Reviews of Rita. (Restaurant) in Wellington (Wellington).

Name: Rita
Address: 89 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Wellington, Wellington
Telephone: +64 4 385 4555
Price range: €€
Rating: 4.8

Rita

346 Reviews

137 Comments

Restaurant

89 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

View all the reviews

Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of Rita, Restaurant in Wellington (Wellington)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Rita

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

5:30–10 p.m.

Thursday

5:30–10 p.m.

Friday

5:30–10 p.m.

Saturday

5:30–10 p.m.

Sunday

Closed

Reviews of Rita

T. C.

This place genuinely had the best staff that I've ever encountered. Extraordinary. The food was really interesting, fabulous and well presented. The venue was cute too even if there were no soft furnishings or curtains to be seen which made it quite a loud and harsh environment for the ears. Which is a shame because it reduced the potentially intimate setting to that of a cafe.

k. c.

Delicious food, great service and a lovely atmosphere. Rita is a great special occasion restaurant. A tiny restaurant so make sure you book well in advance, and it's a set menu so just turn up and eat the 3 courses expertly prepared for you (let them know dietary requirements in advance). Make sure you visit the bathrooms - they're a delightful experience!

a. y.

Five star meal, great service and atmosphere. Will keep coming back. Support local business.

L. T.

The zucchini and mozzarella was so simple but impeccably balanced. The beef was cooked perfectly. Their homemade bread is structurally sound but also unbelievably soft at the same time - I wanted it to be my pillow. And it was remarkable how much real strawberry flavour they were able to pack into their ice cream.

V. S.

Wellington has some of the most authentic and nicest hospitality workers I have ever met worldwide, and the experience at Ritas was yet another example. The restaurant could do with some colour decoration, and lots of sound dampening; a full house was overwhelming to the ears and conversational ability. Parts of the menu verged on greatness. Overall our party of four had a wonderful experience.

Had a lovely meal for my partners birthday. We felt the food was good but not quite as great as we were expecting from the reviews. Service was friendly, but not overbearing.

S. M.

Have been meaning to book here for a while now, finally got around to doing it. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the friendly staff. We were the first ones there for a 5:30 pm sitting. Rita is a set menu for $75 per head at the time of writing this review. The staff explained to us what was on the menu and showed us the drink list, and we opted for a beer. They had the Garage Project March IPA, which we order two. On tonight's menu, it was: Stracciatella, beet and plum salad, basil, rocket starter. - What I liked about this was the combination of the beets and plum with a bit of the stracciatlla. The flavours worked so well together. The portion was perfect. Next was the main: Grilled albacore tuna, tuna, saffron, almond and currant meatball, red pepper and red wine stew, potato matchsticks, saffron aioli and potato sourdough. This dish was terrific; the tuna was perfectly cooked and complemented by the red pepper and red wine stew. I have never had potato sourdough so soft, almost like a doughnut dough, and it was the perfect way to swab up the leftover sauce. Again just the right portion size. I almost forgot that they don't serve tap water, it's all sparkling, which is a real treat as a lot of places charge extra for that. The staff were very attentive in topping up the water. Finally, to top off all this tasty food was a Chocolate and raspberry cake, hazelnut praline cream dessert. Oh my god, the cream was so good. If you gave me a bucket of it, it would be destroyed in seconds. Overall we had such an enjoyable experience at Rita, even in the current times of social distancing they pulled it off. I'm annoyed we didn't try this place earlier. The staff made us feel welcome and were fantastic. If you can get a booking here do it, you won't be disappointed.

P. G.

Best place in Wellington, lovely staff, beautiful place, food is amazing, highly recommande it.

S. H.

Bought their Russian Honey Cake - divine!!! Disappeared into our bellies easily by day’s end 🤤

S. A.

Our entree was albacore tuna which didn't offer any textural balance. Felt that our main course of stuffed peppers was very much like weeknight dinner I make at home. Our dessert was toasted brioche and blueberry compote - again very average and not what I would expect from a one hatted restaurant. The restaurant is very small and so everything is compact (not much space between tables). I will add that the seats were uncomfortable as well. The Burn Cottage pinot noir we had was the highlight!!

J. I.

Fantastic meal. Best eating out experience we have had in a while. Excellent service and delicious food. And a very cool format I felt. Definitely going back and taking our foodie friends 😋

T. E.

A foodie friend was visiting from Auckland and I was looking for a special place. Rita definitely is a gem. The food is seasonal, fresh and delicate. It’s definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a special food experience,

S. W.

Delicious fresh food emphasizing local ingredients. Small restaurant with attentive staff. Set price for 3 courses with optional extras available.

T. N. Z.

We do pint-size so well here in Wellington. This 25-seater restaurant really feels like you’re at the best dinner party ever. Kelda creates a three-course meal each day from whatever is at its peak that day, and, I tell you what, I was peaking after I stopped in here just after a three-week trip to the States. It made me realise that what we have in our own backyard, is on par with San Francisco’s all-day eateries, New York’s neighbourhood restaurants and the trendiest SoCal diners. Beth Brash - Food & Drink Expert

D. W.

Deeeeelicious, perfectly balanced fresh food, just the right amount of time between courses. My photos do not make the food sing as it did on the plates.

S. A.

Birthday dinner was a three course delight opening us up to a set menu that challenged some but ultimately engaged the senses and filled the puku

M. T.

Fantastic food but service needs some work. First the food. The amuse was a slice of pickle with goat cheese and sesame seeds. It was like having bagel topping on a pickle. Very good. We then shared the optional roasted aubergine with crepe freiche. Again excellent. The starter was a crayfish and corn bisque. Very light with a lime sauce. The main was a pan fried chicken with grilled cos, mascarpone and roast grapes. The best chicken I’ve ever had! It also came with rolls to clean up our dishes. Lastly desert was a peach tart with a berry ice cream and walnut meringue. A very fresh ending to a wonderful meal. But the service needs some refinement. All the dishes were described to us when they were brought except for the chicken which was just put on our plates with “enjoy”. Next the tables have drawers with cutlery for the meal to help yourself but it had run out of forks for my wife when desert came so we had to call the server over for a fork. Next in their Instagram site they show a picture of the menu card which you can take home giving detail of the meal, ours game a single word description of eat course with the last simply labelled a desert; did the server forget? Finally we ordered wine by the glass and they needed to open a new corked bottle for me at the table. While doing so wine spilt on my cloths. Now mistakes happen but that is why most places open the cork away from the table to avoid this. Further we’re from North America which has a tipping culture and I would have expected the glass of wine to be comped, but when I went to pay it wasn’t and this was the first restaurant where the server set the eftpos to ask for a tip. From my understanding in New Zealand the custom is to only tip for excellent service but to set that to tip even when I had wine spilt on me seems pushy.

C. M.

Absolutely stand out meal, very innovative and incredibly tasty. Wonderful service, great ambience, and interesting drinks menu. Best meal out in Wellington that we had, and would certainly return.

K. L.

We did have a lovely dinner at Rita, love the tables and little menus my only complaint was I felt the entrée and main were lacking in seasoning, I had to ask for some table salt, the ingredients are beautiful and all served in such a simple way but just lack the depth of flavour. Dessert was 10/10!

A relaxed friendly environment. Charming, helpful staff. The set menu meant that I tried things I wouldn’t usually have. Every course was delicious. I suggest you look at the sample menu on their website before you book so you know what the place is about. Meal was nice but only 2 options of a set menu and have to say the vegetarian selection was ok.

T. P.

Pretty good evening. Lovely cute building and super friendly staff. Meal was nice but only 2 options of a set menu and have to say the vegetarian selection was ok. The duck looked great and had great reviews. Interesting food , especially the duck Winton soup. Wonderful place . Service excellent

N. B.

Can't say enough good things about Rita. The food is fresh, excellent, and unassuming, and different each visit. The wine list to wash it all down with is excellent as well. Service has always been outstanding, and the restaurant itself has a nice homey vibe that's not pretentious (like you might expect from a restaurant with this high caliber of food). Have had my last three birthday dinners here and see no reason why the next ones won't be here as well!

S. V.

A perfect experience. The staff remembered my name from the reservation, and this place is full of small delightful touches that really make it feel like the whole restaurant is catering just for you. The food is exceptionally well made, and the atmosphere is lively but intimate. Highly recommended for special occasion dinners.

w. w.

We were treated to excellent extra -pre-starters including cultured oysters in lime sauce, perfect venison with kohlrabi and delicious peas and broad beans on french soft bread; starter was raw fish dish and the most tender rump steak I have ever had- finished with elderflower spanish foam and rhubarb and strawberry compote- divine!

C. S.

We had pork and cabbage wraps for starter. They were amazing with a mustard creme. The main of kingfish was pretty good but didn't quite compare to the starter and desert. The desert was SO good. Lamington with pistachio creme anglaise. It was absolutely phenomenal with a lemon and rhubarb addition. We tried 3 of the wines and they were all ok given the very limited drinks list. The food is great but the wine list could do with some improvements

L. D.

Like a favourite blanket, Rita is inviting, warm, and good for the soul. After 6 visits, the mystery set menu has never failed to be interesting, inventive, beautifully presented, and most importantly, bloody yummy! The staff are attentive, friendly, and professional - with Paul leading by example, that's not surprising. The setting is cool and comfortable, the toilet is worth the visit alone, but if you want peace and quiet while you dine, this isn't for you as the kitchen is a hive of activity, it's always busy in the restaurant space, and with wooden floors there's a constant hum. Highly recommend.

S. T.

Got a fancy occasion coming up? Or just want to treat yourself? Grab a reservation at Rita if you can. Honestly some of the best, affordable fine dining you can get in the city. Lovely atmosphere, attentive and knowledgeable staff, and an ever-changing menu. It’s incredible the dishes you get for the price and makes for an absolutely lovely experience. Definitely book far ahead if you can!!

R. O.

Out for a mid week meal with some friends from out of town, we took them to meet Rita, as they hadn’t been before. I love the concept of Rita, no need to order, you just trust that what they will serve you will be great, and also that it’s much more sustainable as an economic model than your traditional restaurant. The food didn’t disappoint. Three courses of generous, tasty and beautiful food. Adventurous enough to be interesting, homely enough to be crowd pleasers, it’s a balance Rita’s nailed.

J. N.

The food and staff at Rita are great! Turning out gorgeous food and taking care of their diners. How they manage to change the menu each day is crazy!

L. J.

I love the idea of the place. A set menu of excellently prepared food. The execution however could use work. First and foremostly the service was lackluster at best. Coming from someone who's been in the industry for a decade, our server was far from hospitable. I'm not sure if she was training and I'm willing to give her the benefit doubt. But it really seemed like she was just phoning it in. The difference in the two working that night was night and day. As far as the food goes, the first courses were delicious, the main was the highlight, but the dessert was so wildly underwhelming that it was all I could think about as I left. You would think that you'd want to end on a high note but to me it just seemed like they felt they needed to make a dessert but couldn't be bothered and so they just slapped something together. Overall I cannot say I would be likely to return

L. K.

A very personal welcome and we were made to feel so very special. A great atmosphere. Fantastic food. We loved our night out😍🤩

J. D.

This is hands down the best restaurant in Wellington. I would give 20 stars if I could. When I moved to Wellington, I was quite ecstatic given what I had read about the foodie culture there. As it turned out, the foodie culture had been written about by Wellingtonians who perhaps had not ventured out of Wellington. As an avid foodie from America, I was honestly quite underwhelmed by Wellington once I arrived. While Wellington aces fish and chips, no where was there to be found a proper decent meal; that is, until I found Rita. Rita is not only great food. It is a great experience. The music, the decor, and even the bathroom is phenomenal. Rita rivals the best restaurants of US cities with populations much larger than New Zealand's. Everyone should eat at Rita--assuming you can get a reservation. This spot is quite found out. It is worth the wait list though. When I move from New Zealand Rita will be sorely missed.

D. P.

Amazing 3 course dinner, warm and inviting atmosphere and loved every little touch on the table. The secret cutlery drawer is so clever! All 3 dishes were fantastic, but the star of the day would be the pistachio ice cream, it's like Jesus resurrected on your taste bud!!! Please continue on your great journey, can't wait to witness more magic you do.

K. F.

The food, wine and service was outstanding - but, you do pay for it. The atmosphere was "busy"...... if I'm hyper-critical then I would call it noisy. Bare walls and wooden floors don't make good acoustics and tables are very close. Other than these minor issues we had a very enjoyable meal.

H. P.

Great team, great atmosphere, amazing kai!

D. C.

The food was exceptional at Rita. The flavours in each dish were crafted perfectly and the staff made us feel like we were eating at a friend's dinner party. Would recommend to anyone & my new favourite restaurant in Wellington.

C. H.

O M G!!!! taken out for a belated birthday dinner to Rita. What a delightful restaurant with a great ambiance. The staff are awesome, pleasant and know their menus. ... and the food well how stunning were all the plates. Fresh, light, crispy, crunchy everything was delicious beyond my expectations. Still smiling an hour later.

R. F.

An outstanding meal, possibly the best we had in Wellington. Every dish an absolute delight, done to perfection. Great staff, friendly, helpful, could not fault it. Looking forward to our next visit!

M. P.

Had a wonderful experience at Rita, 100% recommend. Must book well in advance. The team there were accommodating and knowledgeable of the evenings offerings and how to pair wine appropriately. I love not having to order and the courses came po ut seamlessly. We had Rabbit toast Raw kahawai in buttermilk + vege option (as I dont eat seafood) Lamb and vegetables (with the best bread to soak up gravy) Dessert was rhubarb icecream, lemon & pannacotta in lamingtonf. The dishes were comforting, nostalgic, well balanced and unpretentious. Absolutely in love with the place and can't wait to go back. Atmosphere was perfectly homely, even we were seTed right by the (open) kitchen, and didn't find it too noisy or hard to converse. Contrary to some reviews I had read. Thanks to the team at Rita so much for our evening. We'lm definitely be back!

J. M.

Wow!! I had my partners xmas party here and was delightful. I have coeliacs disease (can’t have a crumb of gluten) and vegan and they were beyond accommodating. Absolutely beautiful food and the wait staff were very professional. Thanks team for a lovely evening!

Incredible food, friendly staff. Best restaurant in Wellington! The set menu is always superb and there's no stress of choosing meals (except whether you want meat or not) since the choice is made for you.

G. C.

Just been there tonight with my wife for a beautiful meal. The restaurant is cosy and service was attentive and efficient. We chose the full compliment of optional starters and sides as well as our 3 course meal and the amuse bouche (cerviche served on a fennel leaf) that was complimentary. I cannot fault any part of the meal and each dish and side was savoured. What I like about this meal was nothing was too complicated and all dishes were just the right size - often you go to a fine dining place and the dishes are too small so that you are feeling that you wouldn’t mind just a bit more (often the way with degustation meals). We had some beautiful tempura broccolini served with tahini which was delicious, a tasty caramelised onion tart as some of the starters. The fresh beef salad was delicate and delightful, and I have not had tarikihi with skin on cooked to perfection and with the flesh tasting so naturally sweetly flavoured before. The surprise dessert was also sublime and left us both feeling replete. This is a place that begs you to frequent it regularly rather than want to try somewhere else particularly as it great value for money.

H. W.

A stunning gastronomic experience. The set menu was perfect and the flavours were to be savoured with every plate. Quick service but not rushed, and the simple but clever ambience made the whole experience totally memorable. Next time we are back in Wellington we will be back at Ritas.Thankyou!

C. E.

Absolutely packed. My husband had to book a month in advance for this meal on a business trip. Set menu but enough variation to suit different tastes. Very compact yet not cramped. A buzzing cosy atmosphere. Suggest you book in advance!! Wow.

E. S.

Both vegetarian and carnivore sets were spot on. Great food and service in relaxed and cool atmosphere; among the best meals we’ve had in NZ.

R. M.

Well worth the experience, a great celebration/once in a while treat. Come in and let them take care of you. Dishes match perfectly and the set menu means 2 hours passed without us noticing. We don't even drink!

B. C.

Best restaurant in Wellington. Tastiest meal I have had and wonderful staff. The only let down was the bloke dining with a beanie on. To be fair he was probably balding and embarrassed but it wasn't a tidy look. Really needs to work on his dress game.

E. P.

Food and service are great, tables are a really good touch (you will see what I mean when you get there). My partner and I enjoyed our time. The quality is worth the price (about $100/person with 4 dishes and 2 galsses of wine each). Bon appetit!

M. B.

Exquisite food and ambience! The food was fresh and delicious, really good quality ingredients and the serving size was perfect. Fine dining at an affordable price! The one set menu was not a problem as you could add extras to it.

N. C.

Such a sensational experience! We wandered in on the reccomendation of a friend not really knowing what we getting ourselves into. Superb concept, great food, excellent tight wine list, super engaging staff, all culminated in a memorable evening.

P. F.

Ok. But after the build up, to be honest - somewhat underwhelming. This experience was seafood. Nice flavours - but for autumn weather was light on substance and the ice cream dessert was out of place. Would be interested to try 'another season' - but after this experience would be a bit reticent. Try your luck.

Went there with my partner, was given a gift voucher as a present, everything about the experience was top notch, lovely atmosher, great food and service, made to feel special, fun not pretentious, my partner is fussy and he loved all the food, and the cutlery as well, thoroughly recommend, will definitely return, xxx

Fantastic food. We enjoyed their menu a lot. Every dish was great. Can get noisy. Wine list could be a little bit better

A. Y.

Everything was wonderful from the personable welcome to the free sparkling water to the exquisite Edmonds Cookbook Spanish Cream, my father’s favorite made by my sister and I every birthday and Father’s Day. The menu is fixed so if you are a picky eater it is not for you. That said one of our party a globe artichoke hater enjoyed them immensely.

Absolutely beautiful! Day's later I'm still thinking about our meal and drinks. Truly lovely dinning experience.

P. C.

Its Sunday (late morning) and we are still reminiscing and reliving our thoughts and admiration for the superb meal we experienced at Rita, last night. Wonderful, wonderful. Thankyou

One of the few restaurants I’ve been to that actually deserve the high ratings and lives up to the many fabulous reviews. Can’t fault it, genuine warm hospitality and delicious food. Loved it.

C. D.

My first visit to Rita. OMG what a fantastic place. Nothing I can fault. Just a wonderful evening with beautiful food and fantastic service. Will come every rime im back in Wellington.

J. M.

An incredible addition to Wellington's dining experiences. Full flavours, perfect portions, balanced wine list & warm service. A must go when visiting/living in Welly

B. B.

Incredible food, friendly welcoming service, and the music's on point.

J. S.

Wonderful ambience in this new configuration at 89 Aro. Gorgeously crafted menu, simplicity paired with lovely attention to detail. Particularly enjoyed the wine matching with this menu. Highly recommend.

J. H.

Incredibly creative restaurant - great staff, wonderfully, creative and delicious food - and a wine list to compliment - this chef knows food! Belle cuisine!

M. L.

Dining at Rita is like visiting a friend's home, with the imaginative dishes being prepared with love and served with pride. Utterly delicious, we highly recommend Rita!

D. M.

Delicious food. Amazing staff. Definitely the place to go in Wellington when you want to treat yourself to something special and a little bit better than the rest.

The food, the service, and the design are all seriously excellent, but Rita is also humble, friendly, fun, and has a beautiful subtle quirkiness - the proof is in the bathroom. I'd move to welli just to have Rita as my local.

E. B.

Exceptional food and service hands down the best food I've had in awhile! Love how they don't over complicate there food and let the quality of ingredients shine absolutely flawless, will be seeing you again soon!

A. D.

The 'new kid on the block' - set menu, fantastic staff, and the most delectable food available with really interesting flavour combinations. Bookings essential. Highly recommended.

M. H.

Great to sit down and not worry about the menu. First class service and a delicious meal from woo to go. Also the best bathroom around!

B. V.

Rita is just wonderful. The food, the wine, the service and the atmosphere are all outstanding. I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough.

M. J.

My very favourite restaurant in Wellington. The food is amazing, the service is wonderful and the music in the bathroom is always A+

P. B.

Top food venison tdf and kahawai abso beutiful n delish . top service with waitress well knowledgeable about wine list no probs tasting and paul the consumate maitre d Go again.

A. D.

Had an amazing night at Rita such delicious food and personable service such an awesome concept totally recommend wow

J. B.

Delicious dinner. Great service. Was a great experience.

A. G.

Wonderful classy food and great service in an environment that makes you feel you're being hosted in the chef's personal home

M. S.

Such a treat tonight thank you.Wonderful setting, thoughtful beautiful food, excellent wine list and great service. Congratulations

A. C.

Beautiful people, delicious , interesting food. Wonderful wine.

S. C.

Amazing!

C. B.

Very nice restaurant. There is no menu to choose from apart from some optional extras. It's not cheep though.

S. W.

Great experience, wonderful food and exceptional staff. Would love to eat there again!

J. E.

Amazing food and service. Very tasty wine list. Well worth it.

J. W.

This is a cute restaurant! Food was amazing service was great...we will dine here again for sure!!

T. C. (.

Wonderful experience, beautiful food and lovely waitstaff.

R. f.

Love it, food are amazing, staff are great and friendly

C. C.

Amazing service by genuine people who obviously love people, good food and amazing wine...and that is what they serve- great conversation, delicious food and an outstanding wine list.