The Nightcar — Restaurant in Waitematā

We visited The Nightcar last month, and I have to say—it was quite an experience! I had heard many great things about this place on social media and was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. It didn’t disappoint! From the moment we entered, we were transported to another world. The venue had an almost futuristic aesthetic, yet it buzzed with the vibrant energy of a retro diner.

Given how busy it was, I expected the service to be slow, but the staff were incredibly prompt in taking our order. The food and drinks arrived within 10-15 minutes, which was impressive. The speed of service didn’t compromise the quality of the food or drinks either.

Since we were a group of four, we ordered a variety of dishes to share. The standout dishes for me were the zha jiang mian (black bean noodles), pork belly, and scallops. Their rich umami flavours paired beautifully with the sweet cocktails we had, creating a delightful balance. The presentation of each dish was stunning, and the flavours truly stood out! The only downside was that the portions were a little smaller than we had hoped for, especially considering some of the prices. However, this wasn’t entirely surprising given the type of venue. The quality of the meal made up for it, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience overall.

The venue itself was spacious and tidy, with very clean bathrooms, which is always a plus.

If you’re looking for a hearty meal on a tight budget, The Nightcar might not be the best fit. However, if you’re after a unique dining experience and don’t mind splurging a little, The Nightcar is definitely worth a visit. It offers something different from most places in town, which is a rare...

I booked a dinner reservation online and selected the main dining room, expecting a comfortable experience. Instead, we were seated at a tiny high table with stools, which was incredibly uncomfortable — 3/4 of my butt was practically in the air as I leaned forward to reach my food, and my boyfriend’s chair wasn’t any better.

I asked the waitress if we could move when a better table became available, and she said she’d keep an eye out. So we ordered more food, hoping to stay longer and enjoy the evening. Later, I saw a table I wanted become available, but the manager gave it to a group of four, claiming it was “booked” which made no sense, since the restaurant doesn’t offer timed seating or let you choose specific tables when reserving. Honestly, it felt like we were lied to.

The waitress later offered us another table, but it was even darker and still had those uncomfortable high bar stools. By then, my mood was already ruined. The manager eventually came over and offered a booth, but at that point, I was fed up and declined.

To make matters worse, when we went to pay, the manager simply asked how we were paying — no apology, no explanation, not even a “How was your meal?”

The only generous thing they offered was the salt in the food. Maybe they thought over-seasoning could make up for the discomfort, because it felt like they dumped a whole salt shaker on every single plate.

Overall, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. I had high hopes for a lovely dinner, but as you can see, I won’t...

Amazing experience a The Nightcar this weekend (Saturday). We highly recommend it!

Food was exquisite - can highly recommend the prawn dumplings and snapper! Very fair price for the quality, we ordered a whole bunch different dishes so we could get a taste of everything on the menu that piqued our interest. There was a variety of flavors but leaning towards the spicy side!

The drinks offer something unique, everything feels curated and the mix of flavors is truly spectacular. It feels as though every cocktail has its story and place!

Now the highlight of the night, aside from the food and drinks, was the amazing service we received! The manager and owner was amazing, hands down best service we’ve experienced. He recommended different dishes and drinks depending on what we wanted. There is so much love in this place and this can definitely be felt!

The atmosphere is amazing and the underground vibe makes the experience even more special.

Highly...