Prohibition Smokehouse

Someone from this business manages this listing.

345 reviews

#5 of 297 Restaurants in Dunedin$$ - $$$, Steakhouse, Grill, Vegetarian friendly

+64 3-479 2018+ Add website

Hours

Tue

5:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Wed

5:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Thu

5:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Fri

5:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Sat

5:00 pm - 11:59 pm

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

345 reviews

#5 of 297 Restaurants in Dunedin

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Steakhouse, Grill, Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

“As mains we had oyster mushrooms, baby sole, beautifully cooked short rib, st...”

Special Occasion Dining, Romantic, Groups, Business meetings

“Anniversary the service and meal made the day.”

“... Smokehouse for the first time last night when on a business trip to Dunedin.”

“This time was a very special occasion spoilet by a very long wait.”

Location and contact

10 The Octagon, Dunedin 9016 New Zealand

+64 3-479 2018

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Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

About

Where quality New Zealand meats and the elements of fire, smoke, aging, & fermenting come together to provide an exceptional experience. Follow @quillangutberlet for more behind the scenes

PRICE RANGE

$12.00 – $42.00

CUISINES

Steakhouse, Grill

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Table Service, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

345 reviews

Excellent

256

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Mountainman58

Melbourne3 contributions

Well rounded dining experience

Jan 2020 • none

Well rounded dining experience. My wife and I stumbled across this gem on our first day in Dunedin. Walking into the restaurant was a bit of a sensory overload with an array of lighting, floral arrangements, colours and patterns. We were greeted by a delightful young waiter who stepped us through the menu. The cocktails to start were refreshing and well balanced. Upon the waiters recommendations we shared the flank steak, pork belly accompanied by the mac and cheese and the cauliflower special. The meat was of exceptional quality, melting in your mouth. The dishes were impeccably presented, the sauces and the accompanying elements of the dish complemented each other perfectly. The mac and cheese and cauliflower would be right up there with some of the best side dishes I’ve ever eaten. I will definitely be returning prior to our departure. Everything was brilliant from start to finish.

Written 9 January 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.

Arlene D

Masterton63 contributions

BBQ heaven

Mar 2020 • solo

I had dinner here before going to the theatre. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I was dining alone and from where I sat I could watch the bar staff mixing drinks and the chefs cooking meals. It is definitely all about the protein in the main course. My half chicken came with a lovely spinach salad but if you are looking for you 5+ vegetables you will have to add more in the rest of your day. Having said that I would definitely go back again.

Written 14 March 2020

nwallington

Christchurch130 contributions

Tastebud explosion

Jan 2020 • couples

From the outside it’s nothing special but as soon as you walk in the door the decor becomes something quite interesting. Highly recommend the catch of the day, ours was blackened Blue Cod and was cooked to perfection. We also got the grilled corn and chipotle broccoli. Both were delicious. We also had the 350g Tommahawk steak aged for 145 days and it was cooked perfectly. We couldn’t fault the food. Average drinks list, but enough to keep you satisfied for the delicious food that’s served. Wait staff were great, they knew their stuff! We left satisfied

Written 9 January 2020

Styly_Girl

Dunedin334 contributions

Some fabulous food and some not so fabulous

Jul 2020 • friends

The decor is eclectic. Dried bunches of dust accumulating dried flowers everywhere. Cool purple light shades and a couple o pink flamingos for some reason The seats and tables were comfy. We decided to try some of the sharing plates. Pear, blue cheese and walnut salad. Nice except the pear was poached or something and not raw - it detracted from overall enjoyment. 4 lettuce leaves and some crumbly bits. Buttermilk chicken wings were served with a very sweet sauce and while the coating was crunchy the skin inside was rubbery making us think it was undercooked. Crab cakes were very nice but they could have been tinned tuna for what you could taste. The spare ribs were very spicy - too spicy. The beef sliders were moist and tasty and tiny. The triple cooked chips were good but you get only a small portion for like $12. The sour cherry cheesecake was not, in fact, sour. It was just ok. The pecan pie was so very delicious. I’d go back for that pie! The coffee was hot and served in these dinky glasses that were cool to the touch but kept the coffee piping hot. The staff were good but under pressure when a few tables are filled.

Written 31 July 2020

Molly M

8 contributions

Disappointed

Feb 2020 • couples

I really hate to be the guy to write a negative review but our experience last night did not live up to expectations. It was my birthday and my partner and I decided to check out Prohibition Smokehouse based on the great reviews. The food and decor was lovely, however the service really let us down. The service we received in comparison to other tables surrounding us was disappointing. I noticed other tables were greeted, offered the option of still or sparkling water, the menu and specials were explained in great detail and meals checked throughout their evening. I felt like we didn't receive the same standard of service as other diners. Would have loved to stay for dessert, but nobody came to check in with us. I know I could have mentioned our experience when we went up to pay, but I just felt a bit embarrassed by the experience. As I said, the food was really good but I had higher expectations on the service side of things, especially with such high prices. Perhaps I should have mentioned it was my birthday on the reservation?

Written 13 February 2020

Ray F

Dunedin44 contributions

Wow Nothing Special

Mar 2021 • none

Yikes, we all have been waiting so diligently for this prized location to open with style. It so much potential. But what a let down. I mean I still have hope for this place, but look out. Even tho I got here early on Wednesday and the bar was not even one third full, I was ignored like I was completely invisible. A complete 12 minutes before my beer was finally ordered. The Red Right was good, but was it really worth $6.50 each ? The eggroll appetiser tasted like corn beef hash out of a can. Horrible and $7 for the experience. Yikes, you only have one time to make that crucial first impression. Make it count , now. Dont decide later on to have a bar menu, or drop prices for early bird. The time has passed. Dont be left behind.

Written 12 March 2021

Tom Ho

Auckland Central342 contributions

Meh service👎

Nov 2020 • family

Maybe the staff just had a bad meeting prior to their shift tonight. Nobody came to check our meal, even when we paid the staff didn’t say thank you or asked a simple question like did we have a good time or enjoyed our meal. No smiles. The 400g dry aged tomahawk was ‘slightly’ over cooked. We didn’t bother with dessert tonight. It’s our second time here. We only have one night in Dunedin and we decided to have dinner at your place, unfortunately we’re quite disappointed.

Written 3 November 2020

Gingernut

Dunedin59 contributions

Bit over priced

Jun 2020 • friends

Food is good but very rich and heavy. The meat dishes don't come with much more than meat and some garnishes so you need sides which are a big add on. The triple cooked chips with truffle mayo (sounds amazing) for $12!! were just chips and mayo. Average chips and couldn't get a hit of truffle in the mayo. The meat special was on the bone which made up half the weight of the steak so the quantity of meat was very small for the price of almost $80! No sides included either. All just seems a bit over priced. The interior is modern and nicely done and the service was excellent.

Written 15 June 2020

GiJo48

6 contributions

Unprepared

Jun 2022 • couples

We booked in advance (Saturday evening) and when we arrived at 7.10pm they had already sold out of oysters and the porterhouse steak and only had 750g steaks available ($17+ per 100g so over $120 steak). Entrees were nice, service was fine but inattentive. Left after mains. Wouldn't go back.

Written 5 June 2022

Prohibition Smokehouse

Hi GiJo48, Thank you for providing this feed back to us, We are deeply saddened that you had a negative experience in our restaurant. As mentioned in your review Oysters and some of our larger cuts of steak were unavailable, we have acknowledged your concerns and have taken measures to ensure this is not an on going issue and that this problem has been rectified. We have ordered a new Dryager to keep on top of steak production, and upon reading your review we have implemented systems to have more fresh oysters advailable at all times. We thank you for bringing these issues to our attention. In the future we hope that you will give our restaurant another try as the experience you received is not a reflection of our restaurant and expectations we have of ourselves. we look forward seeing you again and being able to provide you with the standard of service and food that all our customers and staff expect. Kind Regards, Quillan

Written 6 June 2022

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

NZTommo61

Auckland Central5 contributions

These guys know how to cook steak

Jul 2022 • none

I chose to have the House Specialty "Aged" Tomahawk, which at $19 per 100gms is a little decadent when a 650gm version was served up to me, absolutely perfectly cooked, perfectly presented and exceptionally tasty. Sometimes you just need to treat yourself to a $120 steak when it's this great. Very nice ambience and super friendly staff added to an amazing experience. I would come again without hesitation.

Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz

This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.

Written 10 July 2022

Prohibition Smokehouse

Hi Tommo61, Thank you for leaving us such a great Feedback, as you are aware we specialise in all things Meat related. we put a lot of time and effort into producing the best Dry Aged steak in Dunedin. I have passed your kind words to to our team. We look forward to hosting you next time. Thank you Kind regards, Quillan Head Chef

Written 15 July 2022

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

windgeasaurus

Royal Tunbridge Wells37 contributions

Coeliac aware

Feb 2020 • couples

Busy Saturday evening, good atmosphere. Accommodating barman made a great negroni. Portion sizes are generous certainly made to share. The server was knowledgeable about the menu and helped with coeliac choices but the symbols used next to the dishes on the menu were a bit confusing; don’t assume. Pear and blue cheese great, marrow bone my guest wouldn’t choose again but we both very much enjoyed the short rib with a side of roasted veg. No room for dessert.

Written 28 February 2020

Doug

1 contribution

Fantastic first impressions

May 2022 • couples

Me and my partner have been meaning to go here a while and I'm glad we bit the bullet and went. Was very busy for a Tuesday night but we still managed to get our food at a reasonable time. While we were waiting the kitchen gave us complimentary truffle bread with honey smoked butter which we absolutely inhaled. A wonderful mix of sweet and smoky. Our mains were exceptional, I don't usually like pumpkin but the butternut puree really added an amazing flavor to my pork. My partner got the lamb and it has to be the most tender lamb Ive ever had, the grilled mushrooms and jus only adding smokey and umami flavours to the meat. We also got the triple cooked chips which have to be the crispiest chips I've had hands down. We finished off the night with a pecan tart. I myself have also never been one for pecans but this tart is astounding. The milk jam with the vanilla ice cream is sensational and I'll definetly be having it again once I go back. The service was amazing and the wait staff are very attentive to your needs, even refilling your water if it gets low. The ambience was top notch with a very trendy vibe that just makes you forget the outside world. All in all an astounding night and would be more than willing to go back. This has to be hands down one the best restaurants in the city. 5 stars.

Written 17 May 2022

Wayne H

Auckland Central9 contributions

Simply Outstanding

Aug 2021 • business

It is not often that all the elements come together to make a truly memorable dining experience. The Prohibition Smokehouse is an outstanding exception. From the minute you walk in the door, to be greeted by a warm and exciting decor and then an equally warm and attentive staff, you know you are off to a good start. When you combine that with exceptional food, prepared in inspiring new ways and with great consideration, that is delivered by the attentive staff who are also very knowledgeable, then your night has just jumped to the next level. The selection of drinks to compliment your meal and the attentive to detail by the owners adds that extra that makes the night memorable. All the elements are there, combined and delivered in a way to guarantee a fabulous night!!

Written 6 August 2021

Mintynz

Dunedin19 contributions

Changed - and not for the better

Jun 2021 • none

The place was busier than ever, but it was not for us. This used to be our favourite restaurant, but gone are the sharing plates, sauces, chips in paper, pickles, and salads we loved. In their place ... basically the same fine dining you can get elsewhere. Expensive meat dishes that require you to buy individual sides, and deconstructed desserts ... yes ... those tiny cubes with the mousse really are the 'sponge' referred to in the menu. The crowd also seems to have changed from couples and mixed groups to 'the boys' looking for their evening 'meat fix'. The food was well cooked as always, but it was like a different restaurant.

Written 16 June 2021

David G

Seattle135 contributions

Just OK

Jul 2021 • friends

First time at Prohibition due to a favourite, Luna, being fully booked. Celebrating my wife’s 66th birthday with friends we hoped for a nice evening out. Booked for 6pm and noted on website that we could only have the table until 8pm. Fair enough we were warned. Lead waiter explained the menu in depth with emphasis on air curing method for 15 minutes. Took our drinks order and returned in a reasonable amount of time. A second member of the wait staff took our order and departed. After a wee while I needed to catch their eye for another wine and eventually was successful. Time was ticking. Our mains were brought, followed by a third person reminding us that we would need to vacate the table by 7:45. The aged porterhouse was well seasoned and prepared as were the three different sides. A second warning was issued re our table deadline. We hurried a bit through the mains as our intention was to try their desserts. Probably the biggest disappointment was in fact the minute slice of a thin excuse for pecan pie. While the hero was indeed the steak all else left us flat.

Written 16 July 2021

Prohibition Smokehouse

Hi David, thanks for your feedback, we're really glad you enjoyed your meal and that the steak was a hero. I'm sorry to hear you felt pressed for time due a a following booking, we'd love to get in touch with you to discuss things further and improve on your previous experience with us, Please reach out to us at prohibitonsmokehouse@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you. Shane

Written 20 July 2021

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

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