The Gables Osteria & Enoteca

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#4 of 19 Restaurants in RussellItalian, Seafood, $$$$

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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.

The Gables Osteria & Enoteca

Review

At a glance

Closes in 43 min

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Website

+64 9-403 7670Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

New Zealand's oldest operating Restaurant. The Gables Osteria & Enoteca in a stunning waterfront setting.

Features

CUISINES

Italian, Seafood, European, British, Contemporary, New Zealand

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Visa

Waterfront

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

19 The Strand, Russell 0202 New Zealand

Is this a British restaurant?

Yes

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Hours

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Closes in 43 min

Sunday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Monday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tuesday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Wednesday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Thursday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Friday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Saturday

12:00 pm - 9:30 pm

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4.5

1,174 reviews

Excellent

793

Very good

271

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Yes

Kate320

San Francisco356 contributions

Six stars -- you'll enjoy it, promise

Feb 2024 • family

What a gem of a place! We had lunch outside, waterside -- no rush, great food, great service (which so rarely happens when you're across the road at a harborside table). We had a really good lunch, drinks, dessert and thoroughly enjoyed everything about both our server, the food and the location. Highly recommend the experience.

Written 24 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.

Dieter61

Radeberg62 contributions

Top cuisine at sunset

Mar 2024 • couples

Just the view of the Bay of Islands at sunset leaves a lasting impression. The Italian-influenced cuisine is hardly inferior. Primi and secondi piatti were of excellent quality. The fish of the day in particular can be warmly recommended, as it was not served frozen - something that is rather unusual even in New Zealand. Extremely friendly and competent service rounded off the evening, which was the highlight of our tour.

Written 12 March 2024

Pasi H

Helsinki2 contributions

Excellent dinner with a friendly service

Nov 2023 • none

We had a wonderful visit to Gables, enjoying the Mediterranean cuisine and warm evening ambiance. Service was exceptionally friendly and personal, our hostess took good care of us and the choice of dishes we had were well prepared and very tasty. Sunset views over the beachfront towards Paihia hills is hard to beat. Nice to find local food such as snapper prepared with a twist, our daughter also loved the artisan pasta, the Dani sour was a classy drink. Fully recommend this place, we would definitely visit again.

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 21 November 2023

Alastair McKay

Malvern Hills26 contributions

Over-rated, over-priced, under-staffed

Dec 2023 • couples

My wife and I dined here twice this week. On Sunday night it was virtually empty, and we had good service. The food was good, if expensive given the standard of cuisine. We ended up here a second time on Tuesday night, as we couldn’t get in to the other places we wanted to go. Big mistake. It was fairly full, but not overflowing. Our starters, the fish crudo, eventually arrived, despite clearly having been prepared well in advance. We then faced a painfully long wait for our main courses. It was clear from the many others waiting a long time that there were insufficient staff in the kitchen and that two, occasionally three waiting staff were inadequate for the numbers of customers - despite the restaurant not being entirely full. Eventually, after failing to be able to get the attention of any of the waiting staff, I got up to go and have a word with the one who had seated us. I asked whether it was worth us waiting longer or whether we should try seeking a meal at another restaurant. The waiter said he would check with the kitchen, and returned to say it would be about 10 minutes more, and asked whether that was ok. We decided on balance to wait, as it was now around 8:10pm (we’d been seated around 6:50pm). I asked for a complementary second glass of wine, given our long wait and that our glasses were long empty; and these were delivered. About three minutes later our main courses arrived - clearly ahead of several other guests who’d be waiting longer, but not had the courage to complain. Having asked for my steak to be cooked rare, I was disappointed that it was overcooked and at best medium rare; but there was clearly no point in sending it back. My wife’s fish was cooked well done, to be fair. The fries were crispy on the top layer, but soggier as one went down the bowl. The salad was an unimaginative lot of huge tough leaves, too big to eat whole. Needless to say we didn’t stay for dessert, which in any case had been disappointing on the previous visit. Then, on going to pay the bill, I was unhappy to find that they were charging us for the second complimentary glass of wine. Only when I protested did the young duty manager remove it. My wife’s comment was to express regret that we hadn’t left before the main course, and I couldn’t disagree. Having visited Italy several times, this restaurant’s pretensions to be an authentic Italian restaurant are a bit of a joke, on a number of fronts. Suffice it to say, if you want fine dining, then make the 15-minute drive out to Sage restaurant at Paroa Bay vineyard where we dined last night, where the food was superb, the waiting staff attentive, knowledgeable and conversational, the ambiance relaxed and the view stunning. And noticeably cheaper than this place, which is to be avoided if remotely busy or during holiday season, and only if you’re happy to pay over the odds for the quality on offer.

Written 20 December 2023

Caro

Greater Sydney41 contributions

Disappointing poor service average food but great location

Dec 2023 • couples

We stumbled across the restaurant in the gorgeous town of Russell the ambience looked great with lights under the trees booked for the following night. At least our table was reserved as requested under the tree S but not made up. The waitress didn’t know the food on the menu, the cocktails were just spirits poured over block of ice. The clam spaghetti was very underwhelming. small serve, clams ok but spaghetti was clumped together and just tossed in the bowl, was pretty dry with raw chilli cut on top and a bit of dill thrown on top. The Ragu was good but again just four dobs on top of papperdelle. So wished we tried the Duke of Marlborough instead

Written 22 December 2023

jomackiwi

Auckland6 contributions

Top Marks from a seasoned Campaigner

Dec 2023 • none

We had two small children when we bought a time share week in the Bay of Islands in the late 1980s, we've eaten in every incarnation of every establishment since, with kids, with teens, with friends, with grandchildren. No beating around the bush, the Gables is head and shoulders above the rest, for miles around. We had arancini, lamb cutlets and the sharing antipasto platter (5of us) The focaccia and dips were devoured. The birthday boy and his son slipped away a dozen oysters. Two couples shared a pasta ragu each because we had indulged so well on the starters. A cloudy morning gave way to a stunning afternoon as we watched the comings and goings of the waterfront. A bottle of Amisfield Riesling was ordered, the scent of it combining with wonderful food, the tang of the waterfront and the blossoms of jacaranda and pohutakawa stained the grass outside. It was a perfect birthday location, staff were wonderful, loved every minute in this beautiful historic old lady. It's the tops.

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 16 December 2023

Pak P

Perth236 contributions

Elitist

Jan 2023 • couples

We tried to eat here, found a table and sat down only to be told that they had just offered the table to someone else, how can that be if we’re sitting there? We tried to explain that as a wheelchair user I could not access their building as it isn’t accessible and thus needed that outdoor table. We were told we’d have to sit inside. As a result we took our money elsewhere.

Written 9 January 2023

Nicholas L

Hi Stuart. It's very unfortunate that we were full and therefore not able to accommodate you for dinner. During busy season, the table turnover is very fast, and we operate on a booking and waiting list basis. We are very sorry, but on your visit the particular table you sat at had already been promised to someone else. It's always helpful if customers wait to be seated, as reminded by the sign at the entrance. It's also worth pointing out that our restaurant is accessible to wheelchair users and has a disabled toilet. In fact, we have local wheelchair users regularly dining inside our restaurant.

Written 23 January 2023

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

shonamarym

Wellington183 contributions

Beautiful meal in a beautiful setting

Mar 2023 • friends

Fabulous dinner with friends! My first time to the area and wow stunning! Food was great and service matched it. We close the chefs choice and it was excellent. I had some food restrictions as I was having a medical procedure later in the week and there was no problem from the chef catering to my needs. Great food, great wine , great company. No food photos but what a setting

Written 4 April 2023

LandC46

Auckland265 contributions

The Review “Rip-off” mirrors our experience. Not a happy one.

Feb 2021 • couples

The Ripoff review came too late to help. But we must echo it. Sadly this return visit of ours (after a happy experience several years ago) was marred from the outset by an unhelpful encounter with the management regarding our online booking. This booking could not be found and we were sharply informed that it had to be our fault! Just as well we had decided to check the night prior to the booking date. We were grudgingly offered alternative times because our preferred time of 7pm was allegedly already fully booked. However the following night showed this claim to be spurious as many tables were clearly free at that time. Our waitress offered a meagre service. The pork dish was almost inedible due to toughness. The single piece of cheese serving was dry and seemed to have been left out too long. The accompanying fancy dry “crackers” seemed more focussed on style than something pleasant to eat. Oh, and I know that sometimes any venue marking of a special event can these days seem formulaic, it would have been nice if there had at least been a verbal acknowledgment from the servers.

Written 4 March 2021

michael c

61 contributions

Disappointing

Jan 2023 • couples

A lovely restaurant but our meal was ruined by one of our mains arriving 15 minutes after the delivery of the others. We chased 3 times. Eating together is a requirement unless you tell people before hand or the meal is clearly a sharing plates meal. Overpriced as the vegetable side was a single courgette and we ended up eating at different times.

Written 27 January 2023

josjebors

Napier10 contributions

NOT the gables anymore

Dec 2022 • none

It’s now called John’s… but still operating under the gables good reviews. Website very unclear.. Nice enough staff. The “share plate” was small for 2. Prices are still for fine dining but its just minimal takeaway type menu Not impressed

Written 11 December 2022

Anne0366

Sydney125 contributions

Great casual dining

Feb 2023 • couples

Located by the waterfront, great ambience. Staff very friendly and efficient. Sharing menu great for s as mooing different dishes. We had two small sharing which are entree size and one large sharing which is a generous main size. Food is fresh and tasty. Enjoyed our meal here and would definitely recommend.

Written 8 February 2023

Kiwichicks

Auckland9 contributions

Ripoff

Feb 2021 • none

We reserved a table for 8pm and as we have a dog, needed an outside table. We arrived just before 8pm and were told to wait until a table was ready. After standing around for 15 minutes and witnessing another table being given to someone else, we said we would go for a walk and they replied they would call us when a table was available. Around 9:30 we walked back to the restaurant as we had no other alternatives as other restaurants were full. They had cleared down 2 tables and said they were about to call us. We ordered 2 x pork bellies, and when they arrived after 10pm, we were shocked by the tiny portion size, not to mention that my portion compared to my wife's was vastly different (attached photo is the big portion). For $36 for a slice of pork belly the length and thickness of a fork and the rest of the dish being basically purees and leaves, definitely not value for money. The manager didn't even have the courtesy to apologise for the table issue. We spoke to other locals in Russell who said that they don't go to the restaurant as they are not prepared to pay stupid tourist prices. Don't waste your time or good money. We have been to fine dining restaurants in Auckland which don't rip people off like they do here.

Written 15 February 2021

BittenByTheBug

8 contributions

Food was lovely save for the plastic in the bread

Dec 2020 • none

Lovely views, gourmet food (try the oysters: wow!) but we found the wait staff lacking. When I informed her there was plastic in the bread, and showed her the plastic which clearly came from inside the bread, she replied with “oh” and took the plates away. She returned with the dessert menu. We did not get an apology from her nor the chef or manager, we were not offered any type of discount or offered a free drink... nothing. If this issue happened at McDonald’s inside a $5 burger management would be falling over themselves to make amends, but a $16 side dish at The Gables may contain plastic and the staff won’t care. Not good enough, especially when we were the only ones in the restaurant until one other customer came in for a solo lunch, book in tow.

Written 10 December 2020

Dennis J

Hamilton640 contributions

Not quite what we hoped for.

Nov 2020 • couples

It's a nice place to be in and the view from our table was great The staff were friendly and interesting about the history of the property. However, the "but" is that fish of the day meals were both extremely small and also overcooked, to the point where the fish was dry. When we saw the portion size we had to immediately order a couple of side dishes and the waiter could have told us that would be a good idea. I suspect we just picked the wrong meal on the wrong night.

Written 16 November 2020