Review 50-50 - Paraparaumu

Some of the best fine dining dishes I've had in New Zealand! I had the 9 course menu and every single course was surprising and creative and also incredibly delicious. The atmosphere is nice and cozy while staying relaxed and unpretentious and the food is absolutely top-notch. Highly recommend!

Having been to 50-50 not long after they opened we thought it was absolutely wonderful but haven't been able to go again as we've tried to just drop in a few times as we've driven past/through Paraparaumu as we don't love there, but they're always fully booked. Finnaly got a little bit of extra money and wanted to treat my partner to it so booked this time! Had the 9 course menu with the non alcoholic beverages match, and it was superb!!! Favourite of the savoury course had to be the wonderfully tender, flavoursome crispy lamb should, but the rest were fantastic!!! Favourite of the sweet courses was incredibly tough as the chocolate cake, and chestnut mousse were the most delectable different dishes! If you're able to spare the money and can book in advance, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

It may sound like hyperbole but this was possibly the best meal I've ever had. Every course was delicious and excellently paired with a beautiful wine. The flavours of each course were unique, surprising and delightful. The service was amazing, our waiter had real character and we never waited long for each course to arrive. The ambience was great with really good music. 10/10 definitely recommend for a special meal to remember

I've lived fifty years, and now I have had the best meal of my life. We had the six course dinner with the wine pairing, and every mouthful was exquisite. The staff were wonderful and the music was just what we like. Couldn't recommend it more. Fabulous!

Absolutely amazing experience! Did 6 course degustation menu with wine match - every course was stunning, service awesome! Can't recommend 50-50 enough - I've had great food in many countries but never enjoyed the food so much!!!

True fine dining in a modest restaurant on an equally modest street. The exterior tells you NOTHING about the standard of cuisine you will enjoy inside. EASILY the same standard as any fine dining in Auckland or indeed elsewhere, but without the price, formality, and pomp.

Helen has the most innovative approach when designing her menus, her incredible ability to combine diverse and interesting ingredients to create phenomenal flavours and textures makes her food exceptional. In the 4 years since I’ve been going to 50-50 I’ve rarely had the same dish twice and I’m consistently surprised and delighted with the range and creativeness of the courses on offer, each dish is beautifully presented with flair and attention to detail. Helen’s commitment to using, fresh, local, foraged and healthful ingredients and her generosity in accomodating dietary restrictions has made 50-50 my most favourite restaurant in New Zealand. Having had the privilege to enjoy degustation meals at top restaurants around the world for over 20 years, I feel qualified to say that 50-50 is not only outstanding value for money, but it’s also a world class dining experience which I highly recommend at my own peril (as it’s already impossible to make a booking at short notice). Many thanks Helen for your outstanding commitment to providing such an awesome dining institution in Kapiti. Amelia Trotter

THE BEST FOOD ON THE COAST..... Period. 50/50 offers customers an INCREDIBLE array of well designed dishes carefully crafted by a Chef who Gives a F#CK! - The passion for food and entertainment is everywhere, from the well selected music setting the ambience, to the PERFECT matching of wines by the sommelier. Service is impeccible and the degustation menu on offer is fabulous. And ever changing. On this occasion I dined with my Partner, but we intend to book the Chef's table on our next visit. Offering diners the opportunity to watch the magic unfold. If like me, your sick of the same old "rustic" PUB style food and want a culinary experience .. DO NOT HESITATE. BOOK A TABLE NOW.

Went there for our son's 21st birthday. Absolutely delicious meal served in humble surroundings. Will be making this our annual treat. Not cheap, but worth every penny!

We had a lovely evening at 50-50, service was top-notch and food was amazing! We got the 6 course menu with beverage match which complimented each dish really well. Definitely worth it and would recommend to all. We will be back! :)

Wow best decision we made to come up from Wgtn for my daughters birthday. We did the 9 courses (7 of us) and it was out of this world. We are still raving about it this morning. Some of the best food we have ever eaten. Eddie and Helen are two of the top professionals in the hospitality industry and I can’t recommend you dining here enough. Thank you both for an amazing night.

Just had the best dinner experience I have had in years, my partner and I booked a table 7:30 arrived and was greeted by the lovely eddy who catered to all our needs. We had a warm towel for our hands, water sparkling and still and our beer of choice on the table within the first five minutes. Followed by some of the best food I have put in my mouth. The sushi was my fav. Amazing Helen. Kapiti has been needing a breath of fresh air with a twist when it comes to dinning and this is it. A+. Thanks for an awesome night guys.

Fantastic food fantastic service. I highly recommend this restaurant both for its food and service. Well worth the drive up from Wellington. How they run the restaurant with only the 2 of them is beyond me! 6 course meal selected by the Chef was beyond criticism.

We had a splendid night in this temple of taste. We took a chance and did the 6 course menu. So glad we did one of the best most enjoyable meals we’ve ever had. We were asked which course was our favourite - honestly it was impossible to choose. They we’re all stunning. Do yourself a favour and treat your tastebuds to an adventure they won’t forget in a hurry. Mouth-watering food and world-class service.

So good on Friday night for date night had to bring family visiting for a meal to amaze them and they were blown away. Mr 11 loved chatting to chef Helen about their shared love of food and ingredients. 6 plate degustation this time and with every cent. Luscious and a total sensory experience. Every mouthful.

Had first date night with hubby in a long time here last Saturday. The service by Eddy was flawless. Chef Helens food was inventive and delicious. Thank you for taking us to a culinary journey. We did the 9 course degustation and it was all delicious. I described it to friends as 5 star 5 minutes away. We think it takes so much guys to open a place like this in the area and they do it so well. Good luck to you guys and we will always support you. Keep up the high standard! Can't recommend this place enough and can't think of any place that even comes in close to comparison.

This must be the best restaurant on the Kapiti coast. We had the 6 course menu - which the chef makes up as she see fit. Every dish was a revelation. Stunningly well put together in terms of flavours, textures and looks. It would have to be amongst the best meals I have ever had.

We celebrated my beautiful friends birthday here tonight, and it was amazing!! Service was great, and my mulled wine, venison starter and artichoke main were some of the best food I have had in a while! Highly recommend, had a great night x

What a wonderful place to dine,celebrate and hang out.restranteurs like Helen and Eddie are a gem to have in kapiti.my birthday this year will be remembered for having been to 50/50. Cuisine at its best,proffessional service . Love it.

Great meal tonight. Thank you Helen and Eddy. It was superb, particularly the chocolate mousse and macrons. Thanks for giving us a great evening and saving us a trip down to Wellington to get a special meal, we'all be back on a regular basis.

Absolutely stunning food and fabulous service. I had the most wonderful night there with my husband and again with girlfriends. Can not recommend this restaurant enough�

If I could give this place 10 out of five I would. The food, the service, the music, the subtle decor. All was just fabulous. Recommend. Recommend. Recommend.

Fantastic food and service. Asparagus was outstanding, loved the little pops in the celery soup - which was fab. Hot chocolate to die for - just as good as the Michelin star le Train Bleu hot chocolate in Paris! 50 50 make a reservation now.

Loved this place so much. Can't wait to go back for one dish Wednesday!!!! :) Great service, excellent food!!! :)

Well done Chef Helen and Eddy! Loved our 50-50 experience we can't wait to come back, the best meal we've had in ages the food was so beautiful � congrats guys I will be recommending you for sure �

We were a table of 4 so excited to finally dine at 50:50. We have been wanting to try their 6 course meal for a long time but unfortunately it was maybe the wrong menu of the month for us. The protein was cooked to perfection but we couldn’t enjoy it due to the rich and over powering sauces smothering it. Nothing seemed balanced. I’m all about flavour but it just didn’t work. For the price of $85 per head I walked away disappointed. The table next to us also had the same opinion. <br/>The restaurant has very basic interior decor which does not bother me at all but a bit of a surprise from what I thought it would be.<br/>Drinks was a downer. As the only non alcohol drinker there was only 2 options for me I could choose either lemon fizz or a raspberry/ orange drink. <br/>Staff from the start were lovely. Explained all dishes that came out very well. Attentive, friendly and organised.

My friend and I had the 12 course degustation; really enjoyed every meal, the highlights being the corn soup, John Dory and the chocolate macaron. What made the food even better was the amazing professional, while friendly and relaxed, service. Personally I think the decor and ambience could be improved, but it certainly does not detract from the experience - ka pai 50-50, a fab local eatery offering a menu normally found in the inner cities

Excellent service and outstanding food. We had the 6 course menu and it was some of the best food I have had anywhere in the world. Simply a must for anyone wanting a fantastic dining experience.

Absolutely outstanding from start to finish. Food is excellent. We had the 6 course menu and could not fault a thing. Would be some of the best food and service I have had world over. Wonderful.