Ortega Fish Shack

Wow wow wow. A truly transcendent dining experience, Ortega Fish Shack is a shining exemplar of culinary excellence, rivaling our beloved Chef's Table. Every aspect of our visit was nothing short of extraordinary. The service was impeccable, the food sublime. The oysters were a revelation, the steak cooked to perfection. Honestly, it's a testament to the power of exceptional cuisine to uplift and inspire.

We had a wonderful experience at Ortega Fish Shack. Sat at the bar and were entertained by Max the bartender, other servers and customers next to us. Every dish was fresh, tasty, and professionally prepared and plated. We really enjoyed their wine list and helpful descriptions. The ambiance, service and quality were all top notch, making for a memorable evening!

Amazing amazing amazing! This spot came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Got lucky to snag bar seating on a busy Saturday night. Drinks were special made and fantastic. Ceviche - so so fresh and flavorful. Shrimp pasta was a major surprise! Would definitely come again!

We absolutely love this restaurant! The food, staff and experience are always exceptional. The pan-fried prawn tails, beef filet are always on-point from a taste! They have seasonal fish dinners that always have unique ingredients, and very flavorful. Definitely recommend to come here!

Kim is the staff of the year, one of the best service I have got since I came to Wellington, she is very considerate and helped me a lot with my booking, there is also a male server who wears glasses and middle parting hair, he is good too (Just forgot to give me water, but it is understandable because of a lot of customers), and another server who taught me how to eat oyseter properly, thank you :) The main is definitely great, plate is big so in photo it looks small, but you will be pretty full after finish it, the sauce of appetiser is a bit too sour, but it is appetiser, so understandable. The desert sweetness level is well done, neither too sweet nor to plain. Great vibe and atmosphere

Fantastic experience, food was just amazing, kudos to the chef and her team, Moki rillettes and snapper were to dieeee fooooor, and service was perfect from every aspect, s/o to Natasha & the lovely Catalan waiter, really everyone on the team was fantastic. Memorable experience all together, thank you so much!

Absolutely divine! I had a main portion of the Yellowtail Kingfish Ceviche, Avocado, Lemongrass, Vietnamese Mint with Crayfish Oil. Superb. And a glass of Woning Tree Blondie '24 from Otago. I wish I was more hungry but I left very satisfied. The name "shack" is a misnomer because this place is chic. A note: the set menu is only available in larger groups but it's unclear how large a group is required.

This is my third time dining here, and once again, they’ve absolutely nailed it. The ingredients are always top-notch — fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor. The service? Impeccable. Warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming every single time. And the food… just extraordinary. Every dish is crafted with such care and creativity that it turns a simple meal into an experience. It’s rare to find a place that consistently delivers excellence on every level — but this one does, time and time again.

While the restaurant is rather inconspicuous from the outside the food inside dazzles your taste buds. Every bite of each course is something to savor for a very reasonable price. I was able to snag a bar seat but you'll likely want reservations, deservingly it gets crowded.

We were a group of 3 with hunger in our eyes and jet lag in our spirit. They took us in, and let us know we couldn't sit longer than 90 minutes due to the busy night, and sat us at the bar. We ate fabulously and deliciously. Everything I read the description of and assumed wouldn't be as good as it sounded proved me wrong. cocktails were divine. They let us stay long enough for dessert and smiles, and a lil chit-chat with the bartender. All the staff seemed to love their jobs, the environment was warm and inviting, and I always look forward to going again when in Wellington. Go! You won't regret it.

What a lovely restaurant. The atmosphere, service and food were all fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed having dinner there.

My Favorite restaurant in Wellington. Each dish has been perfected from their ceviche, with fragrant micro purple vietnamese mint, crisp shallots and crustacean oil to their Filet, overflowing with Bearnaise, with fries that taste like they have been fried in tallow, you don't want to add or subtract any element. Must eat at while in Wellington.

Whenever we visit Wellington, it is our must go to restaurant to dine . Their yellowtail ceviche is incredible with a Asian spicy taste , we followed it with a charred octopus main course that was the best seafood meal I had in a very long time . David at the bar was an added bonus of delightful entertainment. Definitely call in advance as this restaurant is difficult to find a table most of the time .

I found this little gem on Yelp and we went here for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but we went early and they got us a table. They have a very extensive wine list and a nice menu with about 6 or so items in each category (e.g., starters, mains, sides, desserts, and cheeses). Everything that we had was excellent. We had some great bread, raw oyster, ceviche, fried potatoes, and snapper. Our server, Juliet, was extremely friendly, helpful, and attentive. The atmosphere upstairs was lively but not too noisy. Definitely a fantastic find.

I must start by saying this is my favorite restaurant in Wellington. We were urged to stop in for a drink and once I laid eyes on the menu there was no other choice but to order until we could no longer muster the strength to eat another bite. Each dish delivered by the lovely wait staff was better than the previous. I'm writing this review on my third visit to Ortega in the last five days, so clearly it has struck me with lightning in a major way. I also had the pleasure of meeting the owner Davey who welcomed us with open arms every time we opened the door. Such a great guy! I would recommend items from the menu but really don't feel it's necessary here. Just walk in the door and let the staff lead you on your journey. Be sure to read the story of Ortega on the front page of the libations menu to properly immerse yourself into the experience.

Wow! Our group of three shared 2 small dishes, 2 entrees, 1 side veg, 2 desserts and reluctantly admit that we were a little over-fed even though not a bite was left on any plate. The Kingfish ceviche, crayfish risotto, Tarakhi Malaysian, snapper, roasted broccoli, Catalan crepes and freshly made sorbets/ice creams. Every single dish was outstanding. And I tasted the small production (8 cases!) 'orange wine' pictured - feeling very privileged Don't go alone though because they don't often have a tasting menu, so you'll want to share. Wellington is foodie heaven... (BTW $80 each with beverage).

When the same family owns and actively runs a restaurant for 9 years plus you know the attention to detail and commitment to excellence is there. When other restaurants have 2 tables sat at 6pm this place is fully seated... every night. And that should tell you all that you need to know. 8 seat bar with a mixologist that loves her calling. She said this bar was her happy place. Now how can you not be happy when she is weaponized with every alcoholic libation in her happy place? She constantly kicks out craft cocktails into a loaded dining room of happy patrons. Culinary team keeps the main reason for being in a seat real. We just did starters and dessert as we were happy bar seat people. Our second dining of the evening. But a constant flow of food delights wizzed by, every one with not a hair out of place. Hmmm not a good food metaphor but you get my drift. The food is gorgeous. How the mains taste you will have to tell me. But from the level of execution and passion I would not expect failure. Ambiance is homey two level house. A bit dark and close. But everyone is polite and focused enough to know that dining is the main show here. We saw nothing but empty plates go back to the kitchen. The highlight was the smooth service team. Obviously captained by the Owners who were everywhere. Polishing silver, answering the phone, seating guests and delivering food. This passion for running a tight ship is expressed in the individuals they have selected. Easily the most easy on the eyes team of table-side professionals. They look as delicious as the food. Hey, these are my wife's comments not mines. But it is all part of the dining package. So, Ortega should be on your list of must dine in Wellington. It was our choice for best restaurant NZ.

This restaurant is a "go to" for me in Wellington. Their ceviche is amazing but the steak and fries is what I crave over all. Trust me you won't be disappointed.

Really good place for seafood. The menu changes based on what fresh fish they have so my order might not be applicable to you! I highly recommend making a reservation for this place and they only take phone call reservations. My wife went with the eggplant/noodles main dish which was surprisingly really good. It's was salty and the eggplants were really soft and delicious. I went with the snapper main dish and did zucchini as a side. The snapper was good as a fish but felt it was missing some sauce given the dish itself is a bit plain, the zucchini side added some flavor to it. Finally I had the crepe with orange caramel sauce as dessert. It was really good and I highly recommend it specially given the orange flavor isn't very noticeable.

The first indication we had found the right place-it was a weekday night and it was nearly a full house. We arrived without a reservation, but the host, Davey, offered us two seats at the bar. In hindsight, this was truly an upgraded and more personal experience that included greater interaction with Davey, bartender Kerry, and many of the staff. As travelers, we enjoy engaging with the locals. Kerry had great suggestions for drinks and dinner, and even regaled us with the legend of Ortega, the restaurant's namesake. Be sure to read the whole story in the front of the menu! I had the John Dory and my companion the seafood broth. Delicious! We split an order of duck fat fried potatoes-highly recommended-just go ahead and each get your own order! My companion wanted another order of the potatoes for dessert, but we split the chocolate mousse instead... It was busy but we never felt rushed. The food, service and friendliness made for one of the most enjoyable evenings we've had on our travels. Wish we were staying longer-we would come back tomorrow (and order more duck fat potatoes!). A special thank you to Davey and Kerry for making it such an enjoyable experience.

I think this may have been my favorite meal in NZ. And it's kinda silly, but it was really the butter here that did if for me. It was just so damn good, you must order it no matter what else you get. Speaking of what else I got, I had some oysters and the John Dory and found all it to be quite excellent. They've got some good affordable wine as well so just ask the staff what they thing will make a good pairing.

What an awesome restaurant. I had been looking for a good seafood place in Welly for some time. After all, it is by the sea and there are great tasting fish in nearby waters. As a person who lives near the New England coast, I know decent fish when I taste it. Up until today, Wellington disappointed me. Now, I know where to go. Absolutely fresh fish prepared in an amazing way. Everything we had was tip top. I think we found the Tall Poppy of Wellington seafood. We started with an outstanding scallop with risotto. These were real tasty bay scallops, not the kind that are cut into round circles. Wonderful. The sashimi was ok to good. Probably will try a different starter next time. My main course was snapper. It was prepared perfectly. I had mine on a spinach and bean in a tomato sauce. I could not get enough, it was so good. (Fortunately, the portion size was generous.) A person with me had it on an Asian style noodle preparation. It was also excellent. My wife had the special of Trumpeter, which was light and flavorful. I can only say that this is by far the best fish I have hsd in Wellington. It is also one of the best seafood restaurants I have been to anywhere.

Tasty seafood meal in Wellington. This place is extremely popular so either make a reservation or come early/late. Be willing to eat at the bar for additional flexibility, since there was plenty of seating available there. Drinks were super tasty, especially the El Pablito! Bartenders are very talented, so after seeing them make this one, I knew it was the drink I wanted. We shared the yellowfin tuna sashimi with yuzu and edamame, crayfish scrambled eggs, and the gurnard with yuzu and seaweed butter. The food was all very fresh. I definitely enjoyed the interesting mix of flavors for the gurnard. The crayfish scrambled eggs could be skipped.

AMAZING SEAFOOD. Best seafood restaurant we ate at in New Zealand, and in my opinion, perhaps one of the most memorable meals. We ended up not being able to make a reservation for Friday night dinner since the dinner service was supposedly fully booked. However, knowing that we were leaving Wellington the next day and being an aggressive New York eater, I was persistent in asking if bar seats would be available for dinner service. And thankfully, they were!! (but oddly...the entire time we were there, the restaurant never filled up even though the time we wanted to make the reservation came and passed - I think they could probably do multiple rounds on the tables but I'm just thankful we were able to have a meal here). We got the kokoda (which is apparently a Fijian ceviche sort of thing..with coconut milk to make it a bit creamier), Groper with risotto, snapper with tomato&chickpea ragout, and the aromatic seafood broth. Everything was delicious and incredibly fresh. We also enjoyed chatting with the bartender and learning about the different fish. We loved that everything was local. And seriously, so good. If you are in Wellington, come eat here!!!! And try to make the reservation in advance - if not, make sure to see if they have space at the bar, because they definitely had the capacity to seat us!

This place is delicious. I had the Clevedon oysters to start, which were amazing. I'd like to say they were the best oysters I've ever had. That good. I had the scampi ceviche and the prawn/crawfish ravioli. They both were amazing. Staff were very friendly (even walking next door to let me know my table was ready), and the wine list was also good. Rest assured you will enjoy dinner at Ortega's.

Wow! What a great find. Drinks and wine pairing were perfect. The ahi appetizer was amazing too

We love it here and made sure to come back on our second trip to Wellington. The atmosphere is cool and the staff are nice. We didn't have a booking either time, and though we had to wait a bit, the staff were accommodating and got us great seats. We had the groper, snapper, and john dory special, and all were amazing. A nice wine selection too!

Ortega's was one of the best seafood experiences I've had. The great reviews drew me here while on a 24-hour visit to Wellington in late February. Since it's only open for dinner, our window was short, and I knew it would be hard to get a table. I tried calling ahead but couldn't get a live voice on the phone, so I tried my luck together with my wife and 2-year old son. It was a short 10-minute walk from our hotel. We showed up around 7:30, but all tables were booked until 9-ish. Luckily they were willing to seat us at the last two seats at the bar, which turned out to be fine. We started with 4 of the fresh Clevedon oysters (fried was also an option), and they were so remarkable that I immediately ordered 4 more. We followed with modestly sized and artistically presented appetizers: the crayfish and prawn ravioli (or rather raviolo -- there was only one, but generously sized) was delicate and fresh, with greens and crispy corn strips arranged over it. The pickled baby beets were a delightful vegetarian option for my wife. For the main course I delighted in the gurnard over soft white polenta -- something I had never tried before, but will certainly seek out again. Service was superb. Staff were happy to suggest wine pairings (which were also amazing), and when we mentioned we were continuing on to Marlborough the next day, the owner took the time, at the peak of the dinner rush, to hand-write a list of his favorite wineries for us to visit. The rich atmosphere, with nautical knick-knacks covering the walls, just added to the experience. Though we didn't order cocktails, the bar was admirably well-stocked, and the bartender was great. The whole meal, with 2 glasses of very reasonably priced wine, set us back the equivalent of $60 per person -- good value for the top-notch food, location, and service. Hats off to this remarkable eatery!

Make a reservation! Or try your luck like we did and sit at the bar. Our server was very knowledgeable about all the dishes we were curious about. The flavors are incredible, my fish was cooked perfectly, the steaks were just to temp with a delicious butter sauce I could have bathed in. Delicious, i hope to return soon.

Clearly amazing place! - looks cosy and low-key: very warm atmosphere - service is very friendly, yet professional (the owner came for a chit chat) - but the food is where Ortega stands out: amazing fish dishes: from the appetizer sashimi to the great grilled snapper with a twist of beurre blanc, cilantro, and fresh tomato (and the corn risotto it was on... Hmmmm). Innovative and delicious! The menu is new everyday along the catch, so all fish is fresh and it tastes so... Great place! I wish I were in Wellington longer

We made a reservation for 5:30 as they were pretty booked for the later part of the evening. We were promptly seated upstairs at a table for two. The decor is little funky, with many pictures crowding the wall. We ordered the ceviche for $32. It was terrible! My wife couldn't even finish her bite, she actually spit it into her napkin. I tried a few bites hoping it might grow on me, but it all tasty one note, nasty. I don't know if it had to much scampi oil, but it was just awful. For dinner I had the John Dory with fennel risotto. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto was nice. My only complaint was the tiny amount of risotto that came with the dish. My wife had the filet and was satisfied with it. The service was friendly, however we ran out of water midway through dinner and never had anyone come by to offer to refill it. This was a really unsatisfactory experience. We had such high hopes after reading the previous reviews, but left disappointed.

Charming atmosphere and wonderful service. The scampi ceviche was to die for--sweet, mild with a soft delicate texture. They had run out of the Bluenose fish but substituted grouper to accompany the asparagus and fennel risotto. The fish had a delightful outer crust while being perfectly cooked on the inside. The potato crisp garnish added a bit of fun and some salt. I would definitely order it again. My friend ordered the Snapper with chickpeas which she loved. The portions were appropriately sized. We had a wonderful evening surrounded by ocean themed bric a brac. I loved this place!

My buddy and I went to the sister restaurant of Ortega next door to start with a cocktail. We met Rory the bartender that night. He was extremely knowledgable about spirits. It was awesome picking his brain and getting to learn quite a bit about different rums. Anyway, Rory is an awesome bar tender so I would suggest going and having him make you something different than your usual. Live a little

Overrated. The food was passable at best. I'm admittedly not very fond of fish though. My wife loves fish and she thought the food was just ok also with the exception of the ceviche which she liked. The only not fish option for me was prime rib which I want in the mood for. I tried the eel risotto, which was a bizarre salty sour slightly crunchy dish with a little mint. My wife had the John Dory which was bland, I preferred it to my dish. It seems like the chef is likely talented by is experimenting on his customers instead of serving perfected dishes. We maybe just got unlucky. I expected more for the high price.

Been here about 6 times. It's a special,occasion place cos it's not cheap but worth every penny. Service has been above and beyond every time. Stand out place during Wellington on a Plate. Their food is so damn delicious, well presented, well portioned, and all round excellent. It's a well oiled machine of a place tat makes you feel both fancy and included as part of the place. Looking forward to going back. Visited August 2015 (since left NZ hence no more visits, wahhh)

Different menu every night with the freshest the sea has to offer. Very complete wine list to complement any dish

One of Wellington's best for a reason. Reservations are a must and we were lucky to get the last table. Sincere, friendly service. Ready to explain menu if needed. All dishes were very tasty as ingredients were really fresh!

Priceless. New Z. An amazing and precious ecosystem. This place was so good- fresh Fresh Fresh. The matradee Max and the Chef were so interesting. The delicious local prawns huge. The polenta was perfect side.

We loved this place! I might be the best fish we've both eaten. We got a fresh mix of vegetables and salad with our fish, amazing sauce and the fish was so succulent. A flavor explosion! We loved the service right away when we stepped in, the staff greeted us and asked us how our day had been. The bartender explained the differences between the fish, he helped us with the wine to go with the food and we were very pleased. Lots of waiters and nicely dressed with cool leather aprons. They were very attentive and helpful and nice. Prices were good, nothing extreme and the ambiance was lovely, lots to look at when you're waiting for your food. Toilets are clean which is always a good sign! I would come back again! They also serve meet if one of you doesn't prefer fish.

Wow! This place was so good my friends told me about it and went twice before flying out. Yeah... it's that good. I went in on a random Thursday and was seated at the bar immediately. They are generally very busy so I would make reservations. I ordered the scampi ceviche and it was wonderfully prepared with Thai influences. It had some spice to it but it was the perfect amount. Next came the grunard and it was a large portion of 2 fillets sears on one side. The sauce was light and buttery. Instead of getting something sweet I ordered the cheese plate and I was not disappointed! There were 6 choices and they only charge you by what you eat. That was new to me and a wonderful way to try cheeses. I zoned into the french picard which had a nutty flavor and medium soft. All of my food was paired nicely with wine including the cheese plate. This is a great solid choice for food.

This is one of the best restaurants in Wellington! The service is lovely and the owner will likely come to your table and introduce himself. It's a small restaurant so I recommend a reservation. You can also grab a seat at their very popular bar. You can't really go wrong with the food here - but I recommend the monk fish and whatever mussels happen to be in season.

Don't be fooled by the name. This place oozes sophistication and fine dining. The fish was exceptional and every side dish was unique and memorable. The staff are fun, friendly and work hard to make sure that you have a lovely time. I only had a couple of nights in Wellington - I'm glad I spent one of them here. Put this one on your must visit list when you are in town.

Excellent meal, great energetic ambiance. We shared the fish tartare entree. I had the Tarakihi, Malaysian coconut gravy, pineapple salad, XO sauce and my wife had the steamed snapper. Fine preparation. Our server Juliette was attentive and very friendly. The crepe dessert with an orange carmel sauce capped off the dinner.

Pushy staff, small portions and big prices. Frantic atmosphere. Not the best evening in our only time in Wellington

Absolutely delicious. The staff were incredibly professional and there were numerous fish options.

Food is absolutely amazing!!!! Especially the prawns and chocolate mousse desert. We ordered 4-5 appetizers (sashimi, scampi ceviche, oysters, etc) and 3 entrees (beef filet, king salmon, and snapper) and 3 desserts and everything was phenomenal.

Best fish dishes in town. Definitely a must if you love fish and want to treat yourself! Looking at it you'd have no idea how amazing their food is but don't be fooled!

Can't say enough about this find. Unassuming from the outside and spectacular on the inside from the atmosphere/decor and service to the delicious food. We walked in without reservation and were greeted by Max who said he'd call us if we wanted to go somewhere for a drink while we wait for our table. He called within 15 minutes and got us seats at the bar. Oysters were so fresh that we had to order more. The Asian flare of the tuna sashimi and dumplings was unbelievable. Main courses were delicious, too. Will definitely be back next time we're in New Zealand.

I would give 5 stars for the resturant in general. Good mood, good vibe and the best food. Bothers me quite a lot the American system of service though.

We arrived without reservations based on the recomendation of a friend. After a short wait, we were seated at the bar. Each of the three of us ordered different specials or menu items. The service was fine with our server attentive while entertaining us with stories of Wellington. The food was delivered quickly and it was perfectly presented. My beef and fries were hot and the beef finished medium rare as ordered. The portion size was large which fit my appetite and comments from the other two members of our group matched mine regarding their dishes. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a friend.

The atmosphere of this restaurant is fabulous. The beautiful staff are friendly, welcoming and helpful. We started the evening with hot mulled wine which was fruity and fragrant and delicious. For the main I had smoked warehou with beetroot borscht which was fabulous. Although the flavour of the dish was outstanding the serving was small so I was glad we had heeded the waitress's suggestion to order potatoes and seasonal Brussels sprouts. Overall a great dining experience.

Excellent service, wonderful food! The oysters were amazing!

Outstanding seafood prepared with creative touch ! Small restaurant with highly efficient and experienced waitstaff. This place is all about the food. gurnard with papparadelle in crayfish butter and grouper pan seared. Both were extremely fresh and served to the perfect doneness. The presentation was also excellent. Wine list is mostly nz but that can be good. I would go back in a flash.

amazing loved all food was so damn delicious, well presented, well portioned, and all round excellent.