Food establishment in Wellington

“We cannot thank Tracy from Cake and Bake Kiwi for the most incredible cake made for our Mid Winter Christmas. So full of fruit beautifully decorated and lovely and moist. Our guests ( and staff) were asking for second helpings so we didn't even get to take a good photo for Tracy. With hot mulled wine this was the totally perfect compliment for a great weekend. We know where we will be going for our next celebration cake”

“First time trying Ara Sushi, it's the best sushi I've had in the Wellington area and has lots of tasty vegan options. Especially enjoyed the inari sushi with seaweed salad.”

“Very friendly people, great customer service, amazing varied range of creative pizzas, and good selection of sides and desserts. They were the only place open on christmas day evening so very thankful!”

“The food here is better than all other kabab places I’ve tried. Customer service is great. I’ve been going every Fortnight for the last 5ish months and I haven’t been left hungry or unhappy”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding Food & Great Value! We visited Lucky Dhabba in Petone with the family, and it’s honestly one of the best places to eat in Wellington and the Hutt. The curries were absolutely delicious, the prices very reasonable, and the service warm and welcoming. Highly recommend this place to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet — no regrets at all. We’ll definitely be back. Great job, Lucky Dhabba!”

“First time here with my Family and what can I say, they were on point with service, food and drinks. Cost for 5 Adults and 1 child, exceptional and worth it. Took our own doggy bags aka containers for our left overs. Highly recommend this place.”

“the pani puri was absolutely amazing! Super fresh and full of flavour, definitely one of the best I've had in the area. The customer service was ok.”

“The staff are always so friendly and welcoming. Their coffee is seriously good, some of the best I've had. I go pretty regularly, and they already know my order which is awesome. I haven't tried the food yet, but it always looks so tempting. Definitely recommend checking this place out!”

“Amazing experience for our Valentine's Day date! The set menu was excellent value and a stunning range of flavours. Good service and cozy atmosphere. Our only minor constructive feedback is we weren't aware of the set menu until we arrived. It wasn't an issue for us, however being proactively informed beforehand would have been appreciated :-). Thanks for an excellent meal - we'll be back!”

“As other's have said, they're is a great friendly feel in this cafe. We had never been before and chose to go for a Saturday bringing and chat. We both had The pancakes, I went for the net pancakes and my friend had the banana and bacon. These were easily the best pancakes I've had in the Wellington region and really left me happy.”

“Great selection of beers and great staff. Would return again!”

“Ordered a seafood meal and pineapple fritter. Cooked perfectly. Coleslaw was fresh and thin sliced and had lettuce and a slice of tomato a nice little addition. Yum mayo.”

“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 :-)”