Sabroso Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

Firstly, this review has nothing to do with the quality of food.. it could be very good , for all I know. The one star is because having read the reviews I thought it sounded like a perfect place for dinner. On Thursday 15th I opened their door to ask if they had any availability… only to de told “did you read what’s on the door?” .. with attitude. I stepped back outside and read that they were closed for a function. What kind of customer service is that … being talked down to like a child, when all she needed to say was “sorry, we are closed for a function, this evening” ZERO for CUSTOMER SERVICE

In response to the owners reply …. I thought I would just pop in to see if there was any availability… I wasn’t looking for signs on the door or the menu. Would it have been too hard for you to just say , “I am afraid we have a private function this evening” What if I couldn’t read english? You didn’t know where I came from. I have travelled extensively and dined in many top restaurants and have never been treated like that. This review has no intention being mean spirited … these are the facts of what happened… and I as a potential customer felt like I was treated...

Wow what an exciting find! Delicious authentic Latino food with clever twists, fresh and simple but oh so (can I use the word 'delicious again! Lol) delicious!! Drove down from Auckland to go to the hot pools and we have already made plans to come back soon with our family and anytime with anyone who wants to drive a few hours lol. The chefs/Sarah and husband were so hospitable and helpful to explain the dishes and/or tweek them to suit your tastes. I wanted to taste my husband's black bean chilli con carne but he wanted it with rice, so ordered a couple of yummy soft tortilla for myself to taste his dish lol . I ordered the lamb meatloaf, (FYI it wasnt too lamby either) with black beans, cubes of sweet potato and runny smoked cheddar cheese - sacreligious of me to call it 'meatloaf' but i cant remember the spanish name for the dish on the menu. It really was so much more than just 'meatloaf' but I do love meatloaf though and it was so so yummy! Had a couple of glasses of wine and some desert as well in case you were wondering lol. Just saying, if you love good food, cooked with love by good people - you have...

We absolutely loved our visit to Sabroso Restaurant, couldn't fault a thing. The food was delicious & amazing value for money (mains were all under $30 & very generous servings). I couldn't finish my shared entree & main, even though I really wanted to! We had sangria & corona, shared a Tres Amigos starter (homemade cornchips with delicious cheese, salsa & avocado type dips), & had the Tacos del Mar (with calamari) & the pollo dish with pineapple salsa, cashew coconut rice & passionfruit chilli sauce. It was all delicious. We also loved chatting with Sarah who was serving us, she has a really interesting cultural background & clearly has a passion for the food & the restaurant. We left feeling way too full & proclaiming it our new favourite restaurant - worth driving from Hamilton to Rotorua just for a date night next...