the wellingtonista

Here are the nominees for Best Un-Cheap eats

In these harsh economic times…ah, who cares? It’s fun to splash out! And when you do decide to spend good money on food, you want it to be the best it can be. This group of fine dining establishments make eating a pleasure, instead of the awful chore it has become.

Floriditas

Floriditas is in the un-cheap category, because their meaty mains average around $25, but if you stick to pasta, you’ll get out for under $20. But why would you want to? The menu changes regularly, offering really simple food that shows off their superb quality and technique. The decor is curly modern Victorian, they have quaint little sherry glasses for dessert wines, and the service is casually superb.

Le Metropolitain

When the call went out on the Wellingtonista list for a destination restaurant for a really good steak, Le Metropolitan was our quick answer for steak and frites. But there are more classic French dishes on the menu too – snails with so much garlic and butter they melt like mushrooms, cassoulet so rich it might just kill you, and other hearty fare that’ll put hairs on your chest. The wine list is divided by French regions, but if that makes no sense to you, the attractively accented staff are very helpful. We advise not eating before you show up for dinner here, as you won’t be leaving hungry.

The Ambeli

In a cosy cottage that was once the Roxburgh Bistro, The Ambeli mixes the best of Mediterranean cuisines (a little bit Italian, a touch of French and a hint of Greek, among others) into a stylish but relaxed meal. It's fine dining with a more intimate twist, reinforced by the fact that all the staff eat dinner together each night at the restaurant and Shae remembers your name and your stories.

Martin Bosley's

Martin may have controversially missed out to the ‘Horn in the Cuisine awards, but this is still one of the undisputed pinnacles of Wellington dining experiences. If you want to flirt with the molecular gastronomes, but still want good, honest and impeccably fresh ingredients, this is the place to be.

Trade Kitchen

It’s in a location that means it’s unlikely to attract much casual dinner trade, but it’s well worth looking out for. The unashamedly modern decor is the perfect setting for their adventurous and delicious cuisine, and overall it’s a high-end fine-dining experience at the low end of the fine-dining price range.