Elevated dining with a view above the Wellington waterfront
We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Hippo Bar & Restaurant- was so happy to see that it has reopened (quite recently). Food was amazing , service was excellent- especially our waiter, Harry and the atmosphere is wonderful.Will definitely return next time I am in Wellington!
Invited mum and dad for her birthday. Food was impeccable...compliments to the chef and kitchen. You could tell true care and passion was at work. Waiting staff were cool but not too cool for school. You pay a premium....but in my opinion it was worth it. The art work in the hotel lobby is also worth a look.
Hippo Restaurant was a fantastic dining experience. The food was beautifully presented, full of flavour, and felt refined without being overdone. The steak, lamb, salmon, and vegetable sides were all cooked well, with great sauces and fresh garnishes bringing everything together. The atmosphere was warm and moody, perfect for a special dinner. Dessert was rich, smooth, which perfect finish. Overall, a really enjoyable meal with excellent presentation, bold flavours, and a great vibe.
What an amazing experience! The service was immaculate the food absolutely delicious. The wines from New Zealand were extraordinary. We did opt for the premium by the glass. It was money well spent. Also, what a gorgeous dining room quirky and interesting. What an absolute luxury to dine in this restaurant when we were staying in the hotel as well. So convenient.
I took my husband here for a Valentine’s Day dinner date, as it was also the night before my birthday, so we were really looking forward to a special evening. I would rate this place around 2 stars. The food was okay, quite average overall. We ordered the artisan bread for $7.50Pp, and were surprised to receive just one small slice, which felt a bit unusual for the price. Our server Lou was friendly and nice, and we appreciated her attitude. However, the service overall was disappointing. It took around 40 minutes before anyone checked on us. We had empty glasses and were actually planning to order more drinks, but no one came back to our table. After waiting that long, we didn’t bother anymore as it honestly felt like we were being ignored. I was especially looking forward to the crispy pork belly, expecting the skin to be nicely crispy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t, the skin looked and felt soggy, which was a bit disappointing. The supervisor did check on some tables, but it seemed inconsistent and a bit selective, which made us feel slightly overlooked. Not a terrible experience, but there’s definitely room for improvement in attentiveness and equal service for all guests. I’m willing to come back and give it another try to see how it goes next time. Hopefully the service will be more attentive and consistent.
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