Hopgoods Restaurant — Restaurant in Nelson

I was very excited to try the food at Hopgoods and had high hopes for this restaurant, especially after reading all the wonderful five star reviews. My partner and I ordered the chefs tasting menu ($95) and drink pairing (50$) at a price of $145 each. I felt that the tasting menu fell flat on many aspects.

There were multiple inconsistencies in the dishes, such as some dishes having too much sauce versus scant sauce, the size of the portions, and the amount of ingredients received on the plate.

The plating also left something to be desired, with the first and last course covered by a (? Parmesan crisp and purple toffee?) respectively, meaning you cannot see any of the dish underneath. The reason why I add question marks is because the dishes were simply brought to us without any explanation of what we were receiving, methods in which the ingredients were cooked or prepared, or why the particular wine pairing was chosen for the dish.

The dishes themselves were unimaginative and not executed properly. The second course gnocchi were mushy and over cooked, the third course market fish was underseasoned, and half of the fourth course beef brisket was rubbery and dry. At the very least I expected properly cooked tasty food … at least the wine was good.

Ultimately I left feeling disappointed and I don’t think I will return to...

We've been to some pretty good restaurants in our time and you run the risk of comparing really good ones and find that new restaurants you try come up wanting. So, although I had read good things about Hopgoods, my expectation was that it would be a good restaurant for a small town. How wrong could I be? This place is outstanding. From start to finish, this wasn't just a meal, it was an experience of what owners can do to make an evening perfect. Service was faultless. Kevin, our expert for the evening was phenomenal. He pitched the service absolutely perfectly. He was there when we wanted him, answered all of our questions, gave us suggestions and was unobtrusive the rest of the time but ever present. The food was exquisite. We had the tasting menu and were plied with 5 courses which we couldn't pick a favourite from; each was uniquely perfect. The wine had been expertly selected so that we were able to enjoy some amazing local products. It was a bittersweet realisation that I won't be able to return to this place for such a long time, our visit to Nelson being so fleeting. If you are in Nelson, and you can get a table, do NOT miss...

Went for an early dinner on Tuesday~ Service was warm, friendly, and helpful. I trusted the kitchen and tried the 5 course tasting menu with paired wines. The tall bar room to the side has windows good for a breeze and taking in the activity in the square outside as you experience the meal.

Each course was so delicate and subtly pleasing in flavor, texture, and temperature. The parties mingling on the plate were all really vibing and it was sad to see them go so soon, like a VIP band meet-and-greet. The timing between courses was just enough to be its own appetizer, and why rush? I felt like a baby in a hammock in a warm spring day, just perfectly contented throughout.

Others have mentioned volume levels. It's true, there's no acoustic accoutrements. A boisterous neighbor may the the start of others talking louder, and etcetera. Fair enough, this food deserves your full attention.

My only complaint is that when asked which course was my favorite, it was too difficult to decide. I believe they were all ordered by level of impressiveness, because each was better than the last, and my favorite was...