Alfresco's Restaurant and Bar
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Details
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PRICE RANGE
$0.00 – $44.00
CUISINES
Seafood, Contemporary
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
features
Details
About
UNLIKE MOST PLACES WE NEVER CHARGE HOLIDAY SURCHARGE Live Music Every Sunday Afternoon 3pm - 6pm. Happy Hour Everyday 3pm - 6pm Alfresco's is a family run business that is open everyday from 8.00am serving freshly produced food and excellent coffee. We strive to give great service anytime of the day.
PRICE RANGE
$0.00 – $44.00
CUISINES
Seafood, Contemporary
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Delivery, Reservations, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Live Music, Waterfront
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4.0
1,612 reviews
Excellent
764
Very good
500
Average
199
Poor
79
Terrible
70
Kayak1949
10 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
The four cheese soufflé on top of fresh greens, poached pear,goats cheese beignets, walnut and parmigiano was excellent. The five spice duck and shitake mushroom pie was a great disappointment: no evidence of any duck, a thick mushy internal pie cover soaking in a non-complimentary gravy. Have had better won ton. Inattentive server: had to make special request for water refill. If your not local your not important.
Written 3 February 2023
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.
61Rita
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
We used to go there each time we were up in Paihia. Went there today for lunch, was a little disappointed that almost their whole menu had changed. I ordered a seafood chowder with gluten free bread. Although the chowder was quite nice, I nearly fell over when I went to pay. They charged $6 for two slices of toasted gluten free bread. I think this is quite rude, there was no mentioning of the extra charge at the time I ordered, nor is there anything written about the gluten free option surcharge in the menu. So all up my seafood chowder has cost me $30. Not good value for money at all, compared to what it used to be. Very disappointing!!!
Written 4 August 2022
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.
Charlie H
10 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
We came across Alfresco’s on our first evening in Paihia, and what a find! We ordered the seafood platter and loved every last bit on there, the waitress let us know that the oysters weren’t good at the moment due to high volumes of rain so they replaced them with some other shellfish. Friendly staff and we would love to go back again.
Written 11 February 2023
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.
Rosie
2 contributions
Dec 2021 • friends
Hi there, we were out at 7:30 on New Years Eve for a dinner. We had booked the previous day & arrived on time. We ordered 2 garlic breads when we arrived and one hour later asked where they were, nothing came from that. It was a full hour and a half before we were told the garlic bread would still be a while so we just cancelled it as our mains had arrived already.
I ordered a steak sandwich medium rare which arrived extremely rare (no brown in it at all) which the wait staff agreed with me, it got sent back and when they brought it redone it was still rare. It was 10 minutes before we could flag someone down and they had to make a new sandwich. By the time it arrived all my friends had finished their meal and we left at 9:30-10.
The staff kept saying it was a busy night which I can understand to a point but not all the tables were even taken up, and a restaurant should still be able to function at capacity. Why accept a booking for a table of 7 if the restaurant can’t handle it. I see from the reviews on here that a lot of people have had a similar situation.
I did appreciate the wait staff, and feel this issue was a kitchen or management one - although not sure about the missing garlic bread.
I would never come here again and have never had a restaurant experience like this. I also didn’t find the food or drinks that nice.
We also were not given a discount on the steak sandwich which was surprising considering the terrible service it was given with. I wish I just didn’t order any food.
I would like to note that my friend’s steak was ordered medium rare and arrived the same way (rare), however she didn’t want to complain so just ate it.
Written 31 December 2021
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.
Bev S
Auckland1 contribution
Jul 2021 • none
well, we had very nice food however the service was extremely poor.
we had chosen this restaurant to have dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary as we had good memories of a previous lovely dinner and dining experience.
My partner who unfortunately has a disability was very aware that 2 waitresses
were standing in the dining area pointing at him and discussing that he was very slow eating his meal.
we will not be returning to this place and will ensure others are made aware of our experience.
Management need to train staff to e more polite and understanding of individual customers needs and this sort of behaviour should never e considered acceptable.
e
ry
slow to
Written 3 July 2021
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.
JAT
1 contribution
Dec 2020 • none
Good view, friendly staff but that is where it ends.
Were seated at a dirty table, when the table was finally wiped, in these covid times (no sanitizer and using the unrinsed rag from the other tables, during the 30 minute wait for drinks) the crumbs were pushed on to the floor and the water glasses were placed UPSIDE down on the table. Ordered the beef burger, 1 hour later the meal arrived. Fries were covered in some sort of white sauce (possibly tartare??) that was also throughout the burger. Only ate about a quarter of the burger, was to much unidentified white sauce that did not suit beef.
Written 26 December 2020
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.
StephanieAnna
Auckland44 contributions
Dec 2022 • family
We walked in and waited by the bar area. There were a couple of staff members behind the bar, but no-one even acknowledged us. In the end one staff member said to the other 'You should probably serve those guys'.
Beef burger pattie was very dry, and the fish was just ok.
Not worth the money.
Written 12 January 2023
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.
Wendy S
Auckland Central107 contributions
Dec 2022 • none
I called in the morning to book a table for 7.30 for two people. We arrived at 7.20 and sat there until 7.45 when someone took a drinks order from us. We were advised there was a delay on taking orders. Just before 8pm we were told they were sorry, but food would still be forty minutes away if they took our order. Other people who were advised the same, left. We finished our drinks and left without eating, which was such a waste of an evening, as it was too late by then to go anywhere else. I understand, that places are short on staff, but DON’T TAKE BOOKING’S THEN! Really disappointing.
Written 20 December 2022
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.
Kay
4 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
Decided to eat here after parents had been the night before and also had a great meal so they were happy to go back again. All four of us were extremely happy with our meals, the fresh snapper was cooked perfectly and the pork loin was delicious too. A slight alteration request to one of the meals was absolutely no drama at all which always impresses. The cheesecake of the day was all out but the cookies and cream one was very good also. All meals were a great portion size none of this "more plate than there is food!" Our lovely waitress Eva was so awesome, very friendly and relaxed, she made us feel very welcomed and right at home. As locals we have not been here for a while but will definitely be returning again soon and would highly recommend. Thanks for a lovey meal out.
Written 13 February 2022
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.
Michael B
Auckland Central23 contributions
Jan 2022 • none
We should have turned and left when we arrived as no one wanted to check our vaccine pass. Secondly the menu was completely different than the one in the compendium in our motel. And then we were served to room temp bottles of beer. We really should have left then and there. My seafood chowder was insipid but I got through half of it. My partner ate perhaps 2 or 3 of her scallops that were completely overdone. We returned her meal and at least they deducted it from the bill. I can't complain about the lovely waitress who also dealt with our complaint in an efficient manner. I would never recommend this place.
Written 1 February 2022
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.
Kate
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • friends
A nice enough restaurant. Generally good food and good tunes. However, half the servers were wearing their face masks under their chin. Ordered medium rare steak that came out super rare - fully red and after sending it back twice it finally came out what they claimed as “well done” with red still there. Our garlic bread also never arrived after asking for it 4 times. Along with young waitresses that had to check again what dishes/drinks they were bringing out each time. Would have been understandable for New Years - if they had been busy, which they were not…
Written 31 December 2021
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.
Angus L
Whangarei458 contributions
Mar 2022 • none
Four meals ordered, two nice, especially lamb cutlets but two not so good. Rubbery seafood in the bouillabaisse and didn’t taste fresh. Burger was soggy and dripping with too much dressing on the coleslaw. Lovely waitress, very obliging.
Written 5 March 2022
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.
Jessica P
Woy Woy47 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
This restaurant is no longer here. It is now The Blue Door. I ordered a $28 wagyu brisket burger. It was flavourless and the chips did not appear to be hand cut like the menu promised. I left a lot of the meal. Very disappointing.
Written 19 November 2023
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.
Awa T
Whangarei43 contributions
Apr 2022 • friends
Went for dinner in a large group. The wait for meals was reasonable considering the place was almost full. Delicious food. Bit pricey compared to other venues but the quality of the service and food made it worthwhile. Limited parking which is across the road. Walk there if you can. I’d go back again.
Written 24 April 2022
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.
traway F
Whangarei156 contributions
Nov 2020 • couples
We enjoyed our breakfast so much we came back for dinner. The pancakes are lovely and are different from the stock standard ones you get as had tasty compote and lemon masconpone. Really good coffee to. Service was excellent at breakfast, however found the service a bit slow at dinner - as we did wait a bit too long food. To compensate for that the food was delicious. We had 3 entrées instead of mains, which were crayfish risotto, French onion soup and salt and pepper squid. All well cooked. We recommend the trio of desserts and share as plenty for two and you get to try three different sweets. Overall good meal and top view.
Written 11 November 2020
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.
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