Review The Wine Box - Albany

The steaks are really good, the mushrooms sauce was FANTASTIC, a little bit disappointed that they didn't have any of the two entrees that we wanted to try, also the wine list could be a little be more extensive.

Love this place. Old school and true to the original character of Albany. Good, honest food and great wine. Their signature dish of chicken livers was delicious and the waitress was lovely.

Comments about this restaurant are really polarized,but I don’t regret about my choice😄Flat bread is amazing,while fish of the day is average.

Loved it here food was food we had pizza.. And quiet I will go back pizza was yummy and staff very attentive

This meal was outstanding. We had the lamb cutlets with garlic green beans and potato gratin and slow braised beef cheeks with celeriac puree and roast carrots. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Service was great. A really nice ambience with a real fire and to top it off a great selection of wines and amazing value. We rarely give reviews but this was so great it was worthy of one. Highly recommend!

What an amazing meal. The best Lemon Pepper Squid ever! The food and favours were fantastic and the portion sizes were just right. Roast Lamb & Braised Beef Cheeks and finished off with the Ginger poached pear. Great meal and priced nicely. Will definitely be back!!!

We were very impressed with this lovely place. We hadn't booked and were a group of six, but they welcomed us in and we had a fabulous meal. The lady who served us was hospitable and had a good knowledge of the menu and any queries we had. Will go back when next in Auckland.

I was very surprised at this little out of the way restaurant. Having a real roaring fire at your back is always a good start. As this was a semi business meeting it was awesome to be in a restaurant where you could hold a conversation without yelling. The wait staff were very efficient and the meal was excellent. Overall an excellent find.

Local restaurant we hadnt been to for a while so decided to give it a try. Easy parking and nice to sit outside while it is still warm enough. Menu was nothing special and really couldn't see anything that stood out. Ordered.pasta found this very bland. Husband meal of fish was nice and sons pizza was pretty good..

We had a birthday dinner for a party of 4 two months ago. The set menu was great value for money and delicious with the wine pairing recommended by the waiter making the experience so much more enjoyable. The service was outstanding. We will be back!

Beautiful food although my partner ordered the steak medium rare and it came out rare then they did it again and it was rarer than before. The lady that served us was amazing and the atmosphere was awesome and our food was great. She did all she could to make our experience great

We had Mothers Day Breakfast here. The service was great however when one of our group went to order her waffles she was told they had none. A little disappointed as we were there at 9 am and I would have thought on a day like mothers day they would have been well stocked of everything. The boys both ordered the maxi grill and neither of them had bacon on the plate. We let the waitress know and she went and got the bacon straight away however an apology would have been nice. Other than that we had great meals and would definitely come back.

We were a group of 22 and ordered from a 3 course set menu. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the service was fantastic. Duck liver pate is definitely a must. I had the fish but got food envy as the people who had the chicken said it was spectacular. My husbank had a scotch with he said was very tasty. Good portions of fresh steamed veges. This is really important to me as I hate veges hidden in sauces and flavoured butter. Nice to come back to The Wine Box and know it's still a good choice.

What genuine and caring hosts! I have complicated food scenarios and I felt welcome and supported at this cafe. The waitress was willing and helpful and the chef put positive and nurturing energy into food options for me. Intention is everything and I appreciated it. Thanks ladies!

We were on the hunt for a new local for weekend brunch and sadly the Wine Box didn't deliver. We weren't greeting as we entered. We were sat down for 10-15 min before we got up to order as no one had come to take our orders. Ordered a big breakfast - asked for poached eggs.. received fried. Baked beans were cold. Disappointed as we were after a new local and the Wine Box is in walking distance.

Went to dinner their last night. We were very disappointed. Firstly, there was no ginger ale as a mixer for a drink. The squid entre's were tasteless and just chucked onto iceberg lettuce. The ribs and chicken skewers were cooked ok but didn't have much flavour. Didn't enjoy our meals at all

We came here for the $20 lamb roast on Sundays. It included veggies, Yorkshire pudding, lamb, potatoes, and gravy. Delightful meal and tasty wine to go along. The lamb was cooked perfectly and can't wait to go here another time to try out one of their other meals.

I found this restaurant about two years ago by accident and loved it so much that I always remembered it as a place with good memories. <br/><br/>The last time I’ve been here was last year May, but the most recent review sounded like they had a horrible experience. I was also a little bit worried because the restaurant was under a new management. <br/><br/>But it was just the way I remembered. Staff were so friendly and the service was good. <br/><br/>What I love the most is the vintage interior. I mean, it could have been a family house. An actual fireplace is on during winter nights making the room very cozy and warm. Fairy light decorations outside the building is very charming and looks festive. The tables are pretty old (in a good way) and the whole place has that wooden/rustic touch. <br/><br/>This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts and drinks including tea, so it’s perfect for any time of the day. I love coming here especially on a rainy day. <br/><br/>Thanks so much ! :)

First impression was that we may have come in through the wrong door. Photos on the website flatter the actual setting. The meal was good. The service fell far short of what could be expected based on the prices.

After seeing a sign while driving past saying ‘under new management’ we thought we would give this place another try. Walk in and not even greeted by the 2 staff at the counter. Decided to sit outside. After 10 minutes of waiting for service with no luck we decided to go up to the counter to order. Table needed a good clean (with crumbs stuck in the corners of the table for goodness knows how long). Food below average.. asked for poached eggs with my breakfast and received fried! Cold baked beans with the breakfast to top it all off.

Been going to the Wine Box for more than a decade. Had dinner in Feb 2019. The new owners are wonderful. Atmosphere still casual and eclectic. Steak is exceptional. Fresh vegetables. Big portions. Very tasty. Desserts are brilliant. One of the best places in North Shore!

Nice local menu. Cozy & comfy local atmosphere and most of time- friendly staff. <br/>It’s quite far from the city but always pleasant to visit on a quite day time! ( or even for dinner!!)

Service was pleasant and friendly but we thought the food we ordered was pretty pedestrian and on the expensive side. The fish of the day was a reasonably sized piece of steamed Kingfish. It was accompanied by mashed potato and steamed brocolli, cauliflower, beans and carrots. Nicely cooked but the flavour was bland. The other dish we ordered was the mussels in a light slightly buttery broth. Again it was bland and one of the mussels had a broken shell and was clearly off. It should not have been served as it had a foul taste. We felt that charging over $30 per dish was too much. We visited last year and they had a better menu with kangaroo, ostrich and venison and other more exciting dishes but are no longer available.

Been here a couple of times the staff are lovely and always very prompt and ensuring you have a good meal. It’s just a shame there menu doesn’t match what you get and is often just simply not what they say it is.

This was a great place to eat- very atmospheric and great food. I had the pork belly which was delicious, and the tiramisu which was a bit too creamy, hence the 4 stars. The service was lovely, and the restaurant had a great buzz!

We visited the wine box for my girlfriend's 30th birthday looking to make it a very special occasion. Our group had over 20 people so we were offered a set menu tailored to our needs that provided two courses of Entree & Main along with plenty of sides to go around.<br/><br/>The staff at the Wine Box really went the extra mile to incorporate all of our requests with Lenka helping with all the organizing up front then Michelle being the star of the show on the night.<br/><br/>We arranged to bring in a large format bottle of Champagne early for a toast, which they ensured was chilled for us, and our own birthday cake to go around for dessert.<br/><br/>They provided an amazingly decorated table with and extra bits an pieces like some photo props, large "3" & "0" helium balloon, a canvas for everyone to sign and write a Birthday message and it all added up to make a very special night.<br/><br/>P.S. The food was also amazing and could not be faulted plus the wine selection was amazing.

I've rated it five but I would give it 4.5 if there were the option but overall I love it.<br/><br/>The first time I went, the restaurant didn't do takeaway but they bothered to accommodate us. They were so meticulous putting everything into a little cup or box for us. I'm a diabetic and I went low while waiting and the lady brought some food out for me as well. The lamb roast is absolutely delicious and so perfect, same with the mash and mac and cheese.<br/><br/>We also went tonight ordered the same everything for my husbands birthday and it was as great as last time, the food was amazing kiwi food. The ambiance is kind of like a little cafe situated in a New Zealand or Australian vineyard.<br/><br/>I do see that this place used to have exotic meats like kangaroo, crocodile and ostrich, if I had any criticism I would love to see more of this back on the menu again, just because I like to try new meats and it can be great to have that option. <br/><br/>This place is a great option for a foodie like me, when I just want something local with ambiance, good service and good food. Also I am very happy to see them on uber eats now, will be ordering. I will definitely go back again...and again.

If it was out of 10, it would be a 7. A 3 just doesnt seem right, even though it's out of 5. I have only been here for breakfast on the weekend twice, so my review is based on those experiences. The service has always been fantastic and friendly. No real atmosphere as such on my visits but I could imagine on a busy night with the lights on it would be a cosy cabin like feel. The breakfasts I have had are good. Good meaning you're very happy with your meal but not blown away. Although the mushrooms were delish. The breakfast menu is very basic and With the amount of competition out there nowadays, some are generating some very exciting meals. Will return one night for dinner for sure

Food: steak and pasta were delicious<br/><br/>Service: service was very good, polite and attentive. <br/><br/>Good for kids?: Maybe. Although no kids menu, they are very accommodating to making simpler versions of existing menu items. But it doesn’t always turn out great. My daughter wanted cheese burger so they made one without all the usual fixings, the patty turned out to be very dry and the cheese was a clump hanging off the side. Even the buns were dry and hard. Needless to say, it was not very tasty.

Crowded restaurant. We were tucked into a corner so tight the waitress had to let me through first. We were surrounded by a party of about 20, we couldn't hear ourselves talk. <br/>Ordered the trio meats the waitress didn't tell us what was what. Anyway the ostrich was quite nice. Venison a bit dry and the kangaroo was tasteless. Husbands wine tasted as if it was open for a day.

Tried to find out a country-style Cafe&Eatery in Albany area. Suddenly the Wine Box came out.<br/><br/>Renovated from a previous old house, or maybe an old chapel, the wine box stands out among all other buildings around. With a terrace facing the Main Street with shed, sofa and green plants, it could be a cozy spot to kill your afternoon leisure time.<br/><br/>However, after walking in, sitting down, the whole space runs a bit out-of-time. It could be decorated better, with its original structure. I could sense the food might be a bit lagged checking the menu. So we just tried something quite basic.<br/><br/>Flat white arrives, totally matching its name, flat and white... you can barely taste the coffee. Then the chicken live pate with manuka&cream sauce gives out some unpleasant flavor which I could not bear, the BLT came out fairly normal. I was a bit upset with the bacon not crispy, bread over toasted and dressing too plain. Then we just ended up having chips for making this lunch up.<br/><br/>Maybe it was tucked so far away from the city, however, it should not end up offering food with this standard. Black Cottage Cafe is a good example for a country-style Cafe&restaurant. Try harder and do not let it fade away.

Fantastic all round as usual. I thought I would break away from my same as as always and had a steak instead - cooked to perfection! Even though the restaurant was packed (when isn't it?) the service was prompt, efficient and as warm as always. I almost wished it had taken longer so I could tick off a few more of those wines!<br/>until next time winebox!

Had a great meal with my husband. The Valentines menu had a variety of options. My husband had the duo of venison and ostrich. very tender. I had the prawn cutlets which were beautifully cooked. For the main meal we both had the beef eye fillet which was cooked to perfection. It was accompanied with a dish of veges, beans, carrots and cauliflower. Desert followed with a chocolate and raspberry tart for me and a citrus tart for my husband. Our meals couldn't be faulted. We weren't rushed at all. The waitress was a bubbly polite young lady, her service was superb. We have been to this restaurant many, many times and have never been disappointed with any of our meals. We have been for lunch and dinner. It has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and is very welcoming.

OMG!!! Their Chicken Fettucine is to die for!  I love the atmosphere at this restaurant. Its quite rustic with twinkly fairy lights and candles. I will be visiting frequently..

Visited the wine box last week with my partner. The staff were very inviting and friendly. <br/>We ordered the flower pot and prawns for starters both are delicious, loved how the flower pot has 3 different dips to go with it. <br/>Our mains were just as good, absolutely recommend the Fettuccine Franko and my partner had the lamb rack which he enjoyed. <br/>The wine list was fantastic so much choice and the staff helped us choose a lovely bottle of Red that went with both our meals. <br/>Will be returning again soon.

Overall, not a pleasant experience. I was trying to find somewhere special to dine in for Valentine's day with my boyfriend. Found out about wine box restaurant and some good reviews about their scotch fillet and so we decided to give the place a try. When we got there, I realised that they were only doing a special Valentine's set course for $60 pp, with only three options to choose from each course. I felt like this was a bummer as I was really looking forward to trying their scotch fillet and it wasn't part of the menu. Anyhoo,  we weren't too fussed and ordered despite the lack of options.The appetiser was okay. One turned out to be successful and the other entree was very average. The successful one was the antipasto platter- generous in portion sizing and the cream cheese dip tasted very good. <br/><br/>Because of the antipasto platter entree we were anticipating the main dishes. Unfortunately, the two mains were a disaster. The salmon dish with risotto was very bland and the salmon was just... bad. I don't see how anyone can go wrong with salmon steak but honestly, the one we had was VERY bad. But guys, let me tell you something. The risotto was so much worse. <br/>The aged eye fillet was just... not the steak I had in my mind- very hard to cut into, chewy, and like the salmon dish, needed seasoning. It seemed to be the budget version of what they usually have on the menu as the dish only had potatoes and didn't include kumara, spinach etc. After a few bites of the main meal my boyfriend and I decided to ask one of the staff for seasoning. The salt and pepper made it ever so slightly more edible. <br/><br/>We ordered 2 of the 3 entrees and main and it was all a disaster (except the platter). To top everything off, when we went to pay for our meal, the waiter didn't talk to us AT ALL.  Oh actually, she did. She said 'would you like your receipt' after I paid. Found this to be extra annoying as the food was so bad.  The food could've been let off for being bad if at least the service was good. My boyfriend and I aren't too fussy when it comes to dining, but I can guarantee that we will NEVER ever return to this place.

Had the most wonderful experience tonight. From the beginning the service was wonderful and parking was very easy; they even had ramp access for those who find stairs difficult. Ours entrees, mains and desserts were all delicious; portion sizes were generous but not overwhelming. Our meals well timed so we never waited too long, but also were able to digest one serving before the next. We never felt rushed, and the staff made sure we were taken care of until the very end. My compliments to the chefs and all the staff, it made for a very pleasant evening.

Not so aptly named - they did not have the wines listed on their menu. Hubby tried the trio with ostrich, kangaroo n venison which was different. i had the risiotto - both dishes badly needed seasoning. The waitstaff was very friendly.

With New Year revelry over and now into the second week of Jan 2017, we needed an afternoon of indulgence.  So with the right amount of gloss on our lips and sunnies perched at the right angle we headed off to Albany on our culinary exploration.  <br/><br/>Hidden away in a shady nook, we discovered this delightful quaint restaurant that was full of old world charm blending in harmoniously with the modern lighting and tongue tingling food.  The Wine Box was once a cafe that ran alongside a pottery.  Now painted in modern hue, it has retained its dated furniture with leather upholstered chairs, iron carved table legs and wooden wrap around verandah and wooden polished floors.  True to its name, it was full of bottles of wine on every shelf, but not so overbearing that it distracted us from the food.<br/><br/>We were shown to a table for two by a delightful lady that overlooked a wooden verandah framed with a door complete with curtains.  I felt I was sitting at an opera box seat.  The leather covered menus with the name boldly embossed came with a wooden backing.  <br/><br/>I chose the Chicken Livers Pan fried with a wholegrain mustard, manuka honey & cream sauce.<br/><br/>Side salad and fries  for $17.50, while my friend preferred an Antipasto platter.  My chicken liver was cooked just right with the wholegrain mustard with the right amount of punch and the manukau honey and cream sauce added the richness to the flavour.  The fresh salad was cut fine and delicately served along with the hot fries in its mesh basket all resting comfortably on a wooden board.  It was a sight to behold.  I could feel the mustard tingling my nostrils but not enough to make me sneeze.  I particularly enjoyed the creamy sauce of the honey.<br/><br/>The portion sizes were great.  I did not finish the fries and my friend did not finish all the items on her platter.  I was too busy relishing my chicken livers to pay attention to her Antipasto platter.  <br/><br/>A leisurely lunch later, we indulged in creme brulee and coffee.  <br/><br/>All in all it was a delightful adventure and I felt all my 5 senses were sated.  <br/><br/>Definitely will go back again.  And definitely will go in for dinner on the last Thursday of the month when they have the live jazz band.<br/><br/>Highly recommended.   Its one of those iconic places that you want to treasure as one of your most treasured secrets.

Have been here many times and enjoyed the unique menu and unpretentious ambience. The food is well thought out and tasty, perfect proportions. A small but we'll chosen range of wines. <br/>We'll be back at regular intervals. <br/>The only gripe would be that the ventilation in the kitchen was quite ineffective and all the smoke and odour drifted out into the main dining area.

I booked 30 seats for my 30th birthday and from the minute I met with the owner (Karis) it was smooth sailing! I cannot fault anything on the night; the food and drinks were great, the venue intimate and friendly, the staff polite and thoughtful AND the staff even set the venue up for me once I'd dropped off the decorations! Everything that is done, is done with your interest at heart...and you can't put a price on that! Karis was able to set up the deck area for me as well for a photo booth, a guest book, a cake table and a photo board! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this venue to anyone looking for a cute, intimate atmosphere! Thanks again Karis!

This place is a cute little hideaway treasure in Albany. I went here on a anniversary night and it was very cute. Staff were nice and food was good. I ordered the flower pot bread, antipasto platter and the fish of the day. If anyone is stuck for ideas of where to eat in the Albany area, defiantly try here.

Tables too small for 4people, cutlery etc was clutterd, hardly elbow room to move.<br/>Plates were huge which added to issue.orderd the eye fillet steak, also pasta and the free range chicken and pizza...this place came recommended, don't know why? The food wasn't good atal, dry chicken flavour less, over cooked steak and a side of veg that looked and tasted straight from frozen bag, the pasta was overwhelmed buy its sauce and the taste was unpleasant, pizza was late and burnt .<br/>We were all disappointed and also the service was slow,but adequate.<br/>Its a shame when we expect so much with restaurants and get badly let down..only reason id go back, would be for novelty,to try the kangaroo.

We love this place, especially on a cold night when the fire's going and the candles are lit! The food here is to die for, although there are not many vegetarian options but that is my only complaint about them. Perfect Albany spot for a quiet, hearty meal

Went here for staff lunch, my goodness the peppered steak was delicious! Seared beautifully and so tender and moist. For starters we had garlic bread (yum) and their flower pot bread with a beetroot dip and capsicum dip (also yum). I have also had the beef salad here and that did not disappoint.

Setting: 7/10<br/>Cosy<br/><br/>Service: 6/10<br/>I felt a bit neglected initially, having to ask for a water glass, check on my drink order, other tables being served. The waitrons were attentive and friendly after that. <br/><br/>Food: 8.5/10 <br/>Not many veg options, but the egg plant involtini was super (if slightly tough) and the wine selection is fab. I'd have given desert a miss in retrospect. The apple cake I ordered seemed remade/frozen variety, and needed more icecream (very dry). A bit pricier, but I would recommend it.

We visited the wine box this evening for dinner with our two daughters, whilst my husband thoroughly enjoyed his steak and my lamb for the most part was lovely, except for one of the racks, of which half was mostly raw sadly this was the highlight of our evening. In regards to being kid friendly, the dinner menu was not. <br/>The attitude and service from the staff we encountered this evening was sadly lacking, I did almost feel that we had put them out by arriving with our two daughters for dinner. The gentleman who showed us to our table and served us during our time at the wine box was unimpressive. Whilst our meals arrived in a timely manner there was no offer of condiments, or even a meal check during the meal. The staff seemed to be more intent on chatting to each other at the counter then checking on their dining guests. We will definitely not be coming back to the wine box for a family dinner, and would be hesitant about coming back with friends. Having reviewed some of the comments left by previous diners it does appear that unfortunately the experience you have here may depend on the staff on the night. <br/><br/><br/>

Went to the Wine Box for lunch, it was so delicious. They have a huge range of variety in their menu for everyone and the prices are very reasonable. I enjoyed their delicious Rose wine along with the flower pot bread as a starter which came with mouthwatering dips and the chicken burger as a main. The restaurant is a very cute little cottage style restaurant but there was a bit of a cold breeze coming through as we were placed by the door. The service could have been a bit more attentive but overall it was a very good experience and I will defiantly be going back!

Lovely place to go on a winters night. Had the fireplace on, was nice and cosy. Had a perfectly cooked steak and very tasty fettuccine. Lovely service, felt right at home.

Went in the evening for a drink and desert to see if this might be a regular stop.<br/><br/>Ambience and decor was fine. Ordered a two cheese platter. This was unfortunately very uninspired for the $17.00 price tag.  <br/><br/>The platter consisted literally of two small cuts of cheese placed on a wooden board with a square of quince and some grapes, all straight out of the fridge (and before that, off a supermarket shelf). The cheese was of course too cold to enjoy the flavour or texture. With that came 8 stale crackers and 4 non-stale crackers. A complaint garnered 12 fresh crackers.<br/><br/>My children at home can cut up cold cheese and put in on a board with grapes and quince. There were no cooks harmed in the making of this dish. At $17.00 this is unacceptable. Overpriced nonsense. Will not be back.

Nice atmosphere; good food; friendly stuff who care about the costumers; yummy yummy food. Roo meat was amazing. Made our Sunday afternoon.

Absolutely horrific is the only way I can describe it. I came in with my family over Easter Weekend, they were not impressed. I had organised this to be a lovely day out but the service ruined it completely. <br/><br/>The food was nice, although it did take a while to come to our table. However, it was the service that ruined it for us. We were barely greeted on arrival and were very rarely and poorly attended to. Maybe some proper training in customer service should be looked into?<br/><br/>On another note, this restaurant is in need of some serious maintenance. I don't think there was a single chair in the restaurant that wasn't in shambles, the exterior looked like it hadn't been painted in centuries, the floor of the restaurant looked as though it had survived World War II (barely).. This poor place just needs some love, so that it looks like a place that is actually cared for.<br/><br/>The food however, was the only pleasant aspect about this establishment.

I drove pass this restaurant hundreds of times but never tried it until my friend took me in on weekday noon. There's no much ppl sitting there have lunch and we were welcomed well and served great food. Their pan seared scallops were wonderful with three different sauce, only three in one plate and it was mouthwatering. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photo for it. My friend told me that they r serving kangaroo fillet which is hardly found in other restaurants.

Fabulous place to go in Albany! I've been living in Albany for 7months and this is the BEST restaurant for exotic food for sure! They got kangaroo and we were so lucky to have the Game Trio(kangaroo+ostrich+venison) for tonight's special!! It's so unique! My fav is kangaroo among these three. Venison is a little bit like beef, taste good with tomato flavor. And my friends like ostrich meat the most! Also, it is worth to mention their Irish cream brûlée is brilliant! No wonder it's highlighted on the dessert menu. Highly recommended this place for a lovely date!! It's a sweet and comfortable place. Thank the lovely lady who was serving us tonight! We really enjoyed! Thank the chef! Thank the Wine Box!

I feel so lucky to have found this gem in Albany area! I was just browsing on Zomato to decide where to have dinner at and found this place. I made a reservation on the day but still managed to have a table for me. The staff welcomed me in a pleasant manner.<br/><br/>I sat in the balcony area but asekd the staff if i could move as it was to sunny and she happily said yes but didnt help me out with moving glasses, cutleries and stuff but thats all good. <br/><br/>I ordered peppered scotch fillet, side salad and a glass of merlot malbec. <br/><br/>First of all, my main was DELICIOUS! I loved how they plated my main dish. I loved every bits that were on the plate. Steak was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Blue cheese and mushroom risotto underneath the steak well balanced out the flavour and worked well with wine jus to give much more flavour to my steak. The steak was only $29.50. I was very surprised when I first saw the menu and the price of the food here. I got more than what I had paid for but hopefully they keep this price remained so I can visit there more often :-) <br/><br/>I recommend you to order side salad if you are a person who needs some fresh vege when eating meat like me as there is no salad coming with the main dish. <br/><br/>Merlot malbec was delicious too. I love red wine with spice and chocolate flavour. This wine was perfect with my steak and the price was only $9.80 per glass. I would have to pay more than $10 per glass if I wanted to have this wine in other restaurants especially the ones in CBD area. <br/><br/>The service is not very on point but I felt all the staff are very friendly and energising. I felt welcomed and at home. <br/><br/>Overall it was a great experience to visit there and I want to try their other menu out soon!

My partner took me to The Wine Box for our last date night (4/2/16).<br/><br/>On arrival our waitress (long blonde hair) took us to our table which was ready and really lovely by the window in the corner of the main restaurant.  We were given the menus and drinks list.  We quickly made our pre-dinner drink selection and waited and waited...... we could see both waitresses and honestly, not doing much.... we had to call one over to take our order after about 10mins.<br/><br/>My calamari (chef's specialty) arrived in the small pan it was cooked in.  Cute, but difficult to eat from.  The calamari lacked flavor, the dressing was nice but hard to get some out of the dish onto the calamari... it also needed seasoning.  There was no salt and pepper on the table, again needed to call the waitress over as she hadn't been back to check all was OK.<br/><br/>My husband had the ostrich and wasn't that fussed.  He has had this dish before in Australia, was expecting something a bit more.<br/><br/>My main was Eye Fillet, perfectly cooked with a jus. Came with a nice potato bake side and four green beans, yes FOUR.   I would have ordered a side of cooked vegetables had I known.  The waitress did not suggest to order a side of vegetables which would have been welcomed.  The menu does state it comes with steam green beans, but that was one bean more than a garnish.  Again, needed seasoning, both salt and pepper.  <br/><br/>My husband had the venison, again perfectly cooked but needed seasoning, self pouring sauce was good too.<br/><br/>We enjoyed a cheese board at the end of our meal with two cheeses.  Just right portions with one type of cracker.  Just enough.  Was good value.<br/><br/>The food was very good, except it needed seasoning desperately.  <br/><br/>The waitresses (not so much the long-haired blonde) needs training.  The restaurant could go along way.  The outdoor area, namely the roofing on the veranda (visible by the guests) is long overdue for a clean.  <br/><br/>The quality of the cooking deserves a revisit.  Watch this space!

Excellent coffee, excellent ambience, excellent staff, fantastic food.<br/>Husband and I had been looking for another cafe after our regular one changed hands and the food quality also changed. We saw the Wine Box Cafe while searching on the net, we went in for breakfast and we were warmly greeted, the decor was homely and comforting with a fantastic feel, the food was beautifully displayed and the coffee was so good, had to have another to take away after breakfast....couldn't fault any of it which is highly unusual, we have found our new Breakfast Cafe and who knows maybe lunch at times also....

Excellent dining experience from the diverse menu, helpful staff and cosy atmosphere. I had the eggplant involtini which was delicious and my partner had the peppered steak with blue cheese risotto. Highly recommend!

A small place inside. We elected to sit upstairs where there are few tables. Was nice to have the room to ourselves. other diners chose to sit elsewhere. ..Staff were friendly but appeared to forget about us more than once, My partner had to find the waitress twice. Another time he finally managed to catch her eye and didn't  have to get up.(we may have been out of sight where we were) shouldn't be out of mind though ;)  ..we shared the exotic meats entrée. Ostrich, veal and kangaroo. All were very nicely cooked (tender) although neither of us ate the veal as we did not like the way it was prepared. (was like a tomato and onion casserole) We then had Mussels  in a beautiful curry sauce.   perfectly prepared. ..We don't usually have dessert but did and had the platter of three diff desserts to share..... Delicious.. Ambience/ décor.. nice..

Food is always well presented and yummy. Menu is a bit boring but a good place to go to for consistently good food. Price is ok and they don't surcharge on public holidays 👍

I went here last night with my partner and mum as we got a gift voucher for Christmas. The restaurant is quite lovely in the main room however we were seated in the room off to the side which was very warm as no windows were open.<br/><br/>Our service was VERY slow to start with took about 20 minutes to place our drink and food orders. Our waitress however was very friendly. <br/><br/>For mains I had the stuffed eggplant, my mum had the eye fillet and my partner the kangaroo. My meal was not good at all. Firstly the cauliflower purée was bland and didn't have any flavour at all. Secondly the eggplant was very dry and chewy not what I was expecting. The filling and tomatoes on top however were delicious. <br/><br/>For dessert I had the creme brûlée, my mum had the passionfruit cheesecake and my partner had the chocolate pie. My dessert was incredibly runny like they didn't let it set for long enough. My mums dessert didn't taste like passionfruit at all and for some reason came on a bed of plums which completely over powered the whole dish. My partners chocolate pie was delicious though. <br/><br/>I probably would not come back based on my experience. There are too many other restaurants in Albany that have far better food and service.

I have had such great experiences here.I have coeliac disease and its nice to know that they cater well for this. They had a lot of options for me, nearly everything on the menu was either already g.f or could be made so. The staff where more than happy to help me navigate the menu. We started with G.F garlic bread which was really good. Then we had a g.f meatball pizza, a scotch fillet steak, and the g.f fish and chips. All I can say is WOW... g.f fis and chips, it's so hard to find and yet to find a place that does it amazingly .... WOW. we managed to share a desert between us all and had the tasting plate. It was nice to even have options for desert. Thank you guys so much we will definitely be back!!!!

I'm happy to come here for drinks, and I do quite often as it's a nice, cosy atmosphere to sit back and have a glass of wine although I'm not a big fan of the food. I came here for dinner a few weeks ago and wasn't too impressed. I had booked a table 2 weeks in advance and upon arrival was told that I had a 30 minute wait for my table even though we arrived perfectly on time. Finally we were seated and ordered our drinks, which after 15 or so minutes still hadn't arrived, we asked the waitress about them and she apologised and came over with them straight away. We ordered the scallops as an entree, they were very bland and rubbery so we didn't eat them. The chicken, avocado and camembert pizza was not very nice. The flavours didn't work together at all, i think they should've left out the avocado as it didn't go with the chilli sauce. The scotch fillet was very small, and over cooked aswell as the mushroom risotto. We decided to skip dessert and ended up not eating all of our meals and leaving very hungry and unsatisfied. I think it's over priced for the quality and quantity of the food. I wouldn't return for a meal.

Visited the a Wine Box on a cold winter evening with my wife and a couple of friends. The staff and the warm fire made it a welcoming place. Nice food but to steak dominated for me with too lite vegetarian options. As expected the wine list was extensive. Good food but not the best but worth a revisit.

The Wine Box Restaurant is quite special to me because it was the place my partner chose to take me on our first ever dinner date. My partner ordered a main ostrich dish as well as this special tasting board with venison, ostrich and what not on it while I ordered the eye fillet.<br/><br/>It was pretty neat trying something new as I haven't ever tasted ostrich, kangaroo and rabbit. Venison was so delicious. Looking at my plate, I wasn't a fan of the kumara with the eye fillet. I found myself frequently food-envying his dish. From what I recall, the evening went smoothly. The creme brûlée did what it was supposed to: the top broke perfectly when knocked with a spoon. The Wine Box is quite a memorable place for me not only for its classic vibe but because of the new experiences I've had there.

We have dined at The Wine Box many times and it has always been a pleasant experience (otherwise we would keep returning!)  We dined last Saturday night 15th Aug '15 and the restaurant was full which is always a good sign.  <br/><br/>The staff are always so lovely, friendly and efficient  Our Food was as good as we hoped.  My steak was on the fatty side and was subsequently discounted to cover the issue without hesitation.  I don't think I have ever been disappointed with a dish here.<br/><br/>My only suggestion is that perhaps the menu could do with a change up. It would be nice to visit not knowing what was on offer.  Also our actual menus themselves were grubby and seemed old and came complete with a cigarette burn in the middle!  May be a reprint?  <br/><br/>Im sure we'll be back though!

Where do I start with my disappointing experience at the Wine Box.<br/><br/>I'm from the shore and have always been told good things about the Wine Box......And our experience was total ass (wine and the open fireplace is the only thing I really enjoyed at the Box)<br/><br/>Food waaaaay over priced, food quality is far from flash the rabbit ($30) was chewy, the veg salad (&20) was bits of stemmed veg on rocket and the creme brûlée was the worst I've ever had in my life.<br/><br/>I refused to pay for the brûlée dessert - we sent the first one back and second one was twice as bad! it was a skin texture rather than firm and shattering, they were really good with refunding this and thankfully I remembered to bring out the "Entertainment Book" app to bring the cost down even more.<br/><br/>Maybe I just had the lemon day, hope they can turn this place around fast as it could be great!

Dinner at The Wine Box was an amazing experience, from the decor, to the customer service, to the very exquisite cuisine! Classy, elegant and romantic, the decor is definitely fit for a special occasion. For me and my friend, when our waitress asked if it was so, we said no - we were actually just bored on a weekday night, and I pointed out it was my first time ever exploring restaurants in Albany, being new to the North Shore. <br/><br/>We started with a Baby Doll Pinot Noir and a Bellini cocktail. We loved both - especially the Bellini, which I felt was richer and sweeter than most Bellini's I've had at restaurants. I liked that they gave us additional Brut Cuvee wine to top up the Bellini. <br/><br/>For our entree, we had Garlic Prawn Cutlets, which were so juicy and succulent. I loved them as well as the little strawberry salad that accompanied it. A delicious starter.<br/><br/>For mains, we ordered Kangaroo and Aged Eye Fillet. Both were so beautifully presented; I loved that they were both garnished with a pretty flower. My first time eating kangaroo, I found its taste and texture reminiscent of lamb - quite flavoursome, full on and meaty, and could've done with something refreshing with it. We both found it was a little too tough and chewy. However, the Aged Eye Fillet was very tender and well cooked. <br/><br/>My favourite (as always) was dessert! We had O'Mara's Irish Cream Brulee. It was like a traditional creme brulee dessert but accompanied with ice-cream and a shot of Irish Cream liqueur. The creme brulee itself was perfection - the crisp top layer, the creamy texture underneath. Mixed together, it was heavenly. Would highly recommend this dessert!<br/><br/>Overall, a wonderful experience at The Wine Box. It was a great first dinner on the Shore! Would love to return for dinner again. <br/><br/>Bellini $13<br/>Babydoll Pinot Noir $10<br/>Garlic Prawn Cutlets $18<br/>Kangaroo $29.50<br/>Aged Eye Fillet $30<br/>O'Mara's Irish Cream Brulee $11.50

This place is fab! I came here for a friends baby shower lunch and really enjoyed myself. I tell you this place was a true haven amongst a cold and rainy day. I sat down besides the fireplace to warm up and ordered the rabbit stew which came with crusty buttered bread. While I waited for my food, I ordered a flat white, it was just what I needed. When my stew came, it was served in a little cast iron casserole dish, bit cute :) It was so delicious and hearty and for a first timer to rabbit I was blown away. I loved it! Anyways all and all this place is fabulous and the wine list too. The decor is rustic/wooden but yet has a touch of class to it. I would highly recommend having a couples date here.

Lovely breakfast! Had the maxi breakfast, Good size and presentation was great!. Partner had the mushroom breakfast which was cooked beautifully. Good coffee and staff were very welcoming and food didn't take long at all.

A warm and informal dining experience. I took my girlfriend there on a Thursday night and the experience was good. The staff were friendly and welcoming and service was timely. The coffee was good, but not the greatest. The chocolate pie desert was good, but also not the greatest. Maybe it was an off night, but would give them another go.

I used to frequent this place and liked its cozy feel and decent food & drinks so I recommended this place to many family and friends before. But not anymore!!! <br/>Recently I purchased a gift voucher for family member's special occasion. I checked with the staff twice in person before I purchased the voucher at the restaurant whether this voucher (which had value of exact paid amount) could be used alongside entertainment book card for discount. The person at the counter readily and repeatedly confirmed this. <br/>Yet when my family member dined there recently, they refused to redeem the gift voucher I purchased and to apply discount at the same time, stating that gift voucher can't be used alongside entertainment card. My family member had to insist on this for some time before they reluctantly accepted this but by this time my family member's evening had been thoroughly ruined. Their underhanded and deceitful service is disappointing to say the least. I would not recommend this place to anyone from now on.

We had not been to the Wine Box for quite a while, so decided to lunch there today. We sat on the deck in the very comfortable seagrass chairs. After browsing the menu we ordered the fish and chips and the smoked meatball pizza. One of us is a fish and chips aficionado and declared this version most satisfactory with good crisp batter. The gourmet pizza was delicious with ample tasty meatballs and beautifully cheesy. The staff were very good. Overall a good place for a lunch with a wide menu, good staff and comfortable seating in rustic surroundings.

We held our company Christmas function at The Wine Box last night. Our experience with this restaurant was amazing! Loved the food, service & atmosphere.<br/>Everyone in the company who attended were very impressed and still thanking me this morning for such a<br/>great evening.<br/><br/>I<br/>really appreciate the efforts this restaurant put in. It was truly one of our best venue's so far. Sure to return.

Four of us went to the Wine Box on Saturday night and we all enjoyed it. All the entrees went down well and the steaks we had were cooked exactly as we wanted. The atmosphere was good and it was busy. A good selection of wines and good to see Craft Beers available although they could do with adding a few more. Overall it was very good evening and well priced.

Workgroup dinner of 11 people. My own entree pan fried calamari consisted of 3 large pieces in a cast iron pan. Tasty but serving too small. <br/>Main was trio of meats ... ostrich kangaroo and vension. $33. Pass mark but ostrich chewy. 5/10.<br/>Dessert will be creme brulee.

This little low key establishment in Albany has a very good ambience. I came here as a group of four. For entrée we had calamari, mussels with coconut cream, curry paste and lemongrass, broccoli cream soup and fries. Arguably the best out of them all were the fries that came with garlic aoli. Although the broccoli soup was quite delicious too. <br/><br/>For mains we had eye fillet, scotch fillet with blue cheese risotto, roasted chicken and lamb rack. Both beef fishes were over cooked, and the ranks were so under cooked she left 1/3 of it. <br/><br/>One of the group ordered pasta here on another occasion and she said it was perfect time. So I really don't know what happened today. At least the house wine was decent (Station Road, a Chilean wine).

Very disappointed. Decided to ignore reviews and try the place for myself. Food was ok. Service was abysmal. No other way to put it. I refused to pay for my dessert on the basis of it being totally overpriced for what seemed like packet puddings. Don't bother going here for a good night out, it's just not worth it.

Fabulous menu, tasty food and well presented. Friendly and efficient staff. From rabbit to emu to kangaroo as well as the usual fare. Nice wine menu. $468 for 7 people, shared starters, mains, desserts and 2 bottles of wine. Unable to provide detailed bill, which was a bit weird having to view on the terminal.

We visited The Wine Box in Albany on 22nd August for our parents 55th Wedding Anniversary.<br/>The 6 of us looking forward to our meal mainly because it ticked all the boxes for the Meat Lovers in the group. It was a cold night so nice to be seated inside next to the fire. The place was busy with a large group and smaller tables also full....so Im not sure if this was the reason for the poor meal or just a bad night for the chef ???<br/>Initially the entrees came out and were great with most people going for the Calamari, the prawns were slightly over cooked but nice.<br/>The let-down came with the Mains. The platters with the 3 meats (venison/ostrich/kangaroo) looked good but the kangaroo was so tough my sister left all hers...Dad ate his but didnt want to complain, The Rabbit Casserole had a huge amount of paprika/pepper and heavy on the spices, I managed it, but Mum found it too hot for her liking, so left half. The two guys in the group had Scotch Fillet and Eye Fillet and when they ordered asked the waiter if they could please be Medium Rare and more towards the rare side of cooking. Unfortunately they both arrived Medium to well done.....so they were sent back only to come out AGAIN Medium to well done. At this stage the Eye fillet was eaten because my husband was sick of waiting for his meal, but he was far from happy and the Sirloin was returned for a THIRD time lucky - fingers crossed - try. The waitress brought it to the table and waited to see it cut open and thank goodness it was good. She then told us we would not be charged for the (Sirloin) meal.<br/>Desserts were amazingly good - but accompanied by extremely small glasses of Dessert wine / Ports and for $11.50 Im sorry but you dont expect a small 3/4 full sherry glass.<br/>By then the damage was done and they had a table of people wondering if this was possibly the worst restaurant we could have chosen for our celebration dinner.

We went to the Wine Box for the first time today for lunch,the staff were very friendly, food was superb, I had the leek,potato and bacon soup my daughter had the open steak sandwich with salad and chips she said steak was cooked to perfection .We both had coffees which we enjoyed as well,We will certainly be back,and will recommend The Wine Box to our friends

I had booked for Mothers Day, for their second service at 11am. Place was busy when we arrived. Right from when we sat down, the service was amazing, waitress friendly and smiley, we ordered the Maxi Breakfast and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon, my partner had a coffee which he said was really great , and I had a lovely refreshing Berry Smoothie.<br/>Our meals came out pronto, my Eggs Benedict with the Salmon was great, Hollandaise sauce perfect and lots of Salmon.<br/>Really enjoyed the breakfast and the Maitre D was nice and came and asked how our meals were. We will be back to try out their dinner menu. Great place for a Sunday brunch!

Incredible service! Amazing food! The best place I have been to! I booked a table for my 21st and had a set menu it was delicious food and such great service I was so happy it is an amazing venue and definitely will go back!

Not as good as normal. We are regulars and the food and service is always excellent as is the wine. We went for an impromptu lunch on valentines day and although the deck was busy the restaurant was empty inside. The service was too slow,as in our drinks and food came on time and was lovely but the waitress never re appeared so we couldn't order another wine each and we wanted more aioli but by the time we found the waitress to ask we had three chips left. not at all like the amazing service we normally receive, hopefully this is a one off!

I've just been to The Wine Box for the umpteenth time and once again had a wonderful meal and outstanding service. I've had varied meals over the last few months, with the Thai Beef Salad being my lunch of choice today and everything I had to date is highly recommendable. The service is exceptionally good(which is very high on my "rating" list) and the food absolutely compliments the entire dining experience. Make it a priority to go there as soon as possible!

Came in for dinner last week Friday, and had an amazing night! I have been a few times in the past to this cozy restaurant and have always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. <br/>I had the ostrich as an entree, which I though was quite exotic, and really enjoyed it! For mains I had the rabbit casserole (keeping the exotic theme going), and my partner had the eye fillet - both meals were tasty, well presented and pretty much fabulous! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. It was full and busy and all of the staff had smiling faces. <br/>As I am a local on the shore, I will most definitely be coming back, I have never been disappointed! Well done!

We were disappointed to see that The Wine Box was closed when we went last week as we had been wanting to try them for ages. (the note on the door said they were closed for Christmas break) So we tried again on the night they opened and absolutely loved our night there.<br/>We sat out on their deck.... Beautiful. Little blankets in case you were a little chilly.<br/>Calamari was awesome. As was the venison. We opted for Irish coffees for dessert. The waitress was a real gem, knew all about her wines!

I am writing this review for my husband Nick, as we came here for his work function last week. There was 15 of us in total, and our meals were fabulous. I had the peppered steak and my husband had a game trio, both of our meals were cooked to perfection. All the waitresses were very helpful and they catered to our friend who was gluten intolerant, a great night overall :) Thank you we will be back again with friends

Went here for dinner on Wednesday evening, not too busy but had a few people in, we have eaten here many times before and have reccommended this venue to many people. I don`t normally write reviews but I was so dissapointed with our meals that I felt compeled to write this one. The antipasto platter was pitiful we got the one for 2 which had 2 tiny mussels, 2 tiny pieces of salami, one piece of smoked chicken and 2 itsy bits of salmon, yes 4 bits of bread but for the price I found this dissapointing and not the usual standard. Chicken main was old and luke warm, the cabbage and brown lentils swam in a tepid gravy, the lamb was however enjoyed. Another dissapointing factor was a grumpy waitress. This is not The Wine Box we are used to.

This quickie review was the result of an extended catch up with a visiting Kiwi ex-pat, doing a visual check on family and friends in Aotearoa.<br/><br/>Being a notorious foodie, and after a late night of catching up, I took my hungry friend Kirsty to our local 'swish' cafe in Albany, The Wine Box Cafe and Restaurant. We were making a fleeting stop on this occasion, coming in at about 10.30am when you would expect a bit of a transition period for most eateries. Yet, The Wine Box had a good handful of happy looking patrons at this time of the day, on a nothing-out-of-the-ordinary Tuesday morning.<br/><br/>We were seated quickly and politely asked if we wouldn't perhaps like to move inside from The Wine Box's lovely wrap-around deck area and that to move the place settings would be no trouble at all - as despite the rays of Spring sunlight, the air was still crisp to the touch against bare skin! We defiantly declined, and then were pleasantly surprised that we were not admonished or harassed for admitting defeat and retreating to one of the sunny window tables inside, facing out to busy Albany Village. <br/><br/>As our water was poured for us, our server took our drinks order and then bustled away, returning mere moments later with a piping hot and delicious double espresso for Kirsty and an indulgent Hot Chocolate for me. As we were just making it a flying visit, we decided to split an order of Belgian Style Waffles, complete with berry compote, maple syrup and ice cream. Priced at $16.00, which seemed pricey on paper but was value for money when the large serving of puffy, light waffles appeared. Our server also proudly produced a second plate and set of cutlery, without request from us or a face of reprisal. Overall, this was the perfect quiet yet vibin' cafe to pop into for an continued chat. With great value for money, atmosphere and a nice handy location; I'll certainly be visiting again soon for lunch, dinner or to swing by and grab something from their takeaway menu.<br/><br/>Kate<br/>http://onetakekate.blogspot.co.nz<br/>https://www.facebook.com/onetakekate

Possibly the best restaurant on the North Shore. We shared the antipasto platter( which was huge,) for mains we had a real mixture ( rabbit, steak,chicken) all cooked perfectly and beautifully presented. Desserts: we had an amazing brûlée and a berry cheesecake to share.<br/>They have a roaring fire and great atmosphere. Service was perfect.

Have been here once before with our family and it was great. Decided to go again for Mother's Day for lunch. I know they were busy but we did nearly an hour for our mains. I ordered the sirloin burger which had burnt mushrooms as well as a burnt pattie on one side. Although my son also ordered the same he was so hungry by the time we got our mains that he didn't care that it was burnt on one side and ate it. My order was remade but everyone else had eaten theirs so I asked if I could take it away with me. When I got home the burger pattie was half rare and they gave me bacon instead of the original mushrooms I had ordered in it. Most disappointing. My daughter ordered the fish and chips and the fish was very greasy and not nice at all. In saying this the waiting staff were great. In the restaurant's defence they did not charge us for the burger and gave us a discount for waiting so long but I would have liked to have had the 2nd burger cooked right at least. Unsure if would go back again or recommend :(

Very nice meal. Well presented. The waitress was friendly and the service was very good and we didn't have to wait too long for the meal to arrive. Enjoyed the flower pot bread.

Went here last Friday and I thought the atmosphere was lovely, food was good, and the service was great - we had a fantastic waitress (lucky Wine Box having her if you ask me!)<br/><br/>My boyfriend's steak was perfectly cooked (i.e. rare was actually rare, not medium). For dessert the chocolate mousse looked delicious but I got the Baileys Cheescake instead.. it was yummy.<br/><br/>This is the only time I've been here but based on my experience I was surprised to read some of not-so-good reviews on this website, hopefully I'll get to go back again for another nice meal

Gorgeous little building in the old village area in Albany ! Couldnt fault the service, prompt and efficient. We shared the anti pasto platter, it had ostrich on it!! As well as some other bits that made it really interesting.... Capsicum dip. Rabbit stew for mains! Great for a winters night. Didn't manage to get a table next to the fire.... That would have been the cherry on top! Desserts were divine... We shared the tasting platter.... Mousse, brûlée and truffles.

Went with group of high school friends. I suggested this restaurant, had only been once before but had heard good reports. My meal was actually disgusting - ordered the Vegetarian Salad. Basically it was a plate of half a bag of spinach, dripping with aoli. Think there may have been 3 small slices of tomatoes, red onion, a few pine nuts and tofu. I eat a lot of tofu but this was nothing like I had tasted before - tasted and looked like an eraser. Will not go there again or recommend.

Had a quick breakfast at The Wine Box, great eggs Benedict( salmon).my partner had the big breakfast ( all the usuals) Service was friendly and attentive. Great fireplace! Will try for a dinner at a later stage.

Me and a few of my teacher friends went to The Wine Box last night for a well deserved staff dinner and it was awesome. Peppered scotch fillet was divine and so was my Belgian chocolate pie! Everyone else loved their meals( everything from salads, to pasta to kangaroo) service was great really personal!

I arranged a brunch for 11 friends at 10:30am on Sunday and was looking forward to the usual Wine Box efficient service, warm atmosphere and good food. Brunch started off badly with us arriving at 10:25am to find that our table wasn't ready - still dirty plates from the last party...not a good look! Things went from bad to worse - service was poor and when I enquired as to why getting our drinks was proving to be so challenging got told rather abruptly that they were 'short staffed' - reasonable but an apology for the cold water with the tea and very long delays would have been more appropriate. The food was tasty except for the mushrooms which my friend suggested tasted like the entire salt cellar got spilled onto - not that the waitress would have known...no one bothered to ask. What a pity - what should have been a great experience turned out to be what's likely to be our last visit. PS - with yesterday's chilly weather we would have loved enjoying your crackling fire ...instead we had a door left wide open by the staff every time they went outside. UPDATE : Great to receive a quick respose from Karis the owner apologising for our bad experience -she's also offered to compensate the person who got served salty mushrooms.

We have been there several times before, and have had "good" experiences. We returned this last time (despite the inlaws having said the service had gone downhill) and had a horrific experience. Kind of a shame, as the menu really stands out as different. Service was slow and unprofessional. It took ages for the waitstaff to take our order - she was standing and chatting. They were also out of the wine of the month, the waitress said it was because it was the end of the month (still was a week left till the month swapped over!). Really? There was an issue with the food ordered due to language listed on the menu, and they were going to charge us twice to remake the dish due to dietary reqs. The English manager was really rude, and hard to believe she is in the hospitality business. Just handled very poorly and sadly, we won't be back.

We've dined here several times over the last few years and always thoroughly enjoyed the dishes we have ordered.<br/><br/>To read about our latest experience and see photos of our tasty meals visit http://celestereviews.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/the-wine-box-cafe/

Took our daughter and her fiancée there for lunch on Monday. We were only one of two tables but despite that the service was slow and poor. The pasta carnoara had full strips of bacon through it without the fat being removed. Verdict was sauce ok but meal gross. Pizza was taken home and fed to the dog. One meal was average but the fish and chips were disgusting and left uneaten. I object to frozen fish that is still chilled on the inside but has burnt batter. In fairness they did deduct 50% of the price which puzzles me when 95% of the meal was uneaten.

Great atmosphere, food was lovely, desserts especially so. Found out that steamed koru are edible.<br/>The service was fast and friendly. Good wine list. We will definitely be back.

The food is always great here. Love the steaks and seafood chowder.<br/>However, just about every time we come, the waitresses are brisk and do not engage with their customers at all. They are not friendly. They are business like. They are not compatible with the ambience of the decor and the good quality food. The waitresses spoil the experience. We will not come again.

Second time we've been there &amp; absolutely divine. Gorgeous food, great wait staff and love the atmosphere. Definitely one of our favourites

My husband took me to lunch on my Birthday. This was quite simply devine. I had a little "food envy" when I saw my husband's starter of chicken livers..... then I tasted it and oh my...... I have to have my own next time. My starter was lovely too though, I just like to taste everything! I wanted pasta for mains and was afraid it would be too big so I was kindly offered a half portion which was perfect for me. Overall, I have to say I didn't actually want to tell anyone how good it was as I wanted a secret place for myself, but really I just have to share. The service, food and wine list were all fabulous!

Exciting dishes on offer...<br/><br/>crocodile, ostrich, kangaroo, rabbit...<br/><br/>but dont let that put you off,<br/><br/>the calamari was divine! <br/><br/>suits both the adventure driven diner and the conservative eater...<br/><br/>cozy and warm service was great.

We go to Winebox regulary, always have great, friendly service. Would highly recommend as a casual get together with friends and family, is set in a very cozy cottage.

The atmosphere is very cosy and intimate, seated next to an open fire the experience was similar to dining at a friends home. The menu descriptions were tantalising, the food once delivered lacked slightly. Good service from an attentive waitress and friendly bar staff, however I had emailed earlier to make a reservation and organise a birthday cake for the dinner, they forgot the birthday cake altogether, slightly disappointing.

Have been several times to the Cafe for both lunch and dinner, great food, relaxed atmosphere, priced right. Must do breakfast some time.

The wild game trio with a glass of Otago pinot noir is the way to go here if you like being adventurous with food. Service could have been slightly better on the night we went. But overall a great dining venue and experience.