Ocean View Restaurant — Restaurant in South Island

The staff on the floor were lovely and plenty of them, can’t fault them. The people who waited on our table were bubbly and friendly. The place itself wasn’t that busy, with a few free tables around and others already eating their meals. We ordered some starters and meals, and the meals came out before the starters did and not all at the same time - some of the table actually finished their mains before others were served. They had to eat as we already waited an hour for the food. When asked what was happening the owner said “sorry it’s cos of the school kids that are working we are short staffed” referring to her more than capable lovely staff as school kids and blaming them for the incompetence of running the business - we suggested to her this was not really a great reference and were taken back by her rude defensive attitude towards us when she said “well if your not happy you can leave now”. There was hardly a genuine apology - saying she’ll get our food it’s ready when in reality it was not as it took a further 10 minutes to receive a starter meal. The advert of menu prices outside the entrance also differed the more expensive ones inside when paying. Following reading the most recent reviews we wish we didn’t eat here as a larger group. Really disappointed with the over all service and the pork belly was not crispy as advertised it was soggy and...

My wife and I recently stopped in for lunch.

Stunning day and a beautiful spot, one might argue this restaurant has the best location in Hokitika.

And again let me stress this is a restaurant... Not a diner, not a take away joint, but a fully fledged restaurant.. This becomes important soon.

The waitress was plesent and seated us on the front patio and supplied menus.

My wife ordered a Quesadilla and I ordered the fish n chips.

Meals arrive, and this is where I'm confused and bitterly dissapointed

This is a beach front restaurant with the potential to be Exellent....

Why is the fish n chips cookie cutter out of the box, snap frozen fillets!!??

Here I am expecting a beautifully cooked piece of In house battered cod or such variety... And out comes 2 pieces of sealords finest snap frozen hoki fillets.

As a chef myself, I can't imagine the chef is happy about having to serve this....

Has anyone asked the chef!?!

Is it a cost cutting matter? Supply?

I'm dying to know as with a beach front location like yours it's absolute clown shoes to not be serving fresh fish...

Also please... For the love of God, rework the Quesadilla... Smoked chicken and a spec of mozarella in a packet bought flour wrap... Doesn't constitute a Quesadilla

This place has such potential if only they would make slight alterations...

My wife & I and another couple dined at Oceanview Restaurant last Saturday evening 18 February at 7:30pm. The restaurant was full but we had booked. We were the only table that decided to dine outside and sat at the table with the best view of the ocean and the sunset on a beautiful evening in Hokitika. However our evening was made less enjoyable by the standard of the meal. Particularly my friends meal. Instead of ordering a Main course he chose to order two entrees: the whitebait & the scallops. When his entrees arrived we were all astounded. The scallop entrée consisted of four of the smallest scallops I’ve ever seen on an entree plate accompanied by 3 x potatoe wedges & some sort of sauce on each of the minute scallops. Cost of that entree was $36 ($9 per scallop) His whitebait entree was only slightly better. My friend as expected was too polite to complain. At least the two ladies Fish Special Hoki dish was not bad as was my pork belly (although it was drowning in a bowl full of gravy). We spent over $250 that night and did expect better. Suggest Oceanview need to seriously review their scallop entree content and price. Again the view from our table was spectacular on a beautiful...