Restaurants

Keeping up with the recommendations theme, here are some for the gastronomers out there.

We'll arbitrarily set the following scale for prices in NZ$ for a menu's average mains (what Americans call "entrees", which here refers to, in a more etymologically correct manner, appetizers):
Upscale=$33+
Mid-High=$25-32
Mid=$16-25
Low=$15 and under

Keep in mind also that drinks are fairly expensive here (though you can get a $5 beer anywhere, it seems), you often pay extra for sides (e.g., veggies), and there's no tax or tip. Right now, the US exchange rate is about US$0.68=NZ$1, so that $25 main is US$17.

Upscale (Note: All of the following are what they call "European," i.e., cross-genre continental fare, heavy on the meats, etc. Note also, though, that you can find vegetarian food almost anywhere.)

• Logan Brown. Former banking building, fairly formal. Very nice, great food...and expensive. Has a pre-theatre prix fixe menu for $35 if you can finish before 7:00. Note that unlike, say, NYC, it's not about when you start but when you finish.
  
• Corner of Cuba and Vivian.
  
• Boulcott Street Bistro. Located in one of the oldest homes in Wellington. Friendly staff, very good cuisine. Reportedly also has a pre-theatre menu.
• On Boulcott Street. Hard to find if you don't know it. Take a taxi.
• Pravda. Despite the Russian theme, nice continental fare. A little more seafood-y than the others in this category, which is nice.
• On Featherston in the CBD, close to Parliament.
  

Mid-High

• Matterhorn. More European. Good restaurant if you want to transition straight from dining to drinking (see "Bars" post).
• On Cuba, just up from Dixon.
  
• Kazu. Hard to find good sushi in Wellington (sadly, after it was all around in LA). Not at Kazu, though. I recommend the "Go Go Bangkok" and "Mt. Taranaki" rolls. Mmm.
• On Tory, towards the Harbor from Courtenay Place.
  

Mid

• La Bella Italia. Awesome gourmet/deli of the Italian variety. Some prices will go down into the Low range (e.g., for paninis). I believe it's lunch only. Also good for specialty groceries.
  
• This place is in Petone, the town just north of Wellington. If you ever have an open afternoon with nice weather, it's a ten minute drive to a charming town. A bit like what Sausalito is to SF (including great views of the bay and the city), except very undeveloped. If I ever wanted to invest in a vacation home in a location that's great to visit, has cheap real estate, and will likely be much more developed in twenty years, this would be a promising place.
  
• Take Highway 2 out of Wellington, exit at Petone. Take second left off the roundabout, to road that travels along the beach. Take a left on Nevis St., your first or second left. Restaurant on your right.
  
• Daawat. My favorite Indian restaurant here. You can find Indian on almost every corner, and it's hard to go wrong, really. But this one is great--best naan in town.
• On Manners Mall.
  
• Oriental Thai. Good thai food.
  
• On Cambridge/Kent, up a couple of blocks from Courtenay Place.
  

Low

• KK Malaysian. "Malaysian" here seems to mean a unique hybrid of Indonesian with other southeast/east asian foods (e.g., Chinese, Thai, etc.). This should be priced higher than it is. Really yummy.
• On Ghuznee, between Cuba and Taranaki.
  
• Abrakababra. Turkish/kebab place. Solid, relatively cheap food.
• On Manners Mall (next to Daawat).

• You can find moderately cheap eats in lots of places. Tons of cafes, take-away, fish-and-chips, etc. One of my favorite cafes is "10" on Kent Terrace and Courtenay Place, next to the Embassy Theatre.