ampersand eatery — Restaurant in Ōrākei

---------------------------------------------2024.4.21 Night First of all, thank you very much for responding to my review, which came as a surprise to me.

What disappointed me is that when you replied to me, you didn't bother to investigate at all.

If you're willing to spend a little time, you can ask the front desk handsome guy tomorrow morning whether there was a person named ETHAN at 10:20 on Sunday morning at your restaurant, asking for a table, and then leaving his name and phone number (of course, my name was the first one on that page, and no one else was waiting before me).

I waited until 10:30 and then went to the front desk to ask your staff (a handsome guy).

He "exaggerated" to me, saying that I would have to wait for another hour for a table, but there were at least 5-6 empty tables in your restaurant.

Based on what you said, the wait time is usually only 30 minutes, so are you telling me that I had to wait for an hour just because I'm Asian, whereas the other people only have to wait for a maximum of 30 minutes?

How dare you engage in this kind of racial discrimination? I feel like I might not only boycott you myself, but also lead my friends to boycott you together.

----------------------------------------------2024.4.21 Morning Sunday made an appointment with a friend at 10:30 to eat a Branch here, but after arriving, I was informed that it would take at least 1 hour to have a table. However, at least one-third of the restaurant’s seats were empty, and there were no signs outside indicating that reservations were required to come here.

I highly recommend that everyone not come here on weekends. They are too busy to give you a seat. At the same time, there are no other restaurants nearby that can replace it. I suggest everyone go to the Mission Bay shopping district to eat with friends.

Finally, I had to buy a cup of coffee with my friends at the nearby coffee...

Today we decided, against my Partner's better judgement, to visit this Eatery for Breakfast. Well, I soon remembered our past experiences here! As a wheelchair user, my No1 pet hate is being ignored and my partner being directly addressed as if, by being in a wheelchair, I would be unable to understand the conversation!! The maitre d then, after inquiring about our requirement and party size, proceeded to shuffle a deck of paper behind the counter, this is despite them obviously utilising a computer based booking system. After some shuffling she then decided that they were able to accommodate us, (still BTW addressing my partner rather than me) but, only till 12am, we had arrived just after 11am. This is despite the fact that there were great swathes of empty tables! We then were shown to our table and, after some time, placed our order, Coffees plus food, simple. We then waited at least for 15 mins but no sign of the coffees. We asked and then they arrived. Accompanied by someone who was apparently in charge. He offered various excuses for the tardy service and said that the coffees were on the house. All of this is very nice but could have been avoided by a simple up front explanation that the coffee machine wasn't working properly. The food arrived, I had ordered poached eggs. This consisted of two eggs and one piece of toast...not good value at $14 when compared to other breakfast eateries in Auckland. When we went to leave there was another couple wanting to get a table for two and this time they were directed to sit in the holding bay whilst the maitre d carried out her futile search for an available table (this is despite the fact that there remained, swathes of empty tables). Overall and in summary, it is very unlikely that we...

NOTE: Dinner review

In words of TLC - I don’t want not scrub, a scrub is a place that gets no love for me

I had the “prawn Bolognese” ($28) + truffle fries ($10) + black currant soda ($5) Total spend: $43

Review of the Prawn Bolognese- after ordering first in a group of 16 we got ours last... i was starting to get hungry and tried to dig in to a very interesting colour of pasta... as I took my first bite my mouth is filled with salt... just salt... it’s like they dipped the past in sea water and asked me to eat it... I thought maybe.... maybe I just need to put more pepper... but as soon as I took a. Second but... I knew I couldn’t eat anymore.... a Scottish friend of mine (who by the way loveeeee his salt) tried it also and told me... that is way too salty... btw.. if you read the menu.. it says chilli... I couldn’t even taste any chili !!

So I sent it back and waited another 30 or so min for my replacement (in all honesty... my pallet was ruined already... my mouth tasted like salt and that was it..)

Once I did get my second plate.. I took a taste and looked at the waiter and said... it’s better.... but... I have no idea what this flavor is.. like what is this combenation? To which he replied with “we lightly seasoned it for you... and we don’t put chilli in it cause it’s too spicy) “spicy” my friend who hates spice, let alone pepper.... could have a taste and not say it’s “spicy”

To be honest............... I just wanted my money back... I didn’t want a replacement but I couldn’t be bothered fighting for it anymore... it’s over and done with

Overall..... won’t come here ever again.......

There are better places to eat, the view is nice but that’s...