Food establishment in New Zealand

“We've been here twice in the last month, and had a great meal each time. The new owners are really friendly and nice, and the bar has a nice coast atmoshere. On the Halloween night they had a dress up session with prizes, and Nelly was perfect as an Angel. The food is all great. I highly recommend the pizzas and the steak. Both are excellent. If I had to make one improvement suggestion, it would be to perhaps get a a wider range of craft beers. But generally this is a great place that I highly recommend.”

“We had a family Christmas lunch today at the Archer, the food was fantastic as was the service. Extensive menu has something for everyone, including the youngest member of our group (Mr Nearly Two). I happily recommend The Archer to anyone who is looking for a nice, quiet place for lunch during the week.”

“I absolutely love it at 2Spoons, the gluten free savoury muffins and freshly baked cinnamon brioche are to die for. They make great coffee too. The staff are really friendly and accommodating.”

“Lovely Team of People working here. They always make sure you have everything you need to have the best culinary experience. Can always count for this spot to relax and take it easy before starting my day.”

“When I have visitors I always take them to the Majestic Tea House for their famously delicious Mocha's made with real milk chocolate. Mornings are the best for the cabinet food, nice selection and the slices I've tried were good. Cheerful service.”

“An awesome cafe with great food and coffee. This is definitely our go to cafe in the area and we are never disappointed. The friendly, cheerful service matches the high standards of the food and drinks.”

“Loved this place… such a hidden gem , great range of cocktails and Asian fusion food is absolutely gorgeous. Lovely and friendly staff great view if you choose the right table. Anyone wanna enjoy water views with great food and drinks should definitely come here.”

“Get ready for the hustle and bustle. Lots of people, lots of beautiful fresh fruit and veggies. Easiest with cash but a few vendors are taking money cards. Decent size market, huge variety, best quality.”

“This place is seriously good and seriously good value for money. Staff are very friendly. And best of all you can get your meal in a real bowl rather than those ubiquitous plastic bowls that seem to be filling up street-food hawkers' shops at present.”

“Matcha and donuts are really nice! Staff is lovely and friendly. New location is sunny with large space, good to stay to slow down.”

“Vegetarians and Vegans rejoice, this place gives you real choice for lunch or dinner. No longer restricted by salads and cooked veges, this place provides burgers, stir frys and proper meals that are filling and most importantly delicious. Within the Press Hall food centre, this place establishes a refreshing alternative to other more regular options in the hall. The service is fast and efficient, the staff are friendly and there is allot of aroha that had gone into the dishes. The Smoky Seitan burger is fantastic with a bean curd based patty that is a great alternative to the usual beef patty. It is also packed with fresh vegetables which makes the burger very satisfying yet not stodgy at all. It's quite possibly my new favourite place for lunch in Wellington and yes I am not vegetarian or vegan. Just "Keep Calm and Eat Plant-Strong".”

“OMG!!! Their mince and cheese pies are so amazing! It's hamlnds down the best mince and cheese pie in Wellington. No corn flour gravey, just deliciously flavored mince, really nice cheese and pastry that is perfection. Their cookie caramel slice is also a must have. The staff are rad too! I know they had to close for a bit for earthquake strengthening work on their building. Myself and the rest of island bay are so super chuffed to see their back in busines. I also think their pies are even better than before they closed.”

“I hope they will go back to the menu they had when they first opened. Their original menu used to serve dishes that I only get to eat from high-end hotels. Not saying they don't serve good food now. Their menu now is completely fine. It maybe the basic set of rice bowls and noodle meals but still very authentic when it comes to taste. Maybe its not viable financially to have exotic Japanese dishes in Kapiti but it would be nice if there was at least 1 dish in the menu that would truly shine. Something that does not try to please everyone and is more loyal to the culture of Japan.”

“Awesome little sushi place, good food and value”

“Makara Beach Cafe (Wharekai) is a special place. It’s in one of the wildest parts of New Zealand. The cafe is open Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays (subject to management’s discretion) from 11am till 5pm (again… it can change!!). It’s actually a really hard place to run a cafe because of its location. You either drive through Takarau Gorge (a narrow, winding road through an active fault from Johnsonville), or Makara Road via Karori (more friendly for inexperienced drivers). While only 15-20 minutes from the city, it is considered remote. There is very little infrastructure out there. No town water services exist, there is a public toilet block with 2 loos and a change room. They are connected to a septic system and there is no drinkable public water supply (byo or buy one at the cafe). Everyone working here is a local resident. The current proprietors have dedicated their lives to serving their community. They are the local posties, working 7 days a week…. Ronnie and Mark decided to take up the lease of the cafe post-covid. There is nothing else anywhere nearby. The nearby Makara Beach walkway is the busiest public recreational walking track in the whole Wellington Region! Ronnie, once the catering manager with Cook Strait ferries, brings her epic culinary skills to creating and cooking everything on the menu personally, in a very small kitchen. She batters the fish as ordered, making some of the freshest and most delicious fish and chips you will ever have. Her Lasagne is legendary, Toasties are a very popular mainstay (if you are Coeliac, you can even have a Gluten Free toastie!!!). The Big Beefy Burger is always a winner after doing an epic walk to the gun emplacements. I personally can’t get enough of the Bacon and Egg Butties! Ronnie has an extensive menu, catering for all tastes and levels of hunger, including those of our most precious Tamariki (children). The cafe’s busy-ness is directly linked to weather conditions and time of the year. On a sunny day with little wind, you can guarantee the Makara Beach area will be very busy. It is advisable to take this into consideration when trying to park, use the bathrooms and the cafe. Obviously, you may need to wait for services.. including the toilets!!! Perhaps consider whether you should visit the area on such days if you are likely to be frustrated by waiting in queues. The services here are provided by Wellington Council. It is almost impossible to consistently predict the numbers of visitors to the area and visitors need to plan accordingly. This can result in the cafe being closed with little warning if the weather is terrible. There is very little shelter outside the cafe. During summer’s hot days please ensure you have sufficient water, sun cream, hats and shelters. Also respect the residents and the animals (including the recently released Kiwi) who reside there. Park in allocated spaces along Makara Road or in the carpark behind the toilets. Don’t block driveways or the boat ramp access or park on septic tanks and planted areas. Don’t use people’s homes as a urinal and please dispose of your rubbish in the bins provided. Ronnie, Mark and staff do everything they can to make the best food and drinks, and provide the best experience possible for visitors. Their hearts are in everything they do, stop by for a chat and say hi!”

“Honestly my favourite coffee place in town, a small owner operated shop that roasts their own coffee (and does an incredibly good job of it). Somehow they manage to have competitive prices too despite not having the scale advantages of the big players.”

“Great market for fresh fruit and vegetables.”

“Great little Cafe. Dog friendly. Had an excellent mocha and almond croissant. Also taste of beautifully made scone. Lots of regulars. Very clean. Highly recommend”

“The garden featured a stunning display of healthy, blooming roses in a variety of vibrant colours. There was a charming little fountain, some friendly ducks waddling about :) and a lovely greenhouse to explore. It was the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a peaceful moment in nature.”

“Highly rate. Great food selection. Coffee excellent. Friendly people to serve you:-) They’ve even got T-Shirt merch!! Had Frittata with Homemade Chutney, coffee and Afghan biscuit. Excellent.”

“Very busy and lively cafe offering lots of healthy varieties and desserts. Offers daily lunch specials (photo: chicken satay with rice), as well as healthy sandwich, salad and wraps. Vegan friendly. Good coffee. Quick and friendly service. Mostly for take away, as seating space is limited.”

“Love this place for a quiet midweek lunch. Excellent selection of lovely Pies, and Im also a fan of their Hallume bagels. Nice coffee, my teens always look forward to the milkshakes.”

“100% best food, you must try the lamb buns! I fell in love, literally perfection. Such good quality food and amazing service. the lady there is so so sweet. Very yum panikeke.”

“they've been around in the valley since I've been born, their pies are incredibly good and I always urge people visiting me in the valley to swing by. Great donuts, apple turnovers and cheesecake too! and their pizza bread is a must try. staff has always been incredibly welcoming and lovely :-)”

“Really good katsu chicken, super fresh and super yum!”

“Had a pork belly and wonton noodle soup. Great dish. Absolute treat on a cold day. And well priced.”

“Muay bien! A hole in the wall serving the best Mexican in Wellington (and maybe even NZ). Love the delicious soft corn tortillas and that the fillings are all cooked with coconut oil. Perfect takeaways to enjoy a sunny afternoon on the waterfront. Andres the chef who hails from Mexico is an absolute cracker.”

“I came to Antalya Kebab House for lunch, and I really enjoyed it. The kebab was big, had a nice amount of meat and veggies, and the hot sauce was nicely spicy. The chips were nice as well, and I appreciated the student discount. Will be returning.”

“For Burgerfuel to have such stiff competitors just outside cheaper must make them seethe. First time for me for Lucky and I wasn’t disappointed at all. Make sure you get the chips with gravy as the add on. The burger I chose was the single chicken burger. Full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Not too much sauce either as others mentioned. All in all I’d certainly eat there again.”