Vivace Restaurant & Bar at DeBretts (formerly DeBretts Kitchen) — Restaurant in Waitematā

Shame you can't give Zero or negative stars. Hands down the WORST high tea experience I have ever had. To be honest I have had better airline food. Service was terrible from the get go. The table was laid and two of the four teacups were dirty. I was asked if I wanted still or sparkling water - I said sparkling, which she proceeded to give to everyone else at the table without asking what they would prefer. The tea arrived in dirty tea pots, no milk, no sugar, no lemon. Upon investigating, we discovered they used tea bags - not loose leaf tea. The food was below average - cucumber sandwiches with THICK cuts of cucumber, the choux pastry was overcooked and some of the substitutions for the gluten free choices were just insipid. Eventually the jam and cream made its way out for the scones as did the milk for the tea. (Still no offer of lemon or sugar or honey). Upon departing, we discovered the loo had no hand towel and the floor was dirty. Also saw obviously dirty (crusted on food) on serving platters in their cabinet and no hair nets on the kitchen staff. One of our party complained on our departure and was told the manager would email me and provide vouchers for future use. I will not be returning. However after arriving home I discovered an email from them not offering vouchers, but asking how our experience was...ummmmm....I've already told you, now I'm telling others so they do not have to endure this expensive excuse for a high tea. Could have and have done better myself.

UPDATE at 8 Jan: I have now been advised twice that they will be in touch to somehow “properly apologise”. The first time was on the day we attended and the second was 4 days ago. I have heard absolutely nothing from them whatsoever. They have my contact details as they sent me a reminder of our booking. This just further proves their total lack of even basic customer service.

UPDATE no 2: My update of of 8 Jan finally elicited a response and a satisfactory...

We came here for an end of year Christmas lunch. We chose Debrett's Kitchen because of the one square meal (entrée, main and dessert + glass of wine for $35) which looked like great value and worked with our per head budget.

On arrival the menu had changed from what was on the website and now included a prawn cocktail as the entrée. We had two party members with a shellfish allergy and one does not eat shellfish. We were told that we could not substitute for something else which was a bit disappointing considering we had checked the menu to make sure it suited everyone. Although we could order off the main menu it was the package that had attracted us.

The entrée, main and dessert combined involved less food than what I would expect an entrée to be. The prawn cocktail was a few lettuce leaves with two (very small) prawns on top and a couple of decorative pieces of tomato and cucumber. The halloumi salad main was literally two small pieces of halloumi on a bed of mesclun, with three sandwich slices of every-day tomato, two olives and a lavosh cracker which was quite stale. The dessert was gone in a couple of mouthfuls.

Portions were so small that we had practically all finished before our last party member's plate arrived on the table ten minutes late.

Service was okay but would not recommend based on ridiculous portion sizes (and I am a small female who does...

I ventured into the heritage restored Hotel DeBrett to experience their Roaring 20’s High Tea Experience in DeBrett Kitchen. Whilst reservations are required, fortunately I was able to a seating. I was immediately impressed by the super attentive hospitable staff, not to mention, being completely taken aback the splendid and grandeur of the spectacular restaurant interior reminiscent of Great Gatsby-esque opulence.

High Tea commenced with a refreshing elderflower cucumber cocktail called “Easy St” and in a short while the tiered food stand came out adorned with sweets and savouries. Portions featured cucumber sandwich, salmon pinwheel, prawn melon with the devilled egg and the coronation chicken being stand outs.

For the sweet offerings there was champagne Knox dainties, jaffa mousse tart with the impressive sweets being the passion fruit lamington, strawberry Pavlova and the coconut panacotta.

Finally, freshly baked lemonade scones with plum jam and clotted cream finished the experience in a truly elevated and memorable fashion.

The ambiance of lunching to the sultry melodic tones of golden age divas only amplified the experience of gourmet fare, location and atmosphere. Highly recommended with...