The Victoria Tavern, Petone — Restaurant in Wellington

We went to the Victoria Tavern last Sunday to celebrate our sons birthday. We went to park at the back and all the notices said there were charges and if illegally parked there was a 65.00 fine. My husband was not impressed and left me there to go inside while he went in search of a park. When I went in I was informed by the staff at the bar we can park there free of charge and just to provide our registration. Called the husband go back it is ok to park there. Long story short, we did park there, provided the registration, had a lovely meal and a few drinks. Yesterday we received a $65.00 fine in the post! Nice way to top up the cost of dining out. Patrons beware! Left us with a very bitter taste. By the way, our son parked on the street FOR FREE! I will be coming to see you tomorrow about this but will be letting everyone know. Why have a carpark if you cannot use it?????? Just providing an update. I have received an email from Justin, owner of Victoria Tavern. He has advised that he has spoken to Smart Compliance Management (Carpark controllers) and has had our fine canceled. Thanks Justin, I do appreciate that you have done this. However a big thumbs down from me for Smart Compliance Management who control the Vic Tavern carpark. We supplied them with a copy of our receipt proving we were patrons at the Vic Tavern and they still declined our appeal and no phone number to contact them directly. I do like the food and atmosphere at this hotel but I will not use the carpark in future and I warn others not to use it either. These collectors are sharks and it completely ruined my night out having to...

First time experience and WON'T be going again. My family and I went to Victoria Tavern last week for my birthday. We made a booking through first table for 4people and wanted to add 1 more person(this person to pay full price, other 4people to pay 50% on food). Anyway to my understanding 4 of the people would pay half price as per the first table booking and then the 5th person to pay full price for everything they had. When my parents arrived they asked the waiter if the booking was covered under first table which the response was yes. It wasn't until we were paying for the bill that we were charged full price and told that the manager had discussed this previously. I feel as though there was a lot of miscommunication between the manager and us. Noting actually we never saw the manager when we were there. I don't understand why they couldn't have just charged 50% on the 4 people and full price for the 5th person (like we had discussed). Just something to keep in mind when you're going there under a first table booking. We have never experienced this at other restaurants and other restaurants were happy to even cover half price for extra people (more than 4 people). I feel dissapointed because they knew it was my birthday - it was made very clear. Not once did the waiter mention it wasn't covered under first table - even though we had asked via phone call and in person which we were reassured it was. The waiter and other workers there were not nice about the situation or helpful when we had questions about it. So what should've been a great birthday...

We recently visited Victoria Tavern on two occasions: once for an anniversary dinner date and another time with a group of friends.

On our anniversary, we decided to have a special dinner at Victoria Tavern. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, which set a perfect mood for the evening. The service was impeccable; the waitstaff was attentive and professional, enhancing our dining experience.

We started with small plates, which were exceptional. The bruschetta, beef skewers, garlic prawns and calamari were all delightful, offering a great mix of flavors and textures. However, the main courses left something to be desired. We ordered the beef cheeks, expecting them to be tender, but they were unfortunately quite bland. The spinach and ricotta pasta with pine nuts was also just average, lacking any standout qualities.

Despite the mains, the evening was saved by their excellent wine selection. We were lucky enough to enjoy a special on the day’s wine, which was a delightful surprise.

On our second visit, we went with a group of friends. The lively yet not overly loud ambiance made it an ideal spot for socializing. Once again, the small plates were a hit, and the wine selection did not disappoint. The overall experience was enjoyable, thanks to the excellent service and inviting atmosphere.

In summary, while the main dishes could use some improvement, Victoria Tavern excels in its starters, wine selection, and overall dining experience. We highly recommend it for its service and ambiance, especially if you enjoy a good glass of wine and a cozy,...