Queens Rooftop & Wineshop — Restaurant in Waitematā

Don't expect to enjoy "all" your meals here together, because you will certainly be dissapointed.

Your meals will certainly not arrive within a reasonable time frame, together, they will be spaced so far apart.

A group of us decided to have what we hoped, would be a nice enjoyable dinner at this restarant/bar.

The drinks waiter served us sparking water while we waited for our other two guests to arrive, however one of the glasses we had, had a large quantity of red lipstick still remaining on the glass.

This glass and its contents was exchanged, no problem, and the way he handled this was excellent, and this person was excellent all night, the rest went down hill from there.

I can't say that for the rest of their serving staff, poor describes at it best.

Our other guests arrived, and we then ordered our "separate" meals, and then we waited, and waited.

Finally one meal arrived, then around 5 to 7 plus minutes later another meal arrived, then another, in around the same time frame, a least 5 plus minutes between the meals.

We had to ask what is the problem, and where are the other three meals, and in the meantime the first 2 meals were getting cold, so these guests had to start eating them.

The time between the arrival of these meals was totally unacceptable and by the time the 5th meal arrived the first meal was already finished, and the second meal was well on the way.

The quality of the meals cannot be faulted, but the service was just totally unacceptable.

Read the other reviews regarding the poor service.

The other factor which we found to be most disconcerting, was the noise level, sure it is a "bar", and you expect some background noise. but surely you should be able to have a reasonable conversation without the need to raise one's voice.

It is interesting that one of the requested comments on the following listed items below, is how we found the noise level, doesn't this tell you something!

We had to ask them, can you please turn the beat bop noise down, it is not music, just noise.

We asked one of the waiters how they find the noise levels, and they commented that they go home after their shifts with sore throats due to having to speak so loud for the patrons can hear them.

Would we return, no, we...

I had the pleasure of dining at Queen's Rooftop yesterdaywith my wife, and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience. This venue has always been my go-to for client meetings due to its impeccable atmosphere, food, and service, but taking my wife there for the first time was a true showcase.

From the moment we arrived, the team exceeded our expectations. Flavie, who looked after us throughout the evening, provided friendly and attentive service. Her recommendations at every stage of the meal were spot on!

Xavier was also an outstanding host, he anticipated our needs by setting up a heater on the slightly chilly balcony and bringing blankets. He even took our drinks order and arranged a half-dozen oysters before my wife had even settled in. Our drinks and starters arrived within minutes, which was very impressive.

The other staff members were equally lovely, making sure we felt well taken care of. Now, the food—it was simply amazing! We indulged in one of my long-standing favorites, the burrata, some warm focaccia along with monkfish skewers with an amazing combo of red pepper sauce, mint and capers and a perfectly cooked medium-rare picanha. The broccolini was equally well-prepared, but the biggest surprise of the evening was undoubtedly the olives. We enjoyed a mix that included what I believe were Castelvetrano or Nocellara, and Queen olives, alongside kalamata olives that had a surprising hint of black cherry flavor. I've honestly never had a better bowl of olives!

The wine pairings were excellent, and they even indulged my slightly unusual dessert request.

All in all, I can't fault any aspect of our experience—service, food, and ambiance were all perfect. We’re already looking forward to returning for our 10th wedding anniversary next week. I can’t think of a better place to...

Disappointing Anniversary Experience at Queens Rooftop Bar

We had high hopes for our anniversary dinner at Queens Rooftop Bar, especially given its current popularity. Sadly, the experience was far from what we expected.

Despite booking more than a week in advance and clearly noting that it was a special occasion, we were seated at what can only be described as the worst table in the venue—a cramped two-seater in a passageway next to a glass window overlooking reception, with a steel pillar obstructing one side. It was uncomfortable and felt like an afterthought rather than a proper dining spot. When I raised this with our waitress, her response was dismissive: “Well, this is what you got. You can leave if you don’t like it.” I asked her to inform the manager that this was unacceptable, especially for a pre-booked anniversary dinner. Eventually, we were moved to a shared table with another couple, which unfortunately took away the romantic atmosphere we had planned.

We had specifically chosen our time slot to enjoy the sunset over the harbour, but the blinds were pulled down, completely blocking the view. Even though it was overcast, there was no clear reason for this, and it undermined one of the main reasons we chose this venue.

The food was another disappointment—extremely overpriced with a very limited menu. There was no sense of value for money, and the overall dining experience felt more about trend than substance.

Queens Rooftop Bar may currently be popular due to its status as the “place to be,” but based on our experience, it’s not delivering on quality, service, or value. For a venue that promotes itself as a premium experience, the lack of attention to detail and customer care was truly disheartening. We hope the management takes feedback seriously and makes meaningful...