Portlander

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#38 of 814 Restaurants in WellingtonSteakhouse, European, $$ - $$$

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Portlander

Review

At a glance

Open until 10:30 PM

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Website

+64 4-498 3762Improve this listing

About

In a relaxing and friendly environment we invite our guests to revel in all the freshness and goodness our little slice of the world provides. Nestled in a spot where land meets sea, the Portlander is a unique take on the grill house concept - one which is local, seasonal, cultivated... and just a little bit wild. We're about superb cuts of meat, prepared to perfection and finished in style. Bloody rare and rather well done - it's the ideal place to eat meat and greet. PORTLANDER is the proud winner of 'BEST RESTAURANT' at the Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence 2015

Features

CUISINES

Steakhouse, European, Grill, New Zealand

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Digital Payments

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Non-smoking restaurants

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Sports bars

Street Parking

Table Service

Takeout

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

75 Featherston Street Cnr of Whitmore & Featherston Streets, Wellington 6011 New Zealand

Street Parking

Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 10:30 PM

Sunday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Monday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Tuesday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Wednesday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Thursday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Friday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

Saturday

6:00 am - 10:30 pm

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4.2

884 reviews

Excellent

507

Very good

197

Average

Poor

Terrible

Shane C

Napier6 contributions

Just a little off

Apr 2024 • family

I'll start with the good-great, the (head?) waiter was great, knowledgeable, very easy to understand, precise and the steak meal was of course fantastic. However... We were greeted brusquely by the Maître d' who appeared a little put out by our appearance, admittedly my partner and daughter were dressed to watch the nearby football immediately after the dinner so were warmly dressed, for Wellington, at 7Pm at the end of April: while I had shorts on to accommodate a knee brace, but were in no way scruffy or unkempt. Despite booking 24 hrs earlier and being on time we were told to stand "over there" while he found a table for us. We were taken to our table by a waiter who tried offering my 21 year old daughter the kids menu. Finally after dinner the Maître d' seemed to have no idea where anyone had been seated and would follow each diner to see where they had actually been seated - odd. So, some good, some great and some, just a little off...

Written 1 May 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.

Mark H

Buenos Aires51 contributions

A good spot, but wouldn’t go back

Jan 2025 • friends

Good food, freshly prepared, and good wine by the glass (including sweet wine). Steak was prepared to the right point. Chips very good. Service decent, waitress could have spoken better English but not bad. Underwhelming interiors, felt like you were in a hotel lobby (which we were haha)

Written 8 January 2025

Safari66782650372

22 contributions

Great restaurant

Jan 2024 • couples

Portlander is always good, had lunch there today 23/1 and must say staff are tops in presentation and service. Food was A1 and steak was cooked as I ordered (and I’m a fussy old curmudgeon). My wife’s dish was also great and we will return with friends. Cheers, Rod

Written 22 January 2024

Rydges Team

Wow! Thank you so much for the awesome review! We're so glad you enjoyed your meal!

Written 15 February 2024

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

Heather S

3 contributions

Steak lunch

Sept 2024 • family

VERY disappointed with the steak we ordered - 1st the waiter had to check the steak was available! We ordered the tomahawk steak to share between the 3 of us, we asked for medium rare & were told it didn't come that way - so it came cooked / over cooked & cold & we were the only table there for lunch - alarm bells should've rung!! The fat had gone solid white on the steak - disgusting!! & @ $300.00++ for an over cooked steak with a few dismal side dishes - I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a steak!!

Written 17 March 2025

DisneyDarwin

Spring1151 contributions

Mystery cook?

Dec 2023 • friends

What arrogance. The waiter explained they could not honor your cook request for your steak, instead you got it how the chef chose to prepare it. I’ve had plenty of chef meals and I’m fine trusting the chef generally, but at an expensive steakhouse you usually get your steak like you like it. I can’t think of any reason for this other than their convenience or chef arrogance. Regarding service, the bar staff and drinks were outstanding. We dined as a group, and service was horribly slow. Several considered leaving hungry, rather than continuing to wait, and most left before dessert. The steaks were good, not great, when served, mostly cooked rare to medium rare, albeit uneven. The side dishes were all terrific. So, and overall uneven experience, some very good, and some quite disappointing.

Written 6 December 2023

Skylab1965

Wellington62 contributions

Quite the surprise, for the worst.

Mar 2023 • couples

Went to dinner at the Portlander after months of renovations having been completed and was looking forward to it, but was extremely surprised in comparing the night with a good dozen or more dinners I have experienced there. It was not the experience I was expecting quite honestly. The wine we ordered turned out to be 3.5 times the amount you can pay at a supermarket. Nice wine, just over priced. The entree's we had was Lamb ribs. Last time I went, they were cooked in a beautiful rich bourbon bbq sauce. This time, they came with a mint sauce condiment. The Lamb was a very poor cut to be sure. Ribs presented, were contained with-in a small fist size compacted servings. Very fatty and under cooked. The main I ordered was a medium Sirloin. It came medium rare and more towards the rare (bloody) than medium. One of our group choose the Salmon and although very nice, was enough to fit onto a small spoon. The tomato salad was nice, as was the green salad. The waiter was extremely helpful and friendly and could not fault the cleanliness of the place. I won't be back in a hurry though, which for me is unfortunate, as the food used to be on a whole different level. One thing that struck me is they have removed the salt and pepper shakers from all tables because they wanted us to eat the food as prepared. Sorry Portlander, but thats up to the customer. We are after all, the one's paying for the food.

Written 19 March 2023

Connector31391862959

1 contribution

Not up to Hotel standard

Dec 2024 • couples

Staying at hotel and went for something special. Staff were outstanding but food xxx. Ordered fish $40 from menu. Fish OK but was served with mashed potato and tomato sauce. Also the lamb dish (added separate mashed potato) lamb was dry and tough and some unable to chew. My experience tells me it had either been precooked and reheated or prefrozen and finished in a pan. Sorry because hotel was very good and will be going back again.

Written 26 December 2024

Luvinspoonful

Rotorua671 contributions

Has not adapted to covid restrictions

Oct 2021 • none

It’s an expensive buffet that we have enjoyed on each visit but it’s an unpleasant, costly poor start to the day at level 2. Front of house coffee team were good but run off their feet and the sign saying there would be table service was a virtual impossibility. . Saturday (today the 16th) was made even more unpleasant by rude male staff coming from kitchen and snapping at clientele about where to queue for food (no written directions on floors or walls). The buffet has been severely restricted to what staff can serve you and it’s not particularly fresh or particularly hot.

Written 15 October 2021

marcus

Wellington2 contributions

After work celebrations

Oct 2021 • friends

First of all, sorry to be this person. I do not write reviews often but I feel the need to share my dining experience. I’ve eaten at Portlander 3 or 4 times now so I’ve given it a fair chance. The first few occasions I felt I wasn’t ordering the right item off the menu, but after feeling unsatisfied after this time round I’ve come to terms that it’s not a great restaurant/dining experience. It is severely overrated. It looks the part on the surface but the food does not match. You’re paying $40 for an average steak but if you spent that money elsewhere you’d be walking away delighted and satisfied with the money spent. Not here. Food every time was pretty alright, but overpriced. You want to be boujie or celebrate something, please please go elsewhere for that experience. It simply doesn’t deliver. Food quality aside I want to focus on something else for this review. It kind of took the biscuit this evening… we were charged $190 over what we owed, for a number of items we didn’t order. This was from the previous diners at our table yet when it came to paying the waitress said she noticed the items on the tab yet said nothing til we said we weren’t paying for the things we didn’t order. There was a bit of back and forth but it just confirmed that after several dining experiences, this wasn’t worth the money. I feel out of place saying this considering the glowing reviews this establishment has. But I can hand on heart say it is the one restaurant in Wellington I will never ever dine in again. Just my opinion, but felt the need to share. Avoid.

Written 15 October 2021

IrishEM

Seattle9 contributions

Okay food, terrible service.

Oct 2024 • solo

Service was shockingly poor.. maitre d’ gave the impression that as there was no reservation he was doing a big favor by giving me a table. Waited an age to get served.. then almost 15 minutes for my drink to arrive, food delivery slow too (food was good though!). Then Maitre D’ was so swift to take my plate and rush me to pay, I ordered another drink. The bar staff made my drink, I could see it on the counter.., and I waited almost another 10 mins for it to be brought to the table. There is a very obvious disconnect between the Maitre d’ and the rest of the staff.. as I was paying, he summonsed over another waitress to show another couple to their table, she all but threw a tantrum in front of everyone as she had obviously been asked to do something else a moment earlier. The food is actually pretty good … the attitude of the Maitre d’ and the disarray of the rest of the service lets the place down badly.

Written 14 October 2024

Peter Leclercq

1 contribution

Perfect dinner spot

Mar 2023 • family

Joined my family here for dinner two days ago. Atmosphere was lovely - not too loud. We were served by Maddy and her trainee who were absolutely amazing to deal with. Maddy was knowledgeable and friendly. She made great wine recommendations and seemed to have vast knowledge of the wines on their list. Food was outstanding - I had the cheeseburger and it was juicy and so filling. Would 100% come back.

Written 14 March 2023

Bri

Masterton40 contributions

Lovely, accommodating service and amazing Panna cotta

Apr 2023 • couples

While staying at the Rydges we went down for dessert and a drink after having dinner in town. The staff were super accommodating with our drinks and the pannacotta was absolutely incredible, one of the best desserts we've had. We also had the gelato which was delicious. Great restaurant and lovely staff, also enjoyed the decor and atmosphere.

Written 6 April 2023

NBNB_NZ

Wellington134 contributions

A bit disappointing start of the day

Nov 2020 • none

We had breakfast Saturday 28 November and can say with ease that this was one of the more disappointing experiences in a hotel restaurant - queues to get in, spending 3 minutes to find a vacant table, had to go look for staff to clear the table for us, queues at the buffet, buffet OUT OF EGGS, BACON and HASHBROWNS, and we joined 8 others who were waiting for top-ups to arrive. No wide choices. BUT at least the seats were comfortable, the Chef friendly when approached for baked eggs just to get something to eat, and tasty baked eggs. This is not a breakfast option I will likely repeat in the near future

Written 2 December 2020

Ben L

2 contributions

How the mighty have fallen.

Jan 2021 • none

The food was excellent and the steak was perfect but we booked our dinner under the impression that the restaurant offered a chefs “pot luck” which was well advertised on the exterior and interior of the hotel. When we sat down to order the wait staff said it wasn’t on offer! The tv in the hotel room was advertising it as well and we were very disappointed. Breakfast service was another story, the staff were inattentive and didn’t offer coffee or explain how seating/the buffet was supposed to work. The quality of the food has declined significantly since our last visit. We have eaten here multiple times to great satisfaction but something has changed in the way they run it. The attention to detail is nil and service standards have slipped to. The chefs however are excellent and professional but I wouldn’t hire any of the wait staff morning or evening.

Written 15 January 2021

Cactusfru1t

1 contribution

Order a steak!

Jan 2022 • none

Ordered the eye fillet this weekend and it was so juicy and tender. I've had their other cuts in the past as and they constantly deliver the highest quality - best steak I've ever eaten and well worth the price. The table also had an assortment of desserts, with everyone raving about the panna cotta. Service was wonderful, we were well waited upon and could always see the smiles beneath the masks. Felt very welcome and as it was a quiet night we stayed for around two hours just enjoying the food and ambience.

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Written 29 January 2022