Italian restaurant in New Zealand

“We tried the tortellini and spaghetti bolognaise, it was absolutely delicious. It’s been a while since we’ve been to a proper Italian restaurant and this one didn’t disappoint. The atmosphere is beautiful, service is attentive and friendly. We will come back if we are in this area again.”

“INCREDIBLE! We're visiting Christchurch and I wish we'd discovered this restaurant earlier in our trip to have visited a couple more times. The space is welcoming with a beautiful patio heated by wood burning fireplace and electric heaters. The staff is friendly and attentive. But the FOOD, y'all! Each thing we tried was creative, beautiful, and incredibly delicious. Tonight's fish was grouper and it was served 2 ways: fried and grilled - both absolutely stunning. The tomato and peach burratta caprese would have been delicious as is but was topped with basil ice cream instead of fresh basil and it was one of the most unexpectedly scrumptious things I've ever had. What a culinary gem!!!”

“We had a nice experience at Lazat. Very clean, and the decorations make the place cozy and comfortable. Warm hospitality. Good food and generous size. Definitely, we will come back to try another dish.”

“I stayed at the hotel many times. Only really have breakfasts but this weekend I tried their dinner buffets (Fri & Sat only). It was fabulous nice food selection and of great quality. Hopefully this buffet will continue and I will most certainly return.”

Basilico Pizza & Italian Deli in Papamoa combines a Roman‑style pizzeria with a compact Italian deli. Expect a long‑fermented dough and toppings such as Margherita, Salamino, Capricciosa, Tartufata and Prosciutto, alongside deli salads, desserts and soft drinks.

“My husband and I come here quite often and we always enjoy it! The service is top notch, lovely friendly and attentive staff. My husband orders the same thing every time (the goat gnocchi) as he loves it so much. I recently had the fish of the day, it was salmon and it was so good!! If you are needing a gift for a friend, a voucher to here would be such a good idea. The portions are great, the staff are amazing and the atmosphere is good.”

“Lovely place for a surprise 70th gathering. Outside area was great, nice amount of shade and sun, toilets clean, food yummy and beautifully presented…. Everyone enjoyed it!! Will come back again!”

“Absolutely amazing place to have dinner. Staff was super friendly and very welcoming. Food was incredible and the serving size is incredible. Will definitely be back. Thank you for such an amazing first impression of Hillary House.”

“We really enjoyed the new lunch menu offered with obento boxes! My brother was in happy land with his lamb meal as well.”

“Celebrated our wedding anniversary and did not disappoint. Every food is delicious and the customer service is superb. We will surely recommend and come back again ❤️❤️”

“We have loved the vibe, the food and the service ! Small place with a great and friendly service. Waiter were good adviser. Food really interesting, different and delicious! Thank you, it's been a while I didn't enjoy that much to go to a restaurant and both enjoy the experience and the food! Great job!”

“El Greco Greek Restaurant delivered an outstanding dining experience. The meal was delicious, authentic and expertly prepared, with fresh ingredients. The portion was generous including the Calamari starter which was amazing. The service was warm, attentive, and professional, making us feel welcome without being intrusive. A wonderful, on-the-house birthday dessert added a memorable and celebratory touch. Highly recommended for a reliably superb meal and excellent hospitality.”

“Our first time here and we were very pleased with the ambience, food, staff and prices. The place filled up quickly with customers, but it didn't slow down the dishing out of food. The owner was walking around talking to the patrons and the wait staff were quick in attending to tables and bringing out orders. It was very very windy and cold outside, but with the windows closed and the heat pumps on, it very pleasant inside. Will definitely visit again, but maybe in summer when the weather permits us to sit outside and enjoy the beach!”

“Dined with friends at the Matt Connell Wines Degustation dinner last night at Palate. Perfectly paired wines with the best tasting and perfectly presented food ever. Great friendly service by our waitresses and chef Matt himself. Get along people and support one of the best restaurants in Hamilton city.”

“Such a local gem. Food is just delicious. The beef cheeks and the lamb mains just melt in your mouth. Wonderful flavours and good portions. Highly recommend”

“My family took me there for my 84th birthday - - 10 of us , my whole family in Wellington and had a beautiful meal, lovely atmosphere +++ and a really lovely evening. Thank you so much”

“It is a cozy restaurant with lovely staffs and I had very nice lunch time there. The pizza made from daily fresh dough，so it had an elastic、 crispy and tender crust，aromatic toppings. They use their original in-house sauce with rich taste. These are completely different from pre-finished meals which are served in other restaurants. Meatballs、BBQ Bacon pizza and Risotto di Pollo are amazed me，if you come here you should try them.”

“We just had a special dinner here for two. A beautiful setting, the most fantastic service and delicious food! We especially asked in advance if the pork belly was on the menu and yes it was. Divine! Fish of the day was tuna and that was also absolutely divine. A side of yummy vegetables capped it off. Thank you Team Vin Alto!”

“I won't give a 5/5. Instead a 6 or even a 7 out of 5 for the food and service. Great food, especially those beer battered oysters- oh wow. And the great service, simply awesome.”

“That was really good. Fresh, simple, and full of flavour. The chef did an awesome job. This place never disappoints.”

“Surprisingly beautiful Italian restaurant tucked away in the gardens. Authentic Italian cuisine and such amazing wait staff, very attentive and friendly, always makes a huge difference when dining out. The food was beautiful, and decent servings that please a big appetite.”

“I enjoy fine dining, but cannot say I am a "foodie" with a fully calibrated palate. That said, I was taken back by how masterful each dish was - aesthetically pleasing, full of flavor, and unique. This was an experience, one of the best meals I've had in all of my travels. I did not have a reservation, dined solo, and had a seat at the bar with no wait. Despite the bar setting, the atmosphere felt private and the service was exemplary. I highly recommend the Crudo. I followed the servers suggestion here, and was thankful I did so.”

“Great vegan indian meal in Wellington! The service was amazing and the lunch deal is just great value for money. I followed the advice of the waiter and ordered Kadai Soya and it was just amazing. The vegan roti could be improved but still tasty. There are some construction works outside but didn't really bother during the meal. Highly recommend it!”

Formaggio’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria delivers a pizza‑first line‑up that’s straight to the point. Gluten‑free needs are handled with care. Music and pace keep a casual tone. Front‑of‑house runs with calm, helpful energy.

“Incredible place to have dinner! Nice view, attentive staff and superb food. Highly recommended”

The kitchen at Mamma Rosa Restaurant & Pizzeria takes a pizza‑first path and lets the food speak. Value feels fair for the quality. Serve sizes show solid value. There’s always a considered veg choice.

Pap House Restaurant & Bar Papamoa favours a coffee‑and‑cabinet mix with clear, clean flavours. Coffee pours are consistent and well textured. A family‑friendly feel comes through naturally. Front‑of‑house runs with calm, helpful energy.

“Two years ago, Spiga was the place where we had our first date. Now, as a married couple, we returned for lunch, and it was just as wonderful as we remembered. The cozy atmosphere, delicious food, and exceptional service made it a truly special experience. Fungi Pizza was absolutely incredible—hands down the best fungi pizza in Auckland! The crust was perfectly crispy, and the mushrooms were so fresh and flavorful. We were so impressed that we asked the staff where they sourced their mushrooms. They were incredibly friendly and took the time to explain everything in detail, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We can’t wait to come back and create more beautiful memories here.”

“Came for lunch, good parking spot right outside. Our server was very polite and friendly. We ordered filetto, risotto e fungi, and tagliatelle bolognase. Nice big portions and absolutely tasty! Eye fillet was cooked as requested. For dessert we had cheesecake and profitroles which were nice. Very nice and clean restaurant and toilets, nice moody ambiance. Definitely will return.”