Review Ombra - Wellington

Stopped by for a solo dinner and they were able to seat me at the bar (which I prefer anyway) pretty quickly. Staff was friendly, and the food (a garden salad and a duck risotto) was good, except they did give the risotto to the couple who arrived and ordered after me first so I had to wait a bit longer.

Went here for a Thursday lunch, luckily didn’t seem to need a booking. The service was fantastic. We were very well attended to, water was always topped up and the waiter gave us extra time to order. The little mini pizzas are truly divine, they’re half the size of a normal pizza which is quite good so you can get a few different flavours to share. But the star of the show had to be the tiramisu! It was actually perfect. The cream was impossibly smooth and silky and it was just the right amount of sweetness. We will be back!

Small, gets very busy. Meats very nice. They make a good mojito. Very nice meal. Not too aesthetics inside but good food. Delicious churros

Nice place and food was delicious. Very crowded and was lucky to find a place and didn't have to wait. The duck rissoto is a must try in my opinion.

Very delicious food and such yummy drinks I love the music they play inside as well it lights up the atmosphere with its vibes if you are in new Zealand for a holiday or if you live there I would highly recommend going there with friends and family ❤️🤍💚

Took my son for his birthday 🎂 love the shared plates vibe, beautiful flavorsome food, happy hour 😋 will definitely go again.

BEST restaurant in Wellington cbd. It is a must visit whenever I am there. The quality of the food is always top tier, cooked to perfection and the combinations they come up with is always surprising and the menu changes as the seasons change. It is a sharing menu and you order to share the dishes which is another pleasure of dining here. Atmosphere is great and found it more beautiful when darker outside with the lighting inside. Service is always super friendly.

Service was on point I'd say despite it being a Good Friday holiday. And of cos, the food was really awesome. We had the Flatbreads, Polenta Chips, Salame Pizette, Nduja Pizette, Parpadelle Mushroom Pasta, Duck Risotto, Gnocchi and their awesome Beef and Venison meatballs. Yes, that's a lot of food. A lot of good food though!

Excellent food and very friendly staff. Atmosphere was lovely and relaxed for dinner. We were there for a friends birthday, and the staff even let us stash a cake in the back, and bought it out for us all lit us at the end of our meal. Fantastic experience, and will definitely eat there again.

Food was awesome. Absolutely love the Gnocchi, and Tiramisu. They don't have mocktails in the menu, but you can request the staff to make them and it's absolutely wonderful.

Food was good, service not so much.<br/><br/>The minute we entered, due to the restaurant capacity we only had the option to be seated by the overflow cramped wall seating, which we accepted because it is better than not being seated at all. We made it clear to the staff that we preferred to be seated at a table, yet we were later moved to the bar space while others who were seated similarly and also did not make any prior reservations were asked their names and then promptly shifted to a table when it became available.<br/><br/>Why was it that we were not asked our names and not shifted to a table? Why were we not offered a single time whether we wanted to be seated at a table? When we asked at the end of our meal, the bartender replied that it was assumed we were okay with the current seating situation. This is despite the fact that we had made it clear when we first arrived that we wanted a table seating. What makes us different to all the other customers who were in the same situation which led to that assumption? <br/><br/>

Pumpkin pizza and meatballs were fantastic! And the chocolate volcano...next level! Food was so great we ended up there again the following day! Bellissimo!!

Absolutely loved this place. Food was so good, ambience perfect and Stella was the best host. Even though they were fully booked, they happily accommodated me. I have the Lamb Ragu Pappardelle with Pecorino which was great but the true hero of the night was the Pannacotta with Strawberry in prosecco. Highly recommend to dine here and staff is so lovely

Really appreciated the prompt and friendly hospitality from staff who made me feel welcomed. <br/><br/>The bruschetta bread was soft and the avo/tomato/olive 🥑 🍅 flavours worked nicely. The Tarakihi market fish🐟 and green beans was well cooked. A tad bit oily for my liking, but the taste was spot on.<br/><br/>Would recommend for any Wellingtonians or anyone wanting a good Italian experience in the heart of Cuba Street.

Love anything that I ordered, especially the polenta chips. Good size and price and quality . Very busy place but with good service

Great ambience and perhaps some of the other dishes were better choices or we caught them on a bad day. Undercooked risotto and the second time it came back it could still have been cooked more but we had waited quite a while by then. Most of the staff were very friendly but one of the more senior (I think) waitress wasn’t very apologetic (and wasn’t very friendly when we complained) for the food or wait time which just made the whole experience disappointing.

The food was really good. Fish was done perfectly and lamb rump was tender and juicy. Staff were accommodating. I recommend this place for first time tourists looking for good food in the heart of Cuba street.

Really enjoyed our dinner at Ombra. Staff were friendly and attentive. Food was reasonably priced and delicious. Great atmosphere - would recommend for a cosy dinner.

This place is AMAZING!<br/>I've been there with 2 friends on a Saturday night. We ordered two arancinis; a ciabatina; polenta chips; mozzarella, tomato and basil salad; beef meatballs; venison meetballs. And also tiramisu and chocolate volcano.<br/>We shared everything, obviously and it was incredible. The service is great, the food is perfect (bare in mind that dishes are not too big but you can chose a nice variety of them) and they do the best tiramisu I've ever had.

Amazing Food and great atmosphere. If you are on Cuba street, don’t miss this place!! Gnocchi and Polenta Chips are out of this world! <br/>

First visit to Welly and went to Ombra for lunch and we could not stop talking about how delicious these two meals were during our lunch. Had Gnocci and pumpkin risotto and they were DELICIOUS! Would def.ly come back if we visit Welly again!

Awesome dining experience with my partner at Ombra! This is my first time visiting but it did not disappoint! Will go again to try other food on the menu the next time we come to Welly. 😍

We went to Ombra after reading the reviews on Zomato and our expectations were pretty high! But it definitely did not disappoint, the service was excellent, the vibe of the restaurant was awesome and the food was near perfect. Our meal was $75 which included three share plates and two cocktails and we both left full so it’s great value for money!<br/>We will most definitely be back when we are next in Wellington

Amazing food however the rocket salad was disgustingly highly price for two mouth fulls was $10... the rest of the meals and drinks were amazing

We had high expectations going here due to all the amazing reviews & they were all met! The service, ambience and food were all fantastic.<br/><br/>Because some reviews said the servings were small we ordered a few dishes & it was way too much food.<br/><br/>In hindsight we would have only ordered the duck risotto & the bavette steak along with the ciabatta so that we had room for dessert. We didn’t need the arancini or the beef meatballs & they weren’t as great as the other dishes. <br/><br/>The service was friendly, attentive & professional.<br/><br/>The prices were good & we felt it was value for money.<br/><br/>Wish we could visit again soon, but unfortunately our visit to Wellington ends tomorrow.

I came here for lunch and had a pizza and it was very tasty and tasted very authentic would highly recommend. The staff were very friendly and gave us a rundown on the restaurant and all the items on the menu which was really nice.

The food here is delicious, one of the best restaurants in Wellington I’ve been to date. They have a rotating menu, so there’s always something new to try (the one on zomato is probably out of date). The service was good, though the tables are quite close together so sometimes you accidentally end up eavesdropping on other people’s conversation. But the food is so good, I think it makes up for any other faults

Decor, food and service is 10/10! Came for dinner, wait staff were present and attentive, immediately asked for drinks etc. Food came out and was incredible, so unexpectedly amazing! You must try some sort of fish here because it’s exceptional. Our waiter was the actual perfect balance of attentive and not harassing, really sweet and heaps of product knowledge. Overall a wonderful experience and will definitely be coming back!

One of the best italian resturants I've been to, with best quality and delicious food. Good vibes friendly staff. Will visit this place next time I visit Wellington.

I promised the staff that my first line in the review would be that the Tiramisu was over! So there it is! <br/>One of the best Italian restaurants I have been to. Very reasonable prices with the best quality and delicious food. Lamb meatballs, beef meatballs with red pepper pesto, pate, avocado and lime rissotto.. Every dish was fighting with the others for the top place in the list. Must visit place in Wellington city!

Service was fantastic! The range of food choices really broadens your pallet. If I was to recommend any dishes, it would be the venison meet balls. The roasted root vege side was the real winner with the dukkah sauce

Great vibes, and friendly staff who arent one bit pushy. The food was ok, we are vegetarian so had the risotta with avo/lemon which was not too creamy, gnocchi was saved by the kale, aracini was my fave with the sweet and savoury balance, and polenta (not photographed) was really not worth it.

I must say I'm very impressed with the 4.8 rating here on Zomato, so decided to try it for myself. And what better time than at the Wellington On A Plate food festival! Ombra put up Mighty Ducks, a burger with pulled duck with crispy skin and pâté, giardiniera pickles, endive and saffron aioli in a housemade Italian milk bun, with duck fat fries. Must say: this burger was spectacular. Flavors were so well balanced and really complemented each other. Excellent! My friend had the gnocchi and it was one of the best she'd ever tasted! The décor and the service was also fantastic. Really made a good first impression.<br/><br/>Would definitely love to return to try the a la carte menu!<br/><br/>Edit: so over the weekend I went back to try the ala carte menu and I must say, it was far above my expectations! Do try the lamb rump cacciatore and the bavette steak. Steak focuses on the freshness and quality of the produce, while the lamb rump was slow cooked I believe with the sauce, along with a layer on fat on the meat which really enhanced the flavor of the dish! Will definitely definitely be back!

This place allows you to order 3 or 4 plates per person which you can share to make up a meal. Just as well because there was so much on the menu I wanted to try. Our server was very attentive and helpful without being snobby. But the food!! Oh my the food. My husband and I are not very big on vegetables, but the brussel sprout dish we ordered was so good! Everything else that followed from the fish, steak, and pasta with chicken broth was incredible. Food quality wise, this is the best restaurant I have been to in a long time. Pricey ($100+ for 5 small plates) but so so worth.

Best Italian restaurant in Wellington. <br/>I don't say that lightly. <br/>Great food, great service, great ambience. <br/>Also, their Bellini's are way better than any I've made at home. <br/>You're encouraged to share the food together while eating here, it's the italian way. <br/>Their risotto though...can we just take a moment of silence and appreciate their duck and mascarpone risotto. <br/>If you've tried it, you'll know why I'm worshipping it. <br/>Clearly you're missing out if you haven't yet. <br/>Also in love with their tiramisu. <br/>Haven't stopped thinking about it since.<br/>Yes, I do think about dessert all day. <br/><br/>Unfortunately they don't do takeaways, trust me I've asked.

We stopped by on our travels through Wellington.<br/>Customer service was perfect, staff were very friendly, tentative and helpful.<br/>Meals were amazing, very fresh and tasty.<br/>Very good pricing.<br/><br/>Would definitely recommend.

Lovely food. It's a busy place and I can see why. Standout dishes for me were the gnocchi and the brussel sprouts. The pizza was also good. Would definitely go back.<br/>

Loved the service, drinks, and food. If you go you really should try the snapper, venison meatballs, and mulled wine and gorgonzola gelato - I kid you not! w/ Jade Howard

This place has awesome food and great coffee. However, the service leaves a lot to be desired because we ordered fish and two pizzas (there were three of us) and one of the pizzas came with the fish. After about 15 minutes there was still no pizza, so I went up and asked if it was still coming and I was advised that it was. I then observed the chef making the pizza. Also we were going to order the breads which were priced at $5 each but one of the staff tried to make us order the breads that were priced at $13 each. As I said the food is great but the service has a lot to be desired.

Very pleasant experience. Portion sizes were a bit small. Great staff and friendly service. We had a late lunch and place was still busy. Deserves a thumbs up.

The best Italian food I've ever had. Not only that, but the whole experience from the initial warm welcome to the fantastic service to the beautiful surroundings was faultless.

A lively place with friendly service and ambiance. The gnocchi is so delicious and tasty. Polenta chips, light and fluffy. Broccolini and beans are fresh and nice. Meatballs with lentil dressing and a light curry flavour. Overall would definitely recommend this eatery!

Great vibe, great service, great food. All of the sharing plates were delicious. The duck risotto, venison meatballs, and anchovy pizza notable. The chocolate volcano dessert was a sinful way to end a most enjoyable meal

Really delicious meals, the pappardelle pasta was very yummy and the server we had was so great explaining the menu to us as we didn’t understand some words. Will definitely be coming back!

One of the best italian food i have ever had. Their pizzas are super tempting and totally filling and not big at all. Staff is very friendly and the whole vibe/ atmosphere is very relaxed. Evenings are special fun here. It’s a busy place and the food is great.

Wow the place was packed out and we was offered seating and drinks while we waited for a table to become available.<br/>Once seated the food came fast and furious but never felt rushed, our last order we thought was missed but was the highlight of the night beef so yummy.<br/>All staff were excellent. <br/>Next time in Wellington I shall return

Outstanding<br/>Service excellentFood the same<br/>Had Arancini Balls and Polenta Chips to start<br/>Then the Roast Potatoes Pizette<br/>And the Lamb Cacciatora<br/>Ice-cold Peronis also very nice<br/>Great vibe in the room<br/>And best of all<br/>All sorts of different people ther<br/>Try it (again!)

Went here for my father’s birthday and had the best experience and filled to the brim in delicious decadent food! Our waiter was lovely and wasn’t shy with his knowledge on all the Italian food translations! Will definitely be back

What a great little restaurant in Cuba Street -Italian tapas.<br/><br/>We had the white anchovies, Parma ham, two small pizzas, beef meatballs and rabbit risotto. Finished with warm orange almond cake.<br/><br/>A good wine selection by the glass and great service- what more could you want.<br/><br/>But book or go early / the place fills up fast.

This is a lovely restaurant for delicious Italian food. The staff are lovely and the food is delicious and hearty. We will definitely be back!

Wonderful first experience that we couldn't stop raving about. For us the stars of the meal were definitely the pork belly saltimbocca and black truffle pecorino, absolutely delicious. Potions were on the tiny side, although it is supposed to be tapas/small plates style. Bresaola was good. Pizza topping was a bit watery but the base was great and crispy with some good chewiness. Beef meatballs were well seasoned and filled with an oozing cheese centre. We tried an array of desserts, and my personal favourite among them was the orange almond tart, but they were all delicious. Recommend trying the honey and fig pannacotta as well. Dessert portions were even tinier. Excellent service! The staff were extremely friendly and patient in explaining how to make the best out of our dining experience (we did not come at a busy time). Also the stripped down interior really made a warm, unique atmosphere. We will definitely come back if we find ourselves in Wellington again.

••• Vegetarian Night •••<br/>I LOVED the 3seconds greeting! <br/>Highly Recommended! Well Done & Thank You (both customer service + foods).<br/>I LOVED it & MY tummy LOVED it. <br/>:: store visit 3/9/17 | Sunday | 5:45PM

This is not an Italian restaurant, it is a pub therefore expect pub food. Average food. The only thing worth it was the beer. Honestly I was expecting real mozzarella for the pizza - what a disappointment.

Wonderful service, just want to thank in particular the blonde waitress in the red shirt who served my group who went out of her way to accommodate to my ridiculous dietary requirements, over and above what was required. Thank you so much. Excellent service.

Ombra is all about Italian food & their menu has many favourites. One recommendation was their meatballs, & having enjoyed the ones from Baduzzi in Auckland we were keen to compare. We think that Ombra wins! The flavour combinations were delicious & their was enough substance in the bowl from polenta, ricotta etc... to make a good dish. We enjoyed all 4, but in order of which was the favourite - pork, lamb, venison & beef.<br/>Good range of other dishes & a comprehensive wine, beer & cocktail menu, they have it all covered. Service was great too & you have to check out the different salt & pepper shakers on all tables.

Had lunch at Ombra. All shared food, everything was delicious and reasonably priced. We shared 4 different serves of meatballs, two pizzas, mushrooms, silverbeet salad and gnocchi. Everything was fantastic and we had a great time. What really let them down was the service, once again. Seems to be a common thing in NZ where ever we go.

Very nice gnocchi great atmosphere we really enjoyed this place will definitely return next time in wellington great prices. Portions are little on the small side but the taste is fantastic

Service was ok. Fast. Had two waiters which kinda confused things once. Found most of the food a bit bland. Meatballs both pork and beef were a bit meh. Eggplant parmigiana a bit dry and needed sauce and a bit of kick. Pizza, salami, was nice. So was the pork belly. I'd go back because what was good was really good. I think it might take a couple of visits to get good at hacking the menu.

Always consistently good service, up there with Scopa and other Wellington favourites. Solid options for wine and beer but the food is next level. Sharing plates are the go here, lots of options and oh so fresh, be sure to give the meat balls and pork belly a go! Until next time Ombra.

YUM! I moved away from Wellington seven years ago and visit home around once a year - I can't remember what used to be in this spot, but who cares. Ombra takes the cake. Delicious and appealing food in a warm and inviting venue. Such good value for the quality of food being served.

Love, love, love this place! Beautiful food in a lovely atmosphere. Generally order 3-4 dishes to share and enjoy every one. Must have the gnocchi every time!

The interior was all stripped down to the bare minimum which made it look really cool! <br/>The food very good I recon! It's a shame we only here visiting or else I would want to try all their other menu as well.<br/>Prob one of the best Italian food places I have tried. The dish sizes was quite small but it was very filling and good variety of food.<br/>Prosciutto pizza was very good! The based is freshly made its light and crispy with just enough toping to not over power anything. <br/>Goat cheese crostino was very nice, as it had that sweetness from the honey and creamy saltiness from the goat cheese. And there was a subtle truffle oil taste which lifted the whole flavour! <br/>Polenta chips was fried well, as its cut into small cubes so it's retain the fluffy inside and crunch on the outside!<br/>Beef portafoglio was amazing! The stuffed Gorgonzola oozed out of the beef as u cut it made it a perfect combination with fresh rockets on the side! <br/>I think the only let down was the arancino which was stuff with mozzarella and saffron. It lacked flavour and it was just flavoured rice with very small amount of mozzarella and I could really taste the saffron at all. <br/><br/>Service 4/5 <br/>Food 4.5/5 (want to try more but too full) <br/>Deco 4/5 (nice but I think we were sitting too close to the table on each side)<br/>

Great food fantastic atmosphere and brilliant service. The option to order sharing plates is a fantastic idea and love the food choices. Not particularly cheap but but reasonable, a great dinner experience with friends.

SO yum, been here twice and will definitely be going back soon. A really nice atmosphere and great food, some favourites are the gnocchi and the polenta chips with black olive aioli. Excited to try more of the menu!!

I love this place!<br/><br/>Had the Eggplant Parmigiana (pictured) and it was absolutely delicious. The perfect combination of crunchy and soft; good flavour balance, and a liberal sprinkling of cheese on top.<br/><br/>The grapefruit juice was also far fresher than expected.<br/><br/>However there is a slight lack of vegetarian "small plates" which can be disappointing, but selection is still good

Had two of us stop in for lunch. Lovely food, great service and nice atmosphere. The only bugbear was I had to go back to work.... Would definitely come back !!

Fantastic ambiance, superb food, and impeccable service. Despite arriving during the busiest part of the night, we were warmly welcomed by the maitre d' and seated at the bar to wait for a table to become available. Here, we were briefed on the bar menu and drinks. <br/><br/>The moment a table became available, we were seated and given full menus. Drink orders came out promptly. The wait staff were extremely helpful and honest with their appraisal and opinions of the food, including what would go well with what we already had. Their recommendation on the appropriate wine pairing was also spot-on. <br/><br/>The food itself was faultless. Each dish complemented the other dishes, while also standing on its own merit. Flavours were exquisite. Particular favourites included the venison meatballs with beetroot and smoked ricotta, the pork belly, and the eggplant parmigiana. <br/><br/>This is my third time visiting Ombra, and nothing about them has changed. A rare 5/5 is therefore appropriate. I shall definitely be back many more times in the future.

The only problem is knowing what to pick...<br/><br/>We came in for a light lunch and left a few pounds heavier. But it tasted well worth the added calories and future run to work off those calories. <br/><br/>Sharing is the only way to go at Ombra, and I love lots of small plates. Word of warning, dont expect alot of food for your money, but each small bite is well worth its pricey price tag. <br/><br/>We started with the blue cheese and artichoke #arancini. It was crispy, salty, creamy, and oozing with cheesy goodness. One was not enough, but it tempted my tastebuds for the next dish. <br/><br/>Second was the mortadella with mascarpone on fried dough (aka pizza frizze). I normally dislike pressed meats, but the mortadella combined with mascarpone was devine. <br/><br/>Third up was the smoked salmon frittata with broccoli. The least favourite of my dishes but a decent frittata nonetheless. Well seasoned and nicely set. <br/><br/>Lastly was the duck ragu with polenta. A dish I should love, but only liked. The duck was tender and the ragu full of flavour. The polenta needed something. It relied on the ragu to give it any flavour. I thing a polenta should be able to stand on its own. <br/><br/>The atmosphere at Ombra is also a bonus. Its usually full and buzzing with chatter. The couple next to you are close enough to touch but far enough to not have to. <br/><br/>The service was friendly and attentive. <br/><br/>A well deserved 4. <br/><br/><br/>

Well in must be precise while writing this one....<br/>What makes a great dining experience ...<br/>Ambience + good host + good host + good service + good chef + yummy for the yummy food.I think I have summed up my review here.But not to mention the immaculate coordination amount the staff and the presentation of food along with a superb taste that will never let me forget my experience at OMBRA.Thanks

This is a great little restaurant.<br/>Saturday evening dinner, walk in, no booking.  Very courteously greeted and asked if we would like to wait 10 -15 minutes before a table for two was available.<br/>Promptly handed a drinks menu and no sooner had we ordered, drinks were in our hands. <br/>In a blink (drinks downed) we were seated and started selecting a number of dishes to share. Olives in lamb - awesome, Ravioli with apricot, walnut and gorgonzola, Baccala bruschetta, Mushrooms, Pork saltimbucca with broad beans, Green salad with strawberries and pinenuts and a few carafes of wine to suit.<br/>Could not fault.<br/>Staff attention was also faultless. Very professional operation and for the price outstanding value.

Great food and great service.  We loved everything we tried.  Even though it was really busy all the staff were friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a great meal and a great experience.  Will  definitely be going back next time we are in Wellington.

Great dinner here the other night- the desserts are always a highlight. Great options not to big and really good prices. Service can sometimes be a bit blunt but otherwise pretty fautl ess. Definitely visit

Oh my gosh where do I even start. I would say this is definitely one of my favourite places in welly and I am itching to get back. We had the Roasted Potato Pizette, Pork Belly Saltimbocca and Venison Risotto. The flavours were to die for. The pork was cooked perfectly and all the flavours were gorgeous without being too rich. If you aren't a fan of thyme I wouldn't recommend the risotto, lucky for me it's my favourite herb. It's well priced and the service was impeccable. This is an absolute must in Welly. Only marking down half a point as their Pinot Grigio selection could be a bit better and I wasn't a fan of the wine glasses (that's me being so picky and a definite personal preference though). Can't wait to go back!!

Delicious and cheap for two people!! We are super happy with the mean we had the service was great too!!! We had venison meatballs, gnocchi and lemon tart.<br/>thanks again!

For great authentic Italian food hit this spot up in Wellywood! Decent tapa portions full of flavour and bloody great price all this for $71 sheeeet (bargin)<br/><br/>The venison meat balls are great and duck ragu is really good!

Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. Might have been poor menu choices but just about everything we ordered was brown and fried, including the olives. I wish the waiter had given us some direction and suggested something fresh to go with it. Asked for a recommendation on a white Italian wine and after describing what I normally like, it wasn't to my taste unfortunately. The little pizza was yummy but perhaps all the beautiful Italian food in Melbourne has set my expectations too high and Ombra just didn't meet them.

Wonderful food, great service. Stayed in Wellington for a week last November and ate at ombra 3 times! Looking forward to going there again fir wow week soon with good friend

Came here on a whim for a late Friday dinner. They were no longer serving the full menu but from what we tasted of the restricted menu, this place offers superb food!! We shared different pizzettas between us - all fantastic but the basic tomato/basil option was a winner for me. Simple, good quality ingredients cooked to perfection. Friends also tried various starters with the arancino being a stand out for most. Good beer on tap and fantastic service too, our waitress was wonderful. And to top it off - a hairdryer and pair of straightens in the ladies toilet!

This place has such a fun environment with enthusiastic and attentive staff who are always onto it. We mentioned that it was my friends birthday and I jokingly/drunkenly asked if they would sing happy birthday and they did when they brought the desserts out!! I think this is a wonderful idea for a restaurant and it makes the dining experience so fun and interactive!!

Had the mozzarella carroza for ciccheti which was delicious on the inside but the bread was slightly over cooked. Also had the Pollo chicken, olive and mascarpone pizza. All of which blended beautifully just like the restaurant itself. Overall a delicious experience located right where it should be along busy Cuba and Vivian street. If you want a wild card dinner this place is fantastic.

What an awesome concept, Italian tapas! Each dish was rich in unique flavor. Some of the best food I've eaten. Decent prices and the staff were all adorable and friendly. We had the arancini, venison meatballs, beef meatballs, beef portafoglio, pollo pizza, lemon tart and tiramisu. I am going to be recommending this place to everyone

Service was great, love most of the dishes. Really enjoyed it. Only didn't like the Nutella banana pizza which is literally a pizza bread with Nutella spread on top with a few slices of banana. The presentation of this dish doesn't match the other elegant dishes. It looks like something a student booth would make. Rest of the dish were amazing though, just don't order that and if you crave for Nutella and banana you can do it at home with a toast. What a shame, I would've given 4.5 if I didn't order that. Really filling as well.

This is now my official welly favourite. A quirky place with warm atmosphere. The dishes are small designed to be shared with friends. We had a risotto dish with beef cheeks, a pork belly dish and a few smaller dishes to share. It is so refreshing to visit a Italian restaurant that is not dominated by pasta (although I do love pasta if it's done in an Italian way). Will definitely go there again soon.

I went here with my partner for a weekend away in Welly. The restaurant was full when we arrived, but after sitting down for a drink we were offered a table after around 20 mins - not too bad for a Saturday evening! We weren't feeling too hungry, so chose the gnocchi, the pork meatballs, and the lamb cacciatora. This was seriously some of the best food I have ever eaten! The lamb was AMAZING. The amount of food we ordered was the perfect amount, it was rich and really satisfying. Will definitely be coming back with friends so we can try more dishes.

Nice little place. Service is quite good considering how busy it is especially for dinner. A friend and I ordered a San Marzano pizzette, lamb cacciatora, and pork belly saltimbocca. The pizette and saltimbocca were decent but we very much enjoyed the lamb. We finished the meal with a very good tiramisu. Pretty pricy for the food portion size but would return for the lamb and tiramisu.

Came here for a birthday dinner with my parents and a few friends from Auckland. We all ordered separate dishes and shared them which worked out perfectly for the few that don't eat much. <br/><br/>The pork belly was the star of the night along with the chicken pollo pizza. The tri-coloured gnocchi was also to die for. All the food was very tasty and easy to eat. <br/><br/>Service was nothing extraordinary, just your standard friendly Wellington service. I'd definitely recommend this place to friends and family.

Really enjoyed our tapas at Ombra, there is a great menu with lots of variety and generous portions. The staff were very helpful and friendly, even though they were very busy. A good location as well, located in the middle of Cuba St. Highly recommended.

Came with a bunch of friends. This place is more of a "light meal/sharing with friends" kinda restaurant. They were quite busy on a Tuesday night. So service was OK. <br/><br/>I ordered their "San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella & basil" pizzette. Was really nice with the mozzarella on top of each slice. Quite small, only 4 slices. But we ordered other meals as well. <br/><br/>Overall, the food was nice but probably won't be coming back as the food portions are really small and are quite expensive for the portions. Definitely good if you're after something light. <br/>

What a fabulous find Ombra is. After reading a few reviews here we though heck yeah let's give it a whirl. From the moment we sat down the service was impeccable and the food wow so many taste sensations, our lovely waiter advised us to chose two items each to share and see how we went, great advice and just about impossible to narrow it down to just two each (we went for three each in the end). Ombra offers some great choices of wines and beers, we stuck to by the glass. The only downside is that we won't be getting back there soon as we are only down here for a couple more days.

On a cold and grey Sunday afternoon Ombra provided the lift we needed. The food was out of this world, every plate we ordered outdid the last. The service was great, one dish was a little slow coming out so complimentary dish was given. Popped in on the Saturday for a drink and nibble and food was so great we returned on the Sunday. Can't wait to come back down to Wellington to eat here again!!

Has to be one of the best restaurants in Wellington. Casual dining with excellently prepared food. The decor, atmosphere and service are all excellent. The pork belly has to be tried, perfectly execution every time I've had it, which every time I eat to Ombra!

This place is superb. The food is incredibly simple, yet authentic and about as tasty as is possible. I've tried pretty much everything Wellington offers in the way of food. If only carbs were free of calories, I'd probably eat here every day. Frankly I like this place more than most of what I've had in Italy over the years. The potato and rosemary pizza is magnificent, and the cod balls are a party for your mouth. Hot day, cold peroni and good food from Ombra. Do it.

Excellent restaurant. We loved the food, great taste, beef risotto was absolutely delicious, nothing like anything I've seen before. Lamb was cooked to perfection.  Great flavoured food, great prices, Cocktails were yummmmmmyyyyy.

Have only been here once before but a great place to go if you like sharing and tasting lots of different items. We ordered too many carbs so got full too quickly. Some elements were amazing others not as great. would definitely recommend as a group place.

Highly recommend this Italian restaurant. Various choices in dishes full of different flavours. So delicious! Will be going back for more soon

Waiters were nice but the food arrived with half of the plate cold (but not the full plate which makes me think some stuff had been reheated)<br/>The food didn't have much taste (like still wondering where the sage went). It wasn't disgusting but just not surprising or different from what you could cook at home.<br/>Maybe a second try will make me change my mind. But I'm not willing to try as of yet.

Italian Giants Ombra, certainly impresses with its selection of tapas and drinks.<br/><br/>Kicking off with a robust shot of caffe had me primed for the upcoming tapas. <br/><br/>2 Crostinos, 1 Rabbit Ragu and 1 Pizzette later, my Italian gastronomic experience was complete. <br/><br/>Showstopper: With all the tasty tappas,The Salmon Crostino was so dominant with its fresh flavour that it was my favourite dish.<br/><br/>Overall Grade: A-

Great service, attentive and efficient. Such a good vibe, small busy and beautiful decoration. Ordered polenta and pizzette, so delicious! Simple but delicate. Cosy and warm. For on your own, couple and groups.

Went to Ombra for the first time today and thought their menu had a really nice selection and actually quite cheap!<br/><br/>I had the Rosemary, sea salt and olive oil pizza as I wasn't that hungry. It was a good size for me but probably not if you're starving! My vegan friend ordered the kumara gnocchi thinking it would be vegan friendly but it had cream in it (he did not ask the waitress to be fair!). <br/><br/>The interior was really cool and quite refined. A nice big space so you don't feel sandwiched! Service was fast and friendly too<br/> <br/>I.D is always required due to how they are licensed. I had to walk home and get mine which was a bit of a pain but understandable. <br/><br/>The polenta fries (which were actually cubes) were really nice! <br/><br/>Overall I would definitely come here again.

Came here with two friends who are Wellingtonians who recommended this place. Its an Italian tapas restaurant with a modern clean layout and friendly service.<br/><br/>Had a pizzetta, polenta chips, beef meatballs, kumara gnocci and whole flounder, along with three lattes. <br/><br/>Overall was good, meatballs were most flavourful, polenta could have used more seasoning. Portions are on the smallish side, but collectively filling for all of us. Priced at 75$ all up, wasnt too bad considering a wide range of dishes.<br/><br/>Coffee was amazing; would come back for the coffee definitely.<br/><br/>Pretty good at 3andahalf Yums<br/>

Ombra is best enjoyed as an experience, not a meal. The mood, people, decor and tapas-style menu lend the restaurant the air of a homey, relaxing place where you'd like to park yourself for a good while. At the same time, it has kind of a hip and quirky vibe. It's always crowded, it's always busy, and it always feels like it's filled with really interesting, artsy people. <br/><br/>Tapas is the best--little tastes of dreamy, little surprises filled with interesting flavour combinations, smartly balanced and beautifully presented. And the best thing about tapas? You get to enjoy more than one dreamy, little surprise per meal!<br/><br/>Ombra's small plates are its glory--each dish looks and tastes gorgeous. From the lightly crispy-creamy gnocchi to the robust house-made sausages, each plate is bursting with flavour. Fresh herbs are highlighted, and sauces are never a distraction, always leaving you wanting a bit more. <br/><br/>The service is friendly and helpful, but Ombra is so busy that it often takes awhile to have your wine glass refilled. Food, however, always comes right when you hope it will.<br/><br/>The magic of tapas.

Unfortunately on my last visit here was with a vegetarian, whilst I'm lactose intolerant, so it was hard to find dishes we would both enjoy. However, that being said, we navigated our way through the menu to order things we could share. It was a great decision and well worth it. The lamb with rosemary (which I had to myself - boy was I happy) was phenomenal. The setting could fool you into thinking you were in Italy. The staff are attentive and knowledgable. Highly recommend.

Loved the venison meatballs the flavours were just so clever and well balanced. Would have loved the meatball to be a bit less dense. The eggplant bolognese was flavoursome and a great alternative to pasta. The eggplant soaked up the oil of the bolognese which made the whole dish cleaner and lighter.

Beautiful food, friendly staff and warm atmosphere. Recommended!

This place has the most beautiful food. I have been back several times. <br/><br/>I have recommended this place to multiple people. Despite the simplicity of the items on the menu, they will not fail to impress you with their bold and and delicious taste.

I REALLY wish there was a 6 out of 5 rating for this place, because Ombra really is my favourite restaurant in Wellington.   I've been so many times it's starting to get a little embarrassing (... I wonder if they'd let me move in?) and it immediately became my "go to" for dinner after my very first visit in May 2013 - particularly when there are only two of us looking for somewhere to eat.   It's also generally the place I send people to when I'm asked for a restaurant recommendation.   The menu changes regularly (which I LOVE), and (being pescetarian) there's always a decent selection of wee tasty plates to choose from:  Risotto; gnocchi; pizzette; arancini; polenta chips.   I can honestly say I've never had a bad dish yet (and - trust me - I've waded my way through a fair few).  Ombra is also entirely responsible for my newly-developed, nasty little Aperol habit.   Things I particularly love?   The fact that they're open all afternoon (which worked PERFECTLY when I had a girlfriend from out of town with me and we were looking for something to eat and drink at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon), as well as into the evening (I've had more than one 9pm dinner there); the tiny wee desserts (when you're so full, but just fancy a taste of something sweet); the unfailingly GREAT menu; and the great service staff - switched on and slick.   The ONLY thing to bear in mind when going to Ombra is that I'm not the only one who loves it (dagnabbit), so it's frequently busy and there can sometimes be a little wait for a table (although if they give you the option of sitting at the counter in front of the kitchen - DO it!  It's BIG fun).  The tables are also fairly close together, so it's probably best not to (a) squabble with your partner or (b) plan a murder over dinner (someone's BOUND to overhear you - *awkward*).

Had the worst experience ever at this place. They didn't prepare most of our order, so only one of us ate while the others watched. Even worse was the arrongant attitude of the attendant and the total lack of apologies. Not even one "we are sorry about what happened". Will never set my foot there again!

Went here for breakfast with the wife on New Year's Day - great wait staff. He quickly pointed out the hazelnut filled donuts weren't available but was quick to provide alternatives which was helpful. <br/><br/>Coffee was good.

Went to Ombra on a spur of the moment foodie whim and was richly rewarded with one of the best evenings ever. All the food was exquisite and beautifully made and the taste was amazing. We ordered pretty much everything on the menu my favourites being the kumara gnocchi and the lamb w rosemary. Definitely coming back here with friends and family!!

Hands down best Italian cuisine in Wellington I've had so far! We arrived at Ombra around 9pm, a time I'd normally consider late for dinner. However, the restaurant was still completely full, with many others waiting for a table at the bar. There was definitely a warm and cozy atmosphere in the place. We were seated at the bar and in the time we waited, we had a Bellini and a Peaches'n'Cream cocktail, followed by two Prosecco Italian sparkling white wines.<br/><br/>We ordered a fifth to share once we were finally seated - about an hour later. We sat down at a window side table with cute Santa salt & pepper shakers, ordered a cocktail that the chef recommended, and forgot the name, although I took photos (below). It was very strong so we nicely asked them to add some lemonade in a long glass, which they happily did.<br/><br/>We started with baccalo crostino - creamy, whipped salt cod on toasted bread. It was the first time I've ever tried this - the idea of a fish whipped into a cream was so fascinating - but it was absolutely delicious! The salty flavour was perfect and went so well with the crunchy toasted bread! We then had polenta chips which I liked but didn't think was amazing- I remember liking the texture and finding the flavour a bit bland. However, our lamb dish that came next was incredible! Flavoured with garlic and rosemary, both the texture and flavour were perfection. The lamb was incredibly soft and succulent but still very chewy - absolutely delicious.<br/><br/>For dessert, we had poached pears and gorgonzola gelato. I never thought I'd try cheese flavoured gelato, but it was also absolutely amazing and complemented well with the poached pears, which had a subtly sweet flavour. Like everything else it was perfection!<br/><br/>Overall we were very happy with our experience at Ombra. Apart from the long wait we loved our cocktails, wine, side dishes, main and dessert! If only they took bookings. I'll definitely be sure to return and would highly recommend Ombra for delicious, perfect authentic Italian cuisine!

Awesome place for little plates of Italy. Has Peroni on tap;) Great ambiance and vibe. Helpful and friendly staff. In a great location in Central Wellington Cuba street

Loved the food and customer service. Such a beautiful and unique experience???? The food for me was something I had never tried and I'm not really one to try new place!!! But ombra allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and be so satisfied and highly recommend it!!! Especially for date night ????

I had a fantastic late night dinner here with some friends. They were very accomodating when we rang up and requested a table at 9.30pm. The food was lovely and the deserts were very impressive. Can't wait to come back

Just loved the food, there was variety, and everything was extremely tasty. I would highly recommend others to visit.  Staff were most helpful, many thanks to the chefs who work so hard to please us the public !!!  They need more tables to cater for the crowds, so how about opening up a branch in Lower Hutt.

Great service, excellent food, and a really good atmosphere. The venison meatballs were exquisite, and the risotto was delicious and all finished of with mouth watering chocolate gelato. All in all, it was a really lovely place to dine, and we will be returning again in the future.

Really nice food! However we were sitting near the door which closes really slowly letting in a whole lot of cold air, and the server was slightly too pushy

Absolutely delighted with the food. Fresh, flavourful, simple, bursting with flavours. After eating here, it's easy to understand why this place is such a buzz. Hat off to the chef for the meatballs.<br/><br/>The need to wait for a table and to stay within the very cramped bar during the whole wait was a bit of a pain, would've been nice to see a leave-name-then-return system.

Ombra has an Old World charm that made us feel at home right away. This was further reinforced by the warm, friendly but unobtrusive service. The beatifully presented food arrived at a good pace, with each dish designed to bring out the best from the main ingredient. Their beauty lies in their simplicity. Can't wait to go back for an evening of wine and a four course meal, to fully appreciate what the place has to offer.

Popular for a reason - service, food and good wine selection.<br/>Last Sat night, arrived just after 6 pm, it was packed with diners and drinkers; it was about a 45 minute wait for a table, they don't take bookings (as is the trend these days). The prices range from $5 for a generous portion of crispy polenta chips to $19 for the belly pork. We chose to order a number of small plates for a first round then re-order again for the more substantial dishes. All of the dishes we chose were very yummy and nicely cooked. The only exception was the duck risotto, the flavour was nice but the rice was undercooked. The belly pork and lamb were my fave. Highly recommending.

Love this place. Great food at reasonable prices and really attentive staff. Can't recommend highly enough. Went with 2 fussy eaters and everyone was impressed. Bruschetta with silver beet was outstanding flavour and value, lamb dish was divine and pizzettas and pizza bread better than anything tasted in Italy. Very friendly staff and great service. My new favourite.

Went to Ombra with the dark rider last night.<br/><br/>Busy and crowded but that didnt stop us being seated after a moderate wait at the bar. The dining room had a good buzz with people clearly enjoying food and conversation. <br/><br/>Great food and good service although they were struggling a little with the numbers. Ombra does tapas better than most in wellington. Small,intensely tasty plates. Really great selection and an excellent (and excellently priced) wine list.<br/><br/>Will be back for sure

I went to Ombra for the first time in November to catch up with some girl friends and we just loved the atmosphere and nibbly food so much that we had our partners along in December for Christmas drinks. It was really crowded but we got to stand right by the bar/grill and could see all the activity in the kitchen while waiting for our table. We then went back for a drink after the thirsty exercise of shopping one Saturday afternoon and again enjoyed ourselves. <br/><br/>Staff really friendly and they are a breath of fresh air chatting with everyone as if they've been friends for years! The food was delicious and great that they were able to cater for my friend who eats Gluten free.

Was very disappointed with the service i received last night. I have been talking highly of your restaurant to my friend so we decided to visit for some sweet dessert... (1) no one took our order and we got an apologise as they assumed someone else would be taking it. (2) mixed up our dessert/wrong order. (3) no water and had to get up to fill our own as wait staff was too busy chatting to each other. (4) no plates removed, we ordered a few desserts. When we got up and paid I said to wait staff how I was embarrassed I was to bring a friend here.. So not impressed

I was astounded to read the review re bad service etc. I visited Ombra for the first time last Sat after a great review from a friend. It was absolutely packed but the lovely front of house staff squeezed us in at the bar. The staff were absolutely fantastic, attentive, efficient, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The vibe of the restaurant was great, I felt like I was in Europe! As a qualified chef myself, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the food, quality and quantity - the tirimisu and Creme Caramel were to die for... Fantastic place and I will definitely be going back there again

A group of us dined at Ombra and were incredibly disappointed. The food was good but the service was one of the worst we have experienced. After finding a toothpick in one of our dishes, the staff did nothing to show any interest, they did not even apologise. The cocktails were extremely disappointing, I understand Ombra is not a cocktail bar however it's not too challenging to construct a cocktail that tastes of something other than lime. Again, the staff were useless, we were not even offered a menu in case we wanted to purchase a different beverage.<br/>It's a real shame the front of house staff let down the great food offered by the kitchen.

Wish I could say the food was good but after being served the wrong plates 3 times I'm still waiting to try mine. Have been waiting over an hour, so I thought I had some time to review it. The server was apologetic after it took her 30 mins to realize the order never went through. Tried to order some beers to hold down the hunger, but was forgotten again :( really terrible service, I'll review the food when I get it.

Great building and atmosphere - buzzing on a Friday night. Friendly and efficient staff. Food was delicious. A wide range of small plates to choose from. Eggplant parmigiana, beef on the bone, polenta fries were great. Personally I didn't really enjoy the whole sardines - felt they were a bit dry. Definitely on my list of places to go back to very soon.

Took my neice who is a uni student there for a treat and we were not disappointed. The food and service were excellent - the best I have had in Wellington and will be coming back again and again. Cost was reasonable too.<br/><br/>As a vegetarian I had a great selection of food and the mini pizzettas were amazing and better than I have had in Italy.<br/><br/>Staff, both the chefs and front line, were amazing, cheerful and seemed to love working there which was reflected in the food. Well done guys!

AMAAAZING!<br/><br/>Friendly helpful service and great atmosphere.<br/><br/>The food was great, my favourite the Baccala Crostino and the Saffron &amp; Honey Pannacotta.<br/><br/>Will definitely be going back soon!!<br/><br/>Hightly recomended

Superb meal, lots to choose from and share. Petit dishes allowed me to pick several to try and each one was beautifully presented and sensational textures and tastes for even the most innocent foodie.<br/>Charming maitre'd and food came out nice and quick. Friendly wait staff but needed prompting. Overall a great eating experience. Busy, warm atmosphere. Definitely returning : )

luuvved the bustling busy but accommodating hype of Ombra. Kai was superb and fun. Definitely going back and recommending to others. The Italian menu offered treasures to be discovered and devoured with pleasure. Tables are close but I love that communal aspect when eating and Wellingtonians are not shy so great atmosphere.

I was surprised by amazing food and very friendly service at Ombra last night. At a Wednesday night we had to wait for a table, while having a drink at the bar. The staff was very good in showing that they hadn't forgotten about us, made sure our glass wasn't empty, and was very concerned to get us a table asap. The menu looked like it was not written in English, with lots of exotic sounding ingredients. Fortunately the waitress gave us a good explenation of the dishes. But for people with a short memory span a dictionairy would be useful. <br/>The food came out very quick, and everything tasted fantastic. As a vegetarian, it was great to see so many vegetarian options on the menu and it was great to see they had been creative with ingredients, giving popular dishes a refreshing new swing.<br/>After dinner, dessert and some drinks the final bill was reasonable. I'd highly recommend this place!

If you are after something different then this is the place. Small italian tapas. With a large variety of dishes to cater for all tastes.<br/><br/>Definitely a must try is the 'the birds that got away' and the bresaola.<br/><br/>We went there on a Friday night. was told there was a 25minute - an hour wait, so we decided to wait at the bar. Wait time was around 10-20 minutes before we got a table. We were able to order at the bar if you didnt want to wait too long<br/><br/>Will definitely be returning at some stage.

Did not disappoint. Best Italian food I have had in Wellington - must try the lamb and rosemary meatballs. Will definitely be going back to try everything on the menu

Do it! Go there! Finally Tapas is a happening thing in Wellington.<br/>People are good, Prosecco is good, Peroni is good, have fun enjoy and do Bloody Mary's with the Pickapeppa Hot Pepper Sauce.

The food here is amazing! Small tasty plates, and enough to keep the vegetarians happy. such a nice way to eat, and it often works out really cheap too. We had the polenta chips, seaweed (something?) and crostini, and I have to go back and try the gnocci, it sounds delish. I've been here a few times now, and the staff have always been lovely (though one may have been a bit new last time I went..). All in all, definitely recommended.

This place cooks seriously delicious food. It is in the style of a venetian bacaro, the food comes in small servings so you order a selection to go round the table. In my opinion this is the best way to eat as you get to try a little bit of everything! Some of my favourites are the pizzettes, the venison meatballs, and the risotto. The atmosphere is great, music and dimlights which is just what I like when going out to enjoy a meal on a cold winter's evening. The food was consistently tasty and of good quality. The Belinis weren't too bad either ;)

This is a very cool spot to come with friends for relaxed shared dining. All the food we had was yummy, small portions but fine for 3 of us to share and really good value. They don't take bookings so had quite a long wait (about 45 mins) but we were kept topped up with good wine so we're happy!

This is such a cool bar. Come here a lot with friends, the kai is reka (tasty) and the wine list is good. Interesting and not the usual selection given the Venetian emphasis. Having been here a few times, the food choices have been whittled down some. Always some form of meatballs (venison very tasty), a pizzette or two, mussels or fritto misto for seafood, and then a few of the little starter dishes. A priority is to leave room for some of their cute desserts, tiramisu (of course) or pannacotta or .... the list goes on.<br/>Service: 4.5/5<br/>Ambience: 5/5<br/>Food: 4/5<br/>Value for Money: 4/5