tonight and a fun way to sample a variety of flavours. Being new to the steamboat experience, the friendly staff gave us recommendations from their four (yes, four!) menus. We selected one of the steamboat menus, where you boil raw food prepared on skewers in soup (we chose chicken) for 2-5 minutes, then eat it dipped in one of three sauces: sweet and sour, satay, and sesame. There were ten skewers in our menu, which gave us a good idea about what to order next time. To go with our steamboat, we also had the delicious lemon chicken. The service throughout our meal was fantastic and we will definitely be back again.
15th September 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
128-130 Courtenay Place
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-385 2905
Cuisine: Cafe
Good cafe offerings in town late on a Friday night are few and far between. Enigma has a late license and is open until the wee small hours for coffee and cafe style food. They offer a good range of counter food and a basic blackboard menu. Last night, the chicken, mushroom and bacon filo from behind the counter looked appealing. Unfortunately, once it was nuked, it morphed into something resembling a greasy, soggy mush. Being really hungry by this time, I pursued and finished things off with a piece of apple berry crumble. The shortbread crumble was a bit dry but went ok with cream. A big plus was the great service from staff who were friendly, cheerful and entertaining on a busy Friday night.
10th September 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Soul Food Cafe is a great place to stop for a break when driving through Taihape. The decor is modern kiwiana with New Zealand art works for sale and featuring cute ‘extras’ like displaying table numbers in little glass Coke bottles. There is a good number of items available from several menus, including larger meals, breakfast, burgers, and an excellent range of deli counter food. I had a chicken and mushroom filo which featured big chunks of roasted vegetables. My partner enjoyed his reasonably priced chicken fillet burger and a chocolate milkshake. The chocolate raspberry brownie with cream washed down with a latte finished lunch off nicely.
27th August 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
I hadn’t dined at Dockside in several years and was impressed with the decor in the restaurant area which overlooks part of the beautiful Wellington harbour. Our table was over a clear glass panel which meant we could see right down to the water through the dock – very cool! I had the West Coast whitebait fritters to start; although ‘fritters’ were mentioned on the menu, there was in fact just one medium sized fritter served with a small salad. Tasty, but not quite what I expected. My partner’s pan seared garlic prawn were delicious with six large prawns in the salad. For the main course, I had the lamb shank on kumara mash and winter vegetables, which was reasonably tender and subtly flavoured, and my partner enjoyed the prime Angus fillet. The service was excellent; ever present yet inconspicuous. A lovely but very expensive meal.
10th August 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
The decor is the first thing you notice when you arrive at Gusto; it’s warm, intimate and inviting with its wood panelled walls and makes good use of a small space. The palette cleanser was a very nice touch and we began our meal by sharing the ‘flight of tapas’ – perfect for people who can’t make up their mind or want to sample some new flavours. I had the saute prawn, calamari and tomato linguini next, which was obviously handmade. (I’m always bemused when waiting staff present me with a spoon when I order spaghetti or linguini – am I expected to sip my meal like soup?) My partner enjoyed the combination of flavours in his confit of duck main course. The service throughout our meal was unobtrusive and efficient. A very lovely venue for a special occasion meal.
7th August 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
6 Alma St
Hamilton Central
Hamilton City
07-838 0370
Cuisine: Italian
Adriana’s was bustling on a rainy Monday night. We were warmly greeted and promptly seated even without a booking. We each started with bruschetta al pomodoro. The bread was piled high with fresh tomatoes but the overall taste was very oily. I had spaghetti al pesto for my main course – a very large serving for a ‘starter’ sized portion and one that was generously laced with pine nuts, but once again excessively oily and containing very little basil. The environment resembles more of a cosy trattoria than a ristorante, with warmth added care of a hearty soundtrack from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. A reasonably pleasant dining experience.
13th July 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Collingwood St
Hamilton Central
Hamilton City
07-839 2201
Cuisine: Cafe
We had breakfast at Traffic yesterday morning. Situated on a busy corner, there is plenty of people watching to be done through the floor to ceiling glass windows. The coffee is good and we were served quickly, which was important for us as we were on our way to a conference. Both the menu and counter selections offer a good range of reasonably priced options. I had 6 half-sized, fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, which was excellent value at $6.
13th July 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
39-41 Vivian St
Te Aro
Wellington City
04-801 7771
Cuisine: Thai
We really enjoyed our meal at Phuthai Lanna last night, having also dined at their sister restaurant several times. The service was very friendly and efficient, giving us just enough time to order and with our water glasses frequently refilled. The mixed entree is a great way to sample five different starters and will help us decide what to order next time. (We didn’t take note of what each dish was called but particularly enjoyed the wonton and pork mince-style meatballs.) The Paenaeng red curry is a favourite of ours with tender slices of beef cooked in a thick red sauce. We also shared the Pad praew wan Moo, Thai style sweet and sour stir fry with pork, pineapple and vegetables. Our only criticism is that we were unable to order roti on its own to eat with the main course; it came with satay dipping sauce, which we didn’t want but had to pay for anyway, making $4 for each roti quite expensive.
8th July 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
257-259 Oxford St
Levin
Horowhenua
06-368 0700
Cuisine: Indian
We stopped at Rangoli for an early last night, taking a break during a long drive home. We were informed on arrival that they were short on staff, being a Sunday, but we actually found the service to be the best part of our meal. The manager was both polite and efficient, returning frequently to inconspicuously top up our drinks and check on our meals. We found the food to be generally disappointing, though. We ordered butter chicken and beef dahiwala, both medium-hot, with basmati rice and plain naan. Both sauces were sickly sweet and medium at best. The chicken was tenderly cooked but the beef was tough. The decor is spacious and fairly pleasant.
4th July 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Soi is set right on the water at Greta Point where floor to ceiling windows allows diners to appreciate a stunning view in all weather, although our table felt quite drafty. We started with garlic sour dough to share before I had a main of pan-roasted Asian spiced chicken. The chicken was tender, although I found the flavours to all mix into one combined taste. My partner’s teriyaki salmon was the same; well cooked, but with one predominant flavour. We were not too keen on our dessert, the 70% dark chocolate tart fondant – a tiny serving for $12 and most of the flavour came from the berry compote. Good service with short wait times. Two-for-one Tuesday makes for a good mid-week meal out.
24th June 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
At first appearance, there is little to distinguish Mid Valley as an excellent Malaysian restaurant. However, the food and service speak for themselves. The decor is modern and warm and the service is both friendly and efficient. We shared bacon spring rolls to start, then had mee hoon goreng (with rice stick noodles) and beef in a Thai style sauce for our main course. The mee hoon goreng had a satisfactory bite to it and the portion size was huge. The beef came in a spicy sauce with diced apple, pineapple, tomato, cucumber and sesame – very sweet and a good match with roti. All mains on the menu look to be excellent value. We will definitely be back.
5th June 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
149 Jackson St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-568 2825
Cuisine: Thai, Asian
We have had several enjoyable meals at Ayutthaya, where the food is consistently of a very high standard and home to the best roti in town. This time, we shared pork mince and prawns in a spring roll wrapper as an entree, great with sweet chilli sauce. We had a thin red chicken curry with steamed rice (charged separately) and fried rice with whole prawns for our main courses – yummy! Front of house service can be somewhat abrupt but service at the tables is prompt and efficient, with water glasses are constantly refilled. A favourite of ours, Ayutthaya is almost always full.
29th April 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We had a girls’ night out at Cafe Pasha last night. It’s been many years since I dined here last and I was conscious that reviews have been mixed. I started out with garlic pita bread and the girls had selections of breads and dips. For my main course, I ordered the chicken shamiss: tender chicken pieces cooked in white wine, garlic, olive oil and herbs in a rich honey tomato sauce. My meal was absolutely delicious, with a large sized portion and cooked to perfection. Our service was slow and somewhat disorganised. When our meals were ready to be served, there was much shouting across the table to see who had ordered what. Surely this could have been noted when our orders were taken? The restaurant environment is pleasant to look at but incredibly loud; we shouted at each other just trying to hold a simple conversation and left after our main courses to find somewhere quieter for dessert and drinks.
9th April 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
25-29 Courtenay Pl
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04 801 7080
Cuisine: Indian
We also made use of a Groupy voucher last weekend to dine at Courtenay Taj. We chose tandoori prawns and barra champ (tiny lamb chops marinated in yoghurt and spices) for our entrees – they were delicious and arrived on a sizzling dish. For the main course, we shared butter prawns in a sweet, rich sauce and anarkali gosht, lamb pieces in a white sauce with mint powder. The lamb dishes were superb, with well-flavoured and tenderly cooked pieces of meat. We were very impressed with the service; our waiter checked in to see how our meals were and was attentive throughout the evening.
29th March 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
What a great find Stand House was for us! The menu is extensive and presented us with plenty of tempting dinner options. We had gaeng daeng with beef, the best red curry I have tasted in a long time. We also shared a massive serving of chicken kow pad mad mamuang, stir fried rice with cashew nuts and (frozen mixed) vegetables. Although we asked for all parts of our meal to be served together, the roti arrived twenty minutes before our main dishes so was almost cold by the time we came to eat it. It still tasted delicious and went especially well with the red curry. A thoroughly enjoyable meal – we’ll definitely be back.
12th March 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Floriditas gets extremely busy on Saturday nights and we were lucky to grab a table for six. The decor and atmosphere is elegant and inviting at any time of the day (I’ve brunched in the sun at Floriditas many times), although with such a full house the noise levels make it very difficult to carry out a normal conversation. The service throughout our meal was excellent; attentive, efficient (our water glasses were regularly refilled) and very pleasant. Our group started off by sharing a selection of cheddar and parmesan sticks, olives and risotto balls (as good as ever). We were very impressed with our main meals; I had lamb skewers with a radish and fennel salad – a very tasty combination. I can highly recommend the dark chocolate tart with cream and raspberries for dessert – yum!
1st March 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We tried Shanghai Kitchen tonight after hearing great things about this restaurant for years. Our experience was ok; neither good nor bad, just very average. Upon arrival, we were pointed towards an empty table about halfway up the restaurant. About five minutes later, menus arrived and our orders were taken after another ten minutes. There was another long wait before our first course arrived and no further interaction other than to place our meals on the table. We ordered sliced pork as an appetizer. The thin slices were quite fatty and swimming in garlic sauce, giving a very strong flavour. The orange flavoured chicken was more subtle with no particular standout taste. The stir fried sliced beef in oyster sauce was heavily capsicum-laden but otherwise lacking in flavour. We wouldn’t rush back.
4th February 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
35-38 Cambridge Terrace
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04 801 5006
Cuisine: Thai, Asian
We dined at Phu Thai Esarn tonight for the first time and enjoyed a lovely meal. We shared an entree of toong thong, deep fried minced chicken and shrimp parcels (wontons). They flavour was good, albeit dominated by the frozen mixed vegetables in the filling. Our main course was excellent. We highly recommend the panaeng curry with thick coconut milk, which we had with decent sized strips of chicken. The flavour went well with jasmine rice (which had to be ordered and paid for separately). We found the roti to be quite greasy but it soaked up the leftover curry just fine. The nam-tok beef was a delicious taste sensation and quite different to the usual Thai fare – well worth a try. Our service was great and the environment is fine, although very much let down by having the tables squashed together like sardines.
29th January 2011
Bookmark Send to a Friend
161 Willis Street
Te Aro
Wellington City
04 801 6211
Cuisine: Cafe
An inviting cafe with a distinctly different style of decor to other Mojo venues. The coffee is consistently good with efficient and friendly service. The chorizo and zucchini fritata with salsa was a tasty lunch time choice. I’ll frequently stop in for a quick coffee any time I’m in the area.
23rd October 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
It’s been quite a while since I’ve dined at a smorgasbord restaurant. A large group of us went to Whitby’s last night for a birthday dinner. Everything looked great; the entrees, mains and desserts were creatively presented in the buffet area. However, the flavours were less appealing with overcooked meat, dry fish and tasteless side dishes. Having a chef cook a stir fry in front of diners is a great idea, but the result was an overly salty concoction swimming in watered-down soy sauce. The same went for desserts; they looked fantastic but the ice cream and the cheese selection were the best parts. The service was average at best. We ordered drinks shortly after we arrived. We enquired half an hour later about our drinks and the reply was along the lines of, “we are extremely busy tonight. You will get your drinks eventually.” (Yes, they were busy and we eventually did get our drinks, but surely you’d want to encourage customers to buy more drinks?) Our tables were quite cramped and, as it took a long time for plates to be cleared in between courses, we ended up trying to eat among piles of used crockery. A disappointing meal for the price you pay (the post GST-rise price is far more than 2.2%).
16th October 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
A group of us enjoyed spontaneous drinks and dinner at The Empire recently. The place looks fantastic! The refurbished decor is refreshingly contemporary and the service is outstanding – friendly, efficient and attentive. I was really impressed with the Thai beef salad, which was absolutely delicious. My partner’s Cajun chicken burger was dry but a generously-sized meal was served. It’s great to have a top quality gastro pub in the neighbourhood.
3rd October 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
On a busy Saturday night, we were really impressed by the service at Public. Although the restaurant was full when we arrived, we didn’t have to wait long for a table to become free and enjoyed a drink in the stylishly decorated bar while we waited. The short menu contained some exquisite choices. The ‘assorted butters and dipping sauces’ accompanying the cobb loaf consisted of just two small knobs of herb butter. For the main course, I had bronzed local fish (bluenose), which simply melted in my mouth. My partner’s fillet of beef was perfectly cooked at medium rare – a real taste sensation. An absolutely delicious meal.
3rd October 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We started off with garlic bread and had the chicken schnitzel and lemon chicken for our mains, served with roast potatoes and salad. Both meals were fine with reasonable portions. The open fireplace looked very appealing as the rain was driving down outside. Unfortunately, it was still quite cold in the window seats, even with a heater not too far away from us. We were most impressed with the service here – warm, welcoming and incredibly friendly.
12th September 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
48 Seddon St
Raetihi
Ruapehu
06-385 4976
Cuisine: New Zealand
I stopped by for coffee on a weekday morning while the ski fields were closed. Angel Louise is quaintly decorated cafe in a very quiet town. There is a standard blackboard menu and a small selection of counter food available. I almost felt like I was bothering the staff as I placed my order and waited for it to arrive; it didn’t inspire me to hang around for very long. The caramel hazelnut slice looked appealing but was generally tasteless, although my coffee (Emporio) was fine.
11th September 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
53 Clyde St
Ohakune
Ruapehu
06 385 8295
Cuisine: Cafe
We both opted for burgers for a change; mine was chicken schnitzel and bacon and my partner had The Rocks own beef burger. Both were oversized and swimming in mayonnaise but we managed to pick out the best bits. A pretty standard pub meal all round.
11th September 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Huia St
Taihape
Rangitikei
06-388 1880
Cuisine: Cafe, British
Brown Sugar Cafe is a great reason to stop for a break when driving through Taihape. Very similar in design to Brown Sugar in Otaki, the decor is warm and inviting. I had a cheese and basil pesto danish followed by ginger pistachio slice with my coffee – very enjoyable, if a little pricey.
3rd September 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
298-300 High St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-569 2281
Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
We went to Top Jade looking for somewhere to have an early Friday night dinner. We were the first guests to arrive, but the restaurant quickly began to fill up, even on a cold and stormy night. We could see why; our meal was excellent. We started off sharing the san chow barl, featuring an assortment of finely chopped vegetables. Our mains of orange beef and hot and sour sesame chicken were very tasty and beautifully presented. Our service throughout the evening was excellent: polite, friendly and efficient. We will happily dine here again and highly recommend Top Jade as an excellent Chinese restaurant in Lower Hutt.
3rd September 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Fairly standard pub-style food with reasonable prices and a pleasant bar environment. Our service was friendly, although we waited a fair while for our meals to arrive. I had the crumbed pork schnitzel with mashed potatoes and salad while my partner had the chicken breast wrapped in bacon with potato gratin. Both were slightly overcooked but not excessively so. Great to be able to use our entertainment book coupons here.
31st July 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
57 Seymour St
Blenheim
Marlborough District
03-579 4060
Cuisine: Indian
A group of us dined at Maharaja India last weekend. We saw from the menu that all main meals are served with rice and that there is a ‘happy hour’ special from 5-7pm with mains costing $14. However, when we went to pay the bill it turned out that there is an extra $1 for rice, which is not mentioned on the menu (although I see that it is now noted on their website). I ordered the lamb jalferzi without capsicums and a plain naan; this was explicitly confirmed with the waitress who checked with the kitchen that my meal would exclude capsicums. What arrived was jalferzi WITH capsicums and no naan. Eventually, a bland vegetable-heavy replacement was made. The service was average at best, with staff standing at the end of the table and calling out dish names to the eight of us and one person (who had ordered a mild dish) being accidentally served a medium-hot meal. As for the environment … the sticky tables matched the sticky floors in the toilets. Disappointing.
31st July 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
66 Bloomfield Terrace
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-586 9030
Cuisine: Indian, Japanese
We had an excellent meal at Little India a couple of weekends ago. We ordered kadai chicken and lamb pasanda with plain and garlic naan. The meat was really tender and the sauces tasted delicious with a medium-hot bite. The restaurant environment was warm and cosy; even as the tables started filling up, the noise level was acceptable. Our service was very efficient and our meals were served quickly. We’d happily eat at Little India again.
27th June 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
61A Hobson St
Auckland Central
Auckland City
09-309 8800
Cuisine: Indian
We enjoyed the food so much at Raviz that we went back again a few days later. We highly recommend the chicken handi and googly masala (with both chicken and lamb) – the meals came with a satisfactory bite yet the sauces were flavoursome. Even on a busy night, our service was courteous and efficient with very little waiting time. The restaurant environment is very pleasant. We’d happily dine at Raviz again next time we are in Auckland.
27th June 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
322 Tinakori Rd
Thorndon
Wellington City
04-471 2500
Cuisine: French
We had a lovely dinner for four at Aubergine last night. Our service was warm, friendly, and attentive, even when we arrived without a booking. The menu could be described as very loosely French and we started with warm, crusty bread rolls. I ordered the salmon, which was tender and lightly flavoured. My partner’s lamb rump was beautifully medium rare and our sides of mushrooms and seasonal vegetables complemented our main courses. Even though the room got very noisy with a large group sitting opposite us, this was a pleasant, enjoyable meal.
25th April 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
614 Marine Drive
Days Bay
Lower Hutt City
04-562 6132
Cuisine: Cafe
Chocolate Dayz has been a popular beachside attraction for years, and you certainly can’t beat scenery that looks out across to Wellington Harbour. The menu tends towards being pricey, which is probably indicative of being in a suburb like Days Bay, but the food is generally well cooked and tasty. The counter features all the standard fare, and the mis-matched decor borders kitsch and seaside charm. A great place to enjoy a relaxed coffee over the morning newspaper.
14th April 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Sweet Mother’s Kitchen is popular, so arrive early on busy nights as they don’t take bookings. However, they offered to call us in half an hour once a table became available. We ordered ‘Boom Boom’ BBQ Chicken and Three Fish with sides of curly fries (yummy!), mushrooms and mesclun salad. A short time after we ordered, I was informed that the fish of the day (snapper) had run out and would be replaced with grouper. Our main meals were absolutely delicious; the fish was tenderly cooked in olive oil and butter and came with generous servings of side dishes. The home-style sweet pies lined up along the counter look incredibly tempting. We opted for peach and blueberry pie, which was quite wet and left the pastry rather soggy. Where the furnishings are starting to look tired and shabby in places, the casually friendly service and eclectic range of kitsch decorations adorning the walls and bar simply adds to the charm.
27th February 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Very little has changed at Strawberry Fare over the years; this is both a good and bad thing. The main meals on offer are average and unimaginative – dessert is obviously still the biggest drawcard here. With 23 options to choose from, the sweet-toothed are well catered for. There is practically nothing sweet available in smaller portions, so plan your meal carefully if you want to have room for dessert after your main course. Most of our group’s desserts arrived with seemingly identical garnishes, making initial identification tricky but the resulting flavours were extremely decadent. There’s a fine line between rich and sickly. Our service was better this time (we’ve had some shocking experiences there in the past), but the decor is looking very tired and it’s never a good idea to seat a large group around a long line of round tables.
19th February 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
133 Darlington Rd
Miramar
Wellington City
04 891 0354
Cuisine: Cafe
The Larder is a welcome addition to the growing cafe scene in the Eastern suburbs, with elegant, chic decor. Being able to sit outside on a sunny day with pretty flower arrangements on the tables was a bonus. The menu and modest selection of counter food (sandwiches and appealing pastries) are a tad pricey, but my coffee (Supreme) was well made. The overall service was efficient and pleasant. I would be keen to dine here again, perhaps sampling their evening menu next time.
27th January 2010
Bookmark Send to a Friend
On a cold and wet Saturday morning with some time to kill, Peppermill was our choice for breakfast. The sleek decor and furniture would be comfortable at breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. Our service and food were reasonable, although the pancakes were slightly rubbery and my bacon was very greasy. Washed down with a strong coffee (Mojo), Peppermill is a good value meal when using an Entertainment Book coupon.
1st December 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
9 Kitchener St
Martinborough
South Wairarapa
06-306 9965
Cuisine: Cafe, Bistro
I have frequented Cafe Medici for several years while visiting Martinborough and last week nine of us had Sunday brunch. The kiwiana/country artwork adorning the walls provide great conversation starters and add to Medici’s atmosphere. Several of our group had the Spanish breakfast while I ordered blueberry pancakes, a cute stack of six half-sized pancakes served with sliced banana. Apart from one person who had to wait an extra fifteen minutes for her bacon and eggs (on top of our thirty minute wait), our food and service was satisfactory.
25th October 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
The beautiful Tirohana Estate was the venue for a weekend birthday lunch. Nine of us were warmly greeted for wine tasting, followed by the two-course lunch menu. I opted for the cranberry and brie salad followed by lamb shanks so tender that the meat practically fell off the bone. Only a couple of our party had room for dessert after such a sumptuous meal! Our service was friendly, efficient and attentive in an idyllic setting. A thoroughly enjoyable dining experience.
20th October 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Buzz is extremely popular on Sunday mornings for pancake brunches, and I’ve yet to successfully score a table at this time. However, our luck was in on Friday night for dinner. We started by sharing a tapas serving of cajun chicken pieces. They weren’t spicy at all but still quite tasty. My crumbed fish of the day (tarakihi) was slightly overcooked but my partner’s red-wine drenched lamb was delicious. Our meals were well presented with reasonable portion sizes and the table service was efficient.
14th September 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
47 Clyde St
Ohakune
Ruapehu
06-385 9120
Cuisine: Cafe
Utopia was busy and buzzing on a Sunday morning, with a steady stream of customers enjoying coffee and brunch while reading the weekend newspapers. An appealing range of counter food was available and I had a delicious chicken and mushroom quiche with my cappuccino. The service was efficient even though the counter staff were very busy. I will definitely stop at Utopia again on my way through Ohakune.
24th August 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
1 Blair St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-385 4535
Cuisine: Thai, Asian
We tried Thai Chef’s for the first time on a Friday night and were impressed from start to finish. The mixed appetiser is an excellent way to sample several different flavours. Our mains (beef red penang curry and chicken with cashew nuts) were absolutely flavoursome and beautifully presented. Our service was very efficient – just the right amount of time to order and very little wait between courses. We will definitely be back.
16th August 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
We attended a work dinner for about 20 people in the private dining room last night. The decor and surroundings in each of the different areas create a modern, yet cosy and inviting ambiance and we were greeted warmly. The bed lounge area looked oh so inviting! However, with so many hard surfaces the noise levels here are extremely high; it is quite exhausting to spend an evening having to shout at anyone not sitting immediately next to you and equally difficult to hear. It took a long time to order food; our first course was served 1 1/2 hours after we first arrived and main courses another hour later. The tiger prawns and croquetas were tasty primera choices. The pamplona de pollo (chicken) was very dry and rather bland. My partner’s premium steer fillet was lovely and tender. Dulce were somewhat disappointing; while the chocolate mousse was rich and tasty, the portion size was miniscule for $15. My torta frita was sickeningly sweet and I left most of it on the plate. After hearing so much about Speak Easy, and considering the price range of the menu, we were generally disappointed with our overall dining experience.
25th July 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
81-85 Victoria St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-499 6666
Cuisine: Cafe, Breakfast
The Lido has yo-yoed over the years, alternating between offering exceptional dining experiences and very average meals. Four of us managed to grab a table for a weekend lunch today (it pays to keep an eye out and be quick!). Two of us had corn fritters with bacon, which was delicious, as was the scrambled eggs with salmon. The German hotpot offered a couple of surprises but was tasty. Our service was pleasant and efficient, topped off with great coffee. I’d happily come back again for lunch or coffee – it’s a great location for people-watching, too.
11th July 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
57 Victoria St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-801 4014
Cuisine: Cafe
Clark’s is a cosy cafe in the Wellington Library. Child-friendly, it also offers a haven away from the noise outside with distinguished decor. A wide selection of counter food is available. Although prices have steadily crept up over the years, this does not seem to deter the lunch time rush. Service is generally efficient (this largely depends on who is working on the day). Clark’s is great place to enjoy a book with lunch or a cup of coffee.
2nd July 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
9 Margaret St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-566 8383
Cuisine: Korean, Asian
Having not experienced Korean food before, we tried Han River last night. What a pleasant surprise! We ordered mains of jaeyuk bokum (pork) and bulgogi (beef) to share. The food arrived on sizzling hot plates along with rice and four impeccably presented side dishes. The silver chopsticks were a nice touch, compared to the usual plastic or disposable wooden ones you generally see. The service was efficient and our meals were served quickly. Softer lighting would enhance the environment and give a better indication of the quality of food awaiting diners.
21st June 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Portofino has expanded and is now a very big restaurant, taking up both sides of a walkway in the Viaduct Basin. There is great ambiance inside with quaint lighting and dark panelling. I walked in for dinner along with half of the audience for the upcoming Simon & Garfunkel concert; needless to say, myself and several tables were probably feeling quite time-pressured. It was difficult to grab the waiting staff’s attention on such a busy night but, apart from some anxious clock-watching moments, I made it through my meal in time for the show. The cheese pizza bread was tasty and I took the leftovers home. I enjoyed my spaghetti alla carbonara; the serving was generous with large pieces of ham and a delicious creamy sauce. I’d be happy to try Portofino again in less-rushed circumstances.
15th June 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
75-81 Jackson St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-586 6266
Cuisine: New Zealand
We have intended to dine at the SAH in Petone for some time now but have always been put off by the extremely noisy interior. It turns out that Saturday night (or a weeknight) is the time to go as the noise levels are far more tolerable. I had the cherry and bacon chicken, a little dry but very tasty. The chef was willing to accommodate me by substituting kumara mash with potato mash instead, although this also somehow resulted in a side order of crispy potatoes; delicious, but not actually ordered. My partner’s venison was cooked medium rare, yet tasted decidedly average. All in all, an enjoyable general dining experience with friendly, efficient service. SAH is somewhere we would happily recommend to others for a good pub meal.
4th June 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Bordeaux has had its ups and downs over the years. This was always our ‘treat’ cafe, as the prices are higher than other cafes in the area but usually reflected the high quality of food. The improved floor-to-ceiling windows make the upstairs dining area much more open and light. The food counter seems to have been ‘tidied up’, too. As usual, the sour dough was in top form and my friend enjoyed her pumpkin soup for lunch. Our service today was great; I hope the food and overall dining experience at Bordeaux manages to regain its ‘top quality’ reputation and remain consistently high.
18th May 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
2 Waterloo Rd
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04-939 2483
Cuisine: Cafe
I am so pleased to have ‘discovered’ Shine this weekend. This is truly a home-style cafe with warm, friendly and efficient service. My eggs Benedict was superb and we were pleased to find that my friend’s pancakes had banana and bacon in between each layer – yum! The selection of counter food looked incredibly enticing, and if we weren’t already full from brunch then we would have gladly indulged. We will definitely be back.
29th April 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Fratelli is what Italian dining is all about: good food, great service, and an extensive wine list including a wide range of both Italian and New Zealand wines. We had an early dinner on Saturday night before a show. The service was fantastic; friendly, accommodating (our water glasses were constantly refilled) and our meals were served in good time. Meal portions are a good size and our bread, straight from the wood-fired oven, was bellissimo. The decor is both modern and cosy, with little touches all Italian memorabilia in the restaurant and bar as well as fresh flowers in the toilets. Fratelli is inviting for either an intimate meal for two or larger groups. Cin cin!
27th March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
The selection of fresh baked food is fantastic. However, this is probably the only occasion EVER when I have left my long black unfinished, even after several attempts; it tasted revolting. If I’m ever back, I won’t be ordering coffee.
21st March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
184 Molesworth St
Thorndon
Wellington City
04 499 4401
Cuisine: Cafe
There’s no doubt that Mojo makes great coffee, albeit in very small cups. The location of Mojo Summit is superb, with its full-length windows giving a stunning view of the top of Molesworth Street and Wellington harbour (on a clear day). Food is on the costly side but generally of good quality. The system of queueing at the counter and thereby blocking the door and/or entrance to the back dining room completely defies logic.
13th March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
The Cheeky Pipi is a gem of a cafe in Island Bay. We had a lovely lunch here today. The Thai beef salad and BLT came with generously sized portions and the coffee was good. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Highly recommended.
9th March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
A group of us popped in for coffee and cake during the very busy Newtown Fair. The Recovery Room is a little haven from city life, with its casual decor and excellent food and coffee. Service was very efficient – smiles all round, especially for the decadent chocolate cake.
8th March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
196 Jackson St
Petone
Lower Hutt City
04-939 9286
Cuisine: Cafe
A small cafe with a tasty menu and good, basic selection of fresh baking. The service was prompt and the cafe interior is bright and colourful with a great lunchtime buzz.
5th March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
33 Johnsonville Rd
Johnsonville
Wellington City
04-477 3196
Cuisine: Cafe, European
Queue Cafe has received mixed reviews lately, with polarised experiences. I hadn’t been here for a couple of years, so tried again today with some trepidation. While I wouldn’t call the service warm or friendly, it certainly was efficient. The coffee was good and my plum and citrus muffin, although a little dry, was tasty. My friend enjoyed her savoury basket. The parking outside Queue is convenient and the environment is attractive. If I am in the area, I’d happily come back for coffee.
3rd March 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
88 Main St
Greytown
South Wairarapa
06-304 9022
Cuisine: Cafe, Deli
I have been visiting the deli for at least ten years now. I’ve been lucky enough to have a great experiences almost every time, today included. Even on a busy day (Martinborough Fair), our service was friendly and efficient. We enjoyed eating in the shaded outdoor area (apart from the flies). My eggs Benedict was tasty, although I’m surprised the ciabatta wasn’t very toasted. My partner’s chicken burger tasted fine but came with barely-cooked fries. Coffee is ok. As always, the extensive counter selection is superb. Hopefully the deli will retain the quality it’s been known for in years to come.
7th February 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
My first visit to Cafe Villa today. The setting is lovely, in an old villa (as the name would suggest). It got quite loud at lunch time and was almost awkward trying to shout at people across the table just to be heard. Our meals were lovely and served very quickly. I was disappointed to have to ask for my cappuccino to be remade, as much of it had spilled onto the saucer and table when it arrived. However, it was quickly replaced. An enjoyable lunch.
27th January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
We had lunch here today. The service was prompt and friendly. Our meals were tasty and great value for money. This is a comfortable watering hole with a great selection of beers on tap.
23rd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
241 High St
Lower Hutt Central
Lower Hutt City
04 566 2138
Cuisine: Malaysian, Asian
We had a good, tasty meal with great service. Nothing outstanding, but good value for money when using the Entertainment Book discount (25%).
22nd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
182 Cuba St
Te Aro
Wellington City
04-385 8811
Cuisine: Mexican
We have been really disappointed with the service here both times we have dined. We had a group of eight people crowded around a tiny table for six. There was an empty table for ten across from us, and when we enquired about moving there we were told that bookings can only be made for groups of six or ten, so we had to stay put. It’s not easy eating Mexican-style meals when you are jammed up against your dinner companions and bumping elbows. We won’t be back again.
22nd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
128 Wakefield St
Te Aro
Wellington City
04 499 5523
Cuisine: Cafe
We had a great meal here last week. Our main courses (Moroccan lamb salad and corn fritter stack) were delicious and service was good. There is usually a good selection of fresh counter food and reasonable coffee to go with it. It can get quite noisy in here when it’s busy (lots of hard surfaces), and sometimes cold and draughty, so don’t go expecting a quiet conversation. However, the huge windows make for great people-watching.
22nd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
41 Dixon St
Te Aro
Wellington City
04 384 7154
Cuisine: French, European
Simply Paris has been up and down for a while, but you simply cannot go past the quality of their coffee and desserts. French pastries, cremes, and an ever-changing daily selection of baking which has to be tasted to be believed. The service fluctuates greatly, ranging from average to downright terrible; luckily the food keeps people coming back for more.
22nd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
103 Willis St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-472 7630
Cuisine: Cafe, Irish
We stopped here for coffee and truffles this morning. There is a delicious selection of imported chocolates to sample – a taste sensation. It’s a bit strange that customers are not allowed to pay for their orders before they have received their free chocolate selection, but otherwise service is ok.
18th January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
233-327 Lambton Quay
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-473 8591
Cuisine: Cafe, Breakfast, Brunch
This is the most quaint inner-city cafe around. Decorated to resemble an old-style grocer shop, everything about Smith the Grocer is about superb presentation. The service can be a bit slow (it took a while for our coffees to arrive) but the food is fantastic and coffee worth the wait.
12th January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Jetty has steadily improved in the last year. The new menu is wonderful, with a good range supplementing the counter food. Service is warm and friendly and the view is spectacular. We enjoyed brunch here this morning; a huge improvement on our experience last time. I can highly recommend the pear pancakes. It is great to see patronage growing.
11th January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
My friends love Astoria; I really don’t see what the fuss is about. I know they roast their own coffee beans, but to me the coffee always tastes scorched. I’m surprised that they don’t offer a trim milk option. The food is usually quite good. I find the atmosphere really dark and noisy, unless you are fortunate enough to get a table outside.
6th January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
234 Cuba St
Wellington Central
Wellington City
04-801 6868
Cuisine: Cafe
I’ve been going to Fidel’s for years. The coffee (Havana) is always top quality and the food usually good. This morning, six of us had brunch. We were thrilled to get table service – usually we join the queue at the counter. Three of us had hard poached eggs arrive, but the rest of our meals were enjoyable. A great selection of generously-sized counter food is always available, too.
3rd January 2009
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
We had a fabulous meal at Maharaja’s this week. The menu is extensive, offering multiple choices for each type of meat or vegetarian dish, and we appreciated our waiter’s recommendations for accompanying rice and breads. Our meals were delicious. We are thoroughly impressed with the service here; friendly, informative, and very prompt. Even though rice is charge separately, Maharaja’s is great value when using the Entertainment Book Gold Card (25% discount). We’ll definitely be back.
28th December 2008
Bookmark Send to a Friend
Great food and fantastic service. We only had a short time for lunch; our food and drinks arrived quickly and were delicious. They were happy to make my eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce on the side (you’d be surprised how many places aren’t!), and the pancakes were also yummy. Very reasonable prices, too.
22nd December 2008
Bookmark Send to a Friend
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
North Island
