Good Eastern Taphouse — Restaurant in North Island

From the moment I walked through the doors of this restaurant, I knew I was in for something special. The atmosphere immediately set the tone – warm lighting, elegant yet cozy décor, and a welcoming vibe that made me feel right at home. I was greeted promptly by the staff, who were friendly, professional, and genuinely attentive. They led me to a comfortable table, making sure I had everything I needed before I even glanced at the menu. It was clear from the very beginning that service here was taken seriously and delivered with a personal touch.

When it came to the menu, I was honestly spoiled for choice. There were so many appealing options that it took me a while to decide, but the staff were patient and even offered helpful recommendations, which I truly appreciated. Once the food started arriving, I was blown away. The starters were the perfect way to ease into the meal – fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Each bite was balanced and satisfying, leaving me excited for what was to come.

Then came the main course, and it exceeded every expectation. The dish was not only visually stunning but also cooked to absolute perfection. The flavors were bold yet harmonious, with every ingredient working together to create something memorable. The freshness of the produce and the skill of the chef were unmistakable. You could tell that every plate was prepared with passion and attention to detail. Honestly, it was the kind of food that makes you stop mid-conversation just to savor the taste.

As if that wasn’t enough, dessert completely sealed the deal. It was indulgent without being too heavy, sweet but not overly so, and the presentation once again showed the chef’s creativity. It felt like the perfect finale to a meal that kept getting better with each course.

Beyond the food, what made this visit truly special was the service. The staff struck the perfect balance – checking in just enough to make sure everything was perfect, refilling drinks before I even had to ask, and always with a smile that made me feel genuinely cared for. Their knowledge of the menu and their passion for what they do shone through, making the whole experience smooth and enjoyable.

By the time I left, I felt like I had just experienced more than just dinner – it was an evening to remember. Excellent food, outstanding service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger just a little longer. This restaurant has mastered the art of making guests feel special, and I can confidently say it has become one of my top recommendations. If you’re looking for a place where every detail matters and where the food is nothing short of awesome, look no further. I will definitely be returning and can’t wait to try more...

I really want to like this place but they make it impossible to do so =(

After 2 lack lustre visits in the past I decided to give it one more try tonight. Safe to say I won't be back.

The draw for us tonight was the advertised Quiz shown on the poster attached. This poster is also hanging up in the bathrooms etc.

My friend arrived first and asked the server where the quiz was being held. The reply was "I have no idea what you are talking about". I arrive shortly afterwards but we decide that since we were there already we might as well stay for a meal even though the advertised quiz is clearly not on.

After chatting for around 30 mins I asked my friend if we were supposed to order at the bar. She is a regular and said usually table service was the norm. After a few more minutes I went up to the bar and ordered my food. She followed immediately after I got back to the table only to be told by the bartender who had served me 30 seconds earlier that he couldn't take good orders and she had to go to the front desk? Which she did and managed to eventually order after waiting for someone to notice her.

Her main (nachos) arrived before our starter. Not a biggie. My main (steak) arrived shortly after.

Her Nachos were basically all crumbs from the bottom of the bag. I think she found 2 full chips on the entire plate. My steak was cooked perfectly however it came plain with dry coleslaw and chips. I wasn't really enjoying it so I approached the bar / kitchen to ask for a sauce of some kind. The lady i asked gave me a strange look and vaguely gestured to the tomato sauce to which I told her that I was hoping for a gravy or similar because whilst the steak was nice I wasn't enjoying the meal. To his credit when she asked the chef he gave me a small gravy and off I went.

We arrived at 6 and the food came out quickly however we sat with the finished food for over an hour. Not once did anyone come to clear the table or offer another drink.

Eventually around 9.15 a server asked if we would like a container for our leftovers. I didn't but my friend said yes please....we waited another 15 mins and decided we would just leave and funnily enough the young man who asked us if we wanted a container was leaving for the night too 🙄

Sounds like this is a really common experience at The Good Eastern Taphouse. There are so many nice places to eat in Rotorua that are nowhere near as expensive. It's a shame because the building and bar etc is beautiful but the staff,service and food quality really...

Bring heathy wallets and prepare for a bad experience or save money and get better service by going to Burgerfuel and the bottle store across the road.

We were a walk-in group of 8 people all hungry and happy to spend our money.

We were greeted by a stroppy young staff member who repeatedly informed us in no uncertain terms that we could not bring our own drinks into the establishment. Now, this is a completely acceptable request, but all we were actually wanting to do was dispose of 4 empty cans that had been consumed on our 20 minute walk to the pub. Maybe if the staff member had actually used her ears instead of ranting she might have understood what we were wanting to do.

While waiting to order the most expensive beer I’ve had this year, including drinking pints in central London, I was given the menu. This was a drink/food stained, ripped and dog eared piece of paper. Personally I find this completely unacceptable in any restaurant and as a first (or second) impression it wasn’t great. The cost of a photocopied piece of paper is minimal to replace.

Finding a seat was easy, but the half cleared tables or cutlery and napkins left on “cleared” tables suggested it had been busy.

The food was acceptable and the burgers were well presented, but so they should be for $30. Can I suggest that when wait staff attend a table bringing food, it would also pay for them to remove plates, glasses and utensils that are no longer in use. But being good people we partially cleared our own table onto another semi cleared table.

After finishing my meal I went to the bar to buy a round of drinks. While taking my order the barman enquired which drink was for me. I told him it was the $15 beer. I was then told that I was only allowed to have a small beer as I was too intoxicated. (I had had approximately 4 drinks and a meal over that past two hours. So hardly intoxicated.) I just canceled my order and the barman seemed surprised. I was happy not to be parting with another $100+ on drinks in a pub which was already, in my opinion, of low standards.

Entertainment wise there was live music playing which was excellent, but surely the other music on the speakers outside could be turned off so that customers ears are not bombarded with two sounds ensuring that neither sound is enjoyable.

In general it was an expensive and...