Black Doris — Restaurant in Wellington

I love Vietnanese cuisine and having heard about a new Vietnamese fusion restaurant called Black Doris I was keen to give it a try. Managed to grab one of only two First table slots and our party of four set off for an early dining experience. First impressions were not good (through no fault of the owners). Many of the large floor to ceiling glass panels that provide a sweeping view of the waterfront had been shattered by a recent act of vandalism. It made the very stark decor look almost menacing. We were welcomed very warmly by the wait staff and seated in a prime spot. We had a choice of the entire restaurant as we were the only diners all night. Service throughout the whole meal was attentive but it was obvious that our wait person was new to the role. He provided great information on wine availability and food options after consulting his note pad however. We were the only diners in Black Doris that night so there was no buzzing atmosphere that comes from a full restaurant. The menu was small but eclectic and certainly fusion. Our table ordered a varied choice of starters and mains from the menu. I ordered the Crispy pork and vermicelli starter. The pork was anything but crispy and the vermicelli was overcooked and gluggy. The summer rolls looked and tasted great according to one of my fellow guests as were the Vietnamese chicken wings. For a main I selected the Bun Thit Nuong with grilled chicken. While the chicken was tender there was no roasted peanut, pickled Daikin or fresh mint in the dish as promised. Again the noodles were gluggy and overcooked. My partner had the Lemon Grass lamb rack which was presented with brown rice but no sign of the mushroom or saute spinach promised on the menu. If it was in the rice it was minced to such an extent it was invisible. There wasn't even a hint of mushroom or spinach. Desserts were lovely. Sadly I found our food overall to be bland without that fresh vibrant zing of herbs that Vietnamese food is renowned for. The food was fresh but many of the noodles that were served cold in most of the dishes I ordered were overcooked and chilled to within an inch of their lives. Not pleasant at all to eat. There was no seasoning at all and no chilli, spice, herbs or garlic to boost the flavour profile of most of the dishes served to our table. The Vietnamese dressing had none of that zing that you expect. To top it all off one of our party found a large sliver of plastic in his food. There was no explanation from the chef nor an apology. Poor form if you ask me. I was not a fan of the food so won't be returning in a hurry. Maybe it was an early glitch as Black Doris has only been open for night dining for just over a week. I did ask at the time if the cook was Vietnamese and I was assured they were! Apparently it's a thriving Cafe during the day. Maybe they should stick to their daytime fare. The one saving grace for me was a great espresso martini made with coconut milk rather than sugar syrup. Best part...

An excellent introduction to Wellington cafe food and drink scene. This gem is tucked in behind the new PWC building, an easy walk along the waterfront from the Bluebridge ferry terminal or Wellington train station. The food is freshly prepared and made on premise and range from the suburbly sublime eggs benedict through the whole satisfying Loaded pulled beef cheeks. I certainly do recommend the beef cheeks as they are cooked to savoury perfection with a hint of smokiness that can only be achieved by an expert chef who knows the art of slow cooking. The freshly baked cakes and muffins are with considering too. The is a great range of locally brewed craft beer and regional wines of all flavours. The hard part is making a choice. Plenty of options of beverages that are non alcoholic too and the staff here certainly know how to make a great coffee. A must for any cafe in Wellington. The staff are fantastic, efficient and very helpful. Particularly in providing directions and ideas for lost tourists. It is a pity the place isn't open on weekends, though if it remains popular, this...

delicious food.My daughter had a pork salad which looked amazing. The dressing on the salad was delicious. My partner had a pork dish too, also delicious. I had chicken and cranberry panini which was nice but a little dry and the coffee could have been hotter hence 4 stars instead of 5. The staff went above and beyond even providing something to remove a splinter I managed to get in my finger while sitting on the wharf. Would be a great place for breakfast or morning tea as the sun would shine through the windows and make the whole place...