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Reviews for Boulcott Street Bistro

by Tony K.
12th April 2013

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

Dinner here was outstanding. A great experience.
They made space for the family on a very busy night.
Service was excellent. The food was amazing. The beef berenaise was fabulous. And the desserts wonderful … Must try profiteroles next time.
Can’t believe we haven’t been there before.

by Katie F.
14th February 2013

Took the daughter and son-in-law from Sydney to the Boulcott St Bistro on Wednesday – they were very impressed! We knew that the food would be fantastic. Don’t know how they do it but it is always absolutely superb. Coromandel scallop entree was sooo good. Fish of the day was yummy and beautifully presented. Classic lamb shank and ox cheek were just as they should be – succulent and delicious. Finished off with creme brulee. As always, staff were attentive, well-informed and very pleasant. We love this place!

by Tim H.
11th February 2013

Perhaps the most consistently excellent restaurant in Wellington, I’ve been here several times and swear by it. If you feel like quality Bistro meals, cooked by an award winning Chef – Rex Morgan, then treat yourself here. It isn’t cheap but is a great way to celebrate in style.

I recently had the Fillet Bearnaise and my partner the Fish of the Day. Both were amazing, the fish was Trevally. We also shared Ravioli and Calamari for the entree.

The service is particularly good, and helps as they wine range is broad and matches the food perfectly. If you haven’t been before then make a date, you won’t be disappointed.

by Kara I.
17th September 2012

You know it’s been years since you’ve been to a restaurant when the last time you went was with an ex-boyfriend and you’re now married with a child. Having said that, my Boulcott Bistro memories were good, so I was excited to be going back!

We had the calamari to start. It was perfectly cooked, and the tartare that accompanied it delicious, but missed the magic zing that would have made it great.

For mains my husband had the beef with handcut chhips. It was absolutely incredible. Melt in your mouth tender, perfectly cooked and seasoned and the Bearnaise was the best I’ve ever tasted. I had the ox cheek which fell apart at the touch of the fork and served with a gorgeous gravy. One point to note here – it is advertised as being served with gnocchi. Don’t make the mistake that I did and assumed that would be the carb component of the meal – with only four of them to be found, in my book that’s a garnish. Fortunately, we’d ordered a delicious side of carrots and parsnips which, along with the lovely complimentary house made bread, rounded out the meal.

Dessert. I wasn’t going past the creme brulee. It was listed as being served with poached fruit so I was a little bewildered when it showed up accompanied by a lonely little perfect slice of fresh orange and a little jug of mandarin jus, which was bland and watery. My husband had the chocolate tart which was decadent and smooth.

Service was attentive and polished.

HIghly recommended.

by Catherine C.
6th August 2012

SUPERB!! A meet in the middle weekend (5 of us from Auckland, P North and Chch) for a family birthday, the choice couldn’t have been better. Creative cocktails were served by an entertaining barman, the waiting team were attentive helpful, our menu choices ….. mmmmm, superb (I would recommend my choices of Westcoast Black Pudding for entree and Beef Cheek for mains – delish) The menu isn’t huge, but there is more than enough to select from, and the wine list offers excellent food matches. A fantastic evening, the BSB have created a delightful atmosphere for their patrons to be indulged in, our seating in the bay window helped I am sure. These out of towners will be back! And oh, don’t forget the Fruit Cobbler to finish – scrummy

by mark k.
9th July 2012

Her Indoors booked a classic Wellington weekend away from the kids, so we took the opportunity to dine at the Bistro. Brilliant service from relaxed but attentive staff and a very special atmosphere about the place. But the food was disappointing. Her calamari, though light, lacked any zing (although the tartare was lovely) and the subtlety of my venison carpaccio was sadly overpowered by lashings of parmigiano. My ox cheeks were perfectly cooked, but somehow lacked the depth of taste, however, the braised red cabbage is a delicious must with this dish. Her fish, again perfectly cooked, was accompanied by creamy leek noodles which lent little to the dish. Unfortunately, not enough high notes for $200 plus. We will go back one more time however, they deserved that.

by David
17th June 2012

I ate there recently and found the food to be the best I’ve ever had. This establishment is run by geniuses with food! It’s exactly what you want for a meal you cannot get out of your mind for weeks later – because it was just that great that you will swim in its elegance for long after you’ve reluctantly left this great establishment. If you go to Wellington, as I did from Australia, and don’t eat here, you’ve wasted your trip. I kid you not – the place is unbelievable – I’ve never eaten anywhere like it!!! Five star at a minimum, because there is no six.

by Tracy
16th June 2012

I’ve been once for dessert and once for lunch, both were excellent, well worth the price, great decor, location and service! I can’t wait to return! Nice for a romantic night too
I had the snapper and it was some of the best I’ve ever had.

by Kirstyn H.
1st June 2012

Best Birthday Dinner at one of the top restaurants in Wellington.
My son and daughter took me here last night for a wonderful meal. The calamari was brilliant as was the fillet steak. The service was delightful, and wine was beautiful. All in all it was a great meal. Highly recommended. Thank you, from one happy mother!

by SiennaMarcs
7th April 2012

This stylish little Bistro has a big personality and is a gem in the crown of the Wellington restaurant scene. We eat there often, and enjoy the cosy atmosphere, the excellent service and hilarious barman, Sam.
A five star establishment. Highly recommend it.

by Café_Chick
30th December 2011

We had a lovely meal at Boulcott St Bistro last week on our way to a Christmas function. Arriving early, there was no waiting for a table and we were served quickly. The poisson du jour was tarakihi poached in lemon butter nage and came with peas and a large, single saffron and prawn ravioli. It was absolutely delicous! The ravioli was unusual and completely filled with prawns. My partner had steak florentine, a medium-rare sirloin grilled in herbs, garlic and lemon with potatoes and a roasted tomato. A really enjoyable meal with pleasant service in a villa-style environment. We will definitely be back when we’re not in such a rush and look forward to sampling more of the menu.

by Mother o.
19th December 2011

Popped into this quaint little villa on the way back to the Terrance on a Girls weekend – wow………..the chef, bar staff, matride were all fantastic, we had a few drinks and some sample desserts – we will be booking on our next trip to wellington to sample the menu in more depth. What a wonderful experience – Thank you

by Biggie C.
22nd November 2011

Had a business lunch here and it fitted the bill perfectly – good food, top notch service. No complaints, if you need a professional place with all the trimmings this is a place to go.

We had fish and steak with a bottle of wine, all done well.

by Eileen O.
30th October 2011

This is our favourite restaurant in Wellington, if not the world – which is a big statement we know. However, we have been here for lunches and for dinner. Most recently we had family over from Ireland and decided to try all the top restaurants in Wellington. This was our favourite by far – others were either too stuffy/formal, too pretentious, too cold, too expensive for what was served, too boring or lacked atmosphere. Also they lacked consistency. However, having now been to Boulcott Street Bistro severals times in the last few months, we love the atmosphere, the layout and ambience and the food is divine! We love the fact that you can have a nice relaxed drink at the bar before the meal. The staff are all professional but warm and friendly. It is also great to see the same staff – a sign of good management, who are all very appropriate and know how to “read the customer”. The menu varies and is always offering something fun, challenging or comforting. This weekend, we tried Garlic Snails (which were lovely – not something we thought we would ever try) but the Black Pudding was out of this world. The bread and butter is so delicious too – it’s the little touches that make the difference. The noise level is just right – no scraping furniture on the floor, everything arrives in a timely manner and nothing is an issue for the staff. Well done to Boulcott St Bistro and the staff – we will pick you every time. Do not change a thing – you are just perfect on every level!

by Zinnia H.
4th September 2011

I’ve been going to the Boulcott for years. The reason I’m such a regular is because of the consistently fine level of food and service.
We had the classic fillet bearnaise and the pork belly, both of which were cooked to perfection. The maitre d’, a very charming young man named Haydn, matched our mains to fantastic wines and engaged in some light chit chat much to our amusement. The prices seem very reasonable when considering the excellent quality.
I highly recommend it.

by Kiwi A.
3rd September 2011

We were in a celebratory mood. I received my first paycheck EVER in New Zealand, and we were rollin’ in the dough.

Well, not really, but one can dream, right? 45% of my paycheck went straight back into the pockets of the government, but I digress.

Mr. Kiwi and I had some drinks after work and got hungry. I’ve been thinking about steak for a while so he suggested the Boulcott Street Bistro.

It’s a cute, two-story converted Victorian home. The bar is spacious for a Friday night with a very knowledgable bartender and average selection of wine. We got in around 7:00pm, and waited about an hour before being seated.

The menu is meat-centric, with classic French-NZ fare. I ordered the plat du jour, which was a grilled aged sirloin on top of more tasty meat, some dauphinoised potatoes and soft herbed butter. The thought of meat served on top of more meat made my heart skip a beat.

I was starving so we shared the Gremolata Crumbed Calamari entree and Mr. Kiwi ordered the ox cheeks for the main.

The calamari was a disappointment. Although the crumb was very flavorful with a gorgeous tartar sauce on the side, the calamari itself was completely overcooked. I felt like I was chewing on a car tire. Mr. Kiwi wanted to send it back to the kitchen, but I was hungry so I told him not to bother.

However, the night was redeemed when my main arrived and I made my first slice into the meat. If you happen to go and they’re serving this dish, YOU MUST ORDER IT. The sirloin was grilled to medium-rare perfection. The potatoes were heavenly, with a crunchy crusty bite melding into a creamy melt-in-your-mouth interior. The braised meat under my sirloin added a smoky, hearty texture.

Mr. Kiwi was equally infatuated with his meal and we took our time enjoying our dinner.

The service was good, and we ended up having a great time overall.

A bottle of wine, one entree, two mains and a glass of whiskey set us back about $170-ish. It was well worth it, and I highly recommend this restaurant.

by Casey H.
31st August 2011

If you don’t want to wait, get there just after it opens. Arrive at 7pm – 8pm and make the mistake that your gonna be eating late! as it is sooo popular. You will be standing at the bar waiting what feels like an eternity, and I must admit…I was starving! They don’t take bookings for dinner, so if you are going to a show, concert etc get there early!

The service however is great.

Given a small roll and a very small cup of cold something to start which tasted like bitter bland apricot onion jelly (not sweet at all), so discusting I tried to wipe this into my bread to get it over and done with, where the waitress said I should have just taken the whole small cup down as if a was taking a “shot”. Probly fast down the hatch would have been better to just get it out of the way. (just like ripping of a plaster, it hurts, but its quick!)

I ordered the shanks, and it wasn’t amazing! Had peas on the side, which wasn’t fancied up in anyway. Literally just peas. Had to order extras if you wanted more, as I did, from such a long wait.

Glad to have been, but wouldn’t be a regular thing.

Would rate Logan Brown in higher esteem, with tastier meals and starters (love the NZ virgin olive oil selection with local breads), and the desserts always a pleaser!

by Karen R.
19th August 2011

Inside a charming cottage, high on Boulcott Street, with a nicely furnished, intimate interior. Beautifully prepared food (I enjoyed the Dine Wellington “Gremolata-crumbed Cook Strait Octopus with sauce tartare”. The octopus was utterly succulent and beautiful with the creamy thick tartare. Then the smoked fish & Pacific Catch mussel pie was hot and tasty, even though I was surprised it was potato-topped (not the pastry I was hoping for . . . even though my hips were happier it was potato).

While a different wine (Pinot Gris) was offered than the Pinot Noir advertised, I was very happy with the sweet flavour match.
A nice experience.

by Jima
23rd May 2011

Wow, what a busy little bistro! With the winning combination of prompt friendly service and fresh delicious dishes that so many restaurants seem to neglect these days it’s easy to see why this place is so popular.

by Olive
12th May 2011

I saw Rex Morgan cooking on TV and really wanted to dine at Boulcott Street Bistro. I loved his prior culinary haven, Citron and wanted to check out his new residence. Similar to Citron, Boulcott Street Bistro instantly sets itself apart in setting. It’s a beautiful Victorian cottage with a classic bistro decor.
As I had hoped our meals were perfect, a great combination of traditional and unexpected flavours.
I really appreciated our service, the waiter was chatty and attentive without being over the top.
I’m not a big drinker, but my friend (who is!) was really impressed by the range of NZ wines and boutique beers on offer.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend a stroll up Boulcott Street to check out this gem of a bistro.

by Samuel K.
18th April 2011

I dined there recently, I waited at the bar for a long time the place was full no one else seemed to mind except me I was starving I was suggested a double calamari with chardonnay, Wow best anniversary ever they do it well.

by Maya C.
28th March 2011

As a small group Boulcott Street Bistro is a great choice. It is intimate but still has a fun atmosphere.
All the dishes look and taste amazing.We shared Bluff oysters to begin with, and ordered our choice of main course. I loved the shank and tasted the ox cheek which was a really interesting dish, delicious.
There were lots of ‘mmmmm’s and ‘yum’s all round!
I’ll definitely dine there again.

by Penny
25th February 2011

When you walk in all the noise of the busy city surroundings disappear and it feels really personal and comfortable. The staff are friendly and knowledgable without the snobbery you might expect. The menu has a good variety of the bistro classics and I guess the difference between bistros is how these classics are prepared and cooked. The food here never fails to impress, it’s cooked and prepared perfectly.
Highly recommended.

by Gab L.
18th February 2011

I had a really enjoyable evening here. The food was fresh and perfectly cooked. The service wasn’t as formal as I had expected but was very efficient and friendly.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quality dining experience.

by Rose Y.
16th February 2011

Amazing place, I went there for the first time the other night and it is going to become a regular!
It has a really unique and lively atmosphere with a menu to die for. Despite the restaurant being very busy the service was top notch. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a great evening out.

by Andrew Priest
17th August 2009

Have eaten at the Boulcott a number of times over the space of many years when visiting Wellington. Apart from reiterating that the food and service is very very good the big thing I find is that it is consistent. The prices I think for what you are presented with and the way it is presented is I believe reasonable. I’ve paid more at other Wellington establishments and haven’t received the same level of food and service. Would recommend to anyone and would happily take friends and guests there.

by Julie
23rd April 2009

Quite pricey but supurb food and service, you pay for what you get and it is 5*. Is in the entertainment book (buy 1 main get one free) so ourbill was under $100 including drink. They don’t take bookings but we have never had to wait long at the bar. They served up fresh bread which was the best I have had in a long time. We didnt get starters but they brought us out a wee cup of soup. Lamb shanks and steak mains were divine. Desserts was even better, I had the creme brulee. Great place to go, friendly staff too.

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