Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in South Island

Hungry

So disappointed in our experience here. My friend and I have wanted to go for a long time. As it was his birthday we felt we could finally justify the expense for a special occasion. I'm a very petite woman with a very small appetite, so I don't bother with starters because I never, and I mean never, finish my main course. I can't remember the last time I haven't left food on my plate or taken home leftovers. Bacchus changed that though!

I know at these kinds of establishments you are paying for quality over quantity, but there should still be a threshold...isn't a main course supposed to be like, a meal? I wouldn't qualify what either of us ordered as a 'meal', and $40-46 per meal I'm stunned that they think this is acceptable.

I ordered the lamb rump with 'Mediterranean vegetables', because I like lamb, and I like vegetables. What I got was probably equivalent to 200gm of lamb sitting on an extremely basic, vaguely Mediterranean-tasting (I guess?) sauce that was mixed with some very finely diced courgette, peas, tomato and corn. I would have preferred frozen veggies because they're bigger and I'd actually be able to make out that they were vegetables in my mouth. The flavour tasted like so many meals I've had before, cooked myself even. Nothing exciting or interesting or worth it about it, other than the lamb being cooked perfectly, and the icing on the cake was that it was just not remotely enough food and I don't know who in their right mind would think it is. I cleaned the plate and was still hungry, which as I mentioned is practically unheard of for me.

My friend got the steak, the meat itself being just okay. We've both had pub steaks for a fraction of the $46 price tag that were just as good. It was advertised as coming with a pea and potato fritter. Carbs! that might help fill one up, you would think. You would be mistaken. It was a thin measly little thing designed to fit perfectly under the eye fillet, so the size of a coaster really. I get that they want to make their dishes look pretty but I don't think it should come at the expense of the meal itself. The sauce was delicious, but that and the tenderness of the lamb were the only two things we really enjoyed about our dishes.

We then had an entrée as we were both still so hungry: the paté with crostinis. It honestly pains me to say anything nice at all about this establishment but the paté and beetroot relish were delicious. There weren't enough crostinis, and for $26 you'd expect there to be.

We ended with dessert. I got the lemon curd baked cheesecake and he got the date putting. Again, this hurts to say but they were delicious. Definitely quite small (what a surprise!) for $18 a pop.

The service was okay but we didn't get meal-checked at any point, even when we went to pay, so no opportunity to tell them. I'm very anxious in these kinds of situations, and I'm terrified of being a 'rude' customer-I would much rather not cause a fuss. I don't know what they could or would have done anyway. It makes me wonder how many other customers have left disappointed or without giving feedback because no one asked them how their meal was. I'm usually a lot more forgiving but with price points like these I have certain expectations. This is why we wanted to go! Because it implies quality, excellence even, a point of difference, flavours we wouldn't usually get to experience. Am I insane for thinking that?

Instead I'm left feeling like the price tags are slapped on arbitrarily, and confused why people still go here and even give it good ratings. I know this review seems sassy but it's sassy af of them to charge us what they did for what they gave us. We went home and snacked for the rest of the night and tried not to think about how much money we'd just wasted.

Go to Tītī instead to be shown how it's...

As a couple who doesn't get out much, our evening at Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant was truly a rare treat. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and made to feel right at home. The staff's attention to detail and genuine hospitality made us feel like VIPs from start to finish.

Being somewhat unfamiliar with wines, we were blown away by the staff's incredible knowledge and enthusiasm. They guided us through the extensive wine list with patience, helping us discover new favorites that perfectly complemented our meal.

Speaking of the meal, we opted for the three-course set menu, and it was nothing short of spectacular. Each course was a culinary delight, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. It was evident that the chefs put great care and skill into every dish, and we savored every bite.

But what truly made our evening unforgettable was the impeccable service. Despite our lack of expertise, the staff never made us feel out of place. Instead, they took the time to answer our questions and offer thoughtful recommendations, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfection.

In conclusion, Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant exceeded all our expectations and provided us with a night to remember. Whether you're a wine aficionado or simply looking for a special night out, do yourself a favor and book a table at Bacchus. You won't be disappointed.

Highly...

My husband has been raving about this place for the past couple of years, and finally my travels brought me to Dunedin. It was such a wonderful meal that we returned the next day! We highly recommend the delicate ceviche in coconut cream appetizer which was rich yet light. We also had the chicken Waldorf salad as a shared starter one day and that was equally delicious. The chicken was perfectly tender and the mix of apples, walnuts, celery and assorted other fruits and veggies was beautifully balanced. Our exquisite mains of a flavorful baked sole with passion fruit glaze and a perfectly prepared fillet steak were also elegantly prepared and presented. I'm usually skeptical about restaurant steaks because they're oftentimes not as good as what we can cook at home but this was far from the case. It's a combination of the high quality NZ grass-fed beef and some outstanding cooking techniques. There was a very slight hint of wasabi and it came out perfectly medium rare and as tender and tasty as they come. For dessert, we enjoyed a decadent sticky date and banana pudding. The hospitality was exceptional as is the restaurant's ambience. Located right in the Octagon in an elegant historic building, the restaurant sparkles! We’re excitedly planning yet...