Coene's Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in North Island

An Oceanic Feast: Coene's Delivers a Sensory Delight at Wellington on a Plate

Coene's event at Wellington on a Plate offered an exquisite journey through the flavors of the sea, brilliantly showcased through a thoughtfully curated menu. Each course was a testament to the skill and creativity of the culinary team, transforming fresh, local ingredients into unforgettable dishes.

The evening began with an indulgent Oyster Service, featuring a variety of preparations that highlighted the versatility of this prized shellfish. The natural oysters were served with classic accompaniments like mignonette and a refreshing coriander and chili granita, which added a subtle kick to the briny oysters. The battered oysters, paired with tangy mayo, and the baked oysters drizzled with brown butter, bacon, and a hint of Tabasco, offered a delightful contrast of textures and flavors that left everyone craving more.

Following the oysters, an Amuse-bouche of a savory macaron filled with cured salmon, pickled onion, and capers was served. This bite-sized delight was a burst of umami, perfectly balancing the richness of the salmon with the sharpness of the pickled onion.

The Appetizer featured a beautifully presented tuna tartare, accented with preserved lemon, avocado salsa, red chili, and a delicate tomato consommé jelly. The tartare was fresh and vibrant, with each ingredient complementing the others to create a dish that was as visually stunning as it was delicious.

For the Main Course, a "Fish Mosaic" was served, showcasing a piece of delicately cooked fish, resting atop a bed of vegetable and bean rago, kasundi velouté, and cauliflower purée. The dish was adorned with rice crisps and calamari, adding both crunch and depth to the tender fish. The flavors were beautifully balanced, with the richness of the velouté and purée harmonizing with the freshness of the fish and the earthiness of the beans.

The meal concluded with a Dessert that was a true work of art—panna cotta topped with pineapple jelly and watermelon granita, accompanied by champagne gel, chocolate soil, and oyster foam. The dessert was a symphony of textures and flavors, with the tartness of the pineapple jelly and the freshness of the granita playing off the creamy panna cotta. The oyster foam, a nod to the evening’s theme, was an unexpected yet delightful addition that tied the dessert back to the oceanic inspiration of the event.

In conclusion, Coene's delivered an extraordinary dining experience that celebrated the bounty of the sea with elegance and flair. Each course was a testament to the culinary team’s dedication to quality and innovation, making it a standout event at Wellington on a Plate. Whether you're an oyster enthusiast or simply a lover of fine seafood, this event was a memorable culinary journey that left a...

All right. Warning, novel ahead. First off booked in for 6 when seated only set up for 5 (not really a big deal on its own) then ordered a share platter for 4, comes out without the cheese, only 3 breads. No cheese knives or anything to spread the dip on the bread. Ask them and they say sorry and bring out the forgotten cheese and the knives, cool move on from that. Order mains. Two brought out together (rude to eat when not everyone has there food) wait 10 mins for the rest of the table to get there food. One person recieves the wrong meal so then 5 people have there food and have to wait nearly another 10 mins for the 6th to get their plate. A couple order a t-bone steak to share and comes out on 1 plate no side plate or anything for them to split the food (a bit weird, do they expect them to eat off the same plate?) No steak knife, again have to ask for these basic things that are provided in a resturant. Didnt clear the share platter off the table before or even during our mains. After finishing eating and contimplating dessert (altho never offered a dessert menu) we sat for 10-15 mins with our plates infront of us again not cleared to the point we decided we werent giving anymore money to this place and got up to pay. Few other minor things.. ordered a side of fries that never arrived at this point after the first few stuff ups couldnt be bothered asking them to do their job. Took 15 mins to get our drinks which half of them were poured sitting on the tray for so long that by the time they got to us the ice had melted and were starting to warm. Food was actually dissapointing. Coleslaw was disgusting and no dressing, steak over cooked from what was requested. Overall not...

Very disappointed here. Went for dinner with friends yesterday and loved the atmosphere, location and menu selection. We were busy chatting and had the waitress explain the small plates vaguely. The lighting was very poor and my eyesight was struggling with the small text! We ordered 6 plates thinking we’re ordering starters. The food was OK. Some very good, some average. Nothing bad. After some time the waitress took the food plates but left our eating plates and then never saw her again until the restaurant was nearly empty when we had to stop her. Tried to order a desert but told the kitchen had closed! This was about 10pm by now. Managed the one desert that was from the fridge. So 5 drinks, 6 small plates, 4 deserts and a bottle of wine ($58) totalled $260. And still needed a trip to macs after! Got better service at the drive through for a $5 burger. Maybe more attention by us and stopping the staff earlier we would have had a better experience. For this level of establishment we shouldn’t have to stop staff to order meals. If you want to charge these prices, train the staff better to offer the level of customer satisfaction demanded today. It’s a shame as we had good company and a nice night in a...