It’s nearing the end of my semester in Wellington, and recently I realized that I’m running out of time to try out the (now extensive) list of places I want to eat and drink at before returning home. The natural solution, it seems, is to try to cram as many of these wonderful-looking eateries into my schedule before the end of the month. Ergo, here is the compiled review of this week’s foodie voyages.

Preservatorium Café and Cannery
39 Webb St
Mt Cook, Wellington

This definitely had the feel of a gem waiting to be discovered when I stumbled across it on my (long) walk to Newtown a few days ago. Set on the outskirts of the city, that’s definitely reflected in the pricing of the menu, so if you’re looking for a great meal for a good price, this slightly out-of-the-way place is a great option.

It’s a very large space; walking into it you enter the immediate seating area, and then turning to the right there’s a large countertop with huge baked goods on display, and the menu lines the top of the ceiling. The burger and fries combo I ordered was one of the best I’ve had in Wellington; they opt for smaller, thin cut fries over thick wedges, which I appreciated because I was so hungry I could just fist them into my mouth without having to wait for them to cool. They were also seasoned amazingly well, perfectly salted with hints of herbs too. The burger itself was large and juicy, which was just what I wanted after a long walk and still about half a mile to go back to my flat. The milkshake was an extra, but so worth it (I especially love the glasses they’re served in!). Two thumbs way up!

Wagamama
The Meridian building
33 Customhouse Quay

Menu here

This Japanese style chain didn’t feel anything like you’d expect a chain to feel. First of all, it’s located on the waterfront, and they have huge windows all along the building which contributes to an overall lively and open atmosphere. The lighting is great, perfectly shining along the lines of a casual date, evening out with friends, or family outing. The menus are very friendly in format, with a little key at the bottom for patrons to use to reference which dishes the restaurant highly recommends, might contain small pieces of bone, and other useful tips for while you’re deciding what to order.

For my part, I ordered the Grilled Duck Ramen. Which was everything I wanted after having sat out on the waterfront reading for a bit, coming in slightly chilly and looking to be warmed up. The pieces of duck were cooked to perfection, and the warm vegetable soup perfectly complemented the slight spiciness of the chillies in the dish. The mix of vegetables was also very well-designed, including pea shoots, coriander, and spring onions. The presentation was beautiful (as you can see) and the dish was served with a fun wooden ladle to scoop up the broth and drink with after you’ve made your way through the majority of the dish. Highly recommend!

Fidel’s Café
234 Cuba St

Menu here

This Cuba-themed café is nestled along the shopfronts lining the renowned Cuba Street, and it’s perfectly situated if you’re coming from any of the Kelburn residences because it’s right at the top of the street off of Abel Smith. The atmosphere is very low-light homey, with seating a little tight but comfy nonetheless. The layout is weirdly rectangular, starting with seating at the front and stretching back to the counter food and then back some more to another dining area behind that, adding to the unique vibe of the place.

The café is open for lunch and later, but as I went with friends on a Saturday morning, I opted for the brunch menu (which goes till 4). It was really difficult to decide between Fidel’s Waffle and the Baked Spanish Eggs, but I ultimately opted for the latter, and a Smoothie of the Week. The wait time was very reasonable, somewhere in the vicinity of 20 minutes, and the presentation of the food was almost as satisfying as the food itself. My only qualm was with the smoothie; it was more of a juice, so much so that there was definite separation in the glass between the fruit and the juice at the bottom of the glass. So that was kind of a bummer, but I did have the chance to try my friend’s mango smoothie, which was much better (thick and well-blended), so I think I just had an unlucky pick. That being said, the baked eggs were amazing, and the side of ciabatta bread was so fresh and perfectly crunchy! Also, as an added bonus/neat touch, the eggs are cooked in a mini cast-iron pan, which kept them hot and fresh-tasting throughout the entire meal. I’ll definitely be coming back here to try the waffles though, even being full after my meal couldn’t keep me from hungrily eyeing the delicious waffles being brought out for other people. And of course I’ll have to try the coffee, too.

Neo Café and Eatery
132 Willis Street
Te Aro, Wellington

Menu here

This is definitely a more well-known spot that I’m just late to the party on, but I had to include it because it really is a great café. A bit on the pricey side, but it made a lasting impression on me, and I want to go back, so for me it’s an easy “worth it” rating. The interior is very “minimalist chic”, which I’m not always a huge fan of but it really worked for the place—I think because it was so popular that the happy-breakfast vibe meshed really well with the smooth-efficient one the space naturally has.

After taking forever to order (I’m not the most decisive in the mornings) and a very patient wait staff, I ordered their Bircher Muesli and a Vienna coffee. I’m not even sure where to begin because it was all so yummy, the muesli had that kind of earthy, you-feel-healthy-eating-it feel, and the Vienna coffee was so smooth and dark, but sat so lightly that it wound up being a pretty ideal complement to the actual breakfast. Not enough good things to say about this place, so before I get redundant I’ll just close with: I’ll definitely be returning. Probably for another Vienna and one of their counter baked-goods.