New Zealand Herald

Reviews for The Conservatory

by Kenny W.
18th February 2013

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

I celebrated a very special occasion with close friends and I was more than pleasantly surprised by the high standard of the platters.

The Conservatory’s Paprika Squid is, I dare say to anyone, the best squid dish I have ever experienced. Ever.

The squid is not only flavorsome but is so tender and soft that it’s almost a struggle to pluck up with a fork (try it and you’ll see what I mean). Never settle for rubbery squid again by treating your senses to The Conservatory’s Paprika Squid – it’s bloody beautiful.

The Wharf Platter is also divine to share between friends (2 if you’re hungry, 4 if you’re a bit peckish), especially the tea smoked salmon which falls a part in the mouth – my only wish is that there was more of this salmon on the platter as it really is moreish.

Thank you so much to the friendly staff of The Conservatory who made our night amazing and to the chefs for their excellent work, my friends and I will be back many times to taste our way through the menu.

by Ree L.
18th June 2013

My husband and I went to The Conservatory on a cold, rainy day and enjoyed the comfy seats and the warm fire. This was enhanced by the excellent food and wine and Cindie’s great service! We didn’t find fault with anything, except for Auckland’s bad weather.

by Jasmine K.
5th May 2013

Me and mg husband went to this place for the first time. We were really impressed by the service and the food was also good, we just had couple of bites as we had gone there for some drinks.
Will definitely like to go there again with friends.

by Luke S.
21st April 2013

I booked for a group of 15 for my birthday. The staff were flexible and accommodating. They managed our orders well and delivered them accurately and within a very reasonable time.

The quality of the food was very good. We ordered a number of smaller dishes, including fries and squid, as well as some of the large pizzas. The batter on the squid was perfect and the pizzas were flavoursome with a crisp crust.

There is a good range of alcohol that is all well priced for the waterfront.

It was a fantastic night and we would happily eat there again.

by Pip
18th April 2013

I arranged my husbands 40th birthday party and we were absolutely rapt with the service, venue and food. The staff over delivered right from the beginning and we were pleasantly surprised to be allocated our own wait staff for the entire evening who attentively waited on all our guests. We ordered a huge amount of pizzas to serve our 60+ crowd, plates and serviettes were laid out beautifully and the pizzas delish, and staggered well to cater for the guests.
Overall, we had a fantastic night at this great bar and highly recommend it for a function, in particular Dell and Mark well exceeded our expectations. Thank you!

by Jan
8th April 2013

We came here for a friend’s birthday on Sunday afternoon, weather was wonderful so we grabbed a table outside ordered a bottle of Ned Pinot Gris, a Margarita Pizza with added proscuitto and rocket salad…. fabulous combination. Pizzas are enormous and great value for money – one pizza was enough for the three of us. Absolutely delicious thin crispy base and authentic. There was a good muso playing the guitar and singing for entertainment. Staff were attentive and very friendly. Well worth a visit and will defo return.

by Tony M.
12th March 2013

The beautiful view provides a five star experience and gains an extra star, however the pizza’s priced at around the $40 mark is a bit excessive even for the best pizza’s in the world. Especially when Jack Tar restaurant is right next door with awesome tasting pizza as well at $24 each.

Overall great place when you feel rich and wanna take someone special for a quite exclusive drink

Service: 4/5
Wait time: 4/5
Environment: 4/5
Food Quality and taste: 4/5
Price range: $60+ pp

Comment from Tricky H. of The Conservatory 13/03/2013    Hide »

Tony, Thank you so much for coming down to The Conservatory and…    More »

Tony,
Thank you so much for coming down to The Conservatory and we’re glad that you enjoyed your time with us.
In regards to the pizzas, I wish you could have tried one to see the size and taste the quality – they are a full 18 inches that could feed 3 quite comfortably, and we use only the best ingredients.Our pizzas actually start at $29, and go up to $36.
By comparison,Jack Tar’s pizzas are only 10 inches.
We look forward to hopefully seeing you down here again shortly though, and appreciate your positive feedback.
Have a great week,
The Conservatory team

by Laura P.
12th March 2013

My partner and I held our engagement party here over the weekend. It was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a more better night. The staff were all extremely lovely and helpful. The food was beyond amazing. All our guests were raving about the venue and how awesome it was.
I definately reccomend The Conservatory for your function.

by Sophie G.
19th December 2012

We hosted a birthday function at The Conservatory on Saturday evening and it was absolutely fantastic.

From the makeshift bar that was set up for our guests, to the management staff who were an absolute pleasure to deal with, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

The food is perfect for small groups, but was also easily accommodating to our large group, the music was great and the drinks prices reasonable.

We were surprised how far our tab went.

Thank you to all the staff, and particularly Dell for being such a big part of a fantastic night!

by Alison T.
8th November 2012

We hosted our daughter’s engagement party at The Conservatory last weekend and the evening was a brilliant success. The venue was superb, platters and pizzas spectacular, and Dell, Chloe and the rest of the team were accommodating, friendly and gave us impeccable service. Everything exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend this as your next venue. Thanks for making the evening one to remember!

by Jeff
14th October 2012

Engagement party at The Conservatory was an absolute blast! The staff were so accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure guests were well looked after and entertained. They made everything so easy.

The food was outstanding, drinks selection more than adequate and prices very reasonable.

Highly recommended for a few quiets or speak to the bar staff if you’re looking for a hidden gem for a special event!

by Kathryn A.
12th September 2012

Cocktails were very refreshing, bar staff know exactly what they’re doing. Plus they have a great menu, which is a bonus. Had some mouthwatering chicken and mozzarella bruschetta and also the smoked paprika squid. Can’t wait to try the some of the pizzas. Excellent bar for drinks and food!

by Claire
7th September 2012

Very helpful and friendly staff and the pizzas are enormous!!!
Love the Conservatory and looking forward to more pizza in the summer time. The service was great and we really enjoyed the comfy sofas at the front of the restaurant. The Bastard Chardonnay is always a winner.
Thanks guys!

by Lisa S.
1st September 2012

Fantastic location, particularly on a sunny day. Just lovely sitting outside by the water. Great pizzas (Conservatory particularly) and the Risotto balls are just delicious! Staff are very friendly and welcoming & always ready with a nice cool glass of Mahi Sav for their regulars!

by Adam
16th August 2012

While heading towards the Silo Playground with my wife and 4y.o. daughter on Tues evening we stopped here for a Pizza for dinner. An inspired piece of luck! Taylor and his assistant made us feel most welcome, made an honest suggestion regarding our order and tolerated little miss and her questions.
The wine fridge/pump system has to be seen to be believed!
Highly recommended!!

by Rob W.
2nd July 2012

My favourite chill-out bar on the new North Wharf. Friendly service (who recognise the value of a repeat customer and make you feel welcome coming back) and some of the most awesome pizza in town.

Like many of the new bars on the North Wharf I think they had some teething problems earlier on but have upped their game hugely and I go back at least once a week when I want a friendly environment.

Hence some of the poor reviews date back to last year when they first opened but more recently the reviews are consistently good.

And that’s my experience.

by Keiren H.
22nd June 2012

What a gorgeous set-up, and incredible service. I have been several times when visiting from Sydney and have been wowed by the service and food each time. Relaxed atmosphere and awesome staff. Risotto Balls are a must!!

by Cherie B.
20th June 2012

We stopped in at Conservatory Bar last night on the way home from Rally NZ, it was warm and cosy, the staff were delightful, Taylor especially was a rockstar and OMG the calamari is the best I’ve ever had…. We will be coming back. Thanks

by Bob W.
11th June 2012

A quick review to thank the Conservatory for an outstanding job yesterday. Due to being let down by a nearby bar/restaurant the Conservatory hosted a gathering of 50 friends (adults and children) for us at short notice and handled it superbly. Nothing was too much trouble and the staff who looked after us were just first class, from the duty manager in charge to the wonderful waitress from Wales who poured the champagne for out guests on arrival.

The food was excellent (mixture of pizzas, tapas, platters and the like), drinks and service of them likewise. Moreover, on a busy Sunday afternoon the whole venue coped superbly with the tribe of children under 5 and the delights of the balloon entertainer!

Thanks again for such an outstanding display of customer service from start to finish.

by Glenda S.
30th May 2012

Great evening out to celebrate 3 family birthdays. Breads and dips were very tasty ( the balsamic reduction was wonderful!) and the pizzas were fantastic. Servers were very attentive but not overbearing. Suggestions for wine and beer were ‘spot on’. Thanks to Dell and Taylor for making it a memorable night for all of us.

by Rona W.
14th May 2012

A friend and I were visiting Auckland and we called into the Conservatory for coffee. Coffee was great. We loved the surroundings, the variety of seating, the atmosphere and the friendly staff. We decided to eat before heading out to the theatre and we ordered a couple of dishes to share. The food was beautifully presented and tasted great. A unique and enjoyable experience. Will definitely go again.

by Kiran M.
6th May 2012

Was there this morning. A friend took me there for brunch. The service was great and the food was amazing. I am definitely going to make it a regular visit. Just wish they served all day breakfast.

by Stephen C.
29th April 2012

Went down to The Conservatory for a late lunch with three adults and one 4 year old.

Excellent food (I had the Duck Salad, awesome!), and a nice relaxed environment where the 4yo could socialize with another child around her age and we could keep an eye on them while chatting.

Definitely recommend for a pleasant afternoon.

by Glen B.
26th April 2012

Worst. Service. Ever.

2 beers took over 10 minutes to be delivered. The food (one bowl of potatoes) didn’t even arrive and we had to ask for it several times. The staff didn’t even seem to really care or want to followup on things. After just spending 3 weeks in the US where service is number one it was quite a shock to come back to such poor service.

by Karen
22nd March 2012

I loved it here, Seafood salad is probably one of the best meals I’ve had out in ages! Service was good and fast. Returned the following weekend and although far busier was still great.

by Jenny H.
23rd December 2011

Although staff were friendly, my food came out 5 mins after everyone else’s in the group and they didn’t seem to care that my calzone was totally burnt black on top – they served it covered in salad as if to try and hide the burntness….Probably the worst calzone I’ve ever been served in a restaurant. No apology when I mentioned it to the waiting staff. So much potential as it’s such a great location and lovely place to chill out for lunch but they won’t make a success of it if they keep serving totally burnt food! Wine was good tho.

by Dave R.
9th October 2011

Lucky the star rating doesn’t have a negative for this place. We went there on a nice sunny day for a lunch – First experience of north wharf. The food was cold and taste less (yes even after I sent it back to be reheated), the meals came out at all different times with one meal not showing up at all. The pizza was nothing to write home about either, cold, burnt on the bottom and lack of toppings. Although this was removed from the bill, no apology in fact it did not seem any of the staff really cared. To top it off it was expensive. I would not recommend dinning here, which is a shame as it has a nice layout and has a nice feel to it, might be good for a drink. I hope The Conservatory is not a representation of other establishments in North Wharf as it would be a shame.

by Wayne
6th September 2011

While some staff were particularly unfriendly, Chloe (our fantastic waitress) redeemed the establishment. Lovely vibe, really good food. Better arrangements could be made for patrons, waiting to be seated, during peak periods.Sure this will become a favourite of our family.

by Rochelle S.
28th August 2011

We were taking clients out to lunch and decided to try The Conservatory. We were all very impressed with the great food, wine and service. We will defiantly be making this a regular place for lunch and I look forward to trying out more on the amazing menu and enjoying the buzzing atmosphere and beautiful view.

by Marla C.
27th August 2011

All about the location. The Conservatory’s food was standard fare, and not to pricey when you consider you get a free side of excellent people watching. The Coastal Design Co hanging seats were a hit with all ages. I’d go back.

Write Review