Romulus and Remus — Restaurant in Waitematā

First time I've ever gone here and I went with two friends.

We arrived around 8 pm and were seated straight away, but then it took a while before anyone came to take out drink order. I worked in resturants for over 10 years and I generally am very forgiving if they look short staffed or are exceptionally busy, but neither appeared to be the case, except one person seemed reletively new.

It took a wee while for someone to come get our drinks order and then the drinks took equally as long as we waited to order and each arrived seperately. The beer was the wrong one and my glass of chianti tasted like it had been open for far to long, it wasn't pleasant. The third drink was a cider which we were told after the other two drinks were delivered was out. My friend ordered a new drink and got the wrong one, but we didn't say anything as it seemed futile.

We had to flag someone down to take out order and two of wanted the calamari pasta, which we were then informed had been out for a while. While I do understand food runs out, generally you are told when you sit down with the menu do you aren't disappointed. (Noting we had the menu for 20 minutes before we ordered, so that is sort of a long time!) We swapped what we wanted and I'd say the highlight of the night was the food was exceptionally fast. I ordered the tomato and burrata for $17 which portion wise was extremely small and taste wise was nothing inspiring. Four small slices of tomatoes and some cheese. I only comment on portion because the seafood risotto was only $23 and was twice as large. So I felt disappointed with mine and noted one came to check on us at any point during our meal. Although both my friends liked their pasta, so nothing wrong with the kitchen.

We were offered dessert menu's, but no one came back for an order after 20 minutes so we gave up. When we paid it was obviously the lady ringing us up was tired and perhaps stressed, which I do understand it didn't add to the evening for us. Perhaps dinner is not what this place does well. Needless to say I won't go back...

Four adults for dinner on the Sunday of Labour Weekend (booked early table as it was a long overdue catch up with friends). Absolutely lovely food - couldn't fault it, but service was very average. Waitress stood at table whilst we discussed which shared plates to order for starters, and once we had decided then told us one item was unavailable (no biggie, it happens but she prob could have told us at the beginning). Drink orders were quick but we were only offered the one round. She was quick to clear used plates and glasses but no offer of another drink - menfolk had to call her back. Again not a big stress as we were busy chatting. Dessert ordered (yum) and then never saw waitress again. Got tired of waiting for her to reappear so I went up to the pass to compliment chefs and ask for coffee - waitress then followed me down to table and confidently told us no coffee available. It was 9pm on a night where the next day was a public holiday plus there were still plenty of people in the restaurant - so not too late. Her attitude was definitely one of "I don't care if you want coffee, I'm not making it". Too bad if we wanted an espresso martini to finish the night. I actually wonder if the machine was on at all as I didn't notice other people drinking coffee but I also wasn't paying that much attention. But even worse, no offer of more drinks, or perhaps a nightcap. We had spent a good amount and would have spent more if she had bothered to do her job properly. This was disappointing as I would have been keen to go back to try a few more items on the...

Overall, our dining experience was quite delightful. We embarked on a culinary journey and sampled an array of dishes:

The She Wolf Pizza impressed with its delightful flavors, earning a solid 8/10.

Surprisingly, the Pizza al Fresco with summer peaches and goat cheese scored a commendable 9/10, delivering a harmonious and delicious blend.

However, the Chicken Cacciatora pasta fell short with a rating of 6/10, reminiscent of leftover roast chicken with tagliatelle, lacking in flavor.

The Vongole Locale, though promising, received a 7/10 due to a shortfall in the anticipated seafood flavors.

On the contrary, the Mercato Fish garnered a perfect score of 10/10, showcasing an explosion of sensational seafood flavors and impeccably cooked risotto.

The Osso Buco earned a commendable 9/10 for its tender meat and delightful flavors.

Regrettably, both the Spaghetti Bolognese and Romy Lasagne fell short with a rating of 5/10, lacking the expected richness of flavors.

Conversely, the Spinach Gnocchi stood out with a perfect score of 10/10, boasting a delectable combination of pork sausage and impeccable flavors.

For dessert, we indulged in tiramisu, pannacotta, and profiteroles, which offered a satisfying conclusion to our meal.

The ambiance was pleasant, offering a tranquil setting suitable for a dinner gathering. I would recommend this establishment, although I suggest steering clear of red sauce pastas, as they failed to evoke the desired Italian culinary delight(the mama Mia delight!). Overall, a commendable dining experience...