The Backbencher Gastropub — Restaurant in North Island

As the aphorism goes: if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. But then, how do you warn others?

When you are in a business district (or in this case a parliamentary district) you can sometimes forgive a lunch establishment for being businesslike: efficient but unadorned; competently presented if slightly dull; quick. That The Backbencher fails to meet even these basic standards, despite the barely credulous prices and the recent expensive makeover, goes to show the lack of care and attention being shown.

For your satisfaction, QR codes are on hand to take your order. This way you don’t overburden the sole lunchtime bartender. Mgmt responses in other reviews explain that they cannot afford humans to serve you due to labour and food costs. This is a difficult excuse to swallow when it’s rare elsewhere in the city to be met at your table only by an app. And when has an app ever asked if it can refill the water?

We ordered the calamari for $21 and received 8 (eight) tiny rubber rings. The Cauliflower Bowl ($23) did indeed come with plenty of cauliflower. Though rather serving than bite size florets, it came as huge uncompromising baseballs of cauliflower. The roasting process didn’t quite reach the centre of these cauliballs meaning my companion had to spear them like toffee apples and eat around the middle. Cutting them up isn’t an option as they’re served in a deep bowl. As a flourish, this dish was garnished with two dirty bruised lettuce leaves. The loaded chips ($20) were all chip and no load, while the bhajis ($18) were deep fried until they were dead. The ambience was provided courtesy of Sky Sport’s broadcast of wet-weather lawn bowls on the telly.

The Backbencher charges a lot of money from their customers and in return offers very little.This is a two-star review as one-stars...

This is our second time here as a team but unfortunately this time around it didn't meet our standards from last time. My burger bun was almost still frozen on the bottom and didn't have a pleasing taste (I left it on my plate). The chips were tasty. My team mates fish dish was small and certainly not worth the $38 price tag, when the serving size was questioned we were told it's the same and the fish and chips dish, which is $5 cheaper. The fish was an off the shelf standard so nothing fancy, and while the flavors were good, the serving size or type of fish certainly didn't accommodate the cost. The serving sizes that are represented in the app when you order are not reflected on what you actually get on your plate. The Pork belly Sandwich came out half the size of what was in the picture upon ordering. None of us were excited about our meals which is a shame as the atmosphere was great and it's...

@thebackbenchergastropub has a long history of political connection behind its contemporary satirical puppets. It started life as The Wellington Hotel in 1869 & its close proximity to Parliament made for a popular parliamentarian watering hole - earning it the nickname 'The Unofficial Bellamy's'. In 1991 the pub was revamped & renamed 'The Backbencher', decorated with cartoons from two of our most famous political satarists, Tom Scott & Trace Hodgson. In 2008 it became home to 'Back Benches', a political interview show. But perhaps most (in)famously of all, over the years its walls have been adorned with irreverent, satirical political & sporting puppets - from 'Joan of Arc' Helen Clark, to 'Batman & Robin' John Key & Bill English - each drawn by Murray Webb & formed by the very talented Bryce Curtis of WETA Workshop. Nothing particularly special to be found in the food or brews, but come for the puppets or...