GPO — Restaurant in North Island

The Perfect Valentine’s Experience… If You Enjoy Chaos!

My partner and I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day at this restaurant, expecting a romantic and well-organized evening. What we got instead was an exciting lesson in overbooking, poor management, and unexpected indoor traffic jams.

We were given the best seats in the house—right by the entrance, where we had the unique privilege of being bumped by people all night. When we politely asked if we could move, we were told every table was reserved. Strangely enough, several of those "reserved" tables remained mysteriously empty for most of the night. Perhaps they were being held for VIPs… or invisible diners?

The hardworking staff deserves credit for trying to keep up, but the overall organization left much to be desired. The manager made a few appearances, mostly to oversee payments and observe the chaos from a distance.

As for the food, most of it was enjoyable, aside from the lobster, which had a texture somewhere between "well done" and "fossilized." But given how busy the kitchen was, it’s understandable that not everything would come out perfectly.

In summary, if you're looking for a smooth, stress-free dining experience, you may want to consider other options. But if you enjoy unpredictable seating arrangements, a lively game of "dodge the passing guests," and a truly unforgettable Valentine’s memory—this might just be the...

We went for dinner on Easter Monday evening and were really looking forward to a relaxing meal. Not long after we started eating, one of our kids suddenly wasn’t feeling well, and we had to deal with an unexpected situation right there at the table.

The young staff members were just incredible—so calm, kind, and professional. They helped us without hesitation and really made us feel cared for. We were the ones feeling flustered, but they were the ones who kept everything under control and reassured us with such warmth. I honestly don’t think I could have done what they did.

In the end, we had to take our food back to the hotel, but even after all that, it was still absolutely delicious—fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavour. We kept saying how amazing it would’ve been to enjoy it at the restaurant!

We’ll definitely be back. The food was wonderful, but it was the service that truly left a lasting impression. Thank you for turning a stressful moment into something we’ll remember...

Had the breakfast buffet, not worth the price ($43 per person!). There was poached eggs, bacon/sausage, mushrooms, hashbrowns, baked beans, porridge, selection of fruit, some meats and cheeses, various breads and spreads, cereals, juices, tea/coffee. It covers just about all the things you would need in a breakfast buffet but it’s just lacking for a restaurant in a 5-star hotel. You do have the option of an a la carte menu instead.

There are way better places to get breakfast close by. The service was good and the staff was very...