Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in North Island

We've searched for the "best restaurants in Rotorua" on Google and this was on pretty much every single list we found on the internet, so we decided to try it out.

When calling for booking, it was overcomplex to book as many details were required other than phone number and name, which should be enough, but that's fine, except for the fact that the restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived. I'd expect the booking process should have less friction.

Our understanding was one of the attractive features of the restaurant was the view and although the restaurant was nearly empty, the staff offered us a table quite far from the window.

It took a while to have someone to take our drinks order. When they did, it took a long time for the drinks to arrive, but only part of it has arrived. One of us ordered a soft drink. We could see the drink sitting on the bar bench and no waiter would bring it to the table, my wife had to walk to the bar and ask if that drink was for our table, than she brought the drink to the table herself.

The second time I've decided to order a beer, no staff would show up, so my wife again had to walk to the bar, order the beer, wait for it and bring to the table herself. Again. In less than 20 minutes.

Now, finally to the food. As you can notice on their menu, there are many options available, so to be fair, I'll only evaluate the items I've tried myself:

Sirloin, sausages, chicken and other cuts of meat: cold steak is far from what you would expect on a premium restaurant. All cuts, cold. Sirloin was well done, like leather.

Fetuccine: Overcooked and soggy. Think about bad pasta, now this was worse. Nearly no seasoning. I've served a very small portion and couldn't eat half of it.

Grilled halloumi cheese: cold. As bad as the meat.

At this point I gave up. The whole experience was so below mediocre and frustrating that I've lost my will to continue.

Dessert was ok but mostly way too sweet - for instance: tiramisu and creme brulee, both unnecessarily too sweet.

To finish off the night, the staff was clearly expeling us from the restaurant because they probably wanted to go home as soon as possible, so they've put the drinks bill on the table before we finish eating.

I'm often happy to pay for expensive food, even more expensive than the $72 per person charged at the Stratosfare but this time I felt completely ripped off because the service was so frustrating, the quality was so low, the food was so bad, that if I was the chef responsible for that food, I'd change careers.

Never...

Disappointing experience to say the least. I called 3 times to make the booking and confirm various aspects of our visit. Upon arriving noticed a sign listing a dress code for the restaurant. Not once was this mentioned on the phone. One of the items of clothing deemed unacceptable was ‘ripped jeans’ which my 12 year old daughter was wearing. The person asked us to go back to the hotel and change despite not being told of this in advance. I asked to speak to the manager who insisted I was sent a confirmation email which listed the dress code. I repeated multiple times that I did not receive this email. I was made to feel like a liar as she said “I know you got the email I have a confirmation here” she later realised the person on the phone had sent it to the wrong email address! My daughter was in tears by this point as she felt despite my reassurance that this was her fault. Once we reached the building via the Gondala. I went to the restaurant to double check that we would be seated at the window seats as promised over the phone. I was told on the phone that “It is normally $15 extra per person for a window seat but YOU HAVE BEEN SEATED AT A WINDOW SEAT” but once at the counter I was told that I was wrong and that I was not seated at a window seat as the restaurant was full. The manger was condescending and lacked very basic customer service and communication skills. She raised her voice at my when explaining that I was wrong for expecting this DESPITE being given contradicting info on the phone which led to my expectation. We were all very shaken and considered not attending the dinner at all but since we had already paid we decided we will try not to let this ruin our evening. I am absolutely shocked that the manager in charge is allowed to be customer facing at all. Also the restaurant was far from full leaving over 10 window seats free the whole time we were at the restaurant. We were at the Queenstown restaurant recently and had a wonderful time, very disappointed with this one. Feel free to contact me via messenger to...

Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar Rotorua

As an ADS-acrreditated tour guide, i used to come here a lot and it was all packed and crowed. This visit after many years of Covid global pandemic, the rest is open, staff service is good, food is good, view is unchaged, the only changed is the emptiness of the rest. Lots of locals doing the Luge next door but they seldom dine in here. I hope one day this place can be popular again.

La 1:1How the city sits alone / That was full of people! / She who was once great among the nations / Has become like a widow; / She who was a princess among the provinces / Has become tributary.

La 1:2Bitterly she weeps in the night, / And her tears are on her cheeks. / There is no one to comfort her / Among all her lovers; / All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; / They have become her enemies. ..... La 1:15The Lord has made light of all my mighty men / In my midst; / He has called an assembly against me / To crush my young men. / The Lord has trodden, as in a winepress, / The virgin daughter of Judah.

La 1:16For these things I weep; / My eye, my eye runs down with water, / For the comforter who should revive my soul / Is far from me; / My children have become desolate, / Because the enemy has prevailed.

La 1:17Zion stretches out her hands, / Yet there is no one to comfort her. / Jehovah has commanded concerning Jacob / That those around him should be his adversaries; / Jerusalem has become an impurity / Among them.

Set amongst the stars atop Mount Ngongotaha, Skyline Rotorua’s Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar is home to some of New Zealand’s best award-winning cuisine.

Enjoy a delicious Lunch or Dinner featuring a stunning array of freshly prepared and cooked-to-order dishes highlighting locally sourced seafood, meat and produce. The contemporary ambience features luxurious Italian marble, granite, schist, timber and David Trubridge lights, while the panoramic view of Lake Rotorua is a sight to behold.

Stratosfare will take you on a gastronomic journey from the...