True South Dining Room — Restaurant in South Island

This is my honest review of True South Dining Room. We dinned there on 18 December 2023 at 7pm. The restaurant was a bit hard to find when we got to the restaurant but nothing too difficult. We got to the restaurant on time and got our lovely table with a great view right by the window. There was one other family of four that walked in right after us. Everything is downhill from here.

The staff waiting on us (Ashish) asked if we would like to have a drink, and he insisted to my partner that the Pinot Noir was lovely. Which was a bit odd since we haven't decided what we wanted to eat or mentioned we liked red wine, and why only insist that for my partner and not me? It's weird but ok. My partner ordered a Pinot Noir glass, and I got a gin-based cocktail. He came around with the drinks, and later asked my partner how his glass of wine was, and then didn't bother asking me if I liked my drink, and walked away. Again, weird but moving on.

We ordered our meals. My partner ordered steak, and I ordered the mushroom risotto for our mains. For starters, we ordered the pate and olives. The starters were just fine. They came out the mains, and he was explaining to my partner how his steak was done and all the sides, pointing a bit too close to the food for my liking but again I can ignore that. Then he turned to me, looked at my plate and said to my partner "'Enjoy your meal'' and walked away.

Ashish, then came out to clear the plates and asked my partner if he enjoyed his meal, and immediately turned to me to ask " Have you finished yet?". I was still eating so he left. Luckily, he didn't clear my partners plate at that point, or I would have completely lost it. As soon as he turned around, I just burst out in laughter because I could not contain how terrible the service was. We both looked at each other and agreed, the service and food was terrible.

He then came back to clear the plates, completely blocked me out facing his back to me and facing my partner and asking him if he wanted dessert. Of course, didn't bother asking me since his back was facing me.

I asked for the bill (this time to the other waiting staff and not Ashish), and he looked at my partner to confirm if we wanted to the bill. At this point it was clear, they needed proper training at the restaurant. Ashish came out with the bill, I asked for the card machine to pay, tapped my phone and he thanked my partner. Lucky for him, I was on a holiday and was in a great mood and didn't want to create a scene.

At this point, another family had arrived, and they were seated right behind us. They asked politely if they could have the table by the window to which Ashish responded, "The view is the same from here or there".

We thanked the staff and got out of there.

I would not recommend this restaurant, for food or service. Grab a drink, enjoy the view and get out. But there are plenty of other places in town to do that. Highly not recommended to visit True South. Do not bother.

I returned back to my hotel and saw some similar reviews and that confirmed my doubt, it wasn't just me who had this experience.

Now to put things in perspective, we are a gay couple, my partner is Caucasian and I'm a person of colour. I will...

Hi

I would like to give some feedbacks on my fresh encounter last night at True South Dining Room.

I gave my mum a very special birthday holiday trip to Queenstown NZ from Melbourne AU.

I Booked the birthday dinner at True South Dinning last night because of the great reviews on all reputable online platforms. On my booking, I was also appreciate if I can have a lake view table for this special occasion.

Upon arrival, the staffs were friendly and we were also arranged to the lake view table indeed. Food was also amazing, 2 hours dining was flying like a photo click. They also gave us a birthday deco plate with candle on it and my mum was so happy. After that, they even brought us a birthday cake, and offered that they can help us to take away after photos, since we were having the desert.

But things were turned wrong with this troublesome birthday cake. At the point of paying my check, I wrote a special thank you notes on my bill and left some gratuity. The staff (who were wearing a name tag with German flag) advised that because we were not living at The Reese, I had to pay for the cake with additional $65 to my bill. I was shocked on the spot. I said to her I did not ask for any cakes at all, why I still have to pay for it? She was stopped for secs and replied to me that when I was making a reservation, I also requested a birthday cake. The moment was frozen and I was speechless. I said to her that I only requested a table view table if it can be arranged, not a cake. She then checked the booking notes, vouched what I said. She then told me, I had to give the cake back as she made a mistake that the cake was for somebody else. I left the cake at the end.

I still expressed my appreciation to the friendly staffs who served us with gratuity.

But the way that the staff who created the cake issue still made clouds on our happy day and I was still so disappointed. I think some of your staffs should have extra customer service trainings to prevent such idiot mistake...

Food was quite good, as was the wine and general service by wait staff.

Unfortunately we dined when a group of 20 loud and rowdy diners (single group over two large tables) also were in attendance, which destroyed any atmosphere of fine dining.

This large group was unfortunately louder than full bars/pubs which we have visited for dinner in the last week. Several of the diners were standing and moving around the tables at times, as well as shouting. Due to the noise, another pair of diners, who were briefly sat next to us, left without eating. Finally, the loud group also made a speech to their guests, while others were still trying to dine in the restaurant. This all occurred in the centre of the restaurant.

We were told that the large group were also guests of the hotel and that there was nothing that could be done - this was conveyed by wait staff during the meal, and again by the manager at end of the meal. We were asked what we would like in compensation, we did not wish for anything, and thus this was declined.

We were unfortunately disappointed by the experience and response across the evening, particularly considering the hotel advertises itself as a luxury establishment, and the restaurant advertises itself as 'sophisticated...