Poneke today has a new entry in his Joys of Wellington series with a look at Wellington's cheap and cheerful ethnic eateries. This has inspired us to contribute at a different end of the market than that we had planned to enter the restaurant review business. We have reviews of Trade Kitchen and Boulcott Street Bistro in gestation but will fire away on two recent ethnic experiences. They were cheap, but only one was totally cheerful. The restaurants are located within 50m of each other.
At the positive end, can we recommend Amigos (Shop 2 and 5 165 Riddiford Street, Newtown 04 939 0310). Amigos is we believe the only Chilean restaurant in Wellington. It is quirky. Freindly and near unique service style, genuine Chilean food, with some Mexican characteristics (the owner seems to have worked a few years in Mexico), and a basic and inexpensive array of Chilean wine and, of course, Pisco options - from Piscola (Pisco and coke) to Pisco Sours (complete with egg white). By the end of the evening (should you be in over an hour) you will be able to sing the Chilean national soccer song - it played three times on our last visit. The waiting staff have been either Chilean or Argentinian so it is a good opportunity to brush up on your Spanish. Amigos is open for lunches and dinners most nights. We have booked, but there are people walking in off the street without bookings. They usually have success. Rumour has it that expansion is being planned. This confirms that we are not the only Wellingtonians who enjoy the Amigos experience.
Less positive - The Beijing Restaurant (164 Riddiford St, Newtown - 04 389 7988) . We have dined at The Beijing three or four times. Most experiences have been positive. The most recent was not. Because of a birthday we booked for our party of 10. The first to arrive were told that there was no booking or table, but this was later rectified by another staff member. Service was slow. The chef was a little abusive when he did not get us to agree to over order. Only 8 soup bowls were offered to our table of 10 and ladles were likewise on ration, though this too was eventually rectified. Once it arrived the food was OK but not as good as in previous visits. The positive is that it allows BYO. And it was not expensive - around $22 a head for meal that had everyone too satisfied to try the nice looking toffee apple desert that the table next door was consuming while we were waiting for our mains. This would not normally be a problem but this table of four people had arrived around 20 minutes after we had and enjoyed much speedier service. Maybe the problem was over work or under staff. All is on show at The Beijing as there is a glass wall separating the diners from the food preparation (which again is normally fine, but is a bit upsetting when a fly buzzes some of the preprepared dishes on the kitchen side of the glass for most of the evening) and the kitchen did seem to be a bit chaotic. Maybe we are being too fussy, but we know that the Beijing Restaurant can do better. Our recommendation would be to go in a smaller number than we did if you are planning to visit in the next couple of weeks.
