I recommend Ortolana in the Britomart

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kryptonjohn

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#237779 18-Jun-2018 08:38

Dinner there last night with wife and some rellies. It's in the Britomart Pavillions so very close if you are arriving on any CBD public transport (train, bus or ferry).

During June they offer zero corkage BYO every day - normally they are zero corkage on Mondays.

The style is Italian, and they promote local seasonal and organic produce. The staff were really nice and gave the impression they love making and presenting good food.

We asked them to bring out mixed antipasto for the table to begin.

I had an Angus sirloin which came on broccoli and cauliflower with olive oil and hazel nuts and a side of char grilled brussel sprouts and hazel nuts. I like hazel nuts! Steak nicely cooked to medium rare. Sirloin's not myy favourite cut but it was good.

Antipasto approx $16/plate, entrees approx $24 and main courses approx $34.

I'd recommend it and give it 4.5 stars. A genuinely nice experience and delicious food.

networkn

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#2039433 18-Jun-2018 09:36

Yeah, we have enjoyed eating there too.

Geektastic

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#2039856 18-Jun-2018 15:47

I bet they do not serve Ortolan...

kryptonjohn

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#2039864 18-Jun-2018 15:56

Geektastic:

I bet they do not serve Ortolan...

:-) You think they wouldn't meet the dress standard?

networkn

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#2039870 18-Jun-2018 16:03

kryptonjohn:

Geektastic:

I bet they do not serve Ortolan...

:-) You think they wouldn't meet the dress standard?

I think he means on the plate :) No dress code required.

I've heard they are super tasty, lightly seared and rested for 5 minutes.

kryptonjohn

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#2039900 18-Jun-2018 16:40

networkn:

kryptonjohn:

Geektastic:

I bet they do not serve Ortolan...

:-) You think they wouldn't meet the dress standard?

I think he means on the plate :) No dress code required.

I've heard they are super tasty, lightly seared and rested for 5 minutes.

Heh! Ortolano, pl. Ortolana : N. Greengrocer or peasant market gardener. They won't serve 'em because they turn up in their muddy work clothes!

WyleECoyoteNZ

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#2039919 18-Jun-2018 16:58

Also in the same area is a place call Milse.

The Bombe Alaska on a stick is a nice desert. Milse is a small place, but they can be had to take away.

kryptonjohn

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#2039942 18-Jun-2018 17:47

WyleECoyoteNZ:

Also in the same area is a place call Milse.

The Bombe Alaska on a stick is a nice desert. Milse is a small place, but they can be had to take away.

I think this is next door. Plenty of people coming out with small treats, many of them taking photos of what they just purchased! We ordered a selection of chocolates for dessert, and they get them from next door (presumably for a decent markup too!)

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Tzoi

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#2040021 18-Jun-2018 20:37

They're owned by the same people, as with quite a few of the places in the Britomart area

dejadeadnz

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#2046661 1-Jul-2018 09:57

I agree that the food is quite nice. We dined there for the first time yesterday and we were quite impressed by the quality of the food. However, the waitstaff, with the exception of a couple of people, were uniformly utterly devoid of charm or perceived interest in the diners.

Like Amano, which I think is owned by the same group, they play things safely enough but I have to say I’d personally spend a bit more per head and get a much more elevated and refined experience in places like The Grill if similar food is what appeals.

Geektastic

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#2046665 1-Jul-2018 10:04

kryptonjohn:
networkn:

kryptonjohn:

Geektastic:

I bet they do not serve Ortolan...

:-) You think they wouldn't meet the dress standard?

I think he means on the plate :) No dress code required.

I've heard they are super tasty, lightly seared and rested for 5 minutes.

Heh! Ortolano, pl. Ortolana : N. Greengrocer or peasant market gardener. They won't serve 'em because they turn up in their muddy work clothes!

"For centuries, a rite of passage for French gourmets was the eating of the Ortolan. These tiny birds—captured alive, force-fed, then drowned in Armagnac—were roasted whole and eaten that way, bones and all, while the diner draped his head with a linen napkin to preserve the precious aromas and, some believe, to hide from God."