Arden — Restaurant in Nelson

We visited this restaurant for lunch on Saturday, we were walk in customers looking for a simple lunch so we did not have high expectations. Just after a simple lunch.

The lady who seated us was really great, offered us menus and water etc, got us drinks and everything was going great. We ordered our food, avo on toast x 2, salmon salad, gnocchi and beef. There was no trouble with putting our order through and we were told we were lucky enough to have the last gnocchi. Yum!

There was a change in shift with the wait staff and we had been waiting 40 mins for our food so we asked how far our food would be. The new waitress started to go off at us about how the head chef is away at a wedding and we should have not been ordering the hot food since she thinks the current chef will not be able to cook the hot food… this was the first we were advised about this after waiting 40 mins for our food.

This waitress continued to go into the kitchen and talk about how our table guests in a bad way to the chefs and kitchen staff.

Again we were informed that the head chef was away at a wedding and we should have ordered cold food. Of course we would have all ordered cold food if we had been informed of this before ordering. Not to mention the conversation prior about the gnocchi and how we had the last one?? They could have simply said there was no hot food on the menu today.

An extra star for the food being good even tho we had a terrible experience with the waitress. I feel for for her kitchen crew who have to put up with her.

Re consider before...

This is our second time to Arden and the second time we have elected the "Feed Me" option. The first time we dined, we were a 3. The service was good, the food was tasty and the atmosphere was wonderful. From this experience we recommended Arden to many friends.

Having family over from the UK we booked a table for 7 on Sunday evening. From the moment we sat down we felt as a larger group, an inconvenience to the staff by comments and persona. It was certainly not the welcoming and warm vibe we had previously experienced which was disappointing and slightly embarrassing when we had promoted the restaurant to our guests.

We had a couple of dietaries; 2 x Gluten Free and 2 x no red meat eaters. This was emailed to the restaurant in advance however, this was not really catered for with the main options and we did not feel there was a lot of food given the amount of people [party of 7]. We did however, when we were a smaller party. The food that we did eat was tasty.

We left the restaurant around 9.15pm, however, this was simply due to feeling pushed out, despite the venue opening hours stating till 10pm.

As frequent restaurant goers and willingness to recommend good places and experiences to friends and family, this will no longer be on our list,...

My partner and I are visiting our friends in Nelson from Auckland, and I must say, this place truly exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, the service was nothing short of outstanding—friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming.

The food was absolutely beautiful, crafted with high-quality ingredients that really shone through in every bite. Each dish was a delight for the senses, showcasing skill and care in its preparation. The food was so good, we found ourselves savoring every mouthful and wishing we could stay longer.

The wine list was impressive, offering a great selection to complement our meal. The bartender’s knowledge was incredible—her expertise truly showed in every cocktail we tried, each one expertly crafted and perfectly balanced.

The ambience was lively and vibrant, creating a fantastic atmosphere that added to the overall experience. It felt alive and buzzing, with great vibes all around.

All in all, this place has truly impressed us. If you're in Nelson and looking for a spot with exceptional food, top-notch service, and a lively atmosphere, I highly recommend giving this...