3 Nutmegs — Restaurant in Waitematā

The food here is excellent and I have had some of the best curries in NZ here at 3 Nutmegs. However the service is what lets this place down - specifically, the wait times and one particular waiter.

I have sat in for food around 5 times and ordered take-aways around 5-6 times and have experienced some of the longest wait times in any restaurant in NZ. One example was when I only ordered 2 naan breads for a takeaway. Knowing that this place take a while for full meals, the person on the phone said we could pick them up in 10-15 minutes. However after getting there in 10 minutes I had to wait another 35 minutes for just 2 naan breads. (PS I do like to be charitable as I know restaurants can have bad days and can have staff absences, but the long wait times at this place are just too consistent).

Perhaps what made me really disappointed (and actually pushed me to write a review for the first time) was watching an interaction between one of the waiters and a customer who was picking up their food. This customer had ordered a kadai and when the waiter handed his food to him said it was a rogan josh. The customer then informed him that he ordered a kadai, the waiter paused for a moment and said - "same thing". I'm no expert on curries, but I know enough to know that they are two completely different dishes (a quick look at their menu would tell you that). Lying to customers is not...

My favourite little slice of India on a Parnell doorstep - reserve a table, order takeaways (and grab a vino while you wait) or pull up at the bar for a meal to let the traffic pass (I’d rather spend money on epic food than burn petrol in traffic). It’s cosy and relaxing with ambient music still allowing the ability to chat and the owner Vishal always welcomes you with warm conversation and when he asks you how you are you know he means it. Everything tastes homely contemporary and fresh, I can’t highlight that enough. You can literally taste the quality of produce and it brings a whole new level of enjoyment to even the most standard kiwi order of ‘Butter Chicken’. I branched out this time and went for the Bengali Fish, Tandoori Roti and Cucumber Raita and I was unsurprisingly not disappointed. The sauce was light, flavoursome and fish fell apart alongside the fluffiest rice I’ve ever encountered. The roti - which I have only ever experienced heavy and pastry like in consistency - was again, weightless and slightly crispy but you could still tear it apart and scoop up the sauce and leftover raita. I’m so stoked this place survived lockdown and even though I live out of town, they have a fan in me for as many years as they’re open and I’m passing through. Vishal couldn’t have put it better when he said “We serve what we ourselves love to eat”. Don’t hesitate to give...

Oh. My. God.

I’m just gunna say it: BEST ALMOND CROISSANT OF MY LIFE!

Coffee: incredible! Definitely on par with all the other amazing Parnell cafes.

The service was so friendly and amazing, a few days ago I was just walking past around lunch time and a staff member said something like “Hi There.” The smile was so genuine and friendly a walked down the road a bit and turned right back around and bought a coffee, I just wanted to support the place and see him again, it’s rare to see such happy genuine staff and I love that they have this pop up bakery in the mornings now they will see me a lot. I’ve actually just finished telling my flatmate how amazing everything was and we’re heading back there now to get something else, maybe the cardamom or cinnamon roll. I’m so excited!!! See you soon 😂.

Thank you for making my week!

You’ll be seeing me again and again, if me walking there twice in one day while it’s raining isn’t enough to convince you to try this restaurant then that’s cool, more for me ❤️.

Kia kaha hospitality...