Review Sweet Mother's Kitchen - Wellington

Have eaten here for 12 years off and on. The food comes served in little plastic baskets, so it really does feel like the quintessential diner experience, right in the heart of Wellington. Brunch is also available every morning, and all day over the weekend. There’s a good selection of classic desserts too, classic American pumpkin pie included 🎃. The venue is now tired with little interior updates. The food prices are very fair and tasty. The added value is Sweet Mothers also sell alcohol 🍸 😀 with its fun and spicy food!

Very good service, good menu … not overly extensive. Food was very good quality all around. They know how to prepare fried chicken and their waffles are top-notch. Prices were reasonable.

The burritos were awesome! Reasonable price and simple and big. 😍 Ribs was dried and the sauce was too much, but it was good to eat

Finally…a restaurant that knows how to do a steak medium-well, without the chef throwing his toys out of the cot, or knives at the serving staff. I came late on a Monday night, no trouble. My waitress knew how to make the perfect G&T too Meal was reasonably priced, and came with my all-time favourite…curly fries in duck fat. Great atmosphere, with plenty of diners for a Monday.

A great find in Wellington for those on the lookout for great Cajun food. The blackened fish is to die for, the Jambalaya delicious and even Beignet made to order. Super service from Vay and the team, don’t miss it.

After seeing that there was Jumbalaya on the menu, I couldn't go past. It made my nose run a bit but unlike the song my pants weren't on fire. Next time I'm in Wellington I'll be back.

My new favourite restaurant in Wellington! The food is fantastic. Nice American flavours and good portion sizes. Service was great and although we had to wait a little while for a table, staff were still helpful and attentive. Even though it was a busy night, they didn’t try to rush us off our table. We ordered ribs and fish tacos and had pie for dessert. The food is well priced and delicious.

Love this place and the bustling vibe. Food was delish. Happy to provide some pulled pork for my salad instead of chicken ....and it wasn't on the menu. Service amazing and food excellent. Will be back for sure next time we visit the big W.

Went there for there for breakfast and dinner. For breakfast had the eggs bomba, breakfast burrito with SMK spicy sausage and a side of hash. It was delicious and would definitely order the dishes again. For dinner had the jambalaya, jerk chicken, fish tacos and pork belly tacos and curly fries. The jambalaya was delicious however would prefer dark chicken meat over chicken breast. The tacos were also good - crackling on the pork belly wasn't as crunchy as I like it but I am very picky when it comes to crackling. The jerk chicken was disappointing and would not order again - chicken breast was dry (again prefer dark meat) and the beans were basically tasteless. The dessert of banoffee pie and key lime pie was also quite good. Personally, I'm not a fan of banana flavoured caramel in the banoffee pie but overall it was still good.

My wife and stopped by here for some lunch. Had an amazing lunch here. The service was great! Comfortable seating and eating area. I would have wished for a side plate on the table, would have been easier to share food with my wife. The fried chicken I had was crispy and yet not greasy. Same for the fries. I would definitely go back here to try more items of the menu.

Lovely food and good choice, reasonable prices. Staff were very friendly. Really nice. Recommended.

Lovely place with funky decor, great food and great service! The coffee and cuban sandwich were delicious and can't wait to try other dishes when I'm in the area.

Decided to get some lunch at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen (SMK) after seeing the good reviews on Google and Zomato.<br/><br/>Hush Puppies 🤫🐶 $11<br/>Both I and my mate enjoyed the starter. Each hush puppy was cooked just right without too much oil and the cornmeal inside was not dry. The sauces went well with the dish, there was a good balance of sweet and spicy 🌶 taste to it.<br/><br/>Send It! Jerk Chicken 🐓 $25<br/>I personally did not enjoy the dish. The red beans and rice were too dry, which made it difficult for me to finish. The chicken was cooked okay, but I felt a very strong taste of rum in the marinade.<br/><br/>Peanut Butter Pie 🥧🥜 $8.50<br/>I really loved 💖 the peanut butter pie a lot. I could tell that the cream and pie were fresh and homemade. The chocolate base was not crumbly, but it was soft enough to easily cut through. The filling had a soft texture, and I could instantly taste the peanut butter flavor. Simply delicious😋<br/><br/>Ambiance and Final Words<br/>The restaurant has a compact and laid-back vibe, with lots of different knick-knacks to see. Service was friendly, but we did have to wait 25-30 minutes for our dishes to arrive. Which is fair enough as the place was fairly packed with lots of customers wanting brunch/lunch at the time.<br/><br/>Overall, I would give SMK a go if you are in the CBD area and also if you love comfort food or want a casual outing (friends or solo). I heard that their chicken in a basket with curly fries 🍗 🧺 🍟 are a hot seller 🔥

The service was good. The food was great (recommend the tacos). The price of food was amazing. You do not have to book for this place - just turn up. We will go again.

Went there last week as it was our first time in Wellington and happened to come across this lovely American restaurant on courtenay place.<br/><br/>The gentleman who served us was very polite.<br/><br/>The Mocha and the milkshakes we ordered weren't that great, but we were hoping the food was as the decor of the restaurant was lovely with musician photos, autographs on the walls etc.<br/><br/>We ordered the "Hush Puppies"...as the entree.<br/>Must say if it wasn't for the sauce it's a very very dry dish. Just like eating cornbread by itself.<br/><br/>For the mains we ordered the jerk chicken and the chicken in a basket, both were very dry dishes. Wasnt a fan of either ... compared to the exact same dishes we've tried in America.<br/><br/>A little more flavor would go a long way.<br/><br/>Ambience : ⭐⭐⭐<br/>Staff : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Price : ⭐⭐⭐<br/>Food : ⭐⭐<br/>

Man catchin' beignets<br/>Again why Auckland no have<br/>Thank you Sweet Mother.<br/><br/>ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Love this place! Make sure we visit whenever we’re in the capital. <br/><br/>Fried chicken, corn bread, Po boys, breakfast burrito mmmmhmmmmm, food to cover any time of day and to top it off the coffees awesome!! <br/><br/>Keep going strong sweet mama’s! We’ll be back soon!

Had the most amazing breakfast. Fresh fish, full of flavour and for my savory tooth just the right of amount of cream and egg and heat. Awesome. Would have the Egg Herbert again in a heartbeat. Great service. Love the relaxed but clean, welcoming feel.

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐ (bonus star for outside heaters)<br/>Staff: ⭐⭐ (friendly but far too rushed)<br/>Food: ⭐⭐⭐ (it was ok)<br/>Curly fries: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Would I recommend to a friend? Only for the curly fries.<br/><br/>I suppose I enjoyed my meal at sweet mother's kitchen. Would I come again? Unlikely. The food was good, not great. The place was packed. The staff were nice, not amazing. They were clearly rushed, and needed more staff with the quantity of people there.<br/><br/>The food - it was ok. The milkshakes were average. The fried chicken was nice. It came in a red sort of net container, which while possibly good for a fish net; not ideal for my meal. A plate would have done just as well. My family ordered the enchiladas, which they enjoyed and was a fair amount, but again not that great. The curly fries were delicious, and definitely saved the meal; not all heroes wear capes, some wear garlic salt.

Great service, we had too sit outside for a bit while we waited for a table inside but that was okay. The curly fries were so good and the artichoke dip was amazing, my fish tacos 🌮 were a bit too spicy for my liking but they did offer me sour cream which was awesome.

Came welli again after a year literally for this. Ordered beef and bean nacho, fish taco, chicken n fries and peanut butter shake. Everything came at decent price point and were amazing.

This place has positive vibes and staff was very friendly. I have ordered Eggs Benedict and regular mocha and it was good. <br/><br/>One of my friend from welly recommended me this cafe and I was not disappointed.

Friends and I craved fried food for our last meal in Wellington! Sweet Mother’s Kitchen was recommended so we had to visit!<br/><br/>I ordered the chicken in a basket and the chicken was amazing! So fresh, juicy and crunchy! All you could want from fried chicken. The sauce was beautiful too. <br/><br/>The fish tacos were fresh with a lovely citrus flavour, it was done so well! <br/><br/>Vanilla milkshake is a classic and hit the spot!

Always been good in the past but today I got a breakfast in which the beans hadn’t been cooked properly, the sausages were also underdone and I was underwhelmed. The front of house staff were great<br/><br/>

Solid 4. Great Service. Warm inside. All meals look amazing, coffee a tad off dropped the score. They can get busy, an iconic wellington spot. Casual and comfortable. Definitely worth eating here brekky or lunch

Had the breakfast burrito and my girlfriend had the waffles. Both were absolutely fantastic. Great food, great coffee and amazing service. Very cool decor and music as well. Highly recommend this place.

I went here a few weeks ago the food was delicious and came in a timely matter. Definitely one of those highlights of Wellington and a must visit, it’s my brothers favourite restaurant and he lives in Auckland so that’s say something.<br/>When I went I thought the cleanliness was a bit low and just because they are busy they should always keep a good standard.

Gotta be honest and say it’s kinda ‘crusty’ but loads of food options. Super friendly staff. Dealing with a busy Monday lunch they were all very cheerful. We had a couple of chicken salads that were tasty. 1 burger that was ‘not too shabby’ and vegetarian nachos which were not rather shattering but filling and tasty enough. Puddings were full on. Would come here again and again if I lived down here.

Yum yum in my tum! Absolutely loved Sweet Mother’s! The service was 10/10, the food was 11/10 🙌🏼 I cannot wait to be back! <br/><br/>Check out my review on Instagram: Wellymunchers 😁

Po boys are a must! And also the curly fries with their special sauce. I do agree with others that the place is sort of tacky and feels as if you are in a students flat. I also think they take a little too long to come out and take your order (we have waited nearly 20 minutes each time we have come in the past month) even when it really is not that busy. Servers are really nice! Just think orders need to be taken maybe 10 minutes faster.

I've been here once. TBH I wasn't as blown away by it as other's do. I think it's a bit grimey - all the stuff stuck all over the walls grosses me out. I think there's better places in Wellington and it's a shade overrated.

Wait was long and food was bland..don't order the chicken basket. The chowder was average the ribs was the best of the bunch. Service was the only upside.

Was very tasty and good. Chicken was cooked good and tasty :) Food was well priced and in decent proportions yummmmmmmm

Been wanting to try this place for a long time finally not that busy when I came. Unique and cool cafe set-up very American deco. I ordered a waffle and fried chicken which is not on the menu along with mocha cold drink - both are divine. The fried chicken is perfectly cooked I'm guessing its a buttermilk chicken. highly recommended!

Waited about an hour for the food, gumbo was super salty, staff was very nice. Location and ambience is quite nice, maybe just ordered the wrong food. Might come back again but it just wasn't worth it this this night.

The best curly fries ever! That is my best description of this place! And their fried chicken are so good too and it taste even better with their special sauce. The place always have full but the staff are always so attentive and efficient! 👍🏻<br/><br/>Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The only thing in-authentic about this place is the size - it's too big by Bourbon St standards. But the food is amazing!! I ordered waffles topped with poached Eggs, maple pecan bacon, topped with maple syrup. Brilliant. Good coffee and beignets!!! Nothing says NOLA like a beignet. Decorated with detritus of years gone by - money, pictures and lots of US paraphernalia ( love the Hilary Clinton nutcracker) just a great place to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Great friendly staff too.

This will forever be my favourite restaurant in Wellington. Food is incredible and the drinks are delicious. Curly fries and milkshakes are also a huge highlight!

Holy moly, if only I could have their homemade pies EVERY SINGLE DAY! I had eggs on sourdough bread and a slice of peanut butter pie, I have to say it is one of the best pies I've had in Welly. Love the atmosphere as well. I would definitely go back and try out their lunch menu (which has really good reviews).

Was here on Sunday and just love coming to this place.. I don't come for the comfortable surroundings because its not.. but ratherr for the heart warming comfort food (chicken in a basket and seafood chowder are two of my many favourites). Its usually pretty friendly service too considering how busy they are and very reasonable prices.. thanks

Fantastic restaurant and must be one of the top places on Courtenay Place! Apparently it's been here forever according to my dining colleague. Simple tables with eclectic 70's decor sucks in the hipsters and it fills up quickly so get in early. The food was out of this world with my cajun fish and mash being extraordinarily delicious....  Also the curly fries were superb and all together we had a fantastic time!

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is always a nice & cosy experience with its American South & Mexican inspired cuisine.<br/><br/>Today, because it was busy (as always) we sat outside. It was a crisp Winter's afternoon and beginning to bluster. We were with my partner's dad who was starting to feel the cold. We spotted an empty table inside and speaking to the staff we were allowed to move into the open arms of our sweet mother.<br/><br/>I ordered a pulled beef & caramelised onion quesadilla. It was served with a generous amount of guacamole. I picked the 3 quesadillas which were tasty enough but weren't quite enough for a main meal, but we shared a bowl of deliciously crunchy curly fries with a unique creole aioli. <br/><br/>We didn't have dessert today but the sweet American pies are always worth a try. There's an extensive menu of hot and cold drinks. I couldn't make my mind up so just went with a typical hot chocolate served with the obligatory pink and white marshmallows.

I got a quesadilla from here for brunch, was pretty bland and looked like it came out of a can, no cheese present despite that being on the menu. The place has a nice atmosphere, and I'm sure the coffees and baking is good but there are better place to get meals which would cost less.

This place has been one of my fav places to eat for many years but after living abroad and coming back to my go to I was completely gutted food had gone down hill big time I had the ribs with curly frys what I normally always get with a side of creamed spinach. The frys were swimming in the rib sauce and the creamed spinach was lukewarm. Ripped off big time 👎🏽

Always always love eating at Sweet Mother's Kitchen, the food is always great and the service is always fantastic. My grandchildren love the curly fries - and so do I. AND not too bad a wine selection.

I had yummy peppermint tea in a retro looking tea pot! Fabulous. Also, the seafood chowder & crispy bread were divine! Busy little place, but the cafe had a great vibe to it. Friendly staff & amazing music! Thanks for making my morning awesome!

The 15 min wait for a table was definitely worth it. Service was great, atmosphere was awesome. Had the fried chicken with coleslaw and curly fries it was amazing but the pies are to die for!

I absolutely loved the curly fries and the amazing sauce that came with it. I liked the chicken as well but the curly fries were just so good.

This was the second time I had been here. Came in when it was only half full and placed our orders almost straight away. The place filled up and got busy after and the food took ages. After half an hour someone came out to tell us one of our dishes weren't available and to order something else which they will put it on rush order. Food finally came after 50 minutes from initial order. The food was decent but not worth the wait. When we went up to pay they asked how everything was, and we said the food was good but politely mentioned the wait time was quite long. There was no apology, just said the place was busy. Won't be coming back.

Pre dope food here and awesome atmosphere. Gave the New Orleans prawns a go with a jug of sangria all for under $60.00 and it tasted great, pretty sick right?

Amazing! It was packed even on a Wednesday night, but a table was freed up in no time! Didn't want anything too large so I had a Po Boy on its own so that I had enough room for a slice of scrumptious Pumpkin Pie and it was delicious and the perfect amount! Our waitress was friendly and chatty even though it was busy, she had time for some cheerful banter! Will definitely be going again!

Loved everything about this place. Went back a second time the next day. The Black Bean Breakfast Burrito was awesome. Definitely a highlight. Had an interesting Kawakawa and Ginger tea. Thought I'd ordered a soft drink, but had ordered from the tea section, it was really good so I kept quiet ;)

Came on a Tuesday during lunch hour, and it is very busy and packed! Waiters were attentive but really stretched. Decor was interesting and worthwhile taking a look. Suggest coming here for somewhere to talk over food as things cannot be rushed. <br/>The place serves mostly Mexican style food which isn't around that often. It's healthy as not full of oil, flavours are good, and for 16 dollars it did last me for quite a while, though serving sizes were not huge.

Only had shakes and cakes here but the snicker shakes weren't as flavourful and a little too milky. the pumpkin pie and pecan pie were really good. The waitress took ages coming back to us even though it wasn't busy but the staff were nice

Came here because everyone recommends it but found the food to just be average really. Can't complain for the good price of some of the foods but it wasn't memorable enough that id be keen to come back and my portion was very small

Our friend invite us to this place when we are in Wellington. We order their famous curly fries, buttermilk soaked fried chicken and some breakfast menus. The food is good (above average) and good value for money 😊

I went to SMK for a dinner with workmates and have to say of was z great experience. I had the chicken in a basket. I loved the curly fries and Mississippi sauce, which was delicious. The chicken was a bit dry but edible. The service was awesome, there was always a waitress asking if we needed anything else. I liked the atmosphere as well, I would definitely recommend for a bite to eat. I just have to go there now for breakfast.

Great place - very busy which is always a good sign. This place came recommended and did not disappoint. I had the breakfast burrito with added potato hash which was delicious. A huuuuge, heavy meal that filled me up all day. Friends had big jays breakfast which was also giant and delicious. Coffee was great. I didn't try them but my friend adored the beignets which exceeded his expectations. Get here early to avoid a wait!

Went here for brunch on a Sunday so fairly busy. Seated quickly but still had to wait a fair while for food! Ordered the 2 eggs on toast (poached) and although it tasted nice, I found the sourdough bread/toast a bit tricky to slice in to. Also had the iced chocolate which was tasty! For a popular place, it might be worth them thinking about expanding their venue a little to accommodate for more perhaps?

Been there twice in the last couple of weeks. The food has always been good so far. Have tried the chipotle chicken quesadillas and the nachos. Both had very reasonable prices. The wait is fairly long but it's worth it. It's been packed with people both days I've been there

Used to eat here frequently but no more. Poor customer service and poor stuff training. Went there for a family dinner one night and the waiter accidentally poured beer ove<br/>r me. I was wet and stank of beer. I asked for a discount off my meal and was offered a "cookie". Not good enough and insulting. Won't be going back.

Love coming here - I always get the same thing - their curly fries! They are so good. The atmosphere is super chill and always have a great dining experience here.

This place was packed so we actually went off to have dinner somewhere else but ended up coming back to wait for a table. We waited about 10-15 minutes to be seated. Outside seats were very warm, thanks to the heater. They said the wait on food was at least 30minutes but it arrived earlier than that. We ordered nachos, chicken basket and a po boy. Food was absolutely amazing and we would definitely go back next time when we are in We'lington.

This is my fave in Welly and a must if your after food that is different, and soulful and makes you happy! <br/>Eggs Herbert: Creamed spinach, artichoke, grilled fish with a poached egg on top of a baguette, the flavours work well. All of it. <br/>The donuts are not too sweet, fluffy on the inside, the outside a dark caramel dusted with icing sugar and light drizzle of syrup. A must to dunk in your coffee! which by the way is aromatic and excellently brewed. <br/>Don't take my wooed for it you MUST go and try as we will again when visiting Welly but this time we will try the 11.30 menu. <br/>The staff dos well considering this place is pumping on a Sunday morning. Great friendly service.

Id heard so much good about Sweet Mothers Kitchen, I couldn't wait to try it for myself finally. <br/>The place was busy. Tables filled both inside and out and more people just kept arriving. We had a big group and our table seemed to take up most of the place. Our drink orders seemed to be taken as soon as we sat down and although service was good, it did make us feel rushed to order before the whole group was there. <br/>When we ordered I found them to be relaxed with changing items despite the menu saying otherwise. The food didn't seem to take to long to come out even if the drinks did and it tasted good. The mushrooms were definitely a highlight for me but next time I'd love to try the waffles.

Disappointed to say the least. I came for my morning coffee fix today. I was served by a moody broody hipster with a raised eye brow. ( I guess my baby front pack was cramping the cafes style) she sat behind the counter on stool not atal busy yet she took forever to make my soy flat which was takeaway. She was in no hurry either. She charged me 5.50! Automatically assuming I wanted a large. So I brushed it off.. Then to realise she gave me a small! I wanted to complain but I couldn't be bothered with her moody attitude written across her face. Coffee was shit. Later this evening my partner went and ordered takeaways. We recently moved to Wellington and live a stones throw from this place so it was out of pure convenience. My partner is from America and was not impressed at this wanna be American Come Mexican food.. No flavour no spice and everything was almost tainted with this awful lamb smell and taste. Major let down sweet mothers.

For a chill night with friends you can't beat Sweet Mother's Kitchen. It has a flare all of it's own with influences in it's menu of Mexico and the Gulf States. Being a little on the fragile side when it comes to hot and spicy food I opted to dine on a classic chicken burrito that was utterly sublime. A bite of my friend's quesadilla was just as delicious. You want a cosy place for good food and great memories consider catching up at Sweet Mother's Kitchen.

Very trendy little spot that was shown to be popular irrespective of the time of day. Enjoyed a breakfast beignet and coffee - simply ordered this as I had never had a beignet before and was curious. In that respect its hard to give a true review given I don't know what a traditional beignet 'should' taste like. <br/><br/>Got a large serving of 3 generous portions in the serving with lashings of icing sugar. Advised to dip into my coffee, to which, I obliged. Nice. Strong flavour to the choux pastry, an acquired taste, no doubt. <br/><br/>Coffee was on the bitter side for me, even with the addition of the icing sugar on the beignets. Great to sit outside, watching the world and all their interesting participants go about their day. A nice spot to go, look forward to sampling their other menu options.

I haven't been here for a long time and last time the food was lovely but I wasent that impressed buy the food but the service was really yum.

Sweet Mothers Kitchen is tucked on the end of Courtnay place with indoor and pavement (outdoor) seating. The menu includes Mexican and southern states American. We went for the curly fries and burger. It was delicious and super filling. They had an impressive sweet pie menu and I would love to come back and try some!

I hadn't been here in nearly 2 years and was relieved to find it was still as good as I remembered! I had the hush puppies, the beef quesadilla and a snickers shake. It was way too much food for one person, especially since I also had some of my friend's curly fries 😂 We were seated almost immediately and the food came out quickly. My quesadilla was kind of cold but I still really enjoyed it. I'd never had hush puppies before and found them quite dry, so don't think I would order again. The snickers shake blew my mind, definitely recommend.

We came down to Wellington to visit the Te Papa museum and the Dreamworks Exhibit over Waitangi weekend, and decided to try Sweet Mother's Kitchen on Sunday night.<br/><br/>As it is a walk in restaurant, we hoped we would get seats and went in early at around 6pm, there were a few tables left and our party of 4 were seated prompted by the serving staff.<br/><br/>Looking around, the decor was cute, quirky and funky in all the good ways. I loved how they put an alligator toy in one of the flower buntings! Very New Orleans. The walls were pasted with various postcards and humours photos/images/cuttings from magazines. Quite a few of the cards were American diner era-style decorations. Very nice atmosphere! <br/><br/>Despite the place being so busy, the waiters and waitresses did a very good job of looking after us. Shortly after being seated, water was brought to our table and a few minutes later a waiter came to ask us if we wanted to order drinks.<br/><br/>Having already decided what we wanted to eat as well, we ordered our food at the same time as the drinks.<br/><br/>The drinks came promptly and my Jungle Juice ($7) was very hearty and very tasty and refreshing.<br/><br/>Not long after the food came all at once for the table! I shared both a gumbo and jambalaya with one of my friends on the table. The other two got a Cuban Po Boy and the Blackened Cajun fish (tarakihi was the fish of the day). A plate of curly fries for the table, which was hot, crispy and crunchy. The aioli was quite unique and I liked it - and this is coming from someone who doesn't like aioli!<br/><br/>Everything looked absolutely delicious and were quite a filling portion/size. I loved the Creole style jambalaya, however the gumbo was quite smoky and dark for my taste, and also less soupy. The flavours weren't as delicate as my favourite gumbo from my favourite Cajun restaurant in Auckland, however, that's a personal preference and it should be noted that the gumbo was still delicious and had many meat and sausage.<br/><br/>Everyone on the table agreed that the food was fantastic and very filling! And we still wanted dessert even though we were full!<br/><br/>It was a bit difficult getting a waiter/waitress' attention to order dessert, but that was due to the restaurant being very busy! They did a very good job despite how full the restaurant was.<br/><br/>For dessert I had the beignets, my friends had Key Lime Pie and a Banana Cream Pie. <br/><br/>The Banana Cream Pie was very rich and delicious! However I think they compensated the flavour of banana with a bit of essence, so it wasn't quite as appealing to me.<br/><br/>The Key Lime Pie was very tangy and tasted very much like lime! The crushed biscuit base was very delicious as well and not overly sweet. I would get this one next time.<br/><br/>My beignets were very hot, a crunchy shell on the outside but moist and chewy on the inside. Of course, served with a hearty helping of icing sugar! I loved it. Tasted like fresh bread (which it should!).<br/><br/>Everyone on our table were extremely satisfied and would love to come back again.

Sweet Mother's is home to authentic Mexican cuisine. The taco's have an excellent texture and are seasoned perfectly. With friendly service and great food, Sweet Mother's is hard to miss.

My favourite place to go with friends on a late night dinner date. They have the best milkshakes in town (snickers!!) and their dessert pies are to die for. Their curly fries are fried to perfection every time. I've never been disappointed.

Interestingly decorated place! Tonight we had the Mad dog beef ribs vegetarian nachos and a side of creamy mushrooms. Yum yum yum yummety yum.<br/><br/>Deffo try the beignets!

Went here expecting Authentic southern American food...sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. After a little wait at the bar for a table (this place is always packed) I had the jambalaya which in my opinion lacked depth & seasoning. I'd say my review is a little biased though as I used to frequent an amazing place in Auckland called Bonz Kitchen. Cajun food done brilliantly. Will be back to SMK to try the rest of the menu though as I don't think it's a fair review based on one dish. Staff, atmosphere & decor all A+.

Had the peanut butter pie. Very sweet and the base is a bit soggy. I tend to prefer the savoury stuff here. Their shakes is pretty good too.

Had been wanting to visit this spot for a while after hearing good things. Was surprised to read about bad service in some reviews, but thought I'd give it a try anyway. Well from my experience the service was great - & I'm pretty fussy when it comes to that. I think I interacted with 3 staff in total & they were all friendly & helpful.<br/>Coffee was great - just right.<br/>Decided to try something different & chose the chicken & waffles. Although it isn't something I'd pick again, that is more due to it not being my taste rather than anything else. Just couldn't get past fried chicken with syrup but I do get that it's a southern dish.<br/>The chicken was delicious & perfectly cooked. Waffles were light but crispy in places. Syrup light & not overly sweet. Others around me had a variety of dishes which all looked great. <br/>Would definitely return, but would chose another dish. If chicken & waffles is your thing I'd recommend.

The inside is a little basic but the outdoor eating area is pleasant on a nice day.. They do takeaways too so they have all the bases covered.<br/><br/>Po boys are the way forward, they have a selection to choose from and each sounded delicious as the next, and the hush puppies! Never tried them before and I tell you what, it was a revelation! <br/><br/>Had mixed reviews about this place but I really enjoyed the food, not the place to go for a sit down meal but if a different kind of takeaway is what you are after then I would highly recommend this little restaurant.

It's always busy which is frustrating but the staff normally sort you out and the longest I've ever waited for a table was 15 min. I highly suggest the burritos especially the one with mushrooms etc so yum. There's a really cute Spanish guy who works there so he was the .5 in my rating

Yummy yummy yummy. Love their milkshakes the snickers one is to die for and their curly fries. Some other items are hit or miss but still a great place to eat. You do have to wait for a table often as they are usually full but it's worth a wait.

Recommended by a friend so we decided to have lunch there on our last day in Wellington.<br/><br/>We shared a beef taco and curly fries between us. The portion sizes were perfect as we weren't very hungry. The taco was very well done.

I was that end of town and wanted something tasty for lunch, so Sweet Mother's it was.<br/><br/>It was busy outside but not inside. I think I arrived at the right time as I was seen to promptly and my meal arrived within 10 minutes. Perfect.<br/><br/>I ordered the Chicken in a basket ($17.00)<br/><br/>The portion was big. The chicken was great; perfectly juicy and tasty. The coating was light.  The small coleslaw was fresh, crisp and lightly dressed. It was nice. A little more would have been great but it wasn't an issue. The cajun dip didn't have enough punch for me but it was ok. I had a mountain of curry fries, but they weren't as good as I've had previously. Many were a little too saturated in oil, but there were enough that weren't to complement the meal.<br/><br/>Overall I enjoyed the meal, but it could have been better.<br/><br/>I read a review of SMK as I was crossing the road towards it which highlighted poor service - that's never good. However, the waitress who served me was really friendly and chatty - which was nice.

I had the freddy's eggplant bake and it was not up to the standard especially for a high price , i couldn't even finish 1/4 of the portion cause it was tough and hard , its like I'm eating a soaked hard sponge and not an eggplant , the coffee wasn't that great either , it was very disappointing, especially after hearing very good revives about the place .

Sweet mothers staff and service is unbeatable - always happy always nice always fast. Milkshakes I'd recommend and black bean nachos, along with curly fries and The Moose pasta. Always a go to. Takeaways are also convenient.

It was my first time trying Mexican dishes. I am not sure whether it is traditional Mexican dishes or not, but I am sure I will not try it twice.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen, I love you so. Thank you for being realistic about your wait times (I get, you're insanely popular, and with good reason). Thank you for not overpricing your beer. Thank you for not under serving your food. The portions are generous, the flavour combinations will delight your tastebuds and the attentive waitstaff will make you feel so welcome that you just won't wanna leave. The tempeh and curly fries are 💯.<br/><br/>Moreover... thank you for providing such a selection of hot sauces - you are so beautiful to me.

I have been to this place for many years almost every week but because of previous few experience I can say that I will never go back.<br/><br/>I went mostly for dinner, knowing that the kitchen closes at 9 so I came an hour early to be able to get a good look from the menu. The new staff didn't greet us, promised us a table but forgot at the end, and behaved without manner to costumer. <br/>They seemed like new staff, two italians and the guy was literally yelling at me asking about time.<br/><br/>My partner had prawn Monica, which was way smaller in portion.. And I had New Orleans chicken sandwich with excessive amount of sauce.<br/><br/>Wasn't a great night. Cannot consider to go back.

Have been there a few times got the French Toast with bacon and did enjoy it although I think it's a bit expensive for the quantity. But good. No fresh pressed orange juice though.<br/>Got the waffles and chicken and I was quite disappointed as it was a bit dry. However their burger is really delicious and is worth the try !<br/>The place is pretty packed and sometimes the staff is not up to the speed, definitely something they should work on. .

We have been coming for years since the location is so convenient but some of the staff are really just terrible people to say the least. Asked politely for a refund on our group's bad coffee and the arrogant guy who claimed to be the duty manager, refunds the money in ones and the whole time has the most arrogant of tones. Not the first time we've had to deal with terrible service so good job hiring them, we won't be back there ever again. <br/><br/>

My girlfriend and I celebrated her birthday at Sweet Mother's Kitchen several months ago. We absolutely loved it; during that time, I was planning to create a review, but never got around to it, I would have given it a 5/5. We decided to come back again and expected the same kind, if not better, satisfaction as we did several months ago.<br/><br/>The service from the front counter staff was great, they were friendly and attentive; we were immediately served with water as we were seated. It still had that similar atmosphere as it did the first time we came; the music, pictures, toys, figurines, and other quirky interior design, which gave it a nice, casual, and funky feel. We were there for an early lunch, not long after, it was really busy. <br/><br/>We both ordered mochaccinos. The froth was good, it was nice, creamy, and chocolaty. The coffee itself was stronger than what we were used to, even though the chocolate sauce was properly mixed, the coffee completely overpowered the chocolate. The biggest let down was that the coffee was warm, not hot, it was room temperature few minutes after we received them. <br/><br/>The first time we were there, one of the things I liked the most was that our order came very quick. This time around, it took longer; it did not bother us too much, until the people seated next to us who ordered later than us, received their order first. Again, we tried not to think much of it; it was only until we received our order that it really bothered me.<br/><br/>I ordered a Flossy Favourite, which we ordered last time. I asked for my eggs poached, I'm no expert on eggs, but mine were almost hard boiled, the outer yolk was a darker yellow than the inner. I looked at the table next to us again, and noticed their poached eggs had that nice, runny, yellow liquid you would expect from a poached egg. It seemed like they were all cooked at the same time, but mine were left there to be cooked longer, which explained why their order came before us. It kind of affected how I perceived my meal, comparing it to last time, this meal was good but not very appetizing. I did not even finish it, it was not bad, I just did not have that feeling of "I must lick this plate clean" appetite. <br/><br/>My girlfriend ordered their Po Boy Sandwich with everything in it. She said the sausage was good, but she did not expect it to be so spicy; as she is not really a spicy-eater, she thinks it should have been specified on the menu. The sandwich itself was probably around 8inches, and cut into two halves; there was only one slice of tomato between the two halves. For her, it was overall okay, but not for the price.<br/><br/>We had such a great time here the first time we went, writing this review was not easy. The reviews for this place the first time we went were not the best. During our experience there several months ago, the whole time I was thinking that this place deserves more recognition. Sadly, after this experience, I can see why the reviews back then were the way they were. No doubt this place has its moments, it just needs consistency. <br/><br/>If we come back, it would only be for the unique atmosphere, friendly staff, and curly fries.

Let's be very clear about this. The food here is amazing. Honestly a fantastic breakfast and definitely value for money. <br/>So why the bad rating? The service was the worst I have ever experienced in New Zealand. Seriously the wait staff were appalling. We weren't greeted, our table wasn't cleared, our water wasn't replenished and the waitress had RBF. <br/>I had a flat white which was very tasty and I had a Flossy's Favourite. It was filling and rich and delicious. The beans were awesome and the mushrooms were so creamy. I loved the hash brown and my eggs were cooked perfectly. Michael had the Big J's Breakfast which he loved but said had a bit too much hollandaise. Perhaps a side portion would be good so customers can ration it themselves. <br/>The barista was very chipper and upbeat. She was really friendly and warm when we went to pay the bill but unfortunately the waitress had already put me in a bad mood. <br/>I would love to try the chicken in a basket but I refuse to go back to a place where I felt so completely unwelcome because of a staff members' attitude.<br/>This is particularly heartbreaking because I had heard such amazing things about the food and I loved the decor. We spent a lot of time looking at the different currency they had strung up and if the service was better I probably would have sat longer and spent much more.

Always a pleasant experience at sweet mothers kitchen! Hands down the best cut fries in Wellington!!! <br/><br/>Would definitely come back again, service was quick and friendly!

I've always been a fan of these guys, always busy always enjoyable. The food type they put out is a particular favourite of mine, and they do it the best in my opinion of a lot of these cafe's doing the same thing. (Mexican/American sytle). <br/><br/>The coffee is good - not great. The food is their forte, I've tried an array of their dishes and have enjoyed them all. This quesadilla I had today though was off the chain good, I doubled that bad boy up and got six pieces because I eat a fair bit, and I was fully satisfied man. Cannot have too much of a good thing, though for the average appetite stick with 3, but if you reckon you're a bulker try 6 pieces. Tasty, chicken and cheese filled deliciousness, with Salsa and Guac that's as fresh as can be.<br/><br/>Their homemade pies and milkshakes are worth a high mention because they'll cap of a satisfying outing. I'll continue to frequent here, not for the value or the coffee, but the awesome food and not to mention service these guys put out on the regular. For you parents these guys are as kid friendly as any I've seen, though no play area your strollers and little terrors are welcome.

This is the place to go for the best milkshakes in Wellington city! Delicious milkshakes served in a fashionable and unique style. The hot chips are amazing and are certainly worth a try!

I tried to come here the other morning for lunch but it was full - which is always a good sign. unfortunately I was starving so we wandered on elsewhere. I ended up back here a few hours later though for coffee, and I'm glad I did. The place was still busy so we just took a seat outside, staff were fantastic. I'm always impressed when a cafe doesn't use numbers and instead just brings you your order. It's a small touch but it makes me feel welcomed. <br/>My Macchiato was perfect, although I was a little taken aback when it looked like the milk had been poured into the coffee (is that a thing they do in Wellington?? it's really popular here??) after a few sips it became apparent that it was in fact resting on top of my black shots. Which made me happy. The coffee went down a treat, it tasted a bit grittier and stronger than most Supreme cafes I've been too, but I'm not complaining about that at all.<br/>Even though it was busy and we'd finished our coffees pretty fast, the staff didn't make us feel unwelcome, in fact we ended up staying for a few hours, just soaking up the vibes and chatting away, as the staff brought us more welcome.<br/>I'll definitely be back sometime for food after such a good experience. Well done Sweet Mothers.

I always enjoy sweet mothers kitchen when I'm in Wellington. Sometimes a bit of a wait for a table but well worth it. The Snickers Milkshake is the best milkshake I've ever had - and I've had a lot of shakes! Absolutely a must try.

Great little cafe for breakfast if you can wait for a table!! This place seems very unorganized but the staff deals great and never forgets you.. Give them a chance they are busy!

I used to love Sweet Mother's Kitchen but since being back in Wellington, I can't help but compare it to similar restaurants I have been to in Auckland and, I'm afraid to say, it doesn't quite compare to it's 09 counterparts. My main issue with this restaurant is the service. I don't mind the wait, this place is very popular. But one staff member in particular (boss lady at the counter) lacks customer-focus. When we were telling her our order, she would start to walk away after we said each item... i'm trying to order curly fries and a snickers milkshake to go with my chicken burrito, damn it! I think the problem is the place is under-staffed. The snickers milkshake is alright... I saw them making the milkshakes and notice they pour extra milk in once the milkshake has already been made. That's like pouring hot water into a flat white... it's just wrong. The food here is pretty good but not spectacular. This place reminds me of Jafa eateries such as The Fed, Al's Deli (heil, heil) and Boy and Bird, but falls slightly short when it comes to food and service. Don't shoot!

Service was awesome! We preordered our meal and as soon as we were seated our meals came out. The curly fries was awesome together with the creole mayo. Ceviche was very tasty but I prefer less corn chips. Banana foster was superb. Will definitely go back

Always love this place. Since going veg there isn't much choice for me, but curly fries and the Mac m cheese are still on offer to me. My only beef was the size of the Mac n cheese. Other than that on point as always 👌

went the other day with my little click/ friends and we ordered key lime pie, peanut butter pie, banana cream pie and pecan and bourbon pie I think there called lol with ice cream except the pecan pie which came with yogurt.<br/>So the key lime pie was my favorite like the lime kick it has it not for the faint hearted LOVE IT.<br/>The peanut butter pie I think it's called tasted exactly like snickers or like reese's pieces butter cup things omg GET IT.<br/>The pecan pie which was recommended to us was pretty good but my two friends I was with ABSOLUTELY ADORED IT.<br/>The banana cream pie was ok like yeah I was probably unanimously our less favorite MEHH.<br/>BUT WE LOVED THE SERVER VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL AND THE DECOR IS AWESOME HEAPS OF THINGS TO LOOK AT<br/>=)<br/><br/>

Frequently come here for Brunch with friends. As a student the prices can sometimes be a little much but the servings are generally generous enough that you could share no trouble. Highlights always include curly fries and peanut butter milkshakes, the Huevos Rancheros is always a winner too.<br/>The ambiance is great with the walls full of random interesting trinkets, the place looks like it has a few stories!

This is what good cafe culture is. We are always greeted with a smile and looked after well. The cafe has achieved successfully achieved its own personality with the Mexican cuisine and fit out. The food is good, lots of choices healthy or incredibly unhealthy if you prefer. Food is fairly priced. Perfect for a hungover brunch but maybe not for a special occasion as is casual.

awesome atmosphere. the food is average. i really enjoyed my milkshake. if this place is full just go up to the counter and tell the wait staff that you would like a table. the wait is usually around 5 to ten minutes. not long when you have a lot to look at in this cafe. awesome service. great experience. will go back for curly fries and chicken.

The place is rather packed and can get like that rather fast so get in while you can because the food is amazing every time you are there. We were shown to seat within a reasonable amount of time while waiting at the bar. We were given menus but not told the specials. <br/>My partner got his favourite "chicken in a basket" while I tried the bourbon chicken with creamy mushrooms and potato hash. Both dishes have flavours that just dance on and around your taste buds. <br/>I'm definitely going back again!!

It was very busy and we had to sit outside. Yet, aside from the cold; the food was delicious, the music was groovy, and the service was very helpful. Very good value for money also.

We were here for a pre-dinner snack but the menu looked so good we are more than we intended to. Mac and cheese and pecan pie were both delicious, would be so keen to try this place again next time we're in Wellington. Was fun reading the bits and bobs stuck to the wall too!

Having lived in the Southern United States for half a decade, I was super excited about the prospects of eating some good creole, down-home Southern fare again.<br/><br/>The Good:  The place has a really cool vibe, it's quirky, funky and a little off-beat and that's so Wellington.  I love that.  It took a while to be seated, but we were able to have drinks while we waited.  There were some games with most of the pieces missing but still cute.<br/><br/>The Bad: If you've never had proper Southern cooking, then this place will probably be awesome to you.  Unfortunately, I know what to expect when you call something Creole and this is not it.  The Red Beans and Rice were lacking in flavour, they missed all of the robust "Holy Trinity",  warm-you-up spiciness and smoked andouille goodness you'd expect from a good Red Beans and Rice.  The Shrimp Po-Boy.... if it's on a baguette, it's not a Po-Boy.  Proper Po-Boy bread should have a light crust on the outside, some denseness, and crack through into soft and delicious white fluffy bread.<br/>The Pecan Pie fell to pieces, and it wasn't Pecan pie... it was caramel pie topped with Pecan's.  Real Pecan Pie is literally made of Pecan's, not just a token amount.<br/><br/>Sorry, but if you're looking for Authentic Southern Food, this is not it.  It's a nice idea, and I'm sure difficult to find the real ingredients this far south of the globe.<br/><br/>I'm sure I would have enjoyed the food, had I not eaten so much great Southern Food.  If this was a real experience, as we say in the South, I would have been all over this, like "white on rice".

Food was lovely. Fries a little to salty but apart from that everything tasted good

Love the food and service here!! Faultless !! Will keep coming back for the yummy shakes and sammys!! Tables turn over quick so if I have to wait for a table- it'll be worth it !!

Wow. Sunday evening and this place is full. That is a testament to how good the food is. What I love about this place is the ambiance. The walls are covered with random memorabilia, old school music is playing, staff blend into the crowd by their hipster attire and the tables and chairs are from cafes in the 80's. Leave your labels or social hierarchy at the door and just blend. Two things to note: the Key Lime Pie is a must have so save some room or use the takeaway option. Also, if the place looks full, ask the fab staff how long the wait for a table is. It probably won't be as long as you think and is so worth it.

Cosy environment, incredibly popular so I suggest going on a quiet day or book in advance! Food. Is. To. Die. For. I recommend the curly fries and iced chocolates!

It's the real deal. I lived in Texas and have travelled around Louisiana and the food here stands up. Sure it ain't smoked overnight out the back but those ribs were the best I've had in nz. Falling off the bone is an understatement. Just work a bit on service and getting people seated and y'all be top notch.

Real sweet atmosphere, menu, portions, and prices. Two pieces of advice for the beef ribs: (1) Cook it slower and longer. The flavours didn't get a chance to seep in, and the texture of the meat was unenjoyable – can you imagine hard flakes of beef? (2) Serve it on a plate, not in a bowl. The salad dressing was dammed in by the mash; the two were great on their own but untouchable when mixed like that.

If there was one restaurant that won me over in Wellington, it would have to be Sweet Mother's Kitchen. The menu, a mix of Cajun and Creole dishes straight from Louisiana, was more than exotic for this wayward Australian. Hush puppies? Beignets? Po Boys? Give me more! Music was a huge subliminal attraction, the catchy jazz tunes and Spanish guitar solos imploring me to enter and join in the fun. And the constant crowd of patrons, both inside and out, provided all the proof I needed that this was one place I needed to eat. My meal takes a little while to arrive, but I don't mind as this gives me a change to look around and really appreciate my surroundings. I love the booths that line one wall, the counter top with stools, and the array of desserts near the cash register, presented on plates wrapped with cling film. 1950s fabric lamps with fringed beading cast a softened glow to the scarlet red walls, the chalked specials blackboard and the black

As an all 'round flavour sampler we chose a trio of pies to tuck into for our midnight snack. The peanut butter pie is creamy and distinctly peanutty and the key lime pie is sharp and sweet and quite light in its mousse-like consistency. I have two favourites tonight.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is, and yes I will now drop a popular saying in New Zealand, Sweet As. I got to admit it, I have heard great things about this place, but every time I have tried to get a table (you can't book) it is Always packed! <br/><br/>A sure sign perhaps of its popularity in the city, yes. Hairy Bikers toured New Orleans in one of their shows which peaked my interest, and then there's Chef the movie, Po Boys? Yum! <br/><br/>The place does need a bit of a makeover but I think the decor adds to the theme. It might just be me bit I think the service staff need a bit more friendliness towards customers. Very rushed, no eye contact while ordering and slamming cutlery and bottles down was well, kinda unfriendly.<br/><br/>I had the Prawn creole Po Boy which was yum, and my husband the Pork Po Boy, after which we followed with beignets. Donut fried bread anyone? Trackie pants and the couch beckoned afterwards.<br/><br/>Down side was that the huge door/window was open, cold shivering and eating a Po Boy doesn't bode well, but I will sit through a blizzard for that Po Boy!

Service - Very Poor <br/><br/>I ordered a coke which came 20 minutes after I asked for it. The girl who took my order in that time passed my table at least a dozen times. Really not good enough.<br/><br/>Food - Not Bad<br/><br/>I loved the banana's foster, particularly the caramel with a hint of crystallization. The po boy sandwich is good value.

Had such a nice pot of tea that had the cutest tea cosy, blue and knitted.<br/><br/>And chicken! Om nom! Very good dessert as well.<br/><br/>Lovely treat on a chilly Welly night!

Visited Welly on the weekend had such an amazing breakfast here on Saturday that we had to return on Sunday too!!!   Had Flossys Favorites, and the Huevos Rancheros with a side of Hash...... and a boozy coffee ( jds in the coffee and contreau cream on the top-- YUMMY!!!!)   The service was awesome, the food was sooooo good, I can't wait to come back to Welly to visit again!!

Angry mother's kitchen. I went again and my coffee and service was horrible. I can drink a bad coffee but can't deal with a bad service. Can't understand why is so popular, one day is ok, next day is horrible.

Extremelly popular place, always full so we thought the food must be good here (it was just aroud the corner from our hotel) it was! It's a very chilled and relax place with a lot of character, doesn't feel like a restaurant but the food was excellent, very well done, nice portions and very tasty. Definitely recomend this place!

Love hate relationship at SMK - I love it my wife hates it!<br/><br/>That being the case my visits are usually with one of the kids for a sneaky Po Boy and curly fries washed down with a fantastic milkshake.<br/><br/>I have never had a dud meal here.  The service is always good too - even when they are being slammed.

Despite being packed this place actually managed to have a really good atmosphere. The food was hearty and filling and had genuine authentic flare!

Comfort food!! Sweet Mother's Kitchen is one of those restaurants that always comes up when asked for recommendations. <br/><br/>Known for their curly fries as they should be. Very good! Also got their quesadilla. Did half pulled pork, half chipotle chicken. Tasty but a bit oily.

Really rude staff, far too much attitude..I wouldn't go back here, not for anything...I have a bad experience, seems a little bit dirty, not sure why perhaps the food on peoples shirts or something.

Sweet Mothers is such an integral part of the local foodie scene here in Wellywood and one if my personal favs. From curly fries to beignets to PO boys SM can do no wrong in my eyes! Very delicious Southern/ New Orleans food and always friendly, the decor is a fun jumble of pictures, action hero toys, drawings from customers and the weird and wacky. Highly recommend giving your tastebuds a whirl here.

I always give this place heaps of chances and I always leave disappointed and a million times poorer. I got the chicken in a basket which was 3 pieces of (although big) very dry, BONELESS (see: THE WORST) chicken with a buttermilk coating on the skin which kept slipping off, with some poorly seasoned/dressed slaw and my friend got a burrito that was 70% lettuce. YUMMY! I'm not all stainy though. The curly fries probably out of a frozen packet and the corn bread were good as always, and the iced tea was unsweetened which I am a fan of. I'm not saying this place is the pits, I'm just saying that if you enjoy paying through the nose for mediocrity dressed in a funky quirky "atmos" then Sweet Mothers is the place for you

Sweet Mother's Kitchen has an amazing ambience! No matter what time I visit or walk by, it's always busy and packed full of people. Relaxed, cozy and intimate, the Mexican and New Orleans inspired cuisine is also amazing, authentic and delicious. On my most recent visit, my partner and I absolutely loved the Prawn Monica, chicken burrito, curly fries, and Banana Foster. Everything was made superbly, and I especially couldn't be happier with my Banana Foster dessert, which was a heavenly mix of sweet caramel, vanilla, white rum and banana flavour. <br/><br/>I would like to note, however, that a previous week when some friends and I tried to get a table, the communication between the staff was very poor - it was because of this that we waited very long for a table even though we were on the waitlist, after telling three different staff members who didn't tell each other, and available tables were given to customers who arrived after us. Because of this, we left without telling the staff (who wouldn't have noticed) and went across the road. So while Sweet Mother's Kitchen provides excellent, delicious food and an amazing atmosphere, I find the service average. Although given how much I love the food, I will definitely return - ideally early in the day for the best chance of getting a table :)

so I've heard about this place and driven past many times when it's always packed.My experience isn't such a great one, there was a waiting period for a table of 40 mins, (this was softened by the staff taking my cell phone number and calling me when a table became available as I said my family and I would take a walk in the meantime)we paid $160 (2 adults and 3 children) and walked away hungry.the food was average to say the least, (and quite overpriced for the portions we got) yes friendly staff but I didn't go there to make friends.  The children didn't eat much as their chicken was overdone and dry.my pancakes were average but nothing to write home about.sorry, just being honest about my experience.

Great food and okay coffee (very bitter), however the food makes up for it. Quirky decor, and although it was really busy the staff managed to find us seats relatively quickly. The spinach and the chicken quesadillas are great. Huge menu, sometimes it's a bit much to choose from, but on the upside it means I'll just have to keep going back!

Love this place. Had jerk chicken po boy and pulled beef and caramelised onion quesadilla both absolutely delish! Service was really good! Will come back, no doubt!

The buttermilk chicken and curly fries with slaw is so damn good will be getting this every time I'm in wellington from now on! The coffee is strong and delicious and the cabinet treats looked very tempting<br/>

After nearly a month of torture during the Curly Fry Famine of 2014, my tastebuds are satisfied. Friendly service and they even take your mobile number to call when your table is ready! I had <br/>the Achiote Chicken Burrito which was to die for!

I used to be a massive fan of SMK, back when I was in high school. Unfortunately, I think that in the last few years the quality has gone down, both in food and service. However, SMK has retained its loyal customer base, and is consistently busting with customers. The decor is cute, but could do with a little touch up as some of it has been there forever. It is admittedly nice, however, to walk into a busy cafe at 10am on a Tuesday morning, which SMK certainly delivers. <br/><br/>Staff wise, they are semi-attentive, depending on where you are sitting. I have, however, received special attention on a number of occasions, generally if I have requested something specific - on a hot summers day I asked for a vegan iced coffee and received the most delicious drink in return, at a much better price than the non-vegan option on the menu. Similarly, the staff do go out of their way to ensure meals fit into dietary requirements if necessary, which is appreciated. <br/><br/>The food is fairly consistent, but certainly not the best in Wellington. Lucky for SMK, they do have a few signature menu items sure to draw the crowd, curly fries with amazing mayo dip, key lime pie (OMG so good), American style macaroni and cheese and hush puppies come to mind. With a little menu shakeup and a slightly higher bar set for themselves, Sweet Mothers could easily go from meh to amazing once more.

If you come to Wellington you will inevitably hear about Sweet Mother's Kitchen. It's a local, historic, iconic establishment.<br/><br/>Despite the hype, I didn't really find the savoury dishes that exciting (sorry!) I really wanted to love it - the chilled but very friendly staff offered great service - but the classic dishes were a bit dry and portions small, i.e. tacos, burritos, po boys.<br/><br/>But now to the good stuff - the dessert pies are AWESOME and that alone should be why you should drop by Sweet Mothers. Apple, banoffee, pecan, key lime pies all of em excellent.

Visited again after couple of years. The ambience is still intact. The simple and rustic nature of the restaurant is very unassuming but the quality of the food talks for itself. We had the gumbo and the jerk chicken. The gumbo was packed with flavours and was very pleasant with good portion size. The jerk chicken was tasty as always. But I wonder whether it lost some of its awesomeness compared to a couple of years ago when I went there. Nevertheless it was still a treat for your taste buds. Recommend this restaurant to everyone for a nice and tasty meal.

THE BEST!!! Especially their crumbed chicken. Great food... yum yum... But the waffles are a bit too floury for me... Nonetheless, definitely a must in Wellington :D Have the pumpkin pie too! I fell in love...<br/><br/>Auie<br/>purevowels.com

Absolutely loved Sweet Mothers Kitchen on a recent trip to Wellington. The look and feel of the cafe is relaxed, and funky. They have  a great atmosphere which is relaxed and welcoming.<br/><br/>Staff are friendly and are happy to help and explain the menu, and were happy with the changes we made to a few of our brunch items. While I opted for Flossy's Favourite, my hubby's meal stole the show - Chicken and Waffles with maple syrup. I have to say, while it was super sweet (cause he lathered it in maple syrup) it was a delicious combination that I would definitely order for myself. My meal was delicious and would happily order that again.<br/><br/>I think this is a must stop-in cafe for anyone visiting Wellington, and would probably become a regular if you lived here.

Really want to love SMK again, but like many recent reviewers, I find the wheels fell off the wagon a long time ago. I occasionally go back hoping for a return to her glory days, but just come away more disappointed. <br/><br/>First, the staff. You will not find a bigger collection of sulky hipsters anywhere in Wellington. Seriously, this place is a hipster cesspool. None of them could define customer service if you handed them a dictionary open to the page (any more than it would seem "bath" at times). From the moment we walked in, we were met with surly service from an overly pierced girl who clearly wanted to be anywhere but there. <br/><br/>Coffees (two flat whites) were good and arrived quickly. Getting our order taken was like pulling teeth and required flagging down waitresses three times. All of whom made it clear that it wasn't their job (so what was?!). No one knew if the beer I wanted was in stock and I had to point out that it was the waitresses job to go find out (I was clearly expected to just choose something else).... never did get my beer.<br/><br/>The food used to be so good here. The requisite curly fries are still amazing as is the aioli. The gravy fries were stodgy with the gravy undercooked and inedible. My prawn Po'Boy was minuscule and undeserving of the name. No way this would have left me happy at lunch, let alone dinner. My partner's Prawns Monica were disgusting. The pasta was overcooked to the point of falling apart, the sauce was thin and watery with no flavor. The only one content with their meal was our friend who's Jambalaya was good. We were far too underwhelmed to chance dessert.<br/><br/>In closing, SMK, you gotta pick one thing to be bad at. We'll forgive horrible service if the food is amazing (it used to be. What happened?). We'll forgive less than great food if the service is amazing (though we may not come back). But you gotta pick one. Frankly, I'd love it if the SMK of old were reincarnated like some phoenix, but I'm not giving you any more of my money to find out.

We had heard that this was a great place to eat in Wellington. However - on a quiet day with literally 5 people in the whole cafe we decided we would eat a late lunch (2pm). <br/><br/>We ordered 2 white coffees, 'hush puppies', the fish soft taco and the 'the moose - mac n cheese'.<br/><br/>Coffee's arrived about 5 min after ordering and were fine. 'Hush puppies' arrived not long after and were alright (not fantastic for $11). Then our two 'mains' arrived. The fish taco was SO DISAPPOINTING. It was literally two small soft tacos with a whole lot of cabbage about 4 pieces of small 'tarakihi' (not even a whole fillet) with a dash of chipotle mayo for $13.50). Not enjoyable or flavoursome at all. The mac n cheese was small in size ($13.50) and was basically a whole lot of garlic and cheese sauce. Although it did have flavour, it was unsatisfactory - not impressive. <br/><br/>Overall, pretty average experience for $45.50.

We have eaten here many many times, and most of the time have good meals.<br/><br/>First up the wait staff here are always terrible, but we know that and accept it, we go for the food, which has good flavours and is pretty good value.<br/><br/>The portion sizes have been getting a lot smaller recently, and the pies have changed, i used to love their pumpkin pie, but something has changed with it and it really isn't as good as it was the last time we went.<br/><br/>The chicken wings here are the best in town, you get a good sized basket and the blue cheese dip is awesome!<br/><br/>The po boys are good value, the pulled pork one is my favourite.<br/><br/>The curly fries with creole mayo are also very good and good value!<br/><br/>I would avoid any of the tacos, burritos or anything else Mexican, there are way better places in town doing Mexican food better.<br/><br/>But overall if you want something cheap, easy and (usually) satisfying Sweet Mothers should be a winner!

Food = o.k, except that I expected my tuna melt to 1: have more tuna and 2: have more melt re: cheese.<br/><br/>Service = o.k, but I see why people have given poor reviews relating to service. Woman behind the counter was lovely, but our waitress wasn't overly pleasant and felt like we were a bit of a bother.<br/><br/>Will come back in the hopes it improves between my last visit and the next.

I have been here on several occasions, and every time I have had amazing, tasty meals and not too long a wait, even when they are slammed.<br/><br/>Love the decor and the atmosphere, very cool and different.

I don't have any major complaints re food, but can someone (the owner? if they care?) please take note of the many terrible reviews re the service? Is this the new norm? To be treated like 'you're lucky to be in here' - because that is certainly the feeling myself, and my party (ON MY BIRTHDAY) got. It's not so bad they forgot our coffee order, and took forever to get the pumpkin pie that was in the fridge, its un. for. giveable, the way they dealt with our reasonable complaints. (for example "hey - just wondering where that pumpkin pie is? is it on the way?" - after waiting 30 mins for something we can see) We were met with - "ah well" and on our way out - when pointing out some general flaws in the service of hospitality - in which - they specialise - were also met with "well whatever, you're the customer - you can say whatever you like". So, here I am. I beg anyone paying any money for 'ok' food to think twice about walking into this Wellington hipster cess pool. It's just, not worth it. If you are paying money for food and presumably service - you will be disappointed. Please - someone from Sweet Mothers - please respond to this. Your lack of response will be telling. And I will be letting people know about the disgusting treatment myself and my friends received. Please remember, the customer is not always right, unless their complaint is reasonable. I will never, step foot in your establishment again. Good luck for the rest of your tenure in a place where cafes and restaurants are abundant in supply. #sortyourserviceout

Went to Sweet Mother's Kitchen as someone in my dinner party wanted to try it as they had heard it was good. Did not have to wait for a table as the 3 of us chose to sit in an area where 2 people would normally sit. We were served by a young girl who was a bit rude and cussed in front of us 3 times whilst taking our orders. We are young ourselves but I still think it was very unprofessional for her to do and I personally did not appreciate it. The food arrived within 20 minutes and was very nice. I did not order dessert but the other 2 people in my party did. The peanut butter pie went down very quickly as did the speciality dessert (a banana something that I cannot quite remember what is called)<br/>Overall the food was very nice but the service was very slack and they need to brighten up a bit and watch their language.

Have been wanting to try Sweet Mothers Kitchen for awhile as we had heard lots of great things about it from friends. We went in for lunch and there was a line through the restaurant, we did not know how long it would be for a table so we asked several of the wait staff how much of a wait it would be. None of them knew and none offered to find out, a little bit disappointing but we decided to wait in line anyway. After about 20 minutes we were told it would be a short wait for a table so I ordered a cappucino which was decidedly average. I ordered flossies favourite and my partner had the fried chicken and waffles. It took about 15 minutes to arrive. My dish was great but the chicken and waffles tasted good BUT was seriously lacking in chicken and was dry with hardly any syrup (not worth the $15.50). Don't know what the hype is about there are much better restaurants in wellington.

The food was like all of my favorite things from home on one menu!! Finally someone in NZ who knows how to do hot wings right. Spinach &amp; Artichoke dip - Awesome and the pulled pork po boys - wow. The peanut butter pie and the keylime pie my wife and I had to fight over but in the end they were so big there was plenty to go around. My only disappointment was there is not one here in Tauranga!

Very disappointed with entire experience. Walked in after 8am to be told that they 'weren't open yet' by the male staff member, after not being greeted. The woman behind the counter then curtly told him that they were open. Weren't offered menus and was snapped at when requested them. Coffee banged into table and meal arrived cold and looked like it had been thrown onto the plate. Will never be going back. Worst experience I have ever had. Probably doesn't even warrant one star.

My wife thought she'd heard good things about this quaint little place ... that was unfortunate. Staff were rude, food was lower than average. The coffee was luke warm, and our big breakfast included cold bacon and some refried bean dish that was also cold and slapped on the breakfast plate like some day-old dog vomit. <br/><br/>I don't mind going to the odd hippie / hipster joint where the holes in people's ear lobes are bigger than flying saucers in an Ed Wood movie! But the waiter left us sitting until I got up to get a menu and was snapped at by the barista. If you don't like people, why open a restaurant. Won't go there again.

Food is average. Not terrible at all; just decidely average. Initially appears to have quite an exciting range but the flavours are dulled down and the meals dismally presented.<br/><br/>The restaurant has the makings and set-up to be a nifty little eccentric joint, what with all the eclectic decor and kitsch old-board-room style table sets; but the staff are ridiculously rude. Consistently, too... A couple of bad experiences can be excused as just a blimp on an otherwise lovely dining experience but after consistently revisiting the place for at least a year hoping each time would be 'the time' I would finally not regret it, I'm happy to say I hope I never see another one of the pretentious stone-hearted hipster staff again or one of their bland "quesadillas".

Have been to Sweet Mothers Kitchen a few times but was disappointed with a recent visit. The service was really poor. Entrees were brought out with the mains and when we said we wanted the mains after, the waitress suggested on reheating the chicken, which was a children's meal.<br/>The food is okay but you can get better in Wellington.

Would probably have carried on walking past (due to signs of dilapidation such as stuffing out of chairs &amp; mismatched cups &amp; saucers) but as we'd arranged to meet someone there &amp; they were late sat &amp; looked at menu.<br/>There was too much choice! We all had a different breakfast item &amp; each was absolutely delicious. Service was good.<br/>Will definitely be back

Went in to see if we could be seated. The FOH was rude. Wouldn't make eye contact. Grunted her response. Wouldn't have minded waiting but because of hostile waiting staff, we wandered over to regal and had delicious yum char instead

Headed into Sweet Mother's Kitchen for a solo breakfast while in Wellington for a two-day visit. Arrived shortly after 8am so there was no trouble getting a table. I liked the eclectic decor. Menu was varied enough to give me serious pause as to what to order. Service from the young lady was courteous enough. Had one coffee, a long black. I'm quite familiar with Supreme coffee, and this was definitely an average-to-poor one. Over-extracted and lack of crema. Breakfast was "Flossy's Favorite", containing lots of the best things for brunch - Potato rosti, black beans, mushrooms, eggs, topped with hollandaise. Tasted great, but my goodness I have never seen such a sloppily presented plate. It's hard to feel the love from the chef when it's all just chucked on in one sloppy mess. Tasty, but I didn't feel like I was having an exceptional experience.

Been here a couple of times and it's been great!!!! However, this time was just shocking. Walked in and ended up standing around for a few minutes not sure what to do so headed up to counter. A waitress was there and completely ignored us! So we went to grab menus ourselves from a cabinet where they lived only then did a staff member give us any attention. Once seated our table was completely ignored. Took 20 minutes to take our order and another 30 minutes for our coffee to come out which in turn we had to send back because it was luke warm bordering on cold. No apologizes, we were given just a very strick and grumpy "okay". Our food ended up taking 45 minutes to come out but thank god, it was quite nice, average but definitely not worth such a long wait.<br/><br/>Such a pity because I've much love for this place, but after seeing how the staff aren't really interested in paying customers probably won't be back for a while.

Average food at best. Staff can be really rude and 'too cool' for diners. Once I had a staff member say 'You better not let my manager see that' pointing to an Oporto burger I had purchased next door to take home to my son. I was shocked and embarrassed that she would say such a thing, as I wasn't intending on eating it there (as obviously I was there to buy food). <br/>The food and ambience was never as good as it once was.

Although it can be slightly pricey, I have always had really delicious food from Sweet Mother's, and had great service from the staff there. <br/><br/>My favourites have to be the pulled-pork Po' Boy and the Fried Chicken and Waffles. The pies are quite good too, but I feel they aren't quite worth the price.<br/><br/>Don't come here on a predictably busy night or lunch (weekends especially). I find that's when staff get a bit overwhelmed- that being said; I haven't had any bad experience from them. <br/><br/>Sweet Mother's is a place everyone should visit at least once, especially if you've wanted to try some American-Soul food!

Great service here last night and the place was humming :) . I was early but one of the waitresses was super accommodating n got me a table anyways. Our waitress was lovely and friendly. Peanut butter milkshake and curly fries were amazing!

After reading a few reviews I was a bit hesitant to go but we went for lunch on Tuesday and it was lovely. We had a lovely friendly waitress, in fact all the staff were friendly. We were able to sit straight away and order lunch. The buttermilk fried chicken was a melt in your mouth moment and the key lime pie was beautiful. Great kitsch decor and filled with photos of workers and families and fun. Enjoyed lunch. Thanks SMK

Went there for a quick bite on a sunday, the place wasn't very busy however we were halted to wait for someone to sit us, and while a cool conversation was happening we wait...<br/>I ordered the quesadilla the food was tasty but nothing I couldn't replicate my milkshake was good but not as good as the one I tried at beach babylon few weeks ago.<br/>In synthesis my experience could've been a lot better if the wait staff weren't that worried about being cool and were more interested in serving maybe some spicy salsas on offer for the quesadillas would've got an extra star.

Have eaten here on several occasions. We like the casual atmosphere and funky decor. Service has been a bit slow but they are usually very busy. Waitress was happy to substitute items to meet our GF requests. Swamp dip is amazing. Will definitely be back.

Went to dinner on Sunday night, 10/3/2013, with some friends. Had to wait quite a while to get our orders taken. No ginger beer available. Took our meal order but someone came back and said no fish. Reordered. One meal was cleared away while others were still eating but other plates were left on the table for ages. Bill was brought without being asked, without dessert being suggested and while plates were still there. Meals were generous size and nice tasting but service was poor.

Cramped seating, long waits, no reservations, ridiculous staff, unprofessional and unpleasant. Firstly the food all tastes the same - and if you're wondering what I mean, get a can of refried beans and some pams salsa and you're away! Staff are a bunch of pushy hipsters with frightening haircuts, making you feel like you should order more than you would like. Day core makes it feel like cleaning up would be a waste of time. <br/><br/>No need to worry about Michelin stars, because the only thing youre going to get are is a Michelin tire (100 eco friendly, recycled) sized waist, and remember, don't check your bank balance after, you might just get a fright!!

I have been for breakfast several times and rate the food highly, except for their apparent inability to deliver a fried egg "over easy". This shortcoming was rectified on the third visit.<br/>The service was absolutely atrocious initially. It took half an hour for them to take our breakfast orders (table of five).<br/>We had two waitresses serve us this visit, the first one was openly hostile and when at the 25 minute mark I tried to attract her attention to take our orders, she looked right at me and walked straight past on her way to sit outside smoking.<br/>The second waitress was far more polite and friendly and obviously much better at providing FOH service than her co-worker.<br/>After this latest experience I won't be returning and I definitely wouldn't recommend this place.<br/>Such a shame that this cafe with such potential, great food, good location is let down so badly by such terrible service.<br/>There is a sign above the counter that says "Be nice or leave.", perhaps some of the waiting staff should take this advice.

Why is this place popular? The food is not very authentic New Orleans so I'll try to rate Sweet Mother’s Kitchen based on other factors. The service is poor, except for the curly fries, the food is average to below average- when you even get it. I had to send back my pulled pork sandwich because the "chef" forgot to put the pulled pork on it. Seriously?! I have been several times because it's a popular spot, but next time friends suggest it, I'll put my foot down. I won't go back.

I really enjoy coming to this place. The beef nachos are my fav. The staff are really friendly. Not a big review, just worth saying that this is a great Welly haunt. The fish tacos are also pretty tops.

Somewhat grimey hipster hangout. Everything is very average but it is extremely popular, I presume because of the location. The staff all look like they could do with a wash.

We came here for a pre-Hobbit lunch between Christmas and New Year. It was humming, food was delicious - highly recommend the fish po boy - and the staff were fantastic. Only thing they couldn't do was delay the start of our movie - we definitely needed more time to savour the food, wine and ambience.

The first time we visited this restaurant, we were happy with the experience. Low key, relaxed, a little on the dirty side but reasonable. Waitress was helpful and courteous. The only complaint would have been the key lime pie crust being mushy and watery, like it was frozen and had been over-thawed. However the second visit was disappointing and doesn't encourage us to return. The service was simply awful. Gumbo was not available. Huh? How can you not have a signature dish available on a Friday night? And why didn't our waitress tell us when we ordered it? Then the manager starts shouting at a waiter out the back whilst in the middle of the restaurant, making some loud, passive aggressive remark about the waiter doing nothing. Can anyone say...awkward? Then we get our drinks and starter- but then just as we pick up the first piece of our starter- the main meal comes. Why would you serve the starter with the main meal, especially after the waitress was asked to bring the 'starter' with our drinks? We skipped dessert and left. Not in a hurry to return. Looking at the other reviews, seems like service is an afterthought for this place.

French toast was awesome, as was my soy cappa.<br/>Enjoyable time! Waitress seemed preoccupied. <br/><br/>But other than that, brilliant experience and price was reasonable

Love Sweet Mothers Kitchen! I usually go for lunch and always order the prawn poboy. It's always delicious. I recently tried the swamp dip and was happy with that too. So glad to have comfort food so close to home!

Absolutely hopeless, service was delivered like if they were doing you a favour, menu was a weird mix of tex-mex with an Asian flick. Also those handheld are meant to make waiters life easier so they can concentrate more in their customers, not coming back until I see waiters wearing an uniform, no hipster would wear a silly uniform and that would be the sign of the bad service departure.

Stopped in for lunch during our stay this past weekend. We had a shrimp po' boy, and a fish po' boy. I much preferred the fish po' boy as it had more flavour. Loved the sauce that came with the curly fries, too.<br/><br/>Awesome decor, decent service.

I go there all the time - delicious food, and affordable! My favourite is the chicken burrito, but the macaroni and cheese "The Moose" is really flavourful, and the jerk chicken is good too (a bit spicy and sweet). My one disappointment was the chicken taco - it was a bit bland.<br/><br/>For sides, the creamed spinach is good and the curly fries are excellent (so is the spicy aioli).<br/><br/>The staff are friendly and helpful. My one complaint is that you almost always have to wait at least 20 minutes for dinner if you're more than one person, because they don't take reservations. Very frustrating!

If I was basing this on just food, a solid four would be given and it would be a five if the portions weren't often a little mean. The service is just awful and is letting this popular cafe down. Having said that, the food is pretty great! I rarely order anything other than the Prawns Monica and Jambalaya. They're worth risking surly wait staff for.

Ever since I first visited Sweet Mother's, I've been meaning to go back. The place definitely lives up to the hype, with cheap, amazing, food. I'm hoping to visit some time during the day so I can see the place in the sunshine. Sweet Mother's is, indeed, pretty sweet.

Locals will tell you that Sweet Mother's Kitchen is the ultimate spot for homely comfort, hipster vibes and famous curly fries. We're fans too, particularly of the po boys and apple pie. Can be hard to get a seat, although it is always warm outside. Friendly staff, but there is always room for improvement

I dined here with my sister on Easter Sunday for a late lunch at about 2pm. The place gets a point for being open on a holiday. A lot of Wellington places shut for the entire weekend.<br/><br/>We shared a bowl of curly fries, and a peanut butter milkshake. The milkshake was delicious, the curly fries nice but not amazing.<br/><br/>Our waiter seemed as though he didn't want to be at work and did not listen properly to our order. I ordered the pulled pork po boy sandwich and what came out was a prawn po boy. I didn't realise until I started eating it. The waitress I told was very apologetic and she fast-tracked the pork po boy through the kitchen (she was good at her job). Once I got my correct meal, I enjoyed it. My sister had the beef taco and enjoyed her meal. We were impressed that the beef was real chunks of beef, not mince.<br/><br/>Overall, we were not particularly impressed with the service, although the food is cheap and quite tasty for the cost. Will not be in a rush to return though.

Just ok gumbo and curly fries - sorry, not too much to write home about.<br/><br/>Just wasn't worth the wait for the dirty table.

Great food at reasonable prices. The gumbo was yummy and only $14!!! Obviously a popular place and generally don't take bookings so I suppose not a place to go if time is important. Laid back atmosphere and I found the waiter helpful and pleasant. Nice atmosphere and groovy decoration!

This has been my go to restaurant for the last five or so years in Wellington, being a lover of all things Tex Mex, but I just can't do it any more. The service is far too lacklustre. The last time I went, my partner and I waited 25 minutes to be served, and only when we tried to order a pork burrito and a fish taco were we told there was no pork or fish. The time before this, I was given the wrong type of burrito and not given a discount. The staff are rude and don't seem to care at all - it's a shame because the baja fish taco is freaking delicious. I won't be going back - I'll be spending my money at Viva Mexico instead.

Brilliant - great food, good atmosphere, good prices - highly recommend Sweet Mother's Kitchen. Especially some of the mexican specialties. Very impressed that they txt you when a table is available so yo can go off to a bar for a drink while you wait.

Love going to get my eat on.<br/><br/>Don't go if your in a rush and want your own table. Go there relaxed with lots of time to chill with the other significant you have gone with. Chat, eat some southern comfort, and drink some spirits.<br/><br/>The service is was it is, I don't rush them, they don't rush me. It is pretty damn popular and a small place to cater for all of us coming at the same time. Instead of expecting them to have a table waiting for you, maybe ring everyone in Wellington who has decided to go there at the same time and tell them to buggar off! Otherwise wait the wait.<br/><br/>A good Wellington fav for me. Finish it off with some drinks at Motel,Library,Matterhorn or Havana and a late night coffee at Fidels.<br/><br/>If your wanting more, and feel intimidated by the feel of SMK and want better service, maybe pay more for what your wanting at Boulcott Street Bistro or Logan Brown or Shed 5! You will pay 6 times the price and you may be shocked to see the the service or the wait may not be all that different. <br/><br/>Reality check! SMKs prices are pretty damn good.

Have been here a couple of times and I love it, but my husband is 'meh' about it and gets a bit rashy about the hipster vibe which I find funny because he is one. Have had a bit of a mixed bag experience with the staff, they could definitely do to hire a few more long-term staff with good waiting skills to back up the travellers, casuals who might have rockin clothes but stink attitudes cos they can't seem to cope when its busy. Anyway, good food is good food and I'm totally into the fish tacos and peanut butter milkshake. Breakfast beignets with black coffee is wicked and everything is reasonable prices. So, all in all, if you can see its busy, don't bother but if you can go mid week or something, its a great place.

My daughter and I were down from Auckland for a short break and tried Sweet Mothers Kitchen. The service was excellent I found the waiter was very helpful helping me decide which meal I would enjoy the most as I could not decide between two of them, he made the right choice for me. The food was great and the curly fries were out of this world (how do they do that) Overall lunch was excellent and we came away feeling full and very happy we had decided to go there.

I used to like SMK but twice in a row we got really bad service, and the last one was the last straw for us. It was busy, so we waited at the bar, we were seated not long after. Then it was a long wait to get our orders taken, one of the waitress walked pass so I asked her, but she rudely said "Yea I be there in a minute" in a very annoyed tone. When she took our orders I asked if it could be slightly modified to meet my dietary requirement, and her response was "Uh... oh... I'll ask if we can do it" (honestly, it wasn't that hard!). After she asked the chef she came back, slammed the menu on our table and said "The chef is too busy". It wasn't much of a big deal if they can't do it, as I had my supplements with me, but it would be nice if I could have something that I can eat without having to take the supplements, and the waitress' attitude was just horrible. We still ordered, got our meal and after we paid we decided that we won't go back there. It was very crap service and the food I ordered was average. And not to mentioned that they've put the price up and the portion has gotten smaller.<br/><br/>I get it that they got their reputation by word of mouth and the fact that they've been around for ages, but it doesn't mean that they can relax and stop caring. And now that another Cajun/Creole place has opened in town and their service and food was MUCH better, I'd be going there instead.

OK so I use to rave about the food at Sweet Mama's as we called it...<br/>But recently I went and had such a bad experience... Ive never found the service there that great but the food always made up for it, but this time there was no food to go with the extremely bad service..<br/>When w arrived it was busy but there were a few tables empty so we go a table straight away and were given menus, it took about 10mins for someone to come over and take our orders. after about 30mins we noticed that the two tables that were seated after us had got their meals, we asked the waitress who then responded "do you have deadline? are you in a hurry, because if you are I can tell the chef". I was so shocked by her response, I politely said that we had been waiting over 30min and it seemed the tale next to us that came 15mins after us got there meals before us, she then walked of with no response, she came back saying they wont be long.<br/>after 30 more mins she said a she walk past "not to long now" with a sight smirk on her face.<br/>The table next to u were getting as pissed off as we were and suggested we go ask for the manager, at this stage I was so hungry and over it I walked up to the counter and told them we had been waiting over an hour for our meals and were getting extremely bad service and were going to leave, the waitress I was talking to looked at us and walked off without saying a word to us.<br/>I was so shocked, we left and felt so disappointed, I wrote an email explaining what happened and got a reply saying more or less "sorry we have had a huge staff turnover".<br/>WTF!!!! I was so disappointed, I worked in the restaurant business for over 12yrs and have never received such amazingly bad service!! We use to go to Sweet Mama's all the time but haven't been back since, and most of my friends refuse to go there as well... So disappointed, I thought I was onto a good thing but I was so wrong!

I used to really like this place, but the portions have gotten smaller and the atmosphere almost unbearable. It's disappointing as it used to be great.

delicious food, great service and price!!<br/><br/>would definitely recommend!

I love going to this place everytime I am back in welly. Get the Ribs with curly fries and colslaw, so yum!! My girlfriend always has yummy things too.

always been busy on past visits, food and service ok, coffee as above average.<br/>Very big meals, value for money

Was ok.<br/>Liked the menu but the staff were just ambivalent. <br/>Keen to try more on the menu as we asked the table next to us who seemed like 'regulars' what was best.<br/>Will go back &amp; hopefully the staff have picked up their smiles &amp; pace &amp; the new dishes we try are as good as todays

Came for a light snack after a movie. Ordered the curly fries and a drink. The fries came in such a small portions. There were 7 whole fries max and a couple of broken pieces, could not believe I paid $6.50 for that. Anywhere else and I could get at least double the amount of chips for that price. I also expected them to be a lot more crisp/crunchy, which they were not. Looked around and their portions are very small for the price you are playing. The deco is interesting though, kinda like a flat of a messy, bookish music/art student, which I could just go over to a friends flat to admire deco for free. Staff were also not very attentive. We were waiting in front of counter to be served for quite a while before the staff (who were talking amongst themselves) to notice us.

Wow, talk about violating your senses when you walk in. If you have never known what it is like to have multiple personality disorder then you could give this place a go for something of an idea - music playing in the background was everything from Dylan to some country music, a bit of Acid Jazz and some Latin hip-hop thrown in the mix too. The decor is cluttered and sometimes clumsy. In spite of that, you can sit down and feel "alternative" because you're dining here.<br/><br/>We just wanted a snack because we were fending off any sense of hunger before a 2hr movie. Ordered the curly fries and the chicken wings - but there was a lot of tempting looking bits and pieces on the menu.<br/><br/>Service was pretty good. The woman behind the counter was pretty attentive and we were seated quickly. Given there wasn't a huge amount of food ordered, it's hard to say much about it ... but I enjoyed it. The curly fries were ... curly and came with a really nice dipping sauce. The chicken wings weren't overly spicy and they were tasty, but incredibly oily. In fact they came in a plastic bowl thingy with holes, the bottom of which is lined with baking paper. This meant the oil just oozed onto the table, making for a messy experience. <br/><br/>Can't say the food was absolutely divine, but would happily try it again if only because the rest of the menu looked tempting.

A popular place amongst locals, this can be it's downfall. There is often a long wait to get a table, but the food is good and reasonably priced. The staff are well-informed and friendly. The Chipotle Chicken and curly fries (shared between two) was a good portion size. The place has a lively atmosphere and it is easy to see why this place is so busy all the time!

I love this place - their chilli wings and chowder, crab and cheese dip .... coffee mm mm very very good informal, shared trestle table dining makes this a great place and touches like the range of pies, tea cosies on the pots are tres cute

One word. Po'boy. Is that one word? Who cares go get one.

Service counts so much towards an experience.<br/>Funny "Curly Fries" but am lukewarm on the make-up of the venue and also unimpressed with the lack of communication from the staff.<br/>Won't return

Some friends of ours had popped in earlier to try and get a table booked but it was busy so we went off to another bar and they gave us a call when the table was free. <br/><br/>I ordered the Boom Boom BBQ Chicken, it was delicious! the size was just right and they have a good range of sides to choose from.<br/><br/>The food came out quickly and the place was buzzing with people, all in all it was a really good night.

This place is always busy! They food is Southern American food and it is really good. <br/><br/>One American lady next to me was concerned if it was good gumbo. She was not disappointed. It was good gumbo!<br/><br/>The food surely is delicious and I like to take people there who are visiting Wellington. <br/><br/>If it wasn't packed with smokers in the outside dining area, it would be a lot more pleasant on a hot day. <br/><br/>The staff are always busy too. But polite and you can usually hail a waitress/ waiter down if you need something. <br/><br/>When you arrive, you wait to be seated and pay before you leave. I have had a friend who had to run back in because he had forgotten to pay. <br/><br/>Recommended: An enjoyable meal!

Here on Sun for lunch; they are pretty full so we were lucky to get a table even tho it was 2pm. They have a mixture of breakfast items, mexican and creole food. For breakfast, you do get heaps of food for $15. Their service is average, they seem to be quite friendly with other tables but just ok with us. The curly fries were good and again you get quite a bit for one serving. But on the other hand, the Fried Chicken for ~$16 was then average portion (compared to the others). There was a bit of a wait even after having received Beignets (dessert) first by mistake. Our friend said their chocolate milkshake was excellent. Might go back again to try different food.

They have a good, interesting menu and I love that you can get food here at anytime of the day. Only down side is the coffee isn't that great or an acquired taste and the service can sometime be a little "too cool".

All I had was a coffee and a piece of cheese cake. average at best.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is popular, so arrive early on busy nights as they don't take bookings. However, they offered to call us in half an hour once a table became available. We ordered 'Boom Boom' BBQ Chicken and Three Fish with sides of curly fries (yummy!), mushrooms and mesclun salad. A short time after we ordered, I was informed that the fish of the day (snapper) had run out and would be replaced with grouper. Our main meals were absolutely delicious; the fish was tenderly cooked in olive oil and butter and came with generous servings of side dishes. The home-style sweet pies lined up along the counter look incredibly tempting. We opted for peach and blueberry pie, which was quite wet and left the pastry rather soggy. Where the furnishings are starting to look tired and shabby in places, the casually friendly service and eclectic range of kitsch decorations adorning the walls and bar simply adds to the charm.

Firstly, assigning a website 'tag' of Mexican is not supposed to make this a Mexican place (a response to others comments). The restaurant does not claim itself as Mexican so quit complaining about nothing. Yes they say they serve some Mexican side dishes (which they do). <br/><br/>As for the service, my experience was awesome. The place was packed, and they took a reservation for us (which they don't do) and let us go drink at another bar until they called our mobile phone when a table became open.<br/><br/>As for the food...all I can say is 'Thank You'. As an American living in NZ it is very difficult to find authentic Mexican (as it is also hard to find in America, Taco Bell is not authentic, nor are many other Mexican places through out the world).<br/><br/>To elaborate about the food. It was awesome Cajun food (as the restaurant claims to be). The ribs were great, the wings were great, the dessert was great. My lady had the jambalaya and also agreed. Portions were more than we could handle. Timing was great. Service was great for a place that was SO SO VERY PACKED....which added to the environment they are catering for....<br/><br/>I would HIGHLY recommend this place and can't wait to return to Wellington to go again.

One of my favourite places to dine whenever I'm in Wellington. Cheap, cheerful and fun. Love the food (yes rich but it doesn't pretend to be anything else). Would call it Southern American as opposed Mexican so don't know what the fuss is all about. The service is very friendly, if a little slow on occasions. Will always go back.

Mexican Restaurant!!! I've lived in the US for over 8 years and have visited mexico several times. Have had Mexican on a weekly basic. This is NOT Mexican food. Sorry wellington. Was there this morning for brunch. Food took over and hour to be served. We were not keep informed of what was going on with our food. Tables that arrived before us finished their food and left. my toast bread was so dry that i had to chew on it. eggs were over pouched. No apology for the delayed food. I am debating if i should give them one more try. Maybe they had a bad day in the kitchen. But either way servers should always keep the customers informed on what is going on.

I had lunch at Sweet Mother's Kitchen, the service was efficient and on time, especially when you only have an hours' lunch. the food was good and the customer service is the best i have had in a while. I would definitely recommend it.

I was a customer in this restaurant and find the staff are friendly and professional in their service. I love the food, the portion is good and delicious all the flavours are well blended. I know because I have been to many restaurants around the world. This is the best restaurant I have came across in Wellington. Keep up the good work guys and keep smiling.

I think people can see the kitchen if walk through the side ( Mothers Kitchen shouldn't look like that). Pictures tells all.

Terrible food, drinks, and service!!! Not real Mexican food...or even close for that matter. The margaritas were terrible and overpriced. Their "four glasses" of margaritas barely filled three small cups. The server was rude and when I asked for another drink it never came. When I went to pay they had charged me for it anyway and seemed unbelieving when I told them I never received it. Have (unfortunately) been there twice and would not go back again. Much better options and prices at other places in Wellington.

I adored Sweet Mother's Kitchen. Atmosphere very upbeat, service was very friendly and energetic. Food was particularly good, very tasty and not overwhelming spices used like other Mexican restaurants in Wellington. Would definitely recommend and return!

Great atmosphere... would recommend it for coffee or a drink with friends. BUT the service is terrible (extremely rude staff) and the food is actually really expensive for what it is. My side dishes reminded me of my Gran's retirement home food!

Great food and service - and even though one of the menu items gave me a bad case of the hershey squirts for a couple of days, I'd still have no reservations about recommending this place to anyone.

Interesting menu choices, our table got a range of most things. Delicious but very fatty cooking methods, traditional curly fries &amp; cream sauces left me with an oily taste in my mouth &amp; felt bit queesy next couple days - can't be good for you to do too often, but ok for special occasion!<br/>Colorful atmos &amp; friendly staff.

Great mexican-styled well-priced food in a relaxed and funky atmosphere, excellent range of mexican beers to boot. Best mexican food I've had in NZ.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is Wellington eating staple. Every time I venture down to this part of the country I tick another dish off the menu and have never been disappointed. <br/><br/>Last night I rocked up around 5:30 and was quickly served. We kicked things off with some cocktails (at an insanely reasonable $10.50), I had first a delicious feijoa vodka and feijoa wine cocktail and then later on an apple mojito. Both were quite tasty and did a good job to quench my thirst. <br/><br/>To eat I had a fish taco and curly fries. The curly fries are melt in your mouth, scoff at a high speed delicious. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, flavoursome. The fish taco was also pretty good, in a soft corn (gf) shell, it disappeared so quickly I didn't have a chance to think about photographing or analysing it any further!<br/><br/>On a previous visit I had the Breakfast Burrito, made up of scrambled eggs, black beans and melted cheese. If you want to have a satisfying breakfast at low cost, look no further. <br/><br/>Next up I want to try the quesadillas. I can't go past a good quesadilla. <br/><br/>The thing I like the most about Sweet Mother's Kitchen is a combination of price and quality. The prices are pretty low, the food you get for the price is amazing.<br/><br/>If you want to follow my adventures with food and other great things, check out my blog! - madicattt.com

Sweet Mother’s Kitchen stole our hearts, arteries included. This is unapologetic, calorific dining at it's best. Expect Cajun and Creole dishes from Louisiana and a smattering of Tex-Mex snacks. I must disclose that I have a slight obsession with New Orleans and it's cuisine and this place came highly recommended by a good friend.<br/><br/>We ate at Sweet Mother's Kitchen for breakfast and dinner during 5 day visit to Wellington. We started off the day with coffees and beignets and perused their menu with these in hand. It's an interesting menu and we eventually ordered their version of French toast and also the chicken and waffles. Deep fried chicken pieces served on waffles with maple. Sounds crazy, but it's soul food in the south (US). It was exactly as described. I'm glad I tried it but I can't say I'm sold yet. The French toast was good. Thick baguette slices toppled with sugar and pecan praline bacon. It took us most of the day to walk this meal off.<br/><br/>For dinner (on another night) we had Po Boys, curly fries, hush puppies, swamp dip and sampled different beers as suggested by our server. The hush puppies were ok. A bit bland and floury. Po Boys were good but the curly fries with Creole mayo was AMAZING. I dream about those curly fries.<br/><br/>The most interesting thing on the menu were Gumbo, jambalaya, chowder. The Tex-Mex dishes are fine but you can get them everywhere now. But I was more interested in the Creole and Cajun dishes that aren't so common here like Chicken and Waffles, Beignets (ben-yay), Po’ Boys, hush puppies. As well as the six pies on the menu: Apple pie, Pecan and bourbon pie, Peanut butter pie, Rhubarb and strawberry streusel, Key lime pie, and Banana cream pie.<br/><br/>The service was good. Excellent on our dinner visit, lesser on our breakfast visit (It was early on Saturday morning so it’s possible the staff were waiting for their caffeine to check in or their hangovers to check out). Good suggestions from staff and respectable wait times. When I get a compliment from the server for ordering the best thing on the menu I feel like I among friends. Clearly passionate staff. The atmosphere is bustling. These guys are constantly busy and for good reason. The interior has a well loved, cosy feeling that you might expect of an eating house in the French Quarter. They play really, really good music. By that I mean their playlist matches my playlist. It doesn't happen that often. I was a little surprised that they weren't playing NOLA themed music but no complaints.<br/><br/>Plenty of choices for vegetarians but avoid this place if you are on a diet. They even have a kids menu. Great for a drink and food before or after a movie at The Embassy which is just across the road.

My recent trip to Wellington with my sister meant that I could once again, indulge in some of the spectacular food that Wellington has to offer. My trip was short as we drove down during the day, so after we settled in, we stopped at Sweet Mother's Kitchen for a much needed dinner. With influences from New Orleans and Mexico, Sweet Mother's Kitchen is all about great home-style cooking and offers all day dining. A restaurant proven to be popular amongst Wellingtonians, the restaurant was full, even at 8pm on a Sunday and we managed to find a small table.<br/><br/>Our order of pasta and fried chicken took a while to get to our table, but it was worth the wait. The pasta (aka "the Moose") coated with gruyere cheese and a splash of truffle oil was delightful. The al dente pasta with the cheesy sauce is their take on macaroni and cheese and a dish which they rate as the 'ultimate comfort food'. The sauce had just the right amount of cheese and perfectly seasoned; the hint of truffle was a fantastic touch. The fried buttermilk soaked chicken strip with crispy curly fries and coleslaw was good, but not great. The chicken strips were made out of breast meat, which would explain why they were rather dry; the curly fries were extra crispy and served hot, the requirements for perfect fries.<br/><br/>We also slipped in an order of potato hash and I can shamelessly say that it was the best dish out of all three. Potato, despite being full of carbs, is my favourite vegetable. This hash was well seasoned and cooked the way that is should be; the shreds of potato has a crispy golden crust on the outside and just right on the inside, its neither soggy or under-cooked. I finished it with ease after sharing a small portion with my sister.<br/><br/>It was, overall, a great meal. The vibe of Sweet Mother's Kitchen is relaxed and it's the perfect location to unwind and enjoy some good ol' comfort food. Next time, I must remind myself to save some room for their peanut butter pie and maybe even give their brunch menu a try!

Great food and food choices, great service, near the heart of the city. Cost is average for the area, but given the excellent food I rank this little place above average.

Cajun food - what's not to like? Well maybe the fact that it is SO hard to get a table, let alone one of the two oh so desirable booths .... but if you are one of the lucky ones, then you get to munch on jambalaya, seafood gumbo, po' boys. and imagine that you are in New Orleans, just about to head down to some smoky little jazz club and listen to a whole lot of musical goodness. They also have a great line of pies (key lime, banana cream) to complete your evening out in Louisiana.<br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Ambience: 4/5<br/>Food: 4/5<br/>Value for Money: 5/5