Vino Vino Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Waiheke

The chips were pretty good. That's about where the positives end.

Last week a few of us had dinner here, a place as locals we wouldn't have previously done for the long running reputation it's past owners had for run-of-the-mill food (that hadn't changed for years), but given it's relatively new management we decided to check it out, hoping for good things.

A little surprised by the pricing (which only heightened expectations), we shrugged it off, ordered and waited patiently, * very patiently*, for our food to arrive. It took it's time to say the least (the first red flag), the chips arriving first followed by dishes my partners ordered and then mine. Portions were small, looks a little-lack lustre (second red flag).

The following and most significant red flag(s), the piece that tore it all apart, was stamped to the dish I ordered. As someone who prefers to eat in a plant-based way, I had ordered their vegan main: a form of quinoa falafel with grilled veg and hummus. Simple, yes, but when done well can be delicious. I was struck first by the portion size, 5 small quinoa balls on a classic but anaemic swipe of white puree with a handful of roasted veg and a smattering of leafy greens on the side. Ok, for $36 that's a little uncharitable but perhaps it makes up in flavour where it lacks in generosity? Apparently not.

The quinoa balls were pale and tasted it; lacking practically any flavour besides a slight sour tinge that I couldn't put a finger on, the roasted veg similarly were plain and slightly tangy. bland was written all over this dish which for in the year 2022, a time in which I can comfortably have access to incredible plant-based food for less than half the price of this dish, I was less than pleased about. But the hummus took the cake because surprise! it wasn't hummus, it was a cold parsnip puree, and surprise! it was bland. Oh and also, it had dairy in it. The wait staff apologised and offered to have the dish re-done, the chef replacing the puree with an under-done onion chutney. I only ate half of it, mostly out of sheer hunger.

I haven't had an experience like this in a long time. Beyond the food itself I was shocked by the management of it. Firstly, why weren't the wait staff informed of the fact the hummus was not available and so could tell me as a patron that it would be replaced? Secondly, where was the respect for a customer and their chosen or needed way of eating? What would have happened if I had had a serious intolerance or allergy to dairy, not realising it was on the plate? And thirdly, what is the justification for pricing a meal like this, one that I could have made for far less and far better at home?

( the other dishes ordered were apparently alright but again for prices of mains above $36 we were expecting for a steak dish more than just (again) parsnip puree and (again) a handful of plain roasted parsnip)

This may seem like a an overreaction but if you are going to price your food in this way, advertising yourself at the higher level of some of the other (brilliant) restaurants on the island, at a time when culinary experience is about more than just providing fuel, perhaps you can understand my out-pouring.

I'm not usually someone to write a review about a restaurant, in fact this is the first time and I hate to do it. But from this experience it felt important to me to speak out. To those considering eating here, you are warned. To the owners and chefs, please have a good consider about what is you are doing, it needs work and that's...

Food -Ordered two fish and chips and two coffees. -Food was average to good. -Coffees were poor and served with little care (coffee splatter all over both cups). -Tomato sauce was mixed in with tartar sauce and was a pain to seperate.

Experience Although there was a sign on the door saying “we’re open” and the door was unlocked, we felt out of place from the moment we were seated - a few examples: -Restaurant was empty but hostess made a fuss about giving us a table. -Staff were sitting at a dining table having V energy drink and chatting loudly with staff who were working. -Hostess was screaming meat orders over the phone. -Our waitress kept alternating between serving us and cleaning duties (ie after she took our order, she grabbed a mop and bucket and brought it to the bathrooms to clean). -Had to get up or make significant motion (waving arms in the air) for staff to notice us when we wanted to order something else / get table water. -When our plates were picked up, I asked the waitress “I feel like we’ve walked into a closed restaurant - are you guys open?” And she responded “we usually just open now but we let you in while we are setting up / cleaning the restaurant”. This is when we realised we entered the restaurant ~40min before it opened.

Advice to owner: Closing the door until you’re ready or basic communication telling us you’re still setting up would have been appreciated. We only spent one day on the island and feel we wasted a good chunk of that day listening to your hostess order steaks and chicken over the phone and your team chatting about last night - not the peaceful lunch we were...

Unfortunately the impossible burger pattie that I had was let down with a lacklustre ensemble. Bun was over toasted and stale causing me to ask for butter to help it go down which took a non reasonable amount of time to arrive, I went in twice asking for this and still kept waiting. Tomato was not fresh, egg and cheese were fine. Overall I had high hopes for the burger and this was not met. No flavour, no wow. 4/10. The small bowl of fries (not yet touched in photo) was $10 and the aioli I requested I also had to ask for twice.

Fish $39 was dry and so was the bed of rice, lack of flavour, poor texture, it was bland, only edible with the one lemon slice supplied.

Ice coffee was not sweetened, we were not asked whether we wanted sugar or not and it too was bland. My mock tail (lemon) tasted like soda water with citrus, it was the cocktail of the day and again not impressive at all.

Normally I pass on feedback though was never asked once how the food or drinks were. ​I left without saying anything as I couldn't muster anything nice to say. Normally I try to give feedback and find a solution that works, this time I was very hungry so ate up, paid and left. Daughter wouldn't finish hers so we got a pie for her instead which was much better than the meals.

My daughter and I have agreed that we will never...