Monsoon Poon — Restaurant in North Island

I go here quite regularly with my partner but today we were provided the worst service. We were seated but no one came to take our order for a while and then the waiter apologised and took the order but only one drink was brought and the other was forgotten until requested again, half of the food got delivered late and by the time the main dish arrived the bread had already gone cold. We understand that Saturday nights are busy as customers who come here often during weekends but it’s a different story when everyone else’s service around me is completely different to what I experienced. We were given no water until we finished our meal, that too we had to request as opposed to the table next to us being given it with their food. Though the waitress apologised at the end it was just met with more poor service as we were given multiple takeaway containers to carry with no bag (which isn’t the worst but it just kept piling up). The worst ending was when we had gone forward to pay, after serving the lady ahead of us the cashier just left ? And she wasn’t even doing anything and though she made eye contact with us multiple times she just ignored us until someone else nudged her to help us pay for our food. And even after paying she did not say a word to us so we were confused if the payment had even gone through. We understand that sometimes there are bad days and do empathise with hospo workers as we also work in the service industry, however really disappointed about the poor service as customers that spend 100s of dollars at this restaurant almost every 2 weeks especially when other customers were treated completely different and better compared to how we were getting treated. The difference of service was very noticeable and upsetting especially as the only difference between us and the other other customers were that they were not of colour. Genuinely disappointed and upset about the experience, and I’ve never left reviews before but this experience definitely needed...

Monsoon Poon: A Vibrant Ambiance with a Side of Culinary Hits and Misses

Monsoon Poon, with its reputation for serving Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine, provided a memorable evening for our group of seven. The restaurant's ambiance is a definite highlight. The red-toned decor, subdued lighting, and bustling open kitchen with its happy, busy staff create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. It's a space that feels both intimate and energetic. My one minor critique is the persistent cold draft from the front door, which was a bit of a nuisance on a chilly evening.

The service was excellent. Our waiting staff was pleasant, attentive, and genuinely keen to assist. The menu is a great read, boasting a wide selection of Southeast Asian and South Asian dishes. A standout feature is the dedicated allergy menu, which provides a comprehensive breakdown of ingredients—a thoughtful and convenient touch.

For our dinner, we ordered a variety of dishes including salads, mala fish, pho bo, and Sichuan vegetables. My absolute favorites were the roti and naan breads, which were fresh, perfectly textured, and had a delightful mouthfeel. The sweet fried eggplant was another pleasant surprise, offering a lovely balance of flavors. However, the food had its inconsistencies. My mala fish, for instance, didn't quite hit the mark, with some pieces being overcooked. The dish as a whole lacked the punch I was expecting. I found myself drawn to the more traditional Southeast Asian dishes and will likely stick to those on my next visit.

In summary, Monsoon Poon offers an excellent dining experience driven by its fantastic ambiance and service. While the food can be a bit hit-or-miss, there are definite highlights, particularly the breads and the eggplant. I will certainly be back, but I'll be sure to explore the more authentic Southeast Asian offerings...

This has been a go to place in the past with good service and great food.

We took family there on a Thursday night with the usual expectations.

The drinks were taken quickly and delivered. Starters as well.

And then the wait for mains began.

We were a meter from the waiter station and in sight of the kitchen and till where the head waiter resides.

When the mains started out 2 of the 5 got theirs plus one bread was delivered. Those with their dinner waited 5 minutes expecting the rest to be brought out.

They did not show.

We came for a late sitting after 7:00 and now the place is 3/4’s empty. The waitresses stood at the station talking and no one noticed we were waiting.

After 10 minutes the head waitress was waved at and she came over. I had to explain the situation. She did not see that 3 of us were not served and by now the 2 with meals were close to finishing.

1 star lost when the waitress that brought the food did not chase up the other meals. Not the waitress that took our drink and food order and did not monitor our table for progress.

Another star lost as the kitchen only supplied part of an order and did not figure out something was wrong despite being able to see our table.

Another star lost for the head waitress for her attitude on having it pointed out that she should be chasing up our meals if no one else is.

So not a good night. No offer to compensate for the poor service and disappointing evening.

So we will not be back for...