V.T. Station - Victoria Terminus — Restaurant in Waitematā

What an experience, I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this meal. The chefs and staff at VT paid attention to even the tiniest detail, despite being busy for NYE.

Let’s start with the service, special shout out to Kanishka, he provided exceptional service and even went above and beyond to help us get a drink which was unavailable. He was smiling and had a really positive attitude which was contagious!

Now over to the food and drinks!

The starters is where VT really shined, we opted for the Koliwada Prawns which was the absolute highlight of this meal! Perfectly fried prawns cooked to perfection (sounds simple right?) but the magic happens with the accompaniments the hari chutney was perfectly spiced with the kick of cumin and slightly extra acid from lime cutting through the richness of the prawns, the pickled onions and deep fried curry leaves were in perfect proportion creating the perfect harmony between sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami - the real NYE fireworks, but for your tastebuds!!

The Paneer Kulcha makes you skip a beat, the lactic butter on top with the crunch from the boondi complements the subtly spiced soft paneer, which tasted like it was curdled fresh - much recommended.

The Chilli Chicken gives roadside vibes, like my mum likes to say “van-wala Chinese” it was the perfect snack to complement our drinks which are up next!

Drinks; Miyuki; one word - YUM! The gin works so well with the tea and the floral notes of the elderflower with the dried limes gave the lovely sour taste.

Spice me up; The gingery notes with the booze worked so well with the Yuzu, didn’t think this combination would work but the correct balance actually brought out the flavours in the appropriate amounts without being too overpowering.

Absent Minded; This was the drink that wasn’t available, we also needed this as a low-sugar drink, the bar staff really hit this out of the park, modifying the flavours to compensate for the low-sugar version, the refreshing hit of cucumber and mint really relaxed you.

Now for the main course, although this was a bit of a wait it was worth it!

First up was the Daal Makhni, and it might be controversial to say that this Daal is as good as the Daal Bukhara. This paired with the flaky and crispy laccha parhanta just makes you want to close your eyes and just savour it.

The Chicken Korma, gave a little Rajhasthni vibes, with succulent chicken thighs and a smooth yogurt gravy, the lamb stock didn’t really give it that extra oomph I was expecting.

The Lababdaar Kofta was just a delight with a masaledaar gravy and the sweetness coming from the pumpkin which just worked so well with the onion tomato gravy, which was laced with the perfume of whole spices. It just worked

Overall VT was a great experience and I will be visiting again !...

I've been a regular patron of VT station for several years, but my recent visits have left me thoroughly disappointed. What was once a reliable spot for excellent food and impeccable service has taken a noticeable downturn.

Food Quality: 2/5

The most glaring issue has been the decline in food quality. Dishes that used to burst with flavor now taste bland and uninspired. Maybe the chef has changed his ways or someone new on cooking. The last time I ordered the Chicken malai tikka, it was overcooked and lacking the vibrant seasoning that once made it a standout. Lamb seekh kebab got more salty. Even the presentation has suffered, with plates arriving looking sloppy and unappetizing. Portions have also shrunk, making the meals feel less satisfying.

Service: 2/5

Service, which used to be attentive and friendly, has also deteriorated. During my most recent visit, Asked for extra pani puri water Staff said it’s gonna cost you extra even if we come back to your place it’s means we gotta money to pay. The staff seemed disorganized and inattentive, When I finally did get my meal, it was lukewarm at best, indicating it had been sitting out for a while.

Atmosphere: 3/5

The ambiance remains relatively unchanged, maintaining a cozy and inviting environment. However, the decline in food and service quality overshadows any positives the setting might offer. It's disheartening to see such potential wasted due to neglect in key areas.

Overall Experience:

I used to recommend VT station to friends and family without hesitation, but now I find myself hesitant to return. The decline in both food quality and service has turned what used to be a delightful dining experience into a frustrating one. I sincerely hope the management takes these issues seriously and works to restore the restaurant to its former glory. For now, I'll be exploring other dining options in the...

Amazing little restaurant. Modern and ambient vibe with OUTSTANDING food! Don’t have preconceptions - the menu will fool you! But it doesn’t matter because it’s delicious and potentially even better than you imagine.

For the uninitiated: Dumpling = slider Patty = some sort of deconstructed dip Kebab = tart

HIGHLY recommend the beetroot and cheese “kebab”, the potato “Patty”, and the goat curry, and getting a cheese and garlic naan EACH (it is the most delectable naan you ever did eat). The lamb shanks also looked incredible but alas, after enquiries with the chef, he announced the rum included in the dish was not cooked off and definitely too generous for a pregnant lady to eat! We didn’t want to order it without this signature aspect, so we opted to save ourselves for the delectable carrot pudding dessert instead.

Rolled home absolutely stuffed and satisfied!

Service was pleasant but not quite attentive enough - not sure if they were short staffed? The only disappointing thing was that - despite having a very capable-looking bar-tender and well equipped bar, they refused to amend their cocktail menu to suit my citrus intolerance, which meant I couldn’t have any of the options on the menu, even though I was only asking to leave one ingredient out! It’s common for bar tenders to be nervous about serving me cocktails they would consider “unbalanced” with the acidity, but even after I explained that their perspective of “balanced” would be my equivalent of “mouth burning”, they would still not serve me the drink :( ah well, got me a delicious...