Review Boat Cafe - Wellington

My family and I came here for my mum's birthday and we loved it! Really great food, especially Jaffa shake, it's incredible! Love the atmosphere, as soon as I came in, Country roads started playing, one of my favorite songs! Definitely coming here again! The staff were so friendly too! Staff, make sure to look out for a gremlin with over the top/weird makeup, hope to see you again soon!

Spent a few days in Wellington, stayed across the road from the boat cafe so far to go for breakfast, I loved the idea of breakfast on a boat. The decor was a bit rustic with a real need to fix the windows but the pancakes were delicious, will come again

Lovely dinner here. Good prices. Friendly staff. Cool being on the boat! I was super hungry so didn't take any pics but the lamb burger was nice. My partner got the seafood chowder and the chicken burger he enjoyed them a lot.

Not sure why this place is rated so low, but we had a great experience. Good food, quick and friendly service, and some good options on the menu for drinks and food. The grilled fish was nice, good to see two decent portions of fish were served, with mash, and the potato skins were decent as well. Enjoyed it, a bit wet and rainy when we visited, but im sure a winner when the weather is nicer!

Nothing fancy just just good food and a neat atmosphere. We had lamb and fish burgers which were very nice, the portion of fries was a little small, but the burger was a little large, so it works. Staff was friendly and helpful even on a quiet Monday evening.

My lil sis and I popped in for brunch as we hadn't had breakfast. We both ordered starters of garlic bread and spring rolls and steak meals with salad. It was quite tasty. Both enjoyed our meal and the friendly informative service. We do admit that we may have started to feel a little full after the starters and our large milkshakes! Always enjoy the friendly and helpful service alongside the delicious food served. Until we meet again Thanks 😁😁👍👍

It’s a nice place which doesn’t get noisy as most of the places in the area. Neat and had some good all day meal options. 👍

Great haloumi salad, chocolate chip biscuits and ham and cheese croissant. Great friendly staff, and tasty food.

My first visit to this place. It was very exciting. The food serves was great. Fish and Chips was on point. So were the other dishes . The lady serving us was very nice and friendly.

A beautiful location, a cozy place for lunch or dinner and excellent choice of craft beer, not to mention the chef's Fish and Chips. The Boat Cafe was created to make us want to come back. It is a one of a kind

I was so impressed. We stumbled upon the Boat Cafe because our usual spot was closed and I'm pleasantly surprised. Great views, great friendly service and delicious fish and chips. Coming here again!

Great view of the harbour. Fast service. Generous portions and reasonable priced.

Long time for food to arrive even when it wasn't particularly busy, was cold when it arrived.:(

We went to the boat cafe for brunch. We had a reservation but when we got there we were told that they do not reserve tables. The food was good but the service could be improved. Also the menu on the website differs from the menu at the cafe. I have always wanted to go there but I was disappointed.

Good location but unfortunately not much else was good. 😐 Food was overpriced and not good. Coffee was not good at all - Could not finish it

DONT DO IT. Shitty food, overpriced. My fork bent, .. it was so cheap and nasty. Place was empty. For good reason. The baby seat was broken, and unsafe, out daughter nearly fell out if my wife hadnt caught her. I think Ive eaten about half of a $20 big breakfast, the rest is horrible.

This is one of my favourite place to spend my day off. I love the ambience of this cafe. Ordered fish and chips, fried chicken and hot chocolate! Fried chicken was bit undercooked. But fish n chips got my heart.

I just spoke to a very rude man when phoning to confirm my<br/>booking for just a normal table for 4 people for lunch .<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Whilst still talking to advise I was phoning to confirm the booking I made via email, he was extremely abrupt demanding I have to go to the venue to pay a deposit.  When I explained it was not for a function but a normal lunch reservation, he put the phone down on<br/>me.  If this is the disgusting service I get when doing something as<br/>simple as confirming a lunch reservation, I really don’t want to think what the food or service<br/>will be like on the day.  If I can be polite it is only normal to expect the staff to be as well.  Will never go to the Boat Cafe.

Manager is not polite. I ordered an iced americano which was on the menu (picture included) and I was rudely told ‘that’s not on our menu’. Normally cafes suggest another option for a cold coffee however no option was provided and I ordered a normal coffee. When the manager came to deliver the drinks she placed both of my friends drinks in front of them and left mine at the end of the table. Am I over reacting? I’m not sure, I just found her actions inappropriate for the hospo industry.

Beautiful views from this location <br/>Friendly staff and and it’s also pet friendly <br/>The breakfast was delicious the the coffee was what we needed <br/>We will definitely come back

Was ok, apart from being served the wrong food, ended up taking the food we didn’t order to our disappointment the pattie for the burger being funkie. Ended up getting a refund after asking for one , not that they were going to offer one. Don’t recommended

Who wouldn’t wanna eat a meal on a boat? Haha it was a great place to have a family dinner. We enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The staff are great too.

Lunch and coffee was hugely disappointing last week. Coffee took half an hour to arrive- one one person on and he said he was new. So management needs a kick. Lunch of zucchini fritters were not-- just grated zucchini and something but not bound together as most fritters are with egg, flour etc. tasteless too. friend had roast vege salad but also poor- nothing with it like a dressing or interesting thinks as in the cabinet. Will not return till they lift their game. It sued to be great so guess new owners who seem to skim on staff, so slow, poor service and mediocre food.

Had lunch there today. Great Service. Food was lovely and fresh. I had the buttermilk chicken burger with handcut fries. (which I requested). My friend had the buttermilk chicken snack size. Both meals were substantial and yummy. Loved the fresh slaw used which had lemon vinegarette through it. Waitress was great and kept an eye on us all the time. Great coffee too, came out nice and hot how I like it! Look forward to coming again. Thanks team. Great Work!

Food was really mediocre. I ordered the fish and chips and they were very bland. No seasoning at all even after i added the lemon. Everything had no taste at all including the slaw and sauce. Our server explained they had just changed ownership but I don't really think that's an excuse for serving tasteless food and having no drinks.

I havent been here for several years but stopped in after a swim. The service is still the same - awful. We waited for 20 minutes before being able to order, the waiter walked away from us half way through and then came back and kept looking away from us and talking to someone else mid order. Ten minutes later he came back and said they had no fish left, and ran off before we could re order. We waited a bit longer and then went up to the counter to order. The first burger came out - with stone cold soggy chips and no cutlery (we got our own) - when we got some some attention we requested new ones - they never came. Several promises of the rest of our food being “almost ready” an hour and a half later we got up and left, with my daughter in tears because they couldnt even deliver a toasted sandwich. We definitely won’t be back.

Service was amazing!! Real friendly. <br/>food was good only let down was my steamed veg was very hard almost like eating a raw carrot. But other then the under cooked veg would recommend this place to anyone

It was obvious these guys have changed ownership as the food here used to amazing, now cheap product has been used despite the cost remaining the same. Many shortcuts have been taken and I will not be going back.

Service was good but the food was terrible. Will not be going back or recommending to anyone. Seafood chowder was gluggly and bland. Rewana bread was hard and tasteless. Surf & Turf came out missing the surf. Sent it back to kitchen & the same meat came back cold with sauce on top. Could explain more but I think you get the idea.

Went here for brunch , food was terrible bacon tasted like it had been boiled , the bread was all crust and had a tiny bit of baked beans thrown in the middle of the plate , pan cakes were thin and dry dusted with a tiny bit of icing sugar . Highly disappointed will never dine there again .

Although the food we had was quite good, we weren't served until I went up and asked, and after we placed our food and drinks to order we got our food but never got our drinks.

Absolutely loving the place ! Nice view nice location I guessed lol the food price i think was quite decent! Been here like twice and would come back again even im not a seafood person ;)

Dined here with a fairly big group. Staff were very accommodating considering a few of our guests were running late and our group grew from 8 to 10 pax. Although they made a few jokes to us about being late, but it was in a friendly manner and we enjoyed the banter. Coffee was pretty standard, a few of our group had smoothies which were apparently amazing. Meals were well presented and pretty tasty. Atmosphere was cool, we were in the sun room and the slight movement of the boat added to the uniqueness of the place. All in all, we enjoyed the experience.

I have been here couples of time and I always enjoy my time here. The view is nice and staffs are really friendly. Their ice Mocha is super big which I couldn't finish at the end. Food is nice. This is one of my favourite places to enjoy my Sunday morning :)

I enjoy this place. The food is good, fair price and staff are welcoming. I also used the event rom above which was excellent with great catering from the cafe. The event was a workshop and barrista cafe went down well

Been here a couple of times and even booked the place for a work seminar. Not bad food and not bad service. Outlook is interesting because you are on a boat! So has a little appeal just on that fact alone. Worth a try for the fun factor, my kids loved and requested a birthday lunch there too! Cool location too with a kids park and a beach right on the doorstep.

Wonderful summer day at an awesome beach catching up with an old mate after a dip for beers. Nothing more a couple of seadawgs can ask for than to have it on an old seagoing beauty of a tugboat. Amazing views, chilled beer and decent food. The hostesses were really warm too and gladly gave us a tour of the boat which is also a place you can host a party at, given it's under deck hall.<br/>The name says cafe... Please don't go there expecting a restaurant and come out disappointed. Just go there for beers and finger food with a super fantastic view.<br/>¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Absolutely loved the Boat Cafe! With a fantastic view and a different kind of seating, this cafe is a must try! <br/>We tried the fish and chips, the Tandoori chicken sandwich, the chicken satay salad and the Strawberry and passion fruit smoothie.<br/>The fish and chips were very good. The Tandoori chicken sandwich was delicious. The chicken satay salad was very very good. The smoothie was great too. <br/>All in all, a very satisfying meal. I would definitely like to visit this place again.

We were originally a group of 7 but reduced to 5 because of Ill health and the greeting waitress hadnt listened to the voice msg e changing the numbers.the service was shocking. The waitress didn't know what the special was or if they had light beer , but worst of all only wrote down  the meal order for 4 not 5 ,so one of us had to wait another 30 mins for their meal , which was wrong , so another wait. It took 35 mins to get a drink initially.the waitress blamed the fact is was a busy time, which it def was not, instead of accepting responsibility.the food was good when it came. The place is looking shabby with broken windows.the ladies toilet didn't have any hand paper. Will not be going again or recommending to anyone. Also overpriced.<br/>I'd rate it 1/10

Terrible service, overpriced, poor food<br/><br/>We waited 20 mins to order. Portions were very stingy, especially the children's. Wait staff were uninterested and not very switched on. And it was really really expensive! They trade on the view alone -steer clear.

This café is an absolute must if you are visiting Wellington!!!! From the moment you start walking down to the entrance to the beautiful blue coast to the boat styled seating, even the toilet doors were boat themed, I can still picture it now. The staff are super friendly and ready to provide you with anything that you need. I decided to go for the fish and chips and we were right by the sea and it was such a beautiful day, my friend went for the corn fritters. I must admit the fish and chips were the best I have ever had and the slight hit of chilli and lime in the corn fritters really made it special.I would highly recommend checking this café out if you are visiting Wellington, I would advise locals to check this out but you would have already visited just based on the beautiful boat and enticing entrance.

Went here for brunch last Sunday. Were greeted quickly and chose a table which had been recently vacated but still had a few cups on it, it was quickly cleared but the table was not wiped. <br/><br/>We waited 10-15 minutes to be served and the service was adequate, although our waitress didn't know the prices of most things and seemed eager to get away and serve others. I was trying hard to decide between eggs on toast or mince on toast and the eggs won out. <br/><br/>The food was served quickly and was ok. Unfortunately the toast wasn't very well cooked and was quite tough, but the two poached eggs were great. The food came on different plates and I wondered if this was part of the decor or they just didn't have enough plates? Probably just me being picky. <br/><br/>Being on a boat was pretty cool and had a great ambience. <br/><br/>Overall a nice relaxing experience as they were quite busy. <br/><br/>A pass mark, but simple errors knocked it back.

Our waiter gave us service that was 5/5 stars! He was attentive to our every want & need so I commend him for an excellent job. It was a Saturday night & surprisingly not very busy although I'm sure everyone was already at the LUX light show festival. We had a gorgeous view of the lights from the window where we sat. My partner ordered the fish & chips which he said were tasty. I ordered the quinoa salad with halloumi. It was delicious! We both agreed that more variety on the menu would be nice, however we were pleased with the options we did find on the menu.

Went here for a birthday dinner for 2. Had chowder to start with breads and a mixed platter for 2 with sides, really filling food and good value for what we got. Huge portions also and staff were very nice and friendly.

Had a really good time....it was a beautiful sunny moring. Made reservations and got an amazing table to sit at overlooking the water. Lovely friendly service, food was fantastic. What a lovely brunch with great friends. Will definitely be back for more :-)

Just a flat 3 from me I'm sorry Boat Cafe. The French waiter is awesome, always so polite and attentive and helpful when ever I've been in. There was one other younger gentleman who looking after our table and unfortunately he was pretty shocking. Was more interested in his hair than us I think :/ sorry pal, but it's true. We both got the fish burgers and the burger itself was nice but the 4 or 5 chips to accompany it didn't quite justify the price they charge ... $19 I think? Could be wrong, if so sorry! But yeah, nice place for a coffee but the one time I've had a proper meal really wasn't much to write home about. Will probably be back though. Cheers

Quick easy and friendly service. Cool venue. Inside is lovely, I had 2nd doubts from outside but walking in, it's like a whole different place. Love the idea. Ordered the corn fritters for brunch. Beautifully presented. Filling and worth every dollar. Not rating 5/5 because was a bit pricey for me and the dish didnt exactly wow me but was still Delicious. Thank you Boat cafe!

Always busy, so you need to wait a bit longer for the food and staff are so busy. Food is okay but love the super sized chocolate cake which is enough for two the easy parking and nice location. Good out door area so I can take my dog there too,

I didn't expect very much as I had been to the boat cafe a while back on a Saturday and it was super busy and took a while to be served. I was happy as going on a weekday proved the best idea as we had amazing a quick service as well as the lovely woman serving us going the extra mile giving us the wifi password etc. beautiful coffee and I ordered the French toast with bacon and banana, best I have had by far! Would go back in a heartbeat especially with the level or service we had :)

Went on a back holiday, it was pretty busy but the staff were friendly. Food was good, though there was a slight error but the staff corrected the error quickly.

Great service, amazing staff and the best food, great for everyone, spacious for families or intimate for couples. Has lovely views to top it off.

absolutely one of the best venues in town.  food is always exceptional, especially the seafood and chocolate cake.  i have taken many an overseas visitor here and have only ever had praise about the service and yummy food.  we need more places like this where the staff care about the customer.

Nice view, good cafe food and a relaxed atmosphere. The boat cafe is the perfect location for a relaxed bite to eat with a nice view over Wellington harbour (while actually sitting inside a tug boat!). I chose something from their cabinet display and was able to get a half-half serve of two salads, which were fresh, filling and reasonably priced. The waiters were very friendly and accommodating and I could see several families enjoying lunch. While the menu is nothing out of the ordinary I think the boat cafe is a lovely cafe for a spot of lunch and I may return next time I'm in Wellington.

Came here just the once. Unfortunately, it wasn't my cup of tea. My eggs were overcooked and my milkshake wasn't wondeful either. There were small children screaming, and whole experience wasn't great!

Last Friday night our group of seven came to the Boat Cafe, where we had dined previously when it was the Parade Cafe. <br/><br/>Although the food was good and the service was also initially good, the place became a bit of a "Ghost Ship". As from 9 o'clock onwards, we were seemingly the only diners there. Everyone has disappeared!! There was no-one around. <br/><br/>The waitress had never even bothered to come around to check if we had wanted to order desserts or coffee. So we all got up, paid our bill (after we had manage to alert the duty manager)and left. Our waitress did appear then and said that she was just about to come around to see if we had wanted desserts, but seeing we were all standing up, she hadn't bothered to come over.<br/><br/>Incidentally I had ordered an enjoyable Angus Beef Scotch Fillet Steak with steamed veges in a tasty creamy mushroom sauce for $30.00. And before that, I had a tasty Saffron Seafood Chowder for $11.00. <br/><br/>What a shame, it all went "downhill" for us seven diners afterwards. We also missed the nice warm ambiance of the fire-place which used to always lit at the Parade Cafe!!

Will always be one of my favorite places to eat. With a large menu and great location it is perfect for summer breakfast or lunch.<br/><br/>Staff are friendly and helpful.<br/><br/>Great for both indoor and outdoor seating. Although sometimes their is no seats left. If you want to sit outside sit on the deck facing out to the harbor as the entrance way bridge moves to much when people walk on it. Nothing worse than feeling sea sick while eating!<br/><br/>Must trys:<br/>Ladies breakfast<br/>Smoothies<br/>Potato skins (so good and cheesy! Not for the faint hearted)

Went for Wellington on a Plate and had a booking for 8 people.  The waitress was new I think, as she made a few rookie errors like clearing plates before everyone was finished, but she was nice so it was not a huge deal.<br/>However, when it came to dessert time we were told after 5 min of waiting, that one of the WOAP dessert options was sold out.  After most of the table had decided on the other WOAP dessert, the waitress came back again to tell us that there was only 1 left.  The waitress muttered something about the kitchen closing but it seemed very strange that a kitchen would close when most of the table might still want dessert.  <br/>Only 2 of the 8 people at the table got the dessert that they wanted, the other desserts that were ordered were average and were garnished with slices of visibly old strawberries.  I don't know why they bothered to put them on the plate.  About a week earlier, we were put in a similar situation. We ordered the WOAP burger as it was advertised in more than one place at the counter, and about ten minutes after we had been seated, we were told it was sold out.<br/><br/>How difficult would it be for someone in the kitchen to tell someone out front?<br/>The kitchen seems to be letting the place down, if they had better communication with FOH, perhaps we could have been told at the start of the meal that there were no desserts left.At least the Frenchman was very good.

Disappointing (esp when taking a guest). Two of us ordered Gluten free mince pie (pastry tasted uncooked underneath first layer) and the other roasted veges. We all ordered and paid for it on the one bill upfront yet the food came out at different times and took ages. Didn't make sense when others ahead of us got their food before ours and our simple meals that needed heating. Drinks came out at odd times. We sat there and watched our guest eat then our meals finally came in.

The food was delicious here and wonderfully presented. We especially loved their seafood chowder. The staff were also really nice and it was very good value for money.

Sitting with hungry young kids 50mins after ordering easy things like fries and nuggets, turns what should be a treat into a debacle. Then the wrong food comes out. And still we wait.<br/><br/>Never again.<br/><br/>One star because the staff are nice.

I was very disappointed with Boat Cafe. I hadn't been for ages, but from memory the food had always been good. <br/><br/>My partner ordered the Eggs Benedict which was pretty standard. I ordered the corn fritters. As soon as I got them my heart sank. The 2 corn fritters were tiny and came with a brown green creamed avocado and a big dollop of sour cream. They were very expensive for what was served. For the same price at Ruby's in Mana you get 2 massive, fluffy corn fritters, bacon, relish and a decent salad! The Boat Cafe corn fritters were half the size, flat and undercooked.

We hired Boat Cafe for a wedding reception. Very easy to deal with and very accommodating to our needs.<br/><br/>There was plenty of food, a good variety and it was very well presented. The service was excellent and the staff very polite and helpful.<br/><br/>Thank you

We have been to Boat Cafe 3-4 times this year. This last time really was the last time after 2 other bad experiences. The wait staff couldn't be bothered greeting us or giving us menus and after 20 minutes waiting (having got our own), we simply left. Embarrassing after we had recommended this place to overseas visitors.

On a wet wellington day i walked in to The Boat Cafe to find smiling faces &amp; a friendly warm welcome. So refreshing! I ordered a Mojo coffee and wasn't disappointed. This was the best coffee I have had in a long time. Perfect temperature and smooth flavor. The whole cafe was warm and inviting. The food presentation is amazing with a great selection snack food &amp; meals. Loved the Seafood chowder. I would highly recommend this cafe &amp; recommend you visit the next time you are in Oriental Parade.

Thank you very much. She won't forget this birthday.<br/>More than a month ago, I saw deal offer. Already back then I was going to use for her birthday (today - Aug 22). We just got home and I'm writing this review. <br/>She will never forget today. FoH two waitresses were welcoming, friendly and attentive. They made our dinning experience enjoyable. <br/>To start with, the seafood chowder combination of basil &amp; pesto was delightful. Steak of Surf &amp; Turf was cooked perfectly. Seafood was cooked nicely and sauce was delicious.<br/>It was great birthday dinning and yes, we will recommend to people. And we look forward to visit Boat Cafe again

I am a regular customer of the Boat Cafe, coming in at least once a week for my takeaway coffee and muffin. I just wanted to let all your lovely staff know what an amazing job they do. We are always greeted with a smile, the coffee is consistently good and the amazing selection of food is always divine. As an ex cafe owner myself, I appreciate the importance of quality staff. They are after all what holds the place together! Keep up the amazing work you guys, I am sure your employers appreciate your hard work and great attitudes!

Came here for birthday dinner with my partner. Great food and service! Wonderful view of Wellington. I had the steak and it was cooked perfectly. Great place for a special occasion. Will definitely be back :)

Had breakfast here last week. The setting is beautiful, it was a really sunny day and the prospect of sitting on the boat looking out at the city was lovely. <br/><br/>The food was very average. First of all it took ages. Myself and my partner had both drunk our hot drinks including a whole pot of tea before we got our breakfasts. I had even gone up to buy another round of drinks and drank the majority of them before the food arrived. <br/><br/>I ordered the pancakes which when they arrived were cold. The cold pancakes were very stodgy and when cold were rather unpleasant. The bacon on the other hand was tasty.<br/><br/>My partner had the eggs Benedict which he asked for with spinach and ham. The man at the counter said it was no problem however when it arrived there was only spinach. We were so hungry and thought it would take too long so we just left it but he was rather disappointed. <br/><br/>For $46 plus extra drinks on top for the two of us. It was quite poor small portions that took ages. I would not recommend for breakfast but I recommend the visiting the setting for a coffee.

Rue<br/>I have been coming to " parade cafe / boat cafe" for 20 years and feel so at home here. The staff are very friendly and helpful which makes coming here a pleasure. The food is very well presented and tastes great and coffee nice &amp; strong. Decor and setting is also very unique &amp; pleasing .

A great place to hang out!<br/><br/>Boat cafe is one of my favorite places in Wellington. The coffee is excellent, the staff are friendly and efficient, and the new menu has something for everyone. With the fires raging during winter, great harbour views, and free parking at the door, I find I gravitate here most days. It's also the place we like to bring visitors for dinner or lunch, especially now that the music is more chill than boogie... (other cafes really need to get this right!). Highly recommended.

Good value. Wednesday 2 for one is good value.

We love this cafe. Great food, the waiters are attentive and friendly. My favourite dish is the fish the blue cod was excellent! Husband loved his burger. And the lovely staff are always smiling! We have come here regularly for the past 7 months and have never been disappointed. Whenever we bring friends they are always impressed. We have converted a few people. Keep up the great work.

I went to The Boat Cafe for lunch yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the venison pie - Osso Bucco I think it was called. It was delicious. Had a rich, satisfying gravy and was just what I felt like to warm up on a windy Wellington day! Coffee was great and the staff were very friendly. I have been before and like that they have a separate gluten free menu with lots of choices instead of the token one or two dishes. Love looking at that view too. Will be back.

Had brunch here today and it was terrible!! My partners chowder was late, about 15mins. When it did arrive there was no apology. It tasted like a thick sauce, not like a chowder. <br/><br/>My Caesar salad was such a rip off!! Hard bits of cos lettuce, tiny grated bits of parmesan, not shavings, no egg as menu stated, just the lettuce, chicken, bacon, crouton strips?? Told staff when paying and instead of $21 i was charged $17!!! <br/><br/>Wont go back there as service was also appalling.<br/><br/>My partner added, if you want a free meal, go here as the food is usually late and they dont charge you for it.

First time visitor to the Boat Cafe on Saturday night. There was a need from me to impress and that I did. I had an Angus fillet with lobster mornay sauce which was a symphony of taste. No portion would have been enough. My partner had the Venison Osso Buco which she thought was excellent. With a bottle of wine , great table position and view accompanied with prompt and happy service by the team made it a very memorable evening. Just booked for mothers day.

Felt so ripped off after going here the other day.<br/>I get pancakes every time I go to brunch so I normally don't mind spending a bit, but when the food arrived I could see it was money badly spent.<br/>For $19 I got two small pancakes, maximum 1/3 of a banana and two small pieces of streaky bacon. And no maple syrup, which I then had to get up and ask someone for. <br/>Overall me and my partner were extremely disappointed and will not be back.<br/>This place used to be so good.

We joined the Tugboat on a Two for One Wednesday evening dinner service. The food took a long time to arrive and the presentation was absolutely shocking. I had the venison pie which looked like it was decorated with potato mash by one of the neighbours' kids and was joined by some lacklustre vegetables. The size of the portions, and not just the venison, was such that most of the table were considering going to MacDonald's afterwards. If you want to offer a 2 for 1 then don't halve the portion sizes because that's what it looked like. This is the second time in a year that I've had a very disappointing dinner experience at The Tugboat. To be fair, breakfast and lunch are normally very enjoyable.

I booked 3 friends and myself in for a Sunday brunch having been recommended by my partner. I then happened to read the reviews of previous visitors on here and other review sites and was a little concerned about what to expect.<br/><br/>I needn't have worried, we all had a great time. I pre-booked and we got a booth next to a window. Staff were friendly and helpful (although I agree with some comments on here that they appeared a little rushed at times - but come on people, this is a cafe not a yoga studio!). Food arrived in good time, portions were large for what you pay and all in all was really good. I had a gluten free eggs bennie which was nice, however I was a little flummoxed by the side of hash brown it was a little unconnected, my only bug bear. There was a good gluten free menu for those that way inclined.<br/><br/>Me and my friends stayed chatting and ordering more tea/coffees for a few hours and didn't at all feel rushed to vacate the table.<br/><br/>I'm a little suprised therefore to read some of the reviews on here. Perhaps the owners have been reading them too and are now getting their staff into shape. Dunno, but in my opinion I thought was a great, so would definitely recommend to all- families, older and younger.

One of the worst experiences! Taking my family for a nice pre-Christmas lunch - it was noisy, the food was terrible - chicken warm, potatoes chips uncooked, had to remind them about my coffee, then get up and find another coffee on the counter. Also to ask for some cutlery! There were lots of staff having a great time, but that's not really what makes it great for a customer. There are plenty of great coffee/cafe/restaurants in Wellington, let this not be your choice. A waste of money.

Really disappointing . It must have changed hands.<br/>Lots of staff having a great time but that meant that we had to keep asking for everything. (knives and forks, I went and got my own sugar for coffee, the wine list, the wine ...)<br/>Most of the meals had seen the microwave for too long.<br/>My son was given the wrong pasta ( very over priced set menu ) but he thought penne with asparagus sounded nice ... there wasn't one piece of asparagus and it was in this awful runny sauce.<br/>It's a shame as it one of the best spots in Wellington. Coffee was good but don't waste your money eating there.

Parade Cafe had been recommended for a Sunday breakfast by our hotel concierge, so entered this location with high expectations. There were plenty of staff about, however attention was seriously lacking. After ordering at the counter, we had a lengthy 30 minute wait for our breakfasts (5 of them) to arrive. Portions were more than generous (the french toast and the pancakes almost hanging over the edge of their respective plates) Flavours and presentation, a 6/10. The two teas arrive along with timers, we duly turned them, big mistake, my good husbands Earl Grey turned out totally stewed; my Peppermint tea got away with the extra time (NB I had ordered Green Tea) Parade Cafe offers a superb location, get the outside seats if the weather permits, a shame that all that goes on in the kitchen and with service doesn't match the views.

My partner and I visited on a Saturday morning and struggled to get a table the place was so busy! The views and location of this cafe are amazing! <br/>Service was OK, I suspect not enough staff for the amount of customers that day! Staff looked a bit stressed but were very friendly. <br/>We had a lovely Iced Mocha and hot chocolate and sat looking at the views in the sun! Bliss. The cabinet food looked devine and we can't wait to go back for a meal!!

Went here for a quite dinner with my partner about 2 months ago using a coupon.<br/><br/>Service: Really really good, we had booked in advance and had a table ready for us in the front of the ship with dim lights/candles overlooking the city, the servers were very very friendly.. they could do with more heaters in the front part thou, we had to wear our jackets it was very very cold with all the glass!!<br/><br/>Food: Good again, partner had the duck and I had the lamb rump, both were cooked perfect and tasted great. We also had chocolate fondants for dessert and they were done 100% perfect and yummy! , the wine was also very very good.<br/><br/>I have heard from people that breakfast/lunch here is rather average/not very good (Maybe they have another service/chef team for earlier in the day) so I cant comment on those, however dinner was fantastic and would go back in a heartbeat.

Don go here. It used to be okay while across the road, but something has definitely changed. Slow service, bad food, although the coffee is okay. I ordered a banana smoothie, (6 dollars), and received a glass of lukewarm milk with bits of banana inside. Unbelievable! No, I did not drink it. The smoothie was the final straw and I and my family will never be back. I will never recommend the parade cafe either. Expensive bad food. yuck.

The worst meal we have had in Wellington. We took friends visiting from Tauranga to the Parade Cafe, Tug boat and we were embarrassed. The food was overpriced, tasteless and like something you would get in the frozen foods section of the supermarket. My daughter got fish n chips and although they were deep fried it was cold !! The service was poor. We eat out a lot and consider this one of the worst dinning experiences we have had in Wellington in years.

Food was disappointing!<br/><br/>Ordered the Potato Wedges with cheese &amp; bacon for a quick bite to eat on Saturday - I was presented with an over deep fried congealed blob, with an enormous dollop of sour cream in the middle. Terrible presentation which tasted greasy &amp; awful. A real disappointment as this simple dish could have and should have been done so much better.

I'm not sure when it became acceptable for a cafe/restaurant to offer food that tastes distinctly like packet food, but Parade Cafe may very well be the first cab off the rank.<br/><br/>A Thursday dinner began with an average chicken burger for my partner and over cooked duck breast for myself. I suspect the cook doesn't know that duck should be slightly pink inside. It's not chicken, sweetheart, it won't poison me if it's pink. With the mains consumed with an overly warm red wine, we moved on to dessert.<br/><br/>As we both enjoy chocolate fondants, this was the obvious selection, particularly as past experience has shown that the creme brulee to be akin to eating Swiss Made Custard.<br/><br/>After what seemed like an eternity to have our order taken, this being a very quiet night with about 4 covers/tables booked, the chocolate fondants appeared very quickly. There were 2 problems with the fondants. One, they were stone cold and two, they tasted like Aunt Betty's self saucing puddings. Upon asking both wait staff, I was informed that they should indeed be hot/warm and not cold. <br/><br/>I emailed the manager for clarification on how the fondants ought to have been prepared, only to be told that they were experimenting with the recipe. Now, as an amateur cook, I would expect a cafe/restaurant to have actually done the experimentation prior to the dish being put on the menu. Call me old-fashioned. I did not receive an apology.<br/><br/>I can't recommend dining here unless you like poorly cooked food that tastes like it's out of a packet.

Keen to show our wonderful city off to our Canadian visitors we chose this restaurant for dinner, great venue &amp; views...the rest was history. When following up the waitress who seated us to take our drink and food order, she advised me our waiter will be with us soon. A few minutes later the same waitress shows up, I'm thinking are we in a scene from Faulty Towers? We are then advised over 7 items are not on the menu, no pasta dishes no chicken &amp; no mussels. We are told the menu is going through a change so I'm now thinking it's time to leave but we order anyway. 5 minutes pass &amp; I'm then advised the pan fried fish is not available either. The food we did have was passable, fish &amp; chips for our visitors &amp; lamb rump for the remainder. Very disappointed, will not recommend or return.

Food is okay, but the kids love it - mainly for the extra thrill of eating on a boat. Great spot for a quick after work dinner, followed by a play on the beach.

Great place to go for lunch, with very good pricing and a good view :)

Was planning my sons 1st birthday and was going to hire the up stairs for $150, they asked about the cake and was told they make a round one for $95 or a rectangle for $125. I explained to them my son was allergic to eggs and i wanted to make him a pirate ship cake,they then said i wasn't allowed to bring my own cake in and another staff said i would have to pay $2.50 per a slice. I would not recommend going their! What restaurant does not allow you to bring in your own cake? Especially for a child's birthday! What happened to going the extra mile? they are just money hungry!

Good yummy food served on a nicely decked out boat.<br/><br/>Staff were fairly lax but i went there for lunch time snack and so that actually suited me fine that it felt pretty chilled out.

First off, I'm on a boat! Gotta love that, you get one star just for that.<br/><br/>Myself and two friends were drawn in by the two for one special and a friends recommendation of the chicken curry.<br/><br/>The Waitresses took awhile to seat us and eventually we got an average table in the main foyer, next to the kitchen door.<br/><br/>We waited a fair amount of time while wait staff walked past us before I took initiative and rustled up some menu's. <br/><br/>Eventually we were seen to by the manager on duty whose service was top notch, however as there was only three of us, he declined to let us get two 2 for 1 meals. Which is probably fair enough but since I was shouting and I am somewhat of a greedy guts I was keen to get two meals. But OK still.<br/><br/>My friends got the chicken curry which looked good, was tasty but was not spicy enough for my liking although I love the chilli so that is no mark against it. <br/><br/>I ordered a steak, which was prefectly cooked (med-rare) and the mushroom sauce was mmmmmm yum, the potatoes were a little under cooked and under-seasoned but good meal overall. <br/><br/>Our shared jug of pilsener complemented the beef perfectly.<br/><br/>Was a bit expensive but it was a treat night out to celebrate my new job. Would probably go back again.<br/><br/>Again big ups to the duty manager whose service was impeccable

We went here as it was one of the few places we could find open on Anzac Day. The location and views are great. The food though wasn't great. We ordered beef burgers which come with wedges. The burgers were huge, but not tasty at all. The sauce that accompanied the wedges was great though. We couldn't find a kid's menu, so ordered the chicken pieces and fries starter dish. It turned out to be a massive plate of fries, with a few chicken nuggets on top. Too full for dessert, we had chocolate cake takeaway. If I ever go back, it will be for coffee and that divine chocolate cake.

Visited a few times now, mostly due to only option for location. Would do take away coffee but not eat in as the service is too hit and miss. <br/><br/>Similar view shared with the rest of my dining party who had insisted we go here.<br/><br/>A real shame.

this was the first time eating in a proper restaurant in wellington and i was very impressed the site was great, eating on a boat was a new experience and the views were romantic and the food was to die for! the prices also were outstanding as was the service. we started off with a bread plate and when it was brought to us we were so surprised it was a huge loaf amount of bread it which was lovely and fresh, it also had not one but two types of bread, the dips were also great. after that we had our meals mine was the chicken penne pasta which was delicious and my partner had a Vietnamese beef which he found very moist and delicious. we couldn't stay for dessert as we had run out of time but i sure will be going back. the staff were friendly and funny and had a very at ease vibe about them. we have been raving about this place for weeks to all our friends and can't wait to go back again.

This is the same place just in a better location. Lots of options for veges like me, and now with the lovely view of the harbour they are onto a winning formula.<br/><br/>Staff are lovely and helpful and the service is quick even with the long line that often exists (testimony to the goodness being served).<br/><br/>Also a great place to hold a function.

Great atmosphere, staff has always been efficient with their service and their smiles! I have been to Parade Cafe more than a dozen times, and have always came back for their desserts! However, our last brunch there was a bit of a let down; toast was chewy, burger was just flooded with too much sauce, and portion of the other stuff were slightly smaller than usual. BUT, I will still go back to give them another try.

Went there for lunch; Great cafe food; Nice and relaxed, outdoor area and great location; Quick service.<br/><br/>Passionfruit smoothie was excellent;

Wonderful service, great menu, mean as coffee. Consistently one of Wellingtons top cafes.<br/>Best corn fritters I have found in NZ.

Excellent place for breakfast.Good variety and tasty, well presented food. Extremely efficient service; it was very busy and our meals were delivered quickly. Lovely atmosphere with the choice of indoor/outdoor dining.