New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Nostalgia Restaurant

by Yum O.
14th May 2013

Meh. I was expecting a bit more, considering I was advised there was a dress code. Had to wait for almost an hour to order, I realise some of our party were a bit late, but c’mon! The food when it came was a mixed bag. The scones with cream and jam were AMAZING. The rolls with cucumber, shrimp and bacon bits were weird, and impossible to eat in a lady-like fashion. The cakes were ok, the chocolate mud cake was really nice. The teas were exquisite. Service was alright, and the bathrooms defo worth a visit. I thought $34 was a bit steep for what it was. Not rushing back anytime soon.

by Maria D.
13th May 2013

Was a little wary after some reviews but we had a great time! Highlight was the beetroot starter- amazing. My steak was average, I’ve had better, it was oddly well done on the outside but fine on inside. Having said that, the experience and service made up for it. Me and my boyfriend had a great time exploring the different rooms after dinner and got some great photos trying on the fedora hats !

by Diana
27th April 2013

The prospect of high tea for my friend’s big birthday was exciting. Nostalgia has a special ambience – there’s a sensual darkness to the place, a sense of elegance and mystery. I was intrigued by the selection of savoury teas to go with the savoury dishes and sweet teas to go with the sweet selection – all very well explained by our dashing waiter. The disappointment was that we had well and truly cleaned up the sweet food selection and were thinking of going home by the time the sweet tea arrived. We were deserted by our waiter, and he had missed his moment big time!
The food was not sufficiently delicate for the occasion (or the price). I suggest Nostalgia staff take a trip down to the provinces and visit Zealong on the outskirts of Hamilton to learn about high tea food that delights. There we were, all dressed up to the nines, chomping into massive buns with stuff plonked on top! Pretty dresses deserve pretty food.
The layout of our private room was awkward and clunky. It was hard to talk to anyone except those seated really close by.
The washroom is quite something! Worth a visit to take a look at that.
Nearly there, but not quite, Nostalgia.

by Vanessa W.
6th April 2013

Today was my first time at Nostalgia for a friends Hen’s party and we partook in the Low-Tea.

I thought the decor was fantastic and it made me feel like I had gone back in time.

The Low Tea along with the two cups of tea (one savory and one sweet which you had a choice of) was lovely and I thought well worth the $34 pp

The service unfortunately was the let down of the day.

We had to wait for nearly two hours before we got our first cup of tea and then our Low tea. There was no water on the tables for us to help ourselves to and we were never offered a glass of water upon arrival or throughout our service.

Due to this long wait some of our guest’s missed out on completing their Low Tea and Tea drinks as they had to go.

There was also no explanation as for why we were made to wait for 2 hours.

Would I come back here again……….. yes I will give it another go as I do think it is value for money for a nice girls day out, however if I have to wait for two hour service again, then I will be getting up and walking out.

Comment from Eduard G. of Nostalgia Restaurant 8/04/2013    Hide »

My deep apologies, Vanessa. I was aware that the service is slow….    More »

My deep apologies, Vanessa. I was aware that the service is slow. Unfortunately, we had a staff issue that day. Our fault. That was not our normal mode of service.

As for the water service, though we normally do not offer water during the Low Tea because of two courses of tea that we serve with the food, but, true, we would have picked up the extra needs of the guest under the normal circumstances.

But thank you, Vanessa, for being objective in your review. And I am confident that your next experience at Nostalgia will be much brighter Thank you. Eduard.

by Gus
22nd March 2013

After reading many of the reviews here I wonder if I just visited on a bad night. My first impression of the dining room was ok, although the menu said the food was provincial european and the decor was american 1920s, a minor forgivable point. For entree I had the smoked beetroot salad. The dish presented well; it looked like a Mille Feuille, the beetroot tasted wonderful and the macadamias & sage butter were very nice. However I couldn’t really taste much goats cheese, not what I expected. The duck main was decently cooked although the meat was a bit tough. The parsnip puree was well flavoured but I found the black pudding to be dry and lacking in flavour which was a shame. For dessert I had the creme brulee which tasted fine but had a scrambled egg-like consistency. The service was good, the ambience good but the food sadly did not hit the mark

by Chris
26th January 2013

This is was the second time I have been to this restaurant and I love it! I went with a group of 3 girlfriends and we had such a fantastic time from the moment we walked through the door. The ambiance created is magical, the service from our two waiters was amazing! They were attentive, charming yet formal…where did you find them? They did a fantastic job. The food was impeccable, every bite was a delight and full of flavour. No rush to get us out the door…we enjoyed a full evening of conversation, wine and delicious food. I felt very spoilt for an evening that cost each under $60. The highlight was a special little surprise wrapped up in a box on the table – a lovely touch. I brought it home to show my family. Thank you for a great night – you are my new favourite restaurant and we will be back.

by Raymond H.
7th November 2012

I first encountered this restaurant through friends. I have since returned on many occasions, introducing other friends in turn. Our experience has been consistently first class, although I do get teased because I always order the smoked beetroot. But it is rather delicious!

I highly recommend this restaurant for all occasions. Magnificent experience.

by Chris W.
4th November 2012

The first time I’ve been to Nostalgia & it won’t be the last; had the Ostrich for the entree, main was duck with veal sweet bread, dessert was a selection of Mini Pastries, had an amazing time. The staff were great made sure we were OK without the usual annoying ‘hover’ that you can get in some restaurants. The decor was something else it’s worth going just to for the atmosphere. A perfect day for my 40th which was finished off with a little something from the kitchen for my birthday.

by Indrani
31st October 2012

My first visit was memorable. Enjoyed the decor, the staff, the food, the service you name it everything.

Last night was my second visit within a month. The seats – what was that, a couch. The top of the table was at my chin. How could you expect to eat sitting on a bouncy couch? What were you thinking?
The food took nearly an hour to get to the table. I had to go outside & wait, till I was called in, when the food arrived.
Food was good but not enough. Had to pop in to McDonald’s to satisfy the hunger. Couldn’t wait to get out of the place. Sorry, but the truth hurts.

by Martin C.
9th October 2012

I have eaten at Prohibition a few times over the past two years. While the plush and fancy decor has done its job of impressing me in the first place, it now provides a luxurious backdrop to what it is all about – great food. I have never been disappointed with the food. Yes, the prices are “up there” but the food is “up there” also. It is traditional food with delicious hearty flavours. I usually follow up with a cheese platter. Sheer indulgence. There would not be many other NZ restaurants with a diverse wine list like Prohibition’s. The sommelier knows his stuff – be careful though, as he can recommend great and expensive wines. I love hanging out in the red room at the back, after my meal, enjoying a cleansing Windy Corner. Friendly and professional. They deserve to be successful.

by Lorraine
5th October 2012

This is the first time I write a review, I don’t usually complain, but based on the bad experience we had tonight, I have to let everyone know, think twice before you go.! The food was not good, small portion, no flavour, didn’t look good, not much to choose from, what’s worst, the service was terrible, the waiters were arrogant, extremely unfriendly, especially one guy, he made us feel very uncomfortable. We actually went to Nostalgia restaurant based on its 5-star reviews from this website, we were very disappointed and would never go back!

by Rachel
12th September 2012

Thumbs up for this exotic peace of heaven! I absolutely loved it! The stunning decor of the different rooms is so unique and you can see all the little details that adds to the vintage atmosphere. The service was excellent, a warm greeting at the door with a prompt smile started our night well!!! The friendly waiter made himself present, constantly checking back on us and providing a genuine good customer service. I am not even going to say how much I loved the food, I had the beef fillet and my partner tried the pork chop. Just one word: Delicious! Will come back many more times!!

by Francis K.
9th August 2012

I took my partner to this place for dinner. The name may make it sound a bit like a gimmick but I assure you, they take themselves very seriously.

This is the first true ‘experience’ I have had in a restaurant in years. The restaurant felt refined and mature like no other restaurant I have seen. We left feeling like we had just stepped into another world for 2 hours and found ourselves immediately missing it.

The food was quite good, though it felt like it needed some thinking through. My dessert for example had 5 different things on one plate and I was left a little confused between all the different flavours.

For the experience though, with 3 separate dining areas and a very consistent and impressive decor, we have every intention of returning very soon.

by Kiwikyles
21st July 2012

First time at Nostalgia for low-tea. Had huge expectations based on other feedback. The decor is fantastic. Very lovely. We were seated just to the left of the door which was quite a nice spot. You would never guess how busy it was with the other rooms full of diners.

FOOD: Starting from the top the fresh homemade scones were lovely. The downside was the middle tier. Cucumber on half a roll, shrimp thing on half a roll and chopped up ham with mustard on half a roll. The cucumbers really needed to be in a sandwhich to make it tastier. The ham bits would fall off onto the table whenever you took a bite. And the shrimp needed seasoning. What was missing was little sandwhiches or pastries. This would have been a great change from the rolls.

The real star was the desserts. Gorgeous. Fantastic range and beautifully done. Another star would have to be the teas. Having two teas each was lovely and they were very nice teas.

SERVICE: This was probably the let down. It’s often the little things that make the occasion work. I always feel that you should be offered water upon arrival. We had to ask for it. When our plates were cleared for the savoury courses they didn’t replace the shrimpy knives or give us other spoons for sweets. We were kind of ignored once seated and when we left there was noone around to see us off.

Overall really lovely and we will return to give it another shot and will hopefully try out the red room.

by Irene O.
26th June 2012

I’ve been to Prohibition twice. I loved the atmosphere – great recreation of the 20th-30th of the past century. The service’s was very good, the staff was very attentive. What you would expect from the restaurant of that level. Food was very nice – first time we had oysters and I had their market fish – very nice. The desert was divine. The second time, I tried their lamb, I didn’t like it – the meat didn’t taste good. I will definitely be back but I won’t order their lamb again.

by Adeline
23rd May 2012

Love this place. Went for the hi-tea – the selection of sweet and savoury treats was impressive. Range of tea flavours was awesome. Really good service. Nice and cosy ambience (though it was a bit too dark for my liking) – but I guess it goes with the theme.

Make sure u check out the restrooms – very unique!

by David B.
16th May 2012

Fantastic decor with a warm and inviting dining room. The service is very engaging and friendly without being over bearing.

The menu has some interesting selections if you are feeling adventurous. If you aren’t the Seared Ostrich entree and Jerk Spiced Pork Belly mains are very good. We did try the Roquefort, Chocolate & Whisky dessert and for us it did not really work.

Extensive wine selection.

Worth making a booking.

by jacqui c.
29th April 2012

Went to Prohibition as a party of 14 on 28th April 2012. This place is the whole package. There is not one thing that any of us could winge about. The atmosphere, the food, the service, the friendliness of the staff were all second to none.
It was more than just a night out and a meal. It was a totally fabulous experience. Ten out of ten to all the staff who made this a night to remember. As the rating states, it was as good as it gets………….And then some

by Rolf T.
25th March 2012

My wife and were taken to Prohibition by a couple of good friends, and we were both absolutely charmed by the place. All four of us agreed that it was one of the best dining experiences we’d ever had.

I would like to explicitly and vehemently disagree with comments made in some other reviews that the portions were “too small”. We all went away feeling completely satisfied and very content.

The service was impeccable, the ambiance was wonderful, the food was to die for, and the band (female jazz singer, bass, and sax the night we went) was marvellous. I would come back to Prohibition just to hear that band, even if the food weren’t fantastic (which it was). Please don’t listen to the whingers in other reviews who complained about the music being too loud. They must have had their hearing aids turned up too high.

by Briar P.
18th March 2012

Ambience was very nice. It would probably be nicer to go there during the winter than on a summer evening. The musicians were great although it was really hard at times to hear the conversation at the table when the sax was playing – piano would have been enough.

The salmon entree was pale and cold and it looked like the seaweed had come straight out of the packet.
I was still hungry after the $42 duck dish. It consisted of 6 slivers of beautifully cooked duck about 1/4 cup savoy, tiny carrots and the other stuff mentioned on the menu was so tiny it just made for garnishing. My friend’s fish dish consisted of very little and he was still hungry as well.
Another at our table had very nice steak dish.

Food waiter was not the greatest. We didn’t get told the fish until the time of ordering and no extra specials or information imparted.
We selected our desserts and when it came to ordering we were told that they didn’t have any of that particular dish tonight -
why they didn’t tell us first? We decided to go down the road for desserts and after dinner drinks.

The wine water was good.
This place has so much potential but I feel there was not much enthusiasm in the cooking and the mean servings let it down.

by Max
3rd March 2012

Best restaurant ever, told every one bout it and the ones that went loved it even more it’s def a must go!!!

Excellent service and very very nice food and a even better atmosphere, has to be my favorite place!

by Laura I.
1st February 2012

I was lucky enough to spend the evening of my 21st birthday here and it was simply wonderful. Brilliant staff, stunning atmosphere. The attention to detail is perfect. The best restaurant I’ve been to in New Zealand. My father and other guests all felt the same. No problem with any of the portion sizes, my father had duck, I had steak – we were all full.
VERY good wine. Special occasion or out to impress? This is what you’re looking for. Thank you Prohibition!

by Ian
23rd November 2011

Fantastic decor, even the restrooms are a sight to behold. The 20′s “Prohibition” theme is fantastic right down to the cutlery. The food doesn’t quite measure up to the surroundings but when it’s all said and done I’m happy to give it 4 stars. Raise your game in the kitchen a notch and it’s a solid 5 star establishment.

by kolzee
20th November 2011

When I visited this restaurant I was immediately worried that they had focused so much on creating the experience the food will be a let down but how wrong I was.
Every dish had great flavours albeit sometimes extremely rich. The smoked beetroot has to be tasted to be believed!
OK, so they’re not huge servings so don’t go there with too much of an appetite but otherwise I don’t think you can fault this place.

by Robyn
16th August 2011

Love it can’t wait to go back.

The staff are very attentive, the menu selection very interesting, the blend of flavours amazing. The decor was amazing. Would highly recommend this place for a nice dinner out.

Judging from the other comments, of those who had an average experience, it was just two of us, so perhaps smaller parties is a good option.

by Adele
26th July 2011

We dined on a Saturday night with a group of friends. Greeting was great, staff were nice to deal with. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, attention to detail!

The food, when we got it, was beautiful. Two in our group ordered entrees which was fine but due to that it took over an hour for the rest of us to get our mains. Two had pork, one had lamb & two had duck. I was one that had duck. Now the meal was divine, the flavours were amazing however compared to the other meals there was bugger all on the duck plate. We were left still feeling hungry.

The highlight for me was the chef’s selection dessert plate, this I would come back for again.

I’m happy to pay $40 for a main if I’m not waiting over an hour for it and it’s a decent portion.

by Michele H.
1st July 2011

We were visitors to New Zealand, from Australia in June this year. On returning our camper, Prohibition was recommended to us by the young man who checked our van in. On arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted BY NAME outside! A novel experience. The welcome, decor and atmosphere impressed us immediately. The service was friendly, informative, prompt and engaging. The food was par excellence! The wine choice great with good advice. Loved the toilets! And MY OH MY, they had Pedro Ximenes Sherry. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. My husband really enjoyed the whiskey (he’s something of a connoisseur). All in all, an awesome dining experience, and we will be sure to return when we visit again. Til now, our top dining experience had been in a restaurant in our home town, however, Prohibition has made it up there with The Black Cow, no mean achievement. Well done!

by Tanna
5th March 2011

Just brilliant, went there twice with the girls & then my partner. The best dining experience; very atmospheric & elegant with lovely fittings all through out, beautifully designed, my all-time favourite restaurant! Although it can be a bit more pricey than your usual-dine-out, but it is expected as this is a very classy place. Highly recommend to all!

by Nicole
20th February 2011

Fantastic ambiance and exceptional service. The night started well with a personal greeting at the door, very attentive waiting staff and knowledgeable advice in regards to the wine choice. The eye fillet steak was cooked to perfection and the live jazz band was fab. Will definitely be back!

by Harry L.
4th January 2011

Excellent restaurant. I always enjoy coming here and can count on them for good food. Love the pork chops and dessert after is essential. The atmosphere is just perfect. If you haven’t visited this restaurant, you are missing out.

by Jacki J.
22nd December 2010

Really enjoyed our meal last night. Great food, atmosphere and very helpful and friendly service. Love the decor – very different and attention to detail is great.

by Mayank D.
28th August 2010

i love good food and i love whisky, this place offered us the best of both!
very knowledgeable staff, though service could have bee better (sides were forgotten) there were 5 mains on the menu we ordered 4 of those(lamb,pork beef and vegetarian) all were so full of flavours nothing overpowering. i think my mouth was watering while i was having it, same can be said about the dessert, you could feel the passion and expertise of the Chef. highly recommended for excellent food and dining experience.

by Leah
17th August 2010

This place was amazing. Food was great, service was awesome. Beautifully set up. Well done, owners.

by Daniel
17th June 2010

One of the best 5 star dining experiences I’ve had. The 1920′s theme is like stepping into a different world down to the smallest immaculately crafted detail.

The food was an exquisite combination of flavours making every mouthful worth savouring. And just the right amount – no tiny artistic mains here.

The staff and service were professional, friendly, and approachable without hovering or being snobbish. I was so pleased I tipped which i almost never do.

Absolutely recommend Prohibition for an excellent dining experience.

by Vesna
1st April 2010

Fantastic, tasty food and absolutely professional service.

by Anna S.
24th March 2010

We had a great dining experience at Prohibition. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was fun with classic live jazz playing in the background. It was a unique dining experience and I would highly recommend it!

by Geraldine T.
28th February 2010

Brilliant fine dining restaurant. Food was good but it was the decor and atmosphere that really topped the night off. Loved the room out the back where you can have a drink and relax after your meal. Also the toilets are definitely worth a visit.

by Mels B.
7th November 2009

The place is fantastic, the decor amazing and well worth dressing up for. The food is delicious, but I thought it was overpriced and only small portions. There’s no saving on the “set meal” price if you just have a main & dessert – we’re not stupid you know!

We had to wait a very long time in between courses because there was 12 of us & we were over it by the time our mains came. That was a real shame because otherwise its a cool place to go just because its so different.

by Deviant
11th September 2009

That was the best meal I’ve ever had. The service was sterling. The design made me really feel like I was in 1940′s US, dining with gangsters and their dolls hehe! I recommend the lamb bruschetta, the Waikato steak, and the donuts with chocolate dipping sauce. The copper toilet was so cool, and the basins looked very rustic. The Red Room looked awesome, we didn’t use it but I’ll be taking the missus there sometime!

by Teryl M.
7th July 2009

What a great night we had. With special friends visiting from Sydney, we wanted to go somewhere fun and a little bit different. The 6 of us had a night to remember, starting with drinks in the very cool red bar to dinner upstairs and then dessert down with the band. No detail has been spared in the decor, the service was fabulous and the food delicious. Highly recommend with a group of friends.

by Natasha
30th June 2009

Prohibition Restuarant is the place to go for something out of the ordinary. A group of 10 of us went on Saturday night for my husband’s 35th and got into the theme by going in costume. We were not disappointed and highly recommend this restaurant to others. The decor is spectacular, service excellent, food and wine delectable.

by Geraldine
27th March 2009

Went to this restaurant on a date this Wednesday, absolutely awesome interior design. No detail has been spared, even the bathrooms were exquisite!

Completely fabulous service, fell in love with every waiter.

Only comment is please please please turn the music down, the live music was beautiful but with such a small room it was impossible to have a conversation, so ended up having a silent date.

Food is pretty good but not amazing considering the price. V nice coffee though.

by Jo Walker
30th October 2008

I visited this restaurant while on a business trip in Auckland this month. I knew as soon as I walked in that I was in for a treat. I felt that I was in a private club transported back into the 1920s. No attention to detail has been spared. Everything is of the finest quality from the crystal glasses and cutlery to the hand towels in the bathrooms. The menu was a culinary adventure presented impeccably with exquisite tastes. The decor, the waiters, the live music all contributed to making this an unforgettable dining experience. It’s the kind of place you want to return to.

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