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Reviews for Kermadec Restaurants & Bars – Kermadec Fine; Kermadec Bar & Bistro; Tiger Bar

by Nita B.
16th May 2013

We went as a group of 15 adults and 3 children. The manager was quite nice and friendly but portion size of the meal was shocking so little that I for one instance thought I had ordered an entree rather than a meal. Ridiculously overprized for a main meal which probably would be more suitably called as a starter !!! Our grand total was $658.50 but sadly we came home still hungry !!!! Great view though, the cocktail was nicely done although the picture of the cocktail shows slices of fruit with a cherry on the glass but was not so on the ordered drink ….so I would never come back here for dining or lunch

by Yoanna L.
27th March 2013

Went there for lunch and proved to be a brilliant decision. Awesome food and view and worth every penny, very good service. I don’t mind paying a bit more for food like this. Will try their dinner next time.

by Anke R.
28th January 2013

Went and had food in the bar and bistro last night and the food and the service were outstanding together with the location it made it a memorable dinner. We went for the crispy squid and chowder starters, which were delicious then just had the good old fish and chips with a home made tartar sauce. It was a big portion and nice and crispy. As we didn’t want alcohol our waiter recommended a mocktail (cucumber slash), which was very refreshing and we got a free one as well! Although the desserts we saw being carried to tables around us looked very tempting we couldn’t fit it in. The food, service together with the atmosphere made me feel very content. Something I would like to experience at more restaurants.

by Dine i.
22nd January 2013

Great place for seafood, have been told if you the window seats you need to book a week in advance. So book in early if you want great views.food are great so are the services. Highly recommend

by Anna F.
31st December 2012

One of the best meals I recently had. We started with ciabatta and oysters, which were super-fresh. We shared some prawns that were also very nicely prepared and presented. My partner had the eye fillet- and this was unfortunately overcooked (we had ordered medium-rare). I had Hapuka, which was excellent. But the best part was the dark chocolate dessert. Rich and yummy- a must try! However, I did not really enjoy the location so much. For example, they are using paper table clothes- which I think are not appropriate for a nice dining experience. also, the room is dark and not very friendly. I would go back for the food, but it is not a location you can take someone to impress. Still 5/5 because of the superb meal.

by Jace S.
14th December 2012

Had a delicious and enjoyable dinner here with friends ! The seafood was so fresh and well presented we are sure to come back again! Thanks guys!

by Pauline B.
29th November 2012

Food is top quality, absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. The presentation is good too and the wait staff friendly and knowledgeable. The only negative is the time it took. There were 5 of us and we were there from 12.30 to 3pm for a 3 course lunchtime meal. The place wasn’t particularly busy so we didn’t expect such a long wait between courses. We did ask how far away desert was after an almost 45 minute wait and 5 minutes later they arrived. The price of 2 desserts were deducted from the bill (the gesture was appreciated) We would definitely go again, but not on a work day !

by Carl E.
17th November 2012

We had the Signature set menu at Kermadec fine and thought that is was superb. And I must say up front that the service was some of the best that we’ve ever experienced. It was very attentive without being overbearing.

I had the 84 hour pork belly with prawn, apple, cinnamon,
Kasha, and bison grass extract for starter and it was a superb concoction of flavours that bordered being an apple crumble but in a really nice way. My partner had the seared scallops with duck ham, crackling, eggplant, smoked yogurt, blackcurrant and foie gras. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the to our surprise the flavours all worked well together (scallops are normally better served simply). Both dishes looked amazing.

For main I had the john dory, chestnut purée, Earl Grey swede, szechuan, and pickled shiitake. The flavours from this dish were superb and the john dory was brilliantly cooked and full of flavour. My partner had the southland lamb loin, sheep’s milk, sorrel, malt, blackberries, and earth baked urenika. The concept of this dish was it being from the earth and they pulled it off well. The lamb was so tasty (I stole loads of it ). The only disappointing thing was the earth that was scattered in little piles. The texture was amazing but it didn’t taste of anything (other than being a little bitter).

Dessert was unfortunately disappointing and that’s what loses the fifth star. There was a little pre dessert that was fantastic and we wished that we had more of it. Once again the main dishes looked amazing but they really disappointed on taste, basically because the balance wasn’t right. I had the soft lavender cream roasted pear, wild thyme honey ice cream, macadamia crumble, honey comb, and hibiscus syrup. It had too many floral and herby notes with various sweet things. I think that the thyme honey icecream was a step too far and the dish would have been better balanced with a very sharp sorbet. It came with a foam that was just pointless. I’m not a fan of things that are not on the plate the enhance the taste experience and visual things can do that but in this case it didn’t. My partner had the coconut velvet biscuit au potiron, basil & coconut cream, kaffir lime jelly, lime & ginger caviar, and banana ice cream. It was really a scattering of loads of different flavours that just don’t go with each other. Again, there were floral, sweet and creamy flavours that lacked balance. It was a really case of style over substance and this dish needs a lot of work.

We nonetheless really enjoyed our meal and would go back. Some parts of the restaurant need redecorating but the views make up for it.

by Sammie F.
22nd October 2012

My parents purchased a 5 course deal voucher for this place.

The food was delicious and very filling and the oysters and prawns were huge! The best part was the main course and the dessert. In fact, the dessert was so rich that my mother couldn’t even finish it.

This place was just marvellous- the atmosphere, the waitstaff, the facilities (e.g. the bathroom), etc.

I would definitely come again if there was another coupon because this place is very pricey. In fact, I even recommended this place to my friend.

by Mupps
3rd October 2012

My partner and I purchased a 5 course meal voucher deal. We booked well in advance for dinner, requested a balcony table and visited this weekend just past 28/9/12.

On arrival we were thrown into a 4 seater smack bang in the middle of the restaurant with bright lights directly on us. Not quite the evenings atmosphere I had hoped for. The waitress dealt with my query re the table location quickly, but unfortunately no balcony spots were available… however, we were seated nicely in the corner of the restaurant with a view – which was nice.

I have to say the breads and oysters arrived quickly and were delicious. The garlic prawns to share, also arrived in reasonable time, however were a tad overcooked. The mains took a long time to arrive… once they did, we requested steak knives and were told there was none.

A waitress came to “check on our meals” within about 1 min of being served them, we said everything was fine thanks (we had barely picked up our cutlery!).

The steaks were cooked perfect med-rare, and the scallops a little underdone for our tastes, but still tasty and well presented plates. However, only a minute later as we dished up the sides for the mains, we found they were stone cold, the bowls they came in and the food itself (potato gatin and brocollini)! Very disapointing. When the waitress finally came to clear the plates we mentioned the cold sides. We barely got an apology.

We finally were able to order more drinks and the maitre’d came over to apologise for the cold sides, offered us another round of drinks on the house to compensate, however we declined, as we were driving. (They did remove a round of drinks from our bill which was appreciated).

The desserts I cannot fault, absolutely fantastic – I would go back for the desserts alone – creme brulee like I have never had it before 10/10 (and I’m not a dessert/sweet person).

Kermadec Brasserie, overall, you slightly underwhelmed us…you did have your good points food wise and the maitre’d was lovely and certainly knew what her job was all about, but the service slow and groups of waiters/waitress hanging around chattin’ gave a bad impression.

We were not the only ones waiting for drinks and/or steak knives… I find it hard to believe “you have no steak knives in the restaurant”. Anyways, probably won’t be back as we live North of Auckland, but should I be in AK town and in the mood for creme brulee, there will be NO where else I will go.

A reasonable evening, but nothing to write home about.
I’m glad we had secured the meal voucher for $90, as I would not have been happy paying more for service so slow.

by Sam C.
28th September 2012

We (along with hundreds of others) purchased the five course menu deal voucher recently. What a huge disappointment the evening was. Having eaten at the restaurant in the past I was expecting the brasserie to be a more casual environment, but not as casual as it seems to be! The room feels like a barn, huge, cold and loud. The matire’d pointed at our table rather than actually take us to it, then once seated came and demanded our voucher before we had even been offered drinks. (I have used deal vouchers at a number of restaurants across Auckland, and have never had one demanded before the meal, its normal to advise you have one and to present it when paying the bill). The food was nice enough, not mind-blowing, but that’s fine. The service however was terrible. Our waitress was polite, but the time it took between courses was totally unacceptable. It was a Wednesday night, and although it was busy, it was not packed. The first two courses were presented swiftly, but 45mins later we still did not have our mains. When we mentioned our concerns with our waitress she promised that the desserts would come straight out when we were ready…..hmmm….plates cleared….20mins later desserts arrived. I understand that its not the wait staff’s fault when this happens, but some acknowledgement or apology would have been nice. Large (6 or so) groups of staff standing around the desk chatting with the maitre’d, whilst people are waiting for their food is not a good look. The place felt dated, table cloths of paper felt cheap, toilets were tatty and not “pretty” by viaduct standards. The wheely bin in the direct path to the toilets further added to the general feeling of “run downess”. Overall really disappointing, Kermadec used to be a really lovely place but not anymore!

by Gayle S.
21st September 2012

I took a group of professional olive oil tasters here for dinner on Thursday. The food was superb and the service excellent. My guests from Spain and Australia particularly enjoyed the oyster entrées and the seafood platters. Two also had the fillet steak which they said was cooked perfectly. The great experience made up for the disappointment the previous evening at Caffe e Cuccina and I will certainly look forward to being able to eat at Kermadec again.

by Mel D.
26th August 2012

Good location and food was ok but service was absolutely appalling. As soon as we arrived we weren’t offered drinks and after waiting a while I had to go ask for menus myself they didn’t even have the courtesy to do that.

We were about to leave when the waitress came to finally ask for our drinks and we mentioned we were going to leave. She didn’t apologize and said we can leave if we want to because they were busy although less than half the tables in the restaurant were taken and she had enough time to serve an older group of people (40s) who came after us (we are in our late 20s).

We won’t go back.

by Rosie K.
27th July 2012

A disappointing evening out. I was hoping for a romantic dinner but Kermadec did not provide a great experience. The snapper was beautiful but the portion tiny so you need to order a lot of side dishes which make it very expensive. There are only around 6 desserts to choose from, I went with mousse which was average so I only ate a third of it.

The decor is looking a bit tired and worn, the chairs are hard, wooden outdoor chairs, the tablecloths are covered in brown paper.

It was pricey and nothing special. The waitress was abrupt and the service all round, not good. I would not return in a hurry.

by Emily
5th July 2012

Went here the other night and had the tasting menu. I’ve got to say this was one of the best meals out I’ve had in a long time!

The oysters and prawns were huge and tasty, steak perfectly cooked and desserts were delicious. I can’t wait to go back!

by j=chemp
27th May 2012

The food, the prawns, the best

by Rebeccaaaaa
20th March 2012

A group of 6 of us went to Kermadec Brasserie for a weekend lunch and I was so impressed I felt compelled to write a review! I had seen other reviews online before we went to the restaurant and to be honest I’m surprised that some of the reviews are average. Everyone at the table loved their mains – the seafood was fresh, well presented and the flavours were delicious. I would put the food here at the top of Auckland restaurant fine dining. The desserts at Kermadec are also some of the best I have tasted – compliments to the pastry chef. Don’t leave here without trying the desserts! Well done Kermadec – i will be back.

by Maloo22
19th March 2012

We took one of our staff for her Birthday, and it was “ok”

Squid was undercooked, the steak main was seriously overcooked and took a while to get the service going

I suppose the biggest sticking point is that for the $$ charged Vs the overall experience it just isn’t quite there

It is a great location no doubt, but was quite empty and the place does need a birthday and a bit of a sharpen up – I also think being able to see a kitchen where people lounging about rather than being onto it and busy is also a bit off putting

All in all, none of the guys would go back which I suppose is the ultimate test

by merian a.
15th February 2012

The food was delish and the staff were very friendly.
Awesome location
A great place to visit if you don’t mind splashing out

by Lara
5th February 2012

Having just arrived home from dinner at kermadec I couldn’t wait to post my review.

To begin the service was fantastic,the food was spectacular and the portion sizes very generous. The environment and overall atmosphere was great.

The only one recommendation I would make is a remodel of the bathrooms which had a broken door on one of the stalls in the ladies. But please don’t let that prevent you from making a dinner booking now! It was amazing!

by victoria
31st December 2011

Have eaten here a lot over past 10 years but not recently. Went back with work colleagues to celebrate Christmas end and had a rather disappointing meal. It began well with salt and pepper squid and olives as a starter. Sashimi a bit mean and my snapper was very average & half way through I found what looked like a hair which put us all off, yes should have said something but what would they do – get me another when I was put off food! No question when plates were cleared and I didn’t want to fuss.
Overall 7 of us felt we had eaten better. Sorry Kermadec, wasn’t a busy night and we did wonder if Brasserie was a little off cf the restaurant next door? Decor is a bit dated now. Maybe time for a makeover?

Comment from Hamish K. of Kermadec Restaurants & Bars – Kermadec Fine; Kermadec Bar & Bistro; Tiger Bar 11/01/2012    Hide »

Thank you for your sharing your recent experience at Kermadec. We…    More »

Thank you for your sharing your recent experience at Kermadec. We are deeply concerned to hear that it did not meet your expectations on this occasion. At Kermadec we pride ourselves with our commitment to excellence and welcome our customer’s feedback. We would love to chat personally with you about this as it is important that we rectify every aspect of your concerns. Please would you send to my personal email (gm@kermadec.co.nz) your contact telephone number with the best times to receive a call from us – we will get in touch with you as soon as we can.

by Selina C.
9th October 2011

Lovely seafood restaurant right on the viaduct, very classy, great service. You can come here just for a drink and nibble (I haven’t been to dinner here yet, but would love to one day)and sit outside on the deck admiring the superyachts. Their bread and dips and salt and pepper squid are perfect.

by Karl G.
29th August 2011

I just wanted to say thank you for a lovely meal yesterday. My wife and I really enjoyed ourselves. The squid was exceptional and we both thought the whole experience was terrific. (even the online booking was neat and convenient)

Compliments to the entire team.

by Josh G.
11th August 2011

Amazing food and ambiance. We had dinner there on a Friday night. The waiter went above and beyond to make our dinner memorable. I ordered the salmon, It was perfect. Overall its the best dinner I’ve eaten in a restaurant this year. Thank you Kermadec!

by May-Lee
8th August 2011

This was the third time i have been and each time i go i would describe the food as ‘mouth orgasms’. Everything tastes divine and they have a fabulous wine list. It was a very intimate dining experience with very attentive staff. we had the platter, fresh delicious food with amazing sauces, my favourite was the rocket and parmesan salad. Definitely recommend, it would make a very impressive date location!

by Bella11
8th August 2011

I recently dined for lunch at Kermdaec with my grandparents as they are not from Auckland and wanted to show them the great view Kermadec (Auckland Viaduct) has to offer, not only was the service exceptional but we ended up getting an entrée each as well as sharing the seafood platter which was generously served.
Was a great meal to share and was very pleased with the overall experience.

by Richard
1st August 2011

Points for the management.

1. Its cold in the winter time, glass does not trap heat, and a heater designed for a modest sized living room will not heat a restaurant.

2. You are a seafood restaurant. You have a brilliant location in one of the best harbour cities in the world. You need to improve your menu, it’s not very good. In fact it’s disappointingly bad. Please get on a plane visit Italy, Spain & Greece and learn how it is done.

3. $120 for fish & chips and 3 glasses of wine is a piss take. Thank God I will not be able to get table there during the World Cup.

by Ed A.
25th April 2011

First time at Kermadec, went with a deal coupon for their Sea Food Platter for two.
Very disappointed. The oysters were second rate, the Crayfish, prawns and Scampi over cooked and tasteless. Pipi’s old and rubbery. Mussells were good, bread great. Service excellent. I think Kermadec lost the plot by serving food which did not impress. As a first time guest I will probably not go back. Kermadec lost a great opportunity to gain a new customer.

by Mike
12th April 2011

In a word, yuk! We had paid for a grab-one deal for a seafood platter and two glasses of wine, but were prepared to spend our own money for entrees and dessert. However, when the seafood platter came, it was awful! This is a $150/160 dish. No effort on presentation (just served on a two level dish on ice with lemon slices – crayfish in a bare metal top platter). No seasoning. No sauces. All cold. All steamed. Worse, some of the clams had sand in them, and the langoustines and prawns had not had their entrails removed and still had the line of poo running down the middle of their tails!! EEEEW! Also, the shells weren’t pared to allow for the easy removal of the meat (it was literally untouched and uncleaned). In all the two-bit, mama-papa type restaurants that I have been to in the past, cleaning and preparation of shellfish was a no-brainer and basic practice. Surely there must be a budget for a shellfish cleaner in a $160 dish! The manager, when confronted, was infuriatingly dismissive: “Was there a lot of sand in the clams, or just a little bit?” As if a little bit was acceptable? Apparently according to the manager, leaving entrails in the shellfish “is how they have always done it for three years”. There you have it folks. If you like shellfish poo, go to Kermadec.

Comment from Hamish K. of Kermadec Restaurants & Bars – Kermadec Fine; Kermadec Bar & Bistro; Tiger Bar 12/04/2011    Hide »

Kermadec prides itself on delivering great seafood and attentive…    More »

Kermadec prides itself on delivering great seafood and attentive service. Our Seafood Platter is a taste of some of the wonders of the sea. It is a traditional Plateau de Fruits de Mer, served in the classic French style. The platter itself comprises of prawns, mussels, clams, and oysters served on the bottom plate and scampi and crayfish on the top plate. These items are very gently steamed in order to preserve their flavour and freshness. They are subsequently chilled to prevent them from over cooking and then served direct to the customer. As is clearly stated on the menu – this platter is served chilled. A selection of handmade sauces and aiolis are served with some fresh ciabatta to the table. As you may see in restaurants in Europe, for a Plateau de Fruits de Mer the prawns and scampi are steamed in their shells to maximise their tenderness and flavour, then chilled. They are intended to be peeled by the customer just before they are eaten, this is common practice in Europe. Hand towels are provided for this. This dish is not intended to be served hot, grilled or fried as this mars the subtle flavour of each item and the purpose of a Plateau de Fruits de Mer is to be able to enjoy the fresh taste of the ocean and the natural flavour of the food. There are other platters and dishes available on the Kermadec menu that are cooked in special sauces and with seasoning should this suit the palate more. As the only restaurant in Auckland that serves this style of platter it is understandable that some may have not encountered it previously and may not be familiar with this European style dish. We do advise those unfamiliar with this dish on how to eat the platter to maximise the enjoyment of the food. If you google ‘Plateau de Fruits de Mer’ you will see exactly how it served all across Europe. It is a gourmet dish for the true Seafood lover.

by gianpaolo g.
17th October 2010

Kermadec is one of my favourite restaurant. Any dishes, from the bread to the dessert have something special.
The service is great and the whole experience keep us going back. Love Kermadec!

by McM
9th September 2010

Very good quality seafood, love my seafood and would say that this is the best of the best. If Auckland had a seafood restaurant this would be it. Only lost one star from me due to the expense but it is the waterfront/viaduct so you do have to expect there is going to be higher.

by manckiwi
29th March 2010

Fabulous food, great service and a great view over the harbour. Will definitely go back.

by tony B.
24th January 2010

We had almost forgotten Kermadec as had gone down hill but last year saw interesting changes. This year they seemed to have gone up to the best in Auckland
We had their tasting menu and it was World class. The service was excellent and the attention was obvious as the friendly young lady in charge was watching everything.
We are looking forward to taking friends to our 2010 leader and yes we have been to at least 8 of Auckland’s finest so far

Tony Buckingham

by Rebecca K.
26th May 2009

I took my parents to ‘Kermadec’ for a very special evening to celebrate an event.
It was recommended by a friend as one of the best places to have seafood in Auckland.
The service was cold and offhand, bordering on snobbish.
My Mother and I selected the crayfish which we were told by the incredibly rude and indifferent waiter would be $100 each. (They were barely legal size)

The other two members of the party ordered fish and thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Declaring they were delicious.

Desserts were very good and structured interestingly but the appalling attitude of the waiter really did affect our evening.
We entered the restaurant on a high and left feeling as though we should have gone elsewhere.

Incredible how one person’s poor service and stroppy mood can ruin an evening.

by Mario
16th July 2008

I am from Argentina, and I love seafood. The place is amazing…near the harbour.I went during the night time and it was great. I will recomend this place.

by natalie izatt
22nd October 2007

this restaurant has very good service

by Judy S.
30th April 2007

The closest thing to a great fish restaurant that you’re going to find in Auckland. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Good service. Great outlook. While their menu is varied, we usually have the seafood platter with crayfish and a bottle of wine
then go home and make love.

Judy and Dave

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