FISH Restaurant — Restaurant in Waitematā

On my recent trip to Auckland I stayed at the Hilton hotel twice, each time receiving a food credit and breakfast included at their on premise restaurant Fish. Breakfast was consistently good each day but service was definitely hit and miss depending on the day. Constant need to flag down a waitress if you need anything as they never returned to your table one you were seated.

The real problem was with their dinner service however and after seeing the same issues on two separate visits, the food simply does not live up to the price point. Keep in mind I didn't pay full price because of the hotel credit, so not being satisfied at less than half the normal price is really saying something.

Some of the starters were actually good, but everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was served cold. The focaccia bread was tasty but hard and cold, the sauce on the mussels (when available) had decent flavor but once again everything was cold/rubbery. Scallops were cooked nicely but disappointingly served cold, apple crumble was undercooked and the oats tasted raw, and finally the 'herb crusted' salmon was in fact actually served basically raw, inedible, and had zero flavor. I've never seen salmon coated so completely with herbs be so bland and flavorless. Maybe it was all just parsley? Anyway we couldn't finish half of the dish yet the manger didn't even take time to ask if everything was ok. You'd think he and the staff were extremely busy but there were only two other tables one night so I have no idea what was occupying their time.

Finally, I don't know if water and ice are scarce in New Zealand but the wait staff never once came back to check on us or refill our glasses with tepid warm water served from the most useless water decanters I've seen. General manger just smiled and acted like everything was perfect each night. Hilton hotel was great andi do recommend staying, but do not book a room which includes restaurant credit, you will be...

I flew over from Sydney to surprise my mum for her 90th Birthday. As she is a lover of seafood I picked Fish as her celebratory restaurant. We were not disappointed in any way. Whist the food and the view were amazing and yes, we managed 3 courses it was the little things that really made the night.

When BJ , our waiter was explaining the menu to us , and I might add his knowledge of every dish was spot on , instead of towering over us from a great height as most wait people tend to do ,he would crouch down to our eye level. Even my Mum made comment on this and how it made her feel extra special.

I have to make comment of the White Bean Dip. The beans and a garlic aioli were presented in a mortar and pestle, for you to “grind” to the consistency you liked. I loved this unusual touch .

Crayfish had to be ordered in advance, which I did not do .I did not want to spoil the surprise. But sure enough, OF COURSE that was what Mum would like. (Silly me) Our waiter BJ said he would walk to the fish markets and get one if need be, and I believed him. It was no problem and when delivered to our table the flesh had been cut away from the shell, so Mum got to enjoy every morsel, much to her delight.

The sponge finger bowl could best be described as a saucer with a slice of lemon and a small white marshmallow on top. That was until hot water was poured on top and poof right in front of our eyes the “marshmallow “grew into a lovely warm white toilette just waiting for her fingers . The final touch was at the end of the night, Mum was served a square platter with “Happy 90th Birthday” written in dark chocolate accompanied by a fresh pink rose and 3 handmade truffles. It looked and tasted amazing, and yes I got to share 

My Mum deserved an exceptional night for her 90Th. BJ, the food, the view, the ambiance all delivered 100%. So much so that on my next trip at Easter, Mum and I will be returning to sample some more of the amazing menu...

Oh what a total anticlimax Fish was.  Anticipated eating here for a celebration for some time. Stunning day, stunning setting overlooking the harbour. Asked to sit out on the deck but weren't allowed. By 7.00 when we left no-one had sat at the tables on the deck. Hmmm. Sunday evening it was pretty deserted, 2 couples,  a group of 13 Chinese foreigners & us.

The wait staff were pleasant & attentive. That & the setting are the only positives. Never in my life have I wanted to throw the main meal at the chef & walk out, until that is tonight. My disappointment was absolute. The entrees started to let us down. Scampi entree was so small it would fit in the middle of your hand for $28. Four tasty but tiny pieces, the rest of the entree from the sauce to the seaweed mat was bland. The salt & pepper squid equally tasteless, more bland white sauce & some sundried tomatoe mix, which was the only thing with flavour. The tempura Bluff oysters were the saving grace of the entrees but once again the dipping sauce was the universal bland white sauce. The main of lamb rump, sounded grand. Nicely cooked lamb but the paprika, pinenut herb taboulis, pomegranate sesame labneh was the biggest fail ever. The only flavour I got was something akin to cider vinegar, unedible. Lamb rump & vinegar, not a flavour combination that works so I just ate the lamb with no jus, tough brocollini & roast potatoe for $39.

Sadly the worst meal I've ever had. My son took to pouring the butter sauce from the potatoes over his snapper. Why, because the snapper itself had no sauce & the surrounding combinations on the plate were "a bit spicy". The chef seems to have his flavour/texture combinations all wrong. The saddest thing is I won't remember my son's 15th for all the right reasons, I'll just remember the dreadful, expensive meaI I had.  I won't ever return to Fish. I'll go to Soul or Giraffe or any one of the teaming restaurants in...