Glasshouse Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community

You can find The Glasshouse Restaurant in the Bay of Islands, Paihia, New Zealand. It is located in the beautiful Paihia Beach Resort and Spa a short picturesque walking or driving distance from the central dining area in Paihia. We came here for dinner on a Saturday night and used out Entertainment Card valid for 1 Complimentary main dish. The food is served family style as it arrives, and is intended to be shared. We tried the Steak Tartare and Fresh Seasonal Oysters to start, they were delicious and a nice fresh way to start our meal. We particularly liked the homemade crackers as an accompaniment to the Tartare. For mains we tried the Slow Cooked Lamb and the Flank Steak – both were cooked to perfection and very good portion sizes. I am a salt and pepper fiend but I had no desire for either on this occasion. There was an excellent selection of drinks available including wines and whiskey. My husband enjoyed a Japanese whiskey suggested by our waiter that was not on the menu. This was a special treat for us and we had expected this to be quite an expensive restaurant hence using our Entertainment Book. What we found was great food, resort town comparable pricing and excellent service. We noticed many tourists walking by opting to line up and other local restaurants when we felt that this restaurant has so much to offer. Definitely worth having a look when you...

Thwy wouldn't accommodate us as I was vegan and they had no options available for dinner. The staff were unapologetic and made me feel like I was strange being vegan. We therefor couldn't eat here but instead went ahead with our cocktail drinks order while we looked for somewhere else. We waited 20 minutes despite them not being busy. We went outside to enjoy the view with our drinks to then be told it was a non smoking hotel and we could not enjoy a cigarette despite no one else being outside. No effort was made to remedy the situation or sincere apology. We went somewhere else that accommodated us even though their kitchen was soon to close. They had plenty vegan options and the final bill was only double what it cost us for the two drinks here. I would not eat nor stay here and will certainly tell others it overpriced and truly underwhelming. There are better value places with sea views and atmosphere a few minutes...

Food was beautiful we ate there 3 times. The Young Asian waitresses non engaging and not interested if we were there or not. Where Dan was interested in letting you know he provides good service as he told us on few occasions that he does. We felt bit intimidated when we finished the seafood platter and Dan said people normally can't eat it as big. Made us feel like pigs. I took a photo of it and we fell it was small 8 tiny tiny scallops. Bout 6 prawns 8 mussels 4 tiny pieces of salmon and some squid. Must say the best chili mussels the best I have ever had. But the platter came with some bread and dips still not a huge platter for 2 people to share. Also next time when I ordered lamb Dan said you have to be a big eater to order lamb. Once again I took photo and we don't think its huge amount. So made to feel like we were pigs again. So we will not come back because...