Portofino Devonport — Restaurant in Devonport-Takapuna

The food was average, with recipes reminiscent of the 1980s, but that wasn’t the main issue. I understand that restaurants can be overwhelmed on New Year’s Eve, but the poor service and constant mistakes were so bad that I feel compelled to write this review in the hope of sparing someone else from the same experience.

We ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a bottle of Syrah. The person taking the order seemed completely distracted, and despite repeating our simple order twice, she still got it wrong. Not a good start.

She then took our food order without apologising for the earlier mistake. We asked her if the shelled prawns were served with their heads on. I suggested she check with the kitchen, but she bluntly assured us that the prawns would definitely be headless. Unfortunately, as I had suspected, the prawns came with their heads on. The issue isn’t the mistake itself, but rather her refusal to check with the kitchen. When she came back to the table and saw my girlfriend removing the heads, she didn’t say a word.

Another problem arose when one of the dishes was served incorrectly. The Vegan Risotto turned out to be a Seafood Risotto. Thankfully, a different server approached us, apologised profusely, and arranged for a substitution. However, this caused a delay of 10–15 minutes while the other three members of our party had to wait for my risotto to be remade, with their food getting cold in the meantime.

The worst part came when we arrived at 6:40 pm. No one informed us that we only had 1 hour and 20 minutes to eat because they had booked the table for another group at 8 pm. How can you book a table for another party just 1 hour and 20 minutes later on New Year’s Eve? So, after the mistakes we experienced and when the dessert menu finally arrived, a man from the kitchen came to our table and told us we had to leave because the table was reserved for someone else.

But the problems didn’t stop there. When we checked the bill, we noticed we had been charged for the wrong wine. Making mistakes is human, but to persist with them is unforgivable!

I chose this restaurant because it’s been in business for many years, and I expected them to have proper procedures in place for busy periods. Instead, we discovered that they rely on an outdated till system, and the kitchen keeps order receipts in a basket... Welcome to 2025, where technology seems to be an...

Quite disappointed about this one. It was busy, was new years, so can cut them a little bit of slack, however there were some serious problems with the experience. They charged us for a main size Lasange when we clearly ordered an entree. (8$ difference) The mains were quite frankly terrible - dry, flavorless and unexciting. Schnitzel had barely any crumb, thin and not crispy at all. Smothered in sauce. Potatoes were just boiled, and salad was tiny. The tirimisu was not served with alcohol in it, tasted more like a store bought cake. The brandy snaps are of the teeth breaking sort, one didn't have any cream in it.

Overall when paying $127 for a restaurant experience, comes some expectation that unfortunately was not fulfilled. The best part was the wine, which we brought ourselves BYO.

Takapuna and Viaduct Portofino restaurants are excellent, unfortunately the same cannot be said about Devonport.

In addition, the ambience felt more like a food court. Nothing inside felt Italian or upmarket. Beige and boring. No music either. Wouldn't come...

My family and I had a wonderful dinner at Portofino to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and it was an experience to remember! The restaurant offers a beautiful view, creating the perfect setting for a special occasion. The food was absolutely delicious, each dish crafted with authentic Italian flavors that we truly enjoyed.

Beyond the amazing food, the warm and welcoming atmosphere made the evening even more special. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the owner’s generosity left a lasting impression on us. They also treated us to two glasses of Limoncino liqueur, which was absolutely refreshing and the perfect way to end our meal.

We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an amazing dining experience. Great food, lovely ambiance, and excellent service—everything you need for a perfect night out. We will definitely be coming back again!

Thank you, Portofino, for making our Lunar New...