New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Monsoon Poon

by Monica C.
27th February 2013

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

FANTASSSSSSTIC. Best place in Wellington, best food, best location, best staff, best atmosphere, best service. Would go for any lunch/dinner outing, best to go hungry, meals are big and well worth your dollar. Medium pricing- so worth it though!!!!!

by Brooke B.
11th April 2013

Shaking Beef is amazing!

Staff are friendly, but the cocktails let the place down. Needs updating, but very very highly rated in my eyes!

by William R.
30th March 2013

Very impressed, we dined here on a a busy public holiday (Good Friday, no surcharge).
The atmosphere was humming and despite being very busy, the service was fantastic.
Loved the duck salad and prawn toast. The rest of our party were really impressed with food and enjoyed the variety in cocktails, beers and wines.
Recommend for great service, selection and tasty dishes

by Peter K.
16th March 2013

Not good. Went for dinner with family, service was slow because it was very busy. The food meals arrived cold and unexciting.
It was so poor we complained and didn’t pay (so I guess I can’t complain about value).

by Carrie G.
2nd March 2013

This place used to be a favourite of mine but the standards seem to the be slipping. Last two times I’ve been the food has been bland and luke warm.

by Tim H.
11th February 2013

Such a great place for good meals and a positive vibe. This busy restaurant is also really tasty and a great place to take friends. There are some large tables, and a great bar area for a drink before you’re seated.

If you haven’t had the Firecracker Chicken then is simply a must have. Spicy and delicious. You can’t past the Bali Prawns either. There is also a great selection of curries, and Rendang is very tasty.

Service is good for how busy the place is, and sometimes there might be a small wait, but overall I can’t recommend Monsoon Poon enough. Give it a go.

by Robin P.
22nd December 2012

The first thing I noticed about this restaurant was the great decor. The service was fantastic, waitresses that were not afraid to smile and knew the menu! The booth seating was very comfortable. Both my wife and I had great tasting hearty meals, and a drink! The price was extremely reasonable for the amount of food! To top it all the manager was the one who cleared our table and asked how we enjoyed our meal and dining experience! I would recommend this great venue to all!

by Claire
12th December 2012

Have been a few times, and each visit has been great.

The food is fantastic and the service very good.

Monsoon Poon is always our pick when we head into town, either just the 2 of us or with the kids in tow, (they love it too).

Keep up the great work.

by Rebecca M.
10th October 2012

Monsoon Poon is my favourite restaurant in Wellington. The atmosphere, the food and the service is all impeccable. I really love to bring friends and family here for a fun and vibrant night out. The way the restaurant is decorated is amazing and everyone I know can’t fault the food or service. Will be returning here many more times to come!

by Amy
8th September 2012

Such a good restaurant. A great vibe and aesthetics. The service has been spot on every visit even though it is always bustling and full to the brim of patrons. The food is tasty and so are the cocktails! Definitely a must when in Wellington.

by Tracy
27th August 2012

I don’t understand the hype, I’ve had dinner here three times and each time it was an average meal. I do like it that you can see the chefs cooking, reassures you about the hygiene of the place. Every time I’ve been the place has been packed out and yet the wait staff have been very efficient so that’s good.

by Allie S.
20th August 2012

We were lucky enough to be invited to a birthday here this weekend.
What lovely food, friendly staff and a fun atmosphere.
Music maybe a tad loud for me (I’m getting old) but it was a great vibe.
we had over 15 dishes for the table, to many to list, but I was delighted with them all.
we cannot wait to go back again.

by Melisa
18th August 2012

Love Monsoon Poon, great food, atmosphere and never ever disappointed. We have been here several times with friends and with the family (very large groups as well). They have colouring in for the kids to keep them entertained plus a fantastic kids menu and an extensive beverage selection to keep everyone satisfied.
Lovely tasting food, superior service, nice open plan kitchen so you feel at home.

by Hilda L.
31st July 2012

Food and service was fine but felt that the portion sizes were a little small. Found the music too loud and the place too noisy, and non conducive for conversations. More suited to big group.

by Will
20th June 2012

In my opinion, has to be the best restaurant in Wellington.
Had a great time the other night. The food was fast and delicious and the staff were friendly and efficient. Great service! Can’t wait to go back

by SiennaMarcs
8th April 2012

I like to get here when in Wellington, it’s the best restaurant for fun and casual dining. It has a young easy-going vibe, there’s a great cocktail list, a diverse range of South East Asian dishes and service is really efficient.

by Maggie P.
6th February 2012

Ok sold on this place they have never disappointed with their service or the food which is excellent. If you want a dining experience that will savour for a long long time and have you travelling all the way to Wellington to experience please please go here. My partner and I are devoted customers and we come from Whakatane. He has the yellow curry and I have the fish and prawns dish beautiful.

by rosie
20th January 2012

Have been here a couple of times for both late lunch and also dinner. Dishes were averagely sized and the decor was amazing. Lots of details have been pinned into and trully reflects the South East Asian concept. Menu offers a fairly extensive option and the waitresses are friendly. A little pricey compared to other Asian restaurants but I am happy to pay the price. Fire Cracker chicken is a must try dish!

by Parker A.
1st January 2012

We came here on new years eve for a casual and didn’t expect to be seated right away as it was jam packed, as it should be. We were told that there could be an hour wait, “Sure”, and why not. It’s buzzing and lively just as I remembered it. Had cocktails and prawn crackers at the bar and it’s so nice to see cocktails being garnished properly. However it was a mission to find somewhere to lean or sit around the bar.
Eventually we got a table and a waitress came over right away to greet us and to go over the menu. Very helpful and friendly she was. We ordered a glass of pinot gris, a Thai beer (Chang beer) and Krishna Pakhora to start. Our drinks were served promptly by this (really) charming waiter. Entree arrived not long after that and very tasty it was. On a down note, we had to wait quite a bit for the rest of our order to be taken but eventually we got there.
My partner who’s not a big eater had Malai chicken with onion and garlic naan while I ordered Singapore noodles (extra hot). We felt a bit lost in translation with the naan bread as it supposed to be garlic and caramelized onion but the way it came out was rather plain with a small dash of chilli sauce. The waitress checked and confirmed that it was but still. By the way be careful when you request extra hot because it’s fiery hot, even for me. Beautiful flavour though.
For a finale we went for a pineapple cake with tropical fruit syrup and coconut gelato. Divine! We also had some cocktails to finish off our dinner.
Overall the staff are very attentive, friendly, professional yet personal and helpful. High quality food whether it’s for sharing or not and suitable for all taste buds. I can understand why Monsoon Poon is so popular. Will be back for sure.

by vincent g.
28th December 2011

Has gone a bit downhill, was good about 5 years ago. But as per the other reviews, the food isn’t as tasty. Seems to be too hastily put together

by Bebe
10th November 2011

Always yum meal! Always full tum at the end!

I would have to say this is one of the most consistent restaurants in Wellington…I am a bit boring and usually get the beef rendang or fried rice…but both are SO flipping good!

I would choose monsoon poon over any indian restaurant too.

The only downside, the service is a bit rushed. It is not that they are rude or anything, just a bit robotic and in a hurry to turn tables. But hey, they are busy because of the food so I guess it goes with the territory..

by theom999
8th November 2011

Delicious! Definitely a fan of Monsoon Poon. Went here on a busy Wednesday night – it was pretty busy so sat at the bar which was great as it allowed us to look over the whole restaurant and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. We shared wontons with a beautiful plum dipping sauce, salt & pepper squid and crab & fish lettuce cups, to start and all were fantastic. For mains we shared the shaking beef and fire cracker. The firecracker chicken is wickedly addictive.
The service was great – young friendly staff who offered great recommendations on both cocktails and dishes.
Overall a fabulous dining experience. Thanks for a great evening.

by Paul H.
6th November 2011

Very good. I have heard much of Moonson Poon and really enjoyed my meal (Lemon Chicken). Well cooked and great taste. We also had a mixed entree as well, which was lovely – a nice variety of different nibbles. The only minor negative was the main meal seemed a smaller than other mains in our group. I’m taking that this was one off situation.

by KNB
17th July 2011

Delicious! Definitely a fan of Monsoon Poon. Went here on a busy Wednesday night – it was pretty busy so sat at the bar which was great as it allowed us to look over the whole restaurant and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. We shared wontons with a beautiful plum dipping sauce, salt & pepper squid and crab & fish lettuce cups, to start and all were fantastic. For mains we shared the shaking beef and fire cracker. The firecracker chicken is wickedly addictive.
The service was great – young friendly staff who offered great recommendations on both cocktails and dishes.
Overall a fabulous dining experience. Thanks for a great evening.

by cafe c.
14th July 2011

A Comfortable place and a intresting menu..I have tried a couple of dishes and will def go back for more

I distinctly remember the kashmiri Aloo ..i think its called bombay aloo on the menu…nice flavors

by Melanie
30th June 2011

Love U long time Monsoon Poon.
We celebrated my partner’s birthday here and had a fabulous time – a lively vibe but still intimate, beautifully presented, fresh and delicious food. The staff were busy but made sure we were well looked after. Thanks for a great evening!

by Robbie
24th June 2011

Went here for dinner on a busy Thursday evening. Not being from Wellington, We really appreciated the friendly welcome and local insight on the area. Felt really well looked after.
Everything on the menu sounded delicious and it was a hard choice. Definitely recommend the wontons with the delicious plum dipping sauce, and the duck curry was fantastic.
Really recommend this place for anyone visiting Wellington, and being in the heart of the city is a great location too.

by cs11
5th June 2011

Good food, but last night the service was not as good as it should have been. The waiter who bought out our dishes was very forceful and almost slammed the plates down our tables. He was rude and when we enquired what the dishes were, he was non-responsive. However, the waitress who took out orders earlier was pleasant and friendly, although we did have to wave her down when we were ready to order.

by Jima
5th June 2011

Had a awesome evening here. A vibrant and colourful place with a great menu and cheeky cocktails. We shared a few dishes, fire cracker chicken, prawn curry and duck salad. All were bang-on authentic dishes and the service was pretty good for a busy place. We loved being able to watch the chefs at work too.
Will definitely be going back.

by Kim O.
27th April 2011

What a great place to eat. The atmosphere was warm and inviting with the staff also reflecting this. The service was efficient as well as informative. The menu provided a wide variety of dishes but wasn’t overwhelming with too many choices. All the dishes we ordered were tasty, cooked well and good portion size. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. My only suggestion would be to have a water bottle and glass on the table when seated.

by Penny
1st April 2011

Went back to Monsoon Poon after a year or so, it’s still a great spot for a fun evening out. The decor’s warm and vibrant, a great drinks menu and the food ‘s authentic and delicious flavours.
The ‘Bangkok Noodles’ is still one of my favourite dishes.
One of the best Asian restaurants in the capital for food, fun, ambience and service.

by Lucy
11th March 2011

Felt as though we were imposing on the waitress who rattled out the specials like a Sergeant at arms! Food did not take long enough to cook for us to imagine it was anything other than from a large pot. Reasonable but safe flavours.
Very noisy venue, which cannot be assisted with the level at which the music selection is played. Interesting site & I will revisit perhaps at lunchtime to see if things are different.

by Dion N.
23rd January 2011

One of my fav. places in Wellington and owned by one of the best in the business! the food, service and menu are excellent and always exceed expectations from the staff, clients and friends I bring to this exciting, vibrant and fun restaurant.

It missed one star from me because that is best to go to the Whitehouse.

by Reviewer007
20th January 2011

I have been there a few times and the food is really good and tasty.

Its really good that you can see the chefs preparing the food too.

The vegetarian menu is a bit limited though.

I would recommend booking a table. It can get very busy there.

by Hanson
6th November 2010

went here on fireworks night and waited for an hour and half, which we didn’t mind in the end for we were offered the banquet meal at a good price. Was told that it was all you can eat till you are full, then was told that you have to eat all your food till they will bring out more,which we did, than was told we have had enough to eat and shouldn’t abuse the system. Very unprofessional talking to customers they way they did, definitely wasn’t impressed……..started on a low due to the wait, picked up again excited for the banquet and then disgusted you talk to customers in that manner……….

p.s our group were not fatty’s….just hungry diners

by idea
3rd June 2010

Great atmosphere. Good service. We went there on Tuesday night and it was packed. We nearly couldn’t get the table. The food was OK not very tasty as what we were told. I had Nasi Goreng fried rice and it was ok. The only thing that we like was Coconut rice.

by Kara I.
25th April 2010

Monsoon Poon in unfailingly good – the not taking bookings thing is a bit of a pain as the wait time can be up to an hour on busy nights but it’s usually worth it.

The only thing I would say is avoid Tuesdays – have dined twice recently on a Tuesday and it’s obvious that it’s a different (and I’m guessing inexperienced) chef(s) than on the weekend as in both cases the food wasn’t nearly as good as usual – including basic things like the rice which was gluggy and overdone.

by Terri N.
4th February 2010

Amazing food- the best I’ve had yet in Wellington!!!! Awesome friendly service. Highly recommended

by Megan H.
23rd January 2010

Loved it – some of the best food we had in NZ. Eclectic vibe. Kids menu that was in the style of the restaurant’s food. Have the beef, medium rare – exceptional!

by steph
13th August 2009

great food, great atmosphere…good idea to book, as it seems very popular!

by Biggie C.
22nd July 2009

Always good food here. Dined many many times, or been info a drink. Busy, but fast and great food.
Always recommend to locals and strangers.

by Julie Windley
21st January 2009

Fantastic food, fantastic atmosphere & service the best in Wellington. Shaun the full time maitre de is an absolute asset to this restaurant. We as a family will be coming back. Something for every taste, child friendly & a great beverage selection…really loved the overhead mirror on the chefs area, we were able to see the fresh & beautifully colourful food as it was being assembled..now want to try a tiffen lunch!!

by Shelley
3rd September 2008

My favorite place to eat!
Have always been impressed with the food and the service. Great menu!
Definitely recommend!

by Kirsten C.
30th April 2007

Great restaurant to take the kids to! Very friendly and tolerant staff, with a really good childrens menu. Adults are able to eat a great meal here and know the kids are being fed decent food too! Definately worth a trip.

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