What a disappointing dining experience!!! Limited menu I could deal with. But then, I expect excellent, or at the very least, very good execution. Sadly, this wasn't meant to be, at least not this night. My wife and I shared four tapas, of which only one was properly served at an acceptably hot temperature. The Octopus (pulpo), $12, was served on sliced potato, and was decently flavored, without being rubbery. The Berenjena (eggplant served crostini or bruschetta style), $5.50, similarly served cold. The Piquillo, stuffed capsicum, was the only positive of the evening. This was served hot (temperature), and had a sweet taste with no heat, $14. The calamari, $11, was heavily breaded, and served cold. Even the white creamy sauce didn't help with the flavor. This completed the meal. See photos. The Avaniel tempranillo, $14/gl, was a full-bodied wine, and was enjoyable. Service was fair. All in all, a sorry evening, I won't be going back. read more

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I stopped going to Bellota after my favorite dish of Prawn and risotto disappeared. However a friend wanted to go for a Shangria and there we were, as Bellota makes the best red wine Shangria - not too sweet and not too heavy. There were some new dishes which caught our eyes. Black rice w squid & prawn ($13) reminded me of the old dish so we ordered it to try. Way too salty. Garlic Prawn ($13) and Dessert platter ($10.5) tasted average nor impressive while rest of the dishes were fantastic. Gratin of Piquillo w fish & prawns ($14) was delicious, Cassava chips ($8) were bulky and crispy, Calamari ($11) tasted like heaven.. You may have noticed that there are too many dishes mentioned here. Yes, I went twice in a week to try out the menu... Yes this is very unlike me but I am not regretting it as I know what I will have next time! read more

Bellota - Calamari & Galic prawn - Spanish Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Ok I'll be honest, we were only here because we were waiting for our table at Depot. But it's a good thing we were and as our hunger pains grew there were moments of weakness when we considered just flagging that hotspot over the road and tucking into some tapas. But we didn't. I was very taken with sampling some new Spanish wine though and enjoyed my Gaba do Xil 2010 Godela very much. The Sherries here sound very interesting too so there's another reason (in addition to the food) to come back again. Once you get inside here the vibe is pretty cool but it seems so uber-posh from the front entrance it's almost offputting. There's a big shared table in the window where you can "enjoy" the waft of cigarette smoke through the open windows (wow now there's a complaint I never thought I'd make), low lounge tables and lots of cosy booths. The Tapas menu is a bit different in that it seems most things come in their natural state or close to it - olives, pickles, anchovies, cured meats - rather than having anything much done to them first. There is a whole lovely list devoted to my very dear friend Cheese as well, with Peter Gordon pairing each variety with something wonderful-sounding. I am majorly anticipating an evening of flash deli-style eating with what I like to call "discovery" drinking elevated to the next level. So yeah fine dining-ish tapas apparently. Cheers Pete. read more

Bellota - Spanish Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Peter Gordon's Bellota is my most favourite Spanish Tapa's bar in Auckland. I love the addition of extra tables that jut right out on Federal Street and bring Fed Street to life especially on a fine evening. Creamy dreamy cheese, freshly sliced jamon and chorizo imported from Spain, prawns, croquettes, and the decadant dessert boards (of which we ordered two), choices are numerous to choose from. My two friends and I were reckless and ordered 10 Tapa's before those dessert boards. But it was just the right amount for 3 hungry foodies. Though the orange-scented crema Catalana was underdone and under whelming, the churros were perfect and served with dulce de leche. The square of moist almond tart was different with the white chocolate icing on the side. I love the sultry dim lighting and the tentative waiter that sits down at your level to take your order. I will of course be back for a 4th time. read more

Bellota - Empinadas - Spanish Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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If you are looking for authentic Spanish food in Auckland, Bellota is the place to go. We were served by native Spaniards and they were happy for us to practice our Spanish with them. The food was great - the costillas (ribs) and deep fried goats cheese with honey and almonds were a stand out plus the huevos estrellados (egg with ham over fried chips) were just like back in Spain. Others we dined with said the seafood dishes (seafood stuffed capsicums and clam stew) were spot on too. It was great to see Spanish beer on the menu (Alhambra and Mahou are recommended) and the wine list is extensive and from the famed wine regions of the mainland. When you go I would recommend ordering 2 dishes per person so as to fill you up. The only down side is that the booths are a little dark, which may be the vibe they were going for, but this can make reading the menu a bit difficult. read more

Bellota is the sexiest thing about Sky City. This cosy little tapa's bar is Peter Gordon's brainchild, and sources all of it's inspiration, most of it's offerings and even some of it's staff from Spain! The design is super cool & super intimate - either sit out the front & enjoy a cigar with your port, or nestle into one of the cosy cushioned alcoves with your sweetheart & canoodle the night away over Iberico ham & pintxos. I have never been disappointed by the ever-changing tapas selections on my many visits here, but my personal favourites are the Seared Beef with Shallot Jam & Lemon Aioli served on bread (Filete sellado de longrono) and the Lamb Ribs with Apple & Honey (Costillas de cordero con miel). The lamb ribs are an absolute delight; a combination that sounds more suited to pork but the honey completely lifts the sweet, juicy lamb to new heights. A night at Bellota wouldn't be complete without a cheeky little glass of cava or Pedro Ximenez sherry......and maybe a churro or two?!! Si señor! read more

Came with a friend for a catch-up on a Thursday night at around 6, and towards the end of the evening the place was fully packed. And with good reason! The vibe is quiet and good for groups of close friends (probs not work mates) since it's more intimate and "lounge-y". Minus a star as our server was brand-new but enthusiastic and tried very hard, although she did mess up on our drinks order to something wildly different. Not sure if there was a shift change, but in the middle of dinner our server suddenly changed to somebody more experienced. My friend and I ordered the set menu for two with the seafood paella as the main and everything was great. The broccoli was a hit, as was my personal favorite, the fried goat's cheese drizzled in honey and almonds. The dessert probably could have been better, but at that point, one is so full that it doesn't even really matter. Super central location too, right around the corner from Sky. read more

Oh dear. Just awful. Really disappointing considering the celebrity chef association. A group of friends and I came for the Friday set lunch special. For $20 you got an entree and a main. I just can't think of anything nice to say about what was put in front of me on both rounds. French Onion soup starter, and Squid & Salad main. The toated ciabatta came floating in the soup, rather than an accompaniment. Soggy bread? I couldn't even eat the squid main. It was chewy and bland. The 'salad' was literally plain dry mesculin mix from a bag, on a plate. No other additions, no dressing, nothing. The portion sizes wouldn't add up to an entree put together. Service was friendly and quick, although there was only one other couple in there (on a Friday at lunch, bad sign!). I would never pay to eat here again. read more

Located in a sneaky little corner just beside the Sky City Centre, Bellota is a hidden gem of Spanish tapas, culture and wonderful service. The highlight alone is the sangria. With three flavours, I have to go with the original red. Red wine, orange juice and that secret Bellota ingredient is unforgettable. At $35 a jug its plenty on a date night for two. I really couldn't praise Bellota enough for blessing this city with heaven in a glass. As for their tapas, I really enjoyed the buffalo wings they did previously and their deep fried goat's cheese is always a hit! They're reasonably priced and ordering a few between two or three perfect makes for the perfect way to kickstart your night in town. Not to mention you can also purchase Cuban cigars there- need I say more? read more

Bellota (pronounced bay-otta) is one of famed chef Peter Gordon's establishments, situated across from his flagship restaurant dine by Peter Gordon on Federal Street. With a focus on Spanish tapas, Bellota is set out so diners share their food and their spaces. The dining is communal and the lighting is low - these two elements combined always allow for a rowdy, sociable, tipsy night. Beware as you start to order the restaurant's small plates - your bill clocks up very quickly without you realising, particularly if you've been hitting the Spanish wine! Olive plates are about $8, Spanish cheeses start at around $11 per plate, and the tapas themselves start at around $5 and go up to about $12. It doesn't sound like much, but each person tends to consume at least a couple of serves to themselves... and often more. If you're heading to the Federal Street dining area and you're looking for a fun environment to spend your hard-earned dollars at, Bellota is the place to go. read more

Tapas bar Bellota, has quickly become my new favourite spot in town, be it for a cute date night, or a fun night with friends. The Brazilian staff are beautiful and are fun to practise pronouncing those Spanish dishes with. The seating is arranged in a cosy atmosphere, and gives an intimate feel as you are almost hidden from other diners. The menu delivers to those daring to try exotic flavours while retaining a few key safe dishes for the more neutral eaters. Also adding to the fun are several flavours of sangria which are great to sip on while tasting different dishes. Bellota has also created a great cocktail menu with their own spanish twist on the classics. My advice; get along to Bellota, order 'something tasty' from the knowledgeable wait staff, and start practising how to flirt in spanish. read more

Bellota - scrummy cocktails with a twist - Spanish Near Me - Auckland, AUK

The Spanish are not known for their food and the Tapas here were worse than any I've tasted in a long time. Their Spanish wine was undrinkable. We had the calamari which was greasy and plain, the shrimp were small and average in flavor, the bread was okay. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

Decent food, excellent service and great ambiance. The host was very accommodating in seating us promptly at the bar and offering us a booth as soon as one became available. read more

Great central venue for a taste of Spanish wine or some tapas created by the talented Peter Gordon. Fun atmosphere and friendly service.

For a family dinner. I would say it is more a romantic vibe though...! So, if you wanted to impress a date here then go for it. The only reason we came here was due to the fact that Depot was too busy across the road. The meat selection, cheese and wine is terrific. Didn't rate the blue cheese though - would go with the cheddar and honey one. The croquets were okay - a bit bland. The prawns were great as well as the fish. The only disappointment were the service staff. We waited for so long to get our order taken. Then an even longer wait for the drinks and the food. They have specialist coffees on their menu which we thought we would try - they were cold. As soon as we told them though they replaced them and they were SUPER yummy! So, I would say if you are just coming for a bottle of wine, some cheese and seafood - go for it! Just be prepared to wait! read more

Bit of a disappointing experience We arrived after 9 pm on Friday night and were told that there was a 30-40min wait for a table but we were told we could sit outside under the heaters and order a drink while we wait which was fine. We were given menus and drink orders were placed and we were happy. After 30 mins we were told no tables inside but there was one at the front but outside directly under heaters which was fine. We got seated, placed our order and the next thing we know another waiter comes around saying kitchen is taking last orders! We hadn't got our order and now we are feeling rushed and not even able to order dessert. The first part of our order arrives and then another waiter comes round for last drink orders, seriously! Had we been told that it was almost closing time we would have gone elsewhere. We didn't really enjoy the food as we felt rushed to get out. Communication should have been better at the beginning but obviously they just wanted to make a quick buck. read more

We went here with a group of 8 before a show for drinks and tapas on a Monday evening. The tapas list was amazing - huge variety but unfortunately the shocking service took away from that completely. We arrived and had to go in after 15 minutes to ask if we could order a drink. Then 15 minutes later still no sign of ONE drink...they finally arrived. Then more time passed and It was getting closer to our show so I had to go in to ask for food menus (half an hour after arriving...). We'd finished our drinks well before the food came out but there was no thought to even ask if we would like another wine. The only thing that was done without direction was remove our plates to round up our table. We tried to order an additional platter but the waitress couldn't understand us because she "didn't speak English". I understand trying to be authentic but if we can't order a dish...Seems a bit extreme! We asked for the bill and the card we used to start the tab at the start was immediately tried even though we planned on splitting it in half. The waitress just came out and told us the card declined. Very odd etiquette to not even ask when there is a large bill. Such a let down as we'd wanted to try this place for ages :( read more