Excellent value for what you get. $15 for a decent sized entree. Looks like it would be a great…read morespot to grab a pint too!

The food was delicious but a little pricey. The chef did an excellent job with the food. My…read moresalmon was slightly raw in the middle but apparently this is how people eat salmon (accordingly to waitress).

We had a very reasonable lunch here yesterday on our way to Waitomo., It was pretty different…read morefrom what the Lonely Planet described, but that is on the guidebook, not the restaurant. (weak beer list, for example) I had a plate of ribs with barbecue sauce, while my wife ordered sticky chicken. She was, I am sorry to say, a bit mean to the restaurant -- she has asked whether the sticky chicken was spicy, and was told that it wasn't. Then when it arrived, she expressed her discontent but repeatedly refused their offers to bring her something else. What really impressed me was how persistent but the waiter and the manager were in trying to make things right with her, despite her refusal to accept that. New Zealand nice meets midwestern stubborn.

The best meal I had in New Zealand! The pork belly bowl was absolutely delicious. It was so fresh…read moretasting and the pork belly was perfect. It wasn't greasy--it was airy and the perfect consistency. I keep saying perfect because it was just perfect! The toastie was also so good and the fries were tasty! The service was warm with plenty of drink refills. It's the perfect stop after a long day at the glow worm caves!

Aside from the attitude I initially got when I entered (I had to pee super badly and asked for the…read morebathroom--perhaps they thought I wasn't actually stoping for food) it was good. I enjoyed the kumara and pistachio salad, and the wine was decent. I think they could do a bit to improve the ambiance, but there aren't many options in Waitomo. Given that, this place is perfectly solid.

Agree with most of the other ratings here. Avoid at all costs. It took us TWO HOURS to get the…read morefood. Asked for the TV to be changed to a channel with a big match on and it never happened. Distinctly got the impression that locals were heavily favored over tourists. Worst place we stopped on our trip.

Was worried about trying this place because of the lack of reviews, but glad we did! Perfect place…read moreif you're looking for a nice bar to relax, eat and chug some brews. We came in at 6pm on a Monday, which they have happy hour 430pm -630pm on the weekdays, $7 nzd for a beer pint. Our servers were pretty cool and friendly. Best of all, $.50cent wings! Everyday! Also you get to people-watch some locals coming in and out playing the slot machines in a room off to the side.

From the owner: Come down and experience that traditional, friendly pub atmosphere in Central Hamilton. It truly…read moredoes exist! The Quad - not part of any group or franchise.

We came to this brewery because we enjoyed the drinks we had at Hobbiton. They make the…read moreHobbiton-exclusive beer, cider, and ginger ale. It wasn't too busy when we came here for lunch so ordering and getting seated was quick. They even had live music which was nice. We had a flight, the sample platter, and the cajun lamb pizza. Out of all the garlic bread and salt and pepper squid we've had in NZ, this was the best. The pizza and the sample platter was a lot of food for two people, so if you're not too hungry or have small appetites, I recommend just ordering one item to share. While we didn't really care for the cider (I didn't find any in NZ that I loved) or their hard pink lemonade which was too sweet, we did love their hard lemonade.

These guys are fraud do not visit them not recommended to anyone, my aunt visit them in August she…read morefell ill and currently under treatment due to poor beer and food quality

We came here after our tour at Hobbinton, which capped off the perfect LOTR themed morning. The…read moreambiance included Lord of the Rings memorabilia and the pizzas on the menu were named in honor of the trilogy. The service was great and our waiter asked for our names so she could address us personally. Food came out quick and hot. Portions are big enough to share so everyone can try each dish.

We arrived in Matamata to meet the bus for our tour of Hobbiton, but we had about an hour to kill…read morebefore the meeting time (and it was raining!) . Luckily, The Redboubt was open and was a nice warm place to kill an hour, have amazing snacks, and a few drinks. The Redoubt is located right at the I-SITE where you meet the bus, so you definitely can't miss it. It's decorated in all Lord of the Rings decor, down to the Hobbit hole style doorways/windows, getting you totally ready to get immersed in the journey you're about to take. We ordered a few beers to start and they arrived cold and crisp - definitely refreshing for a fun day in Hobbiton! Food-wise, we ordered the 3 Slider Selection, and picked the chicken, cranberry, burry, and brie sliders. They were super tasty and actually pretty large for "sliders" - and it even came with a small side of fries. We also shared the Redoubt's Famous Seafood Chowder, and it was super warming and hearty, but not too filling as it's seafood and not a heavier meaty base. With the delish food, awesome ambiance, and plentiful drinks - I definitely recommend stopping here if you're in Matamata for a Lord of the Rings tour, or for any other reason!

Wish this place was still around - Tauranga nightlife is so terrible. The service was good - bring…read moreit back!

Oh god, shoot me. I mean, if you're drunk and want to party, you don't have any other option,…read moreespecially if your partying goes until 2am/3am. But if you are mildly not drunk and enjoy hearing an entire song, skip Bahama Hut and just go home, I swear you'd probably have more fun. There's a cover charge here of $5 on Saturdays, which I plainly do not understand. Am I paying $5 because you expect me not to order a drink? Hell no, I need 10 drinks to enjoy myself here ffs. There are some good things about Bahama Hut. If you're used to partying in Turkey or Serbia, it may suit your tastes. It's crowded, hot, and sweaty, so you'll definitely feel like you're back in Eastern Europe. But what I can't understand, and the main problem with every place in Tauranga, is that the DJ is appalling. I mean, worst DJ ever. I mean, one of the worst DJs I've ever repeatedly gone back to. He plays about 30 seconds of every song, mashed up with whatever he's got lined up next. That would be fine if he played the best parts of those songs maybe, or if they created a new song somehow. But it's just musical ADHD. I literally cannot stand it. Just when I'm about to get into something it changes again. Barf barf barf. Whatever, I'm 29 years old. Maybe I'm just too old for this shit.

In Hamilton for 2 nights. Enjoyed this spot twice . One of…read morethe few bars we could belly up to as many in NZ seem to have no stools. Great cocktails and beer selection. Friendly, engaging staff.

This is a serious contender for best bar in Hamilton. I came here Saturday night with my husband…read moreand a couple friends. Why, why have I not been here before now?! I used to live just up the block! My husband had already been here and, somehow, did not bring me in immediately. This is one of those places where I had a "love at first sight" moment. Even on a fairly crowded night, the vibe in this place is super-cool. It's small, almost uncomfortably so, but in spite of that (because of that?) it has a great intimate feel. The cocktails are pricey, but different and skillfully prepared. There is a good selection of whiskey (my whiskey-loving friend tells me). There was a DJ artfully spinning a weird, awesome, "did-he-just-do-that?" selection of tunes. The decor is comfortable/cool, with walls of exposed bricks and "I never want to get up" comfy couches. The back walls are lined with loads of books and one portion of the ceiling is covered with records. They appear to have some bites to eat, but admittedly, we were just there for drinks. It's a little tricky to find, set back from Victoria Street down a side alley. But, it's SO worth finding.

Love this brewery!!! Walk off the street up the stairs to a magically decorated brewery &…read morerestaurant. The bar greets you as you enter followed by an array of seating choices, cozy chairs, dining table, outdoor seats with a beautiful view, it is amazing! Choose from craft beers or wine. The fish and chips were delicious! Service was prompt and friendly. A great stop in the Rotorua area

We dropped into Crafty Trout Brewing Co to check out their beer and cider selection. The bottom…read morefloor has merchandise and bottles for purchase. The bottles are reasonable but the merch is expensive (more than any brewery I've been to). $30.00 NZD for a growler! Insane. They also do beer tours ($30.00 NZD including tasting rack otherwise it's $10.00 NZD). The upstairs is called Bier Kafe. They had a few specials ($14.00 to 25.00 NZD). The regular menu is pretty pricey. Apparently, they are "world famous" for their pretzels and woodfired pizzas. At the bar, there were 14 flavours on tap (except they were sold out of their smokey ginger beer). The pear cider sounded pretty good. Tasting rack (four 200mL glasses) costs $20.00 NZD so we opted for a few bottles to take home instead. Some of their desserts also looked interesting. Dark moist chocolate beer cake ($9.00 NZD) or apple cider strudel ($10.00 NZD) anyone? - Lure cider ($4.50 NZD) - Granny Smith with hints of pineapple. - Smokey ginger beer ($3.00 NZD) - non-alcoholic made with Pohutakawa & Cherrywood smoked ginger, honey, fresh lemons and Lake Taupo glacial mineral water. You can taste the smokiness. Pretty decent!