I hardly give out 5 stars, but this place definitely deserves it. I’ll say it, and I’ll keep saying it. I had the best food here ever. Came here for my partner’s birthday in the weekend. Had a 4 course meal with a mix of different meals for the courses for the both of us. It was just not the four courses you get but you also get little tasting “snacks” I should say between meals and they’re amazing! The service was really really good. They’d explain what you’re having with great detail from where your meat/ingredients are coming from. We ordered the following: scampi, king fish, duck, beef with truffles, miso and chocolate hazelnut. Highlight for me was the duck. It was so amazing I’d definitely need to come back for more. The cheese platter was also really good. Very yummy cheese selection We also ordered some champagne which was really good. Definitely worth the price and would love to come back again.
Great fine dine experience 👍
I have wanted to goto the French Cafe for a number of years and tonight my number was up.
Absolutely divine tasting menu. Enjoyed every single thing.
Very populated wine list. Beer and wine less so.
Great staff fantastic venue
I took advantage of the new delivery options and I'm happy I did because it was divine. Every part of it was delicious and even better than expected. The photos don't do it justice (my plating skills are not great). I had the mushroom and truffle lasagne, so good!
The guy who delivered it was really nice and right on time too, will definitely be ordering again soon
This would have to be one of the best restaurants in New Zealand. Yes it’s pricey but worth every cent. The food is exquisite from start to end. Service is also top
Notch. Love it!
Dora The Food Explorer
+5
I’m so thankful to be able to experience and taste Chef Sid’s carefully crafted menu.Each dish that came out seemed to cleverly caress our senses in their own unique way through its colours, textures, smells and presentation. @sidatthefrenchcafe is another showcase of Chef Sid’s talent and ingenuity in New Zealand’s fine dining scene.
This was our first trip back since the change of ownership. The dining room is still relaxed yet sophisticated, the service was excellent as you would expect. I enjoyed the a la carte dining instead of the degustation for a change. The standard of the food was excellent in my opinion, highlights for me were the venison tartare with walnuts (amazing combination) and the wagyu beef. Sid at the French Cafe is forging on with a slightly different style but maintains the high standards of the original
It’s already very rare to have French cuisine in NZ but fortunately we found French Cafe as for celebrating my mother and father’s 20 anniversary. I picked the place for them and was nervous if the food and service can amaze my parents or not. Turns out all the lovely ladies and gentleman who work there supplied us a fabulous service and the gentleman with decent glasses very helpful with the food ordering. And when we about to leave they surprisingly gave my parents a cute cheese cake with cute candles on it to cheer their anniversary. We were amazed by the food and their service and even though it’s expensive for us but we still want to go there again and again. Wish Sid at French Cafe be the NZ N0.1 fine dining restaurant forever!
We had a very friend staff member Natalie, she was very accommodating with our diet requirement, and she showed us around the back section and outdoor areas of the restaurant. Very impressive service overall. Food was delicious, had 5 courses tasting menu, but we were given 7 extra tasting sample snacks, soup and bread in between the main courses. Great fine dining experience.
We picked the degustation menu and the experience did not disappoint. Fantastic food and service. Fresh ingredients cooked to perfection; not bad for value either!
A wonderful experience from start to finish - we all greatly enjoyed our Saturday champagne lunch here. Warm and personable greeting at the door from FOH, followed by a brief tour of their impressive premises before being escorted to our table. Every course was creative and interesting, but most importantly delicious. Great wines too, and impeccable service. Difficult to fault and we look forward to returning!
I selected Sid at The French cafe as my wedding venue. Maria who helps us to organize the wedding event from the very beginning to the end. She did amazing customer service and also she is so thoughtful for our wedding. All my guest really enjoy the environment and also the food! Definitely go back in important event and have a decent dinner.
Dianna “Dee” Birchfield West
+5
Had a very average experience here many years ago, but decided to try it again. Very impressed. The menus was playful and fun. Very kiwi twist on things. Staff were knowledgeable and playful. Highly recommended.
Impeccable service. Very good cocktails.
We chose to go for three courses. Beef tartare was memorable with a twist. Our mains were slightly underwhelming but tasty.
Desserts were probably the highlight and saving grace of our meal. A wonderful end to dinner.
Stunning food and impeccable service. Great flavour combinations and the team catered to our different dietary requirements very well (diary-free, vegan, pregnant). Has a little bar at the entrance if you turn up early and a white-tablecloth fine-dining vibe inside. We could see the kitchen from our table which was fun!
If you're looking for a dining experience that's both elegant and delicious, look no further than Sid at the French Cafe! I had the pleasure of attending a fundraising event at this fine establishment, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
From the moment we arrived, we were treated to top-notch service and delectable cuisine. We started off with a welcome cocktail and a selection of canapes, all of which were delightful. But that was just the beginning.
As we were ushered inside to our tables, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we would be dining with other couples and groups. This added a fun, social element to the evening, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our fellow diners.
And then there was the food. Each course was a masterpiece, expertly crafted and bursting with flavor. The Farmed kingfish with miso emulsion, smoked scallop, smoked eel pearls, sweetcorn, lemon myrtle, and finger lime was a standout, as was the Hapuka with crayfish beignets, dry mangosteen, soy jelly, perilla leaf, and pickled onion. And the Wagyu short rib with truffle custard, grilled leek, and macadamia sorrel was nothing short of divine.
But let's not forget about dessert. The Chocolate, banana and cardamom parfait, whipped chocolate, blueberry, and elderflower was the perfect end to an incredible meal.
Overall, I can't recommend Sid at the French Cafe highly enough. The food is of the highest quality, both in ingredients and presentation, and the taste is simply out of this world. So if you're in the mood for something a little fancier than your usual dining experience, be sure to give Sid at the French Cafe a try. You won't be disappointed!
Oh and sorry about the lack of photos, I was caught up in the experience.
Wonderful 3, course dinner experience celebrating a vegetarians 40th Birthday. Beautiful table outside in the evening sun. Food, staff and service were outstanding with the hilight being the kingfish entree. We will be back.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch, we had the 7 course degustation menu, the food was exceptional with each of the 7 courses providing an exciting culinary experience. The service was faultless. Our table in the outside garden courtyard was peaceful and relaxed providing the perfect ambience for our anniversary lunch.
My friend had her wedding here in April 2021. The food was an intrepid journey from start to finish - couldn't fault a single dish. Every item was well thought-out and carefully designed.
This place is amazing. We had such great fine dining experience here for lunch. Service is outstanding. We choose a tasting menu and enjoy every round of the set. All menus are seasonal. Recommend to add wine matching which include the world selection of vintage wines. We were simply blown away by such inspirational dishes. Wow, must visit again.
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