We've just come back to the snow after 1 month in New Zealand visiting family, walking and, of course, finding the time to fit in a few meals out. A quick review of the few restaurants we managed to get to:
- Andiamo, Auckland
- The Botswana Butchery, Wanaka
- The Bunker, Queenstown
- Fergburger, Queenstown
- Salt Bar and Restaurant, Whitianga
Andiamo, Herne Bay, Auckland
On arrival, we wanted to go out for a nice meal - cue some internet research and local knowledge. We had many candidates but
Andiamo was one our hosts had never been to, was getting good reviews from friends, and had a good wine list.
The restaurant itself had a busy bar just off the main restaurant area and patio dining for those brave enough (it wasn't yet quite warm enough for us at the start of December).
Starters were good: a couple of feta salads, some scallops and calamari. The mains were hapuka, tuna, lamb and beef. Again all solidly presented. This was washed down with a nice Dry River Riesling. 2 desserts were ordered and 2 came (but not the ones ordered). Result: 2 free chocolate desserts and another 2 sticky toffee puddings. On receipt of the bill, we found we had been charged for 2 bottles of wine not 1, but it all got worked out in the end. Time for a walk home through the Ponsonby drunks, out celebrating Christmas early (just like being at home!).
Verdict? Good enough, but too pricey for what it is; certainly not the best Auckland has to offer, and perhaps trying a bit too hard; waiting staff need to pay more attention to the customers rather than their friends! We weren't disappointed with our meal, but neither were we blown over.
The Botswana Butchery, Post Office Lane, Wanaka
After over 1 week of hard walking in the South Island, we marked our last evening in Wanaka with a meal at
The Botswana Butchery. This restaurant, albeit the Queenstown branch, was recommended by family who had visited a few weeks ago, but was already on our list to visit.
Starters consisted of Buttermilk and Herb Prawn Cutlets and French Onion Soup. The cutlets were demolished quickly, but the soup took a bit longer - it was delicious, thick, very filling and with lots of bread! A good start to the meal.
After a suitable interval our main courses arrived: 1 sirloin with Bearnaise, and 1 venison. Both were a very good size, and delicious. The cabbage and bacon side we ordered went well with both, and there was plenty of it. The wine list had plenty of wine available by the glass so we tried a couple of Otago Pinots.
For dessert it was 1 excellent crème brulee (the soup was so filling I was practically full after my starter!).
By now the sun was setting, the few clouds that had been lingering over the mountains had disappeared, and so it was off to see Mount Aspiring at sunset - glorious.
Verdict: great food; attentive service; good atmosphere and wine list; great views! Highly recommended.
The Bunker, Cow Lane, Queenstown
Part of me doesn't want to write this review - if I keep it secret then it might remain something special.
There is a Botswana Butchery in Queenstown, but we had heard tell of something else - a small windowless restaurant which used to be used to tune skis, hidden in Cow Lane below a more easily discovered bar of the same name:
The Bunker. Again family had visited a few weeks before and recommended it to us, for which we must be thankful! We phoned ahead and reserved a table, and upon arrival found ourselves in a cosy windowless room with only 6 or 7 tables and a roaring log fire, kept well stoked all night.
Starters were duly ordered, along with a bottle of the stunning, and reasonably priced, Wooing Tree Pinot Noir. I had a terrine of pheasant and duck liver parfait with walnut bread - it melted in the mouth and was delicious. My partner opted for the wild hare - seared loin together with braised hare filo rolls which (apparently ...) were stunning.
For the main course I chose the Beef - easily the best beef I have had for a very long time. My husband went for the lamb - rack and braised shoulder. Again delicious.
Dessert time: 1 dessert of the day (a delicious vanilla panacotta) and a trio of chocolate, including a mouth watering pistachio brownie. These were accompanied by glasses of Cloudy Bay late harvest Riesling and 20 year old tawny port respectively.
Throughout the night the service we received was exemplary, and we were allowed plenty of time between courses to relax - the restaurant almost demands that you relax as soon as you walk through the door. In terms of overall atmosphere this rivals anywhere I've ever been - add to that top quality food and a fantastic wine list and you have the ingredients for the perfect night out. So good we stayed at our table for an after dinner drink - we didn't want the evening to end. If you're in Queenstown book a table. This was the best meal we have had in a long time!
Fergburger, Shotover Street, Queenstown
Now strictly speaking this isn't a restaurant, but it does have tables - in fact it can probably seat more diners than The Bunker, although perhaps not in quite the same comfort! But no visit to Queenstown can be complete without a visit to
Fergburger.
The last time we ate there they had just moved from Cow Lane. Doing some research before we returned we were amazed to see the advertising - they are a true phenomenon! So what do you get? Fantastic quality burgers, good chips and drinks, including beer if you require it. We grabbed a takeaway consisting of a couple of 1/2lb burgers (we'd just finished a very tough walk!) but on offer are other delicacies such as the tofu 'Holier than thou' burger! This is the nest place in NZ to eat a burger - make sure you don't miss out and remember ... "Ferg Loves You".
Salt Bar and Restaurant, Whitianga
Our final meal out was at
Salt. We'd dined here before so had high hopes which weren't quite met.
I started with the chicken liver pate, served with relish and cornishons (gherkins). I wasn't convinced by the gherkins, but they worked very well! A filling starter again for me though! The gravadlax was also appreciated. Then, eventually, came the main course. We had the misfortune of being served behind a large table of 12 or 14 - and it showed. Not only did we have to wait over half an hour for the main course, but when the lamb and the fillet arrived they were overcooked: the beef was medium rather than medium rare, and the lamb hadn't been pink for a while! The salsa verde served with the lamb was overpowering, as was the imam bayildi. Not the best choice. The beef was good, notwithstanding the overcooking.
For dessert there was a crème brulee again - good but not great and, bizarrely, served with rhubarb (which didn't work).
Verdict: not a great meal for us but I'd be prepared to give them another chance if we ever go to the Coromandel again. And there doesn't appear to be a huge choice of fine dining in Whiti. The last time was far better.
The dining room is small and intimate. It reminded me of a 21st century Witchery in style - plush and opulent but at the same time light, modern and airy. Not at all oppressive.
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