For foodies Wellington is a great place, so many restaurants, bistros, bars, cafes – you are well and truly spoilt for choice. We have a long wish list of restaurants we would like to try and a few of these are “nice” restaurants, i.e. of good repute but pricey. On our first visit to Wellington 3 years ago we went to Logan Brown but it failed to impress. This time out we booked The White House Restaurant, on Oriental Parade.
As we arrived for our 7.30pm reservation a group of American tourists were departing – the location of the restaurant will be appreciated by all but in particular by visitors. The vista from the dining room captures lovely views of Oriental bay, the CBD and the sweep across the harbour up to the Rimutaka Hills in the distance. The entrance is up stairs and with people leaving it wasn’t clear to staff newcomers had arrived so we had to wait to catch someones eye but once we were spotted we enjoyed excellent, friendly, attentive but not intrusive service throughout the evening.
A bistro menu is on offer to diners Monday through to Thursday, who are prepared to vacate tables by 7.30pm, consisting of 3 courses and a glass of chardonnay for £50. The Menu Degustation is £125 for eight courses but we decided on the a la carte menu.
Spoilt for choice we had trouble deciding what to eat! Hot crisps arrived for us to munch on whilst considering the menu choices. Decisions made, a pretty, light, refreshing and flavoursome amuse bouche of snapper cevice was swiftly on the table.
Octopus
The Kiwi had Japanese inspired Octopus, Wasabi Jelly, Sorbet and pickled ginger with nuts to start – a cacophony of flavours and textures. A Gin and Tonic Jelly with citrus foam then arrived to clear our palate for what was to follow – all yummy and refreshing.
Grilled venison with puy lentils and game pie was my main concern and it ticked all the boxes with the meat pink and melt in the mouth delicious, the game pie full of strong flavour. The Kiwi had Sous-vide Duck on kumara mash, enjoying the sous-vide element of the duck but wasn’t too taken with the rest of the dish, including the teeny tiny amount of mash!
All doing well until my major irritation with ‘nice’ restaurants – charging extra for serving veg with your meal (see previous posts!). Unfortunately The White House follows this rather poor principle. My meal was fairly complete but the Kiwi’s main was lacking in accompaniments and looked a rather frugal portion as a result… at these prices thats not good enough!
Terrific Trifle
That said, we continued with a decadent Trifle – not something I normally order but it was a delight. The Kiwi also broke with the norm by ordering a dessert as the Variations on Chocolate proved too much temptation and worth it with the visual display it put – a chocolate volcano! Truffles arrived with the bill, again a visual display, of dry ice which was a dramatic and stylish finish to a lovely dinner – which could be more lovely had some veg come with the mains as standard.
Chocolate Variations
