Tony's Lord Nelson Restaurant

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#74 of 2,243 Restaurants in Auckland CentralSteakhouse, International, $$ - $$$

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Tony's Lord Nelson Restaurant

Review

At a glance

Closed now

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Website

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About

Traditional old English decor, great private booths good distancing, upstairs area for larger group,, good long established (46yrs) old English decor, Kiwi Steak house. Prime NZ lamb and Beef, Seafood Options and Vege Options. Cosy atmosphere.. All major credit cards.

Features

CUISINES

Steakhouse, International, European, New Zealand

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, After-hours

Special Diets

Gluten free options

FEATURES

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Location

37 Victoria Street West Auckland Cbd, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand

Can a vegetarian person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed now

• Opens at 5:00 PM

Sunday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Monday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Tuesday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Wednesday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Thursday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Friday

12:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Saturday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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4.2

453 reviews

Excellent

214

Very good

150

Average

Poor

Terrible

FrankR

Echuca9 contributions

An absolute gem

Mar 2024 • couples

Tony’s Lord Nelson Restaurant is an absolute gem. From the moment we were welcomed, the experience was exceptional. The menu was extensive and when discussing the options, the waitress advised that for the past two years that the restaurant was rated in the top ten steak restaurants in the world.. I selected the porterhouse steak with mushrooms and was not disappointed. My wife had the rack of lamb and this too was excellent. When discussing dessert, a nearby patron, who was obviously a return patron, suggested the home made apple pie with ice cream. It was a great choice. The ambiance and decor just adds to the experience and I can honestly say that this was the best meal that we experienced during our three week tour of both the north and south islands of New Zealand

Written 25 March 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OtistheBlackCat

Wirral238 contributions

Great Food and Remarkable Value

Jan 2023 • none

We found this truly excellent steak restaurant by accident. What a find! Bargains priced matured fillet steaks in a wide variety of styles AND for once sauce, vegetables and a choice of chips or salad are included in the price. The wine is a bargain as well, compared with usual restaurant prices. It's also a very quirky restaurant, fitted out with cast iron décor salvaged from a Victorian railway station. We really enjoyed our meal and it was a pleasure to pay the bill. Highly recommended.

Written 22 January 2023

Climber30102977186

15 contributions

Nice!

Jun 2023 • couples

Friendly staff and good quality food. Portions could be larger for the price - especially the vegetables which was a single broccoli floret and a few pieces of carrot in a cheese sauce. Nice atmosphere too!

Written 3 June 2023

Coastal03551798418

1 contribution

Worst service in town

Dec 2024 • family

Booked for 7pm so they knew we were coming. Service almost nonexistent and took just under an hour to get our meal (which was only 2 steaks) and we had to ask for it! When it arrived the accompanying egg was stone cold and revolting so must have been sitting around for some time. Steak pretty poor to top of the terrible experience. Won't go again!

Written 4 January 2025

Guide66665298143

1 contribution

Bad experience

Apr 2024 • friends

Would not recommend this place. Went tonight with a group of friends, the waitress hardly spoke english, asked her if the entrees could come together with the mains, she said yup, received the entrees and then waited another hour for the mains to come. My partner asked for Medium rare steak, this being a steak house and known for their steaks I would’ve thought they would know how to cook them, nope, the steak came out bleeding and cold inside. The chips with my lamb rack were uncooked and some still cold. Seafood platter was just full of deep fried frozen things. I spoke to the waitress multiple times about our food and she replied saying she doesn’t understand, gave up trying to explain to her. Over priced and underwhelming experience.

Written 13 April 2024

Freedom09289106017

10 contributions

Wouldn't go here

Dec 2024 • family

Service is terrible. No one seems to know what they are doing. NOT good at catering to allergies - served our son a salad topped with egg - something he is allergic to and all allergies supposedly noted by the waitress. Her response was to roll her eyes and reluctantly take it away. Repeatedly had to ask for water, tiny bowl of vegetables which was forgotten and had to ask for again. Someone needs to educate the wait staff on how to behave and how to take an order, and the chefs to make sure they know what a food allergy actually is.

Written 3 December 2024

david

London3 contributions

Beware the 10% Service Charge!

Jul 2023 • business

Beware the service charge! I recently hosted a dinner for 7 at the brasserie. The meal was good, and the surroundings pleasant. I paid the bill and went home. On checking the bill the following morning I noticed that a 10% service charge had been added! To be fair, it was clearly noted, but only as a single line item on a long list of items. I was also offered the opportunity to add a tip. There was no mention of a service charge on the menu I contacted the Lord Nelson the next day to complain about the charge, and they apologised, noting that it is their house policy to charge 10% for groups of 8 or more (noting that there were only 7 of us) and they refunded that part of the bill. They also acknowledged that there was no mention of the charge on the menu. So, the meal was good, the response was good, but the levying of a service charge without notice or mention was very poor and goes to trust and left a very sour taste in my mouth.

Written 21 July 2023

GlobeRunner22

Sydney312 contributions

Small portions, very expensive, no cutlery or serviettes

Oct 2022 • solo

I came in to get takeaway with very high hopes. The owner seemed friendly and helpful enough. She helped explain some of the dishes and guided my decision in the dishes I was going to select for takeaway. I originally went in wanting snapper but bizarrely she told me not to get it because the snapper fillets are tiny. I appreciate the advice, but if your portions are tiny for a main and you are charging more than $40, I think it's time to revisit the menu and ensure your customers are being offered fair meals! If you are aware of this, why continue to do it? I then ordered a Chicken Angelique in the main size and the Chicken Satay Skewers totalling $60. The portions are so small. The Chicken Satay sticks weighed just over 60g. The amount of meat they give you is not really acceptable. The flavour of the meal wasn't anything stellar. Just an average meal really. When I went to get my takeaway, they provided no serviettes and no cutlery. And they charged me to takeaway. When I asked for cutlery because I was visiting and was not taking this home, the owner said your hotel room will have it. Really? How would you know what my hotel room has? And no, it didn't have cutlery. I had to go and call up front desk to get them to deliver cutlery to me and wait for it while my meal went cold. Terrible. You can't offer takeaway and charge someone for takeaway when you can't even offer them serviettes and cutlery. I was planning to return for the next few nights but the food is not good, the prices are sky high and the service in the end was acceptable.

Written 15 October 2022

Esvee

13 contributions

Disappointing

Nov 2023 • friends

Disappointing! We booked Tony’s but was this one - chicken dish was minimal, lacked taste and sauce, the vegetables were lukewarm with little cheesy sauce. The order was incomplete for one in group and had to repeatedly request it! Overpriced for what it was, would not go back. Had to ask for water and repeat refills.

Written 9 December 2023

Rex G

Manila1669 contributions

Service vague, food stodgy with cheap materials.

Jul 2023 • couples

Had the seafood chowder which was ok except for those horrible Chernobyl green lipped rubber things. Then we had to remind the waitress a few minutes later that we were waiting for mains when she asked if we’d like dessert. The seafood platter has frozen translucent special fried rice style prawns swimming in 1000 islands dressing. Crumbed fish pieces, a couple of oysters and more of those monster green lipped rubber things. Stay away from their seafood fare is my advice.

Written 17 July 2023

Michelle D

1 contribution

Extreme disappointment

Nov 2023 • family

Truly disappointed in this well reviewed restaurant. We wanted a special meal for our last night in Auckland, but this was a poor choice. We requested water with our meal and had to beg for refills. Our food, from the garlic bread to the steak and vegetables, was barely warm. The steaks, ordered medium were just a step above rare; this could be attributed to cultural differences, but we were unable to get the server's attention to request additional cooking. The side vegetables were also cold upon arrival and drenched in a buttery sauce. Perhaps the server was overwhelmed with her assignment, as we requested the bill from another employee. Definitely will not return if ever in Auckland in the near future.

Written 8 November 2023

WendyP

Singapore65 contributions

Steaks and Seafood better than the other “Tony’s”!

Nov 2022 • solo

Friday night I was surprised they have late service at 9pm. I was walking around CBD area looking for a late night meal and it was the best meal on the last night to end my business trip. Walked in and was greeted by Ann. She showed me a booth good for two and I was solo so close space was fine. They have booths for two and fours at lower level and bigger tables on next level. Nice quaint aristocratic cozy place with dimmed lights but good enough to know your way around. Menu on the table and one drink list. Ordered a local NZ craft beer as starter while looking at food menu. Starters, Soups and bread, Spaghetti, Seafood, Steaks, Chicken, Lamb, Desserts aplenty. I ordered Fresh Oysters (half dozen) and for main ordered NY steak stuff with some Oysters (Medium 50% done). It was perfect (see pics)! Oysters were fresh though some small, served with lemon and some salad. Request for hot sauce from server though I think it should be delivered with the dish. Then I ordered a red to go with the steak - local NZ red Villa Maria Merlot. Slightly dry with some fruity sweet, goes well with NY steak. Could have ordered dessert but it’s late for 10pm. Highly recommended! I will visit Tony’s Lord Nelson again!

Written 19 November 2022

Dwatkinsuk

Egg445 contributions

Good food, slightly slower service

Mar 2023 • none

The food do really good, with perfectly prepared steak and a great range of options to choose from. It’s quite tiny but cozy on the inside, rather old fashioned in its deco but I believe that is the attraction of it as well. The service could be a touch better | faster. We stood for 5 mts at the door waiting to be served, and while we had not booked they made out like it was a big deal to be able to accommodate us as they said they were full (which they were def.not with at least 25% unoccupied during our 1.5 hour visit… All in all the food is worth the visit….now if we can get that somewhere else…..

Written 8 March 2023

Tania D

49 contributions

Step back in time

Dec 2024 • couples

Step back in time to the 70s in terms of decor and menu 🤭 But I can’t fault the choice of steaks on offer, for which this place is renowned. My partner had the pepper steak and he said it was delicious (he is a steak connoisseur). On the other hand, if you don’t like steak the choices are somewhat limited. There’s lots of seafood on offer but nearly everything is deep fried 🫤 I had a seafood chowder which was good and went for the crumbed scallops which were disappointing. My partner had a shrimp cocktail prior to his steak which was both generous and tasty, and one of the non-fried seafood options. Overall, a pleasant experience with attentive service. They just need to lift the food options so that there are healthier versions of the seafood dishes.

Written 30 December 2024

boldgo

Southlake302 contributions

Highly recommend for stocks and rack of lamb

Feb 2023 • couples

We were greeted by Anne the host and owner and she graciously asked us to wait so that she could set up a better table since we made a reservation. Old school upscale Traditional English wood and leather atmosphere. Perfectly cooked peppered steak and rack of lamb and chocolate Sunday for desert. Get the apple pie and ice cream for desert since we were told the owner makes the pies every day. Highly recommend especially if you are a Yank since $ is strong.

Written 20 February 2023

Ann H

Thank you for your review always fun with you Yanks 🤣☺️🥂

Written 25 February 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.