Ortolana

Great location and very nice and beautiful place. The food was ok, not authentic Italian food though so wouldn’t recommend if you’re after authentic recipes but good food if you don’t mind fusion meals. The fish was very tasty; le tagliatelle could be better considering also the price. Staff are very attentive and friendly. Positive experience overall!

It maybe a bit overrated. Not really a lot of wow element in the taste, presentation is good. Chicken is too dry in my personal opinion. It is not meeting my expectations for an Italian restaurant, and do note it requires booking and hard to walk in. The location of the restaurant is good.

TL;DR: Lazy cooking, don’t waste your money. Had the $95 Valentine’s set menu. For context - I come from Sydney, where we have great Italian restaurants (as I’m sure Auckland does). This was a complete letdown on the food and service fronts - I’m not sure how this place has a 4.5 rating. First, when we were seated inside the restaurant was empty. We were seated at the long wooden communal table. We requested to be seated at a nicer table, but were told that all seats were booked out. We had the 9PM (last) reservation, and although the restaurant did have more people in afterwards, it never filled. So that wasn’t true, and we could have actually been moved to another table. We were actually the only people seated at the long communal table … strike one. Second of all, we asked for tap water and the waiter gave us sparkling water instead. We told him that that we asked for tap water, and he gave us attitude and told us that we meant “flat” water. Strike two. (Did he try and pull a quick one on us to make some money?) Third of all, the food was terrible and absolutely not worth the money. Strike three. Entrees: - Crudo: I’ve never had fish crudo that was sliced so thickly I had to chew on it for a while - and the fish tasted fishy in a bad way. The nectarines were also sliced super thick and unripe- and the sauce didn’t taste good. - Burrata: The burrata didn’t ooze out from the inside like you’d expect from fresh burrata, and it also just didn’t taste good. Mains: - Pappardelle with heirloom tomato and chilli butter: This definitely ranks as the worst pastas I’ve ever had for the price of the set menu - the sauce wasn’t emulsified at all and liquidy, you couldn’t taste the chilli butter, and it was somewhat sour. They put a lot of raw garlic (?) in which also overpowered the rest of the sauce and gave it a sharp note. The pasta was also undercooked and cold. I don’t have any problems with the pasta and sauce being precooked separately, but for $95 you would at least expect the sauce to be emulsified and cling to the pasta - I can make better pasta at home. If you’re reading this, to make pasta cling to any sauce, whack the heat up in your sauce, add some fat (butter, olive oil), then when it’s ripping hot, add your pasta in with some pasta water, then stir, move the pan around, and toss vigorously. Starch emulsifies, the fat helps it bind, and the movement helps this occur faster - and high heat makes it happen. You’re welcome 😘 Add cheese at the end for further thickness. - Market fish with ???, lemon crème fraiche and crispy kale: Fish was overcooked, the sauce was sour so didn’t match and the herb oil added no flavour at all. The crispy kale was nice but that’s about it. Sides: - Cos lettuce: Guys, it’s just a wedge of cos lettuce with some kewpie mayo and bacon bits on top. It’s nice but I thought it’d be a salad at least - Roast potatoes: They were crispy and somewhat soft on the inside but that’s about it. They were a bit dry and had zero flavour at all. Desserts: - Chocolate mousse: It’s chocolate, it will be nice, but the greek yoghurt pairing didn’t really work because it was too light and sour so the mismatch of heavy rich chocolate and something light and tangy didn’t work. Something acidic or bitter would have worked better as a foil, like a berry component. - Panna Cotta: The homemade biscuit was nice and the pannecotta was alright, but it wasn’t that good. In summary I’m really unimpressed with this meal. I understand that this is a restaurant that’s close to the water so maybe that’s why it costs more. But for the price, the quality of the cooking really isn’t acceptable. The overwhelming feeling that I was left with was that this was lazy cooking - slopped into plates without any consideration of how the flavours go together, or form a cohesive meal; the lack of emulsion in the sauce is the tell. I really wouldn’t recommend taking your partner or anyone special here. At least the location is nice though

Pros: The restaurant has delicious food and a good atmosphere. Cons: The service was disappointing. Our waiter encouraged our party of three to over-order, despite us asking for advice on portion sizes. We ended up wasting an entire dish because he insisted the amount was fine. This felt like a dishonest upsell and soured our overall experience. I would have appreciated more honest guidance

Despite the NZ downturn Ortalana doesn’t care. Waiter got entree order wrong then asked us despite getting it wrong would we be happy to accept it. Of course we refused to pay for his mistake. Ordered lamb for main but 15 mins later was told the oven had been shut off and could only order a lamb Ragu pasta. Constantly asking for water top ups and inattentive service. Disappointing from the Ortalana we remember a few years ago

I had been looking for a good pappardelle since Brisbane and found this restaurant when searching. The restaurant seems to be a popular place for brunch with seating outside as well as their cozy indoor seating. I found the pappardelle a bit thick for my taste but the lamb ragu was very good and plentiful.

From the moment we stepped through the doors we were warmly welcomed! The customer service is exceptional. Food was excellent. Overall an amazing experience and would definitely return!!!

Really delicious food and great service. Also love the interior, feels warm and such a relaxing vibe. Highly recommend the Cacio e Pepe! It was delish!

An amazing dining experience! After flying 15 hours from Dallas to Auckland with the most god-awful food on American Airlines, we were more than ready for a decent meal. YELP to the rescue! This place had just about 5 solid stars and was a short walk from our hotel. We made a 7:30 reservation, but showed up 15 minutes early, and yes our table was ready! This place specializes in locally sourced produce, and did not disappoint! I ordered the lamb, and it was so tender I didn't need a fork! Hubby had the snapper and devoured it. And the kiddo had a pan seared chicken, which he devoured. The service was impecable. The crew working totally had their act together, each working in concert with one another. With appetizers, salads, and drinks, the bill for the three of us came to 199 NZ dollars. Completely worth it. Don't miss this amazing dining experience!

Excellent food and costumer service! Everyone of the staff there is up to help you and make sure your experience is the best.

Food and drink was delicious! The location is perfect because it's near major restaurants and shops to walk around after you eat... the location is small however so be mindful, a reservation may be helpful. The service was great as well!

Tucked away in Britomart we tried Ortolana! It has a fabulous covered patio where we had the most amazing meal. The service was friendly and good, but what stood out the most was their accommodation to my wife's dining preferences. She found a dish that she wanted but it contained meat. She requested they withhold the meat and, to our surprise, offered to substitute it with additional vegetables. Unlike many other restaurants we've been to, this wasn't some casual replacement, but a thoughtful enhancement to the dish. It was really outstanding and made my wife feel valued instead of being a troublesome for asking for it to be made vegetarian. For that alone, I would highly recommend Ortolana. But the food and service really shined and it's worth your trip and our future return.

Trendy cafe restaurant in Britomart. Great venue with nice under cover seating outside. Delicious pain au chocolat and good coffees Great service

My brother and his family ate at Ortolana's sister restaurant (forgot the name) and it was so good they wanted to go back. My sister-in-law called to see if she could get a reservation because there were 10 of us. They didn't have anything so we were bummed. Surprisingly not much later, they called her back saying they could accommodate us at Ortolana. Wow, what service! We decided to give it a try. The restaurant is pretty, has a simple and clean look and feel and is in the middle of a cool hipster shopping area in Britomart. And it's right near an Lululemon! They have an indoor area as well as an outdoor area. We were placed on a large table in the middle of the indoor area. I had the gnocchi with mushrooms and it was so delicious. My son and daughter's spaghetti with cream, cheese smoked chicken and panchetta was a winner though! It was basically a different version of carbonara. I ordered one of their homemade sodas, which was great. But kicked it up a notch with a shot of added vodka - YUM! I liked that it wasn't overly sweet. Service was good and food was delicious!

Ortolana is one of those places that draw you in with a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. The exterior seating area is spacious with string lights hanging across the high ceiling. Ortolana does not go unnoticed by anyone strolling by. The menu is very simplistic in the way that it offers just the right amount of food and drink options. It makes deciding your meal choice stress-free. I was looking for something hearty and filling so I ordered the potato hash. I loved the salmon, poached egg, and slight dill flavor to the dish. Really unique. The kale smoothie I ordered was healthy, refreshing, and paired nicely with the potato hash. Service was friendly and efficient. After I was seated, I was poured sparkling water and brought a table setup with utensils and salt and pepper shakers. The food was served in less than 15 minutes and the waiters checked in with me to see if everything was ok. Couldn't ask for more. Perfect score in my book.

4.5 star. From start to finish, it was good. We were seated right away despite what seemed like an anticipated busy night. Service was excellent and so were most of dishes. We had the following: Rocket salad- refreshing and light. The goat cheese was a great addition that provided a savory taste. Octopus dish- cooked almost close to the best one I've had (slightly chewy). The endives gave it a good crunch and the chili added that bite it needed. Papa rigate w prosciutto and peas- a light pasta (in a good way ). I loved the combination of peas and prosciutto that it didn't really need additional seasoning because of the saltiness it provided. Chocolate tart- not the best dish of the meal. Could have skipped it. Overall the restaurant highlighted the local ingredients of NZ- hence farm to table. I thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant - from the chill ambiance, cozy seating, lighting, and serving dishes.

Ortolana was like the oasis of water you find after walking for hours through a blazing desert! It sounds dramatic, but after 17 hours of travel from San Francisco to Auckland (with a layover) and terrible airplane food, I looked on Yelp for a great breakfast/brunch spot as soon as we arrived in the city. The heavens parted to reveal Ortolana! The order: - 2 Flat Whites with almond milk - Pine Nut Ricotta, Zucchini Omelette - Garden Greens, Organic Grains, Poached Egg All of it was perfection! A tasty, fresh, healthy, and refreshing way to recharge after the long travel days, and the perfect kickstart to our first time in Auckland! Decor is absolutely beautiful, earthy, modern, bright, and airy. The interior is cozy while the outdoor patio is spacious, lively, and relaxing all at the same time. Follow their Instagram account for inspiring and beautiful photos of their cuisine...it makes me miss it even more!

Best breakfast. Try the Pana fritta and enjoy the fresh orange juice. Exceptional service.

This is a very relaxed and enjoyable eatery. My companion and found the service very friendly, helpful and responsive, which was much appreciated. We both enjoyed the Omelette with Courgette and Grana Padano, with a green salad. It was good, very enjoyable. The atmosphere is relaxed and the surroundings are pleasant. I would come back here, thank you.

If you sit inside grab one of the tables with the sofa seats, the oatmeal colored cushions and pillows make you feel like you're on a mini-bed at brunch. "Feed me another grape and fan me, I'm hot!" If it's winter, as in our case, a lovely feature are the wool blankets pitched on the chairs. If you need to wrap up from the Auckland winter throw one over your shoulders and be happy. Our server was like an encyclopedia of the menu. She knew every single detail about the items listed such as how it was made, whether it was vegan friendly, what it tasted like and where it came from. I opted for the smoked fish, folded egg and capers. Delicous, delicous, delicous! The saltiness from the capers pair magnificently with the fish, which was shredded on top of the egg (think omlette). My table shared a small side of the baked cauliflower and brussel sprouts. To be honest I abhor brussel sprouts - they are bitter, earthy and not the biz. No matter, I always sample them just to confirm I still hate them. You know our palettes change over time so maybe this could be the day. Ortolana makes out of this world brussel sprouts!!!! Our server encyclopedia said they are blanched first (key!) then sautéed in olive oil, lime and salt. I was totally impressed. The cauliflower was excellent also. It was cheesy and crumbly with a firm crunch to the cauliflower - they were cooked perfectly. My ladies chose to order dessert, but I was so full I had to pass. Ortolana offers a full dessert menu from Miels next door. Too bad this was my last meal out in Auckland, Ortolana would certainly be my new brunch hangout. After all we were there for nearly 2 and a half hours. What a superb place to go to end a great adventure!

One shouldn't expect a 5 star experience every time. However, this 2nd time validates that they still know how to deliver a very enjoyable dining experience. Regrettably downgraded to 4 stars. There were a few little things that in sum caused a detraction from what we had experienced our first visit, and left us feeling that we didn't get what we wanted. Of course, one cannot expect sublime dining experiences, consistently. Service was fair-good...not great. Food was a tad off, both in temperature, and in preparation. Will I return? You becha!!

We went here for breakfast. Similar vibe to Amano we thought. I went with the smoked trevally it was very fishy for my taste. (Thought it will be more cooked). The meal as a whole was just ok. We shared the granola and again thought it was just ok. Would skip this place for breakfast given the huge variety you have in Auckland. We tried also the almond croissant which was good given they get them from Amano bakery.

Wow there's restaurant is great!! There was a group of us that went and we ordered several different things everybody really enjoyed their entrées. For my appetizer I order the broccolini,Goat cheese, prosciutto almonds and balsamic it was delicious!! For my entrée I ordered the saffron frazzoletti, Zucchini, ricotta ,pinenuts WOW very creative and was so good! Great service and we sat outside next to the heaters it was great.

Very nice place. Prices are a bit steep for the portions you get but it is a very upscale area and NZ is expensive. Had just a bite but you could order anything from the menu to share amongst friends and wouldn't feel full at all.

Wow....had the gnocchi duck. It was by far the best dish I've had here in Auckland (been here about 10 days). The service was also amazing which I haven't seen too many places around here. Highly recommend.

After a long flight from San Francisco to Auckland with much-less-than-satisfying airplane food, we were hungry and hoping for a delicious breakfast. I consulted Yelp, and set my sights on this place even though it wasn't necessarily convenient from our hotel. Ortolana was a refreshing, warm welcome to Auckland and just what we needed! It has an elegant but cozy atmosphere with a great ambience whether you choose to sit in or out door. The service and food were so good! I had the omelette and my husband had the fried egg. (See photo) You can tell they use only the best ingredients here and they really take care in their menu. Delicious food, not to mention great coffee! If we ever find ourselves back in Auckland, this will certainly be our first stop!

We came here for brunch and didn't have a reservation but were able to walk in and get seated within five minutes on a Saturday morning. Full disclosure - it was quite a rainy morning... there is outdoor and indoor seating. The decor inside is, in a word, adorable. The globe lights that are strung about the ceiling make a really pretty ambiance and the wooden tables are comfortable while being beautiful but still warm and inviting. The service and setting for this restaurant really do deserve 5 stars... as did the food, which I will review as follows: Bloody Mary: this was a bit sweet for my taste, which I usually despise, but I ended up enjoying it! And ordered a second. So there you go. 4/5. Iced espresso with chocolate: This was basically ice cream. Very decadent. It probably actually WAS made with ice cream but whatever I'm on vacation so caloric content doesn't matter- flavor does! 5/5 Celery tortellini with brown butter: Mushrooms are cooked to be as delectable as meat crumbles - I was in awe. Sauce buttery rich and the filling is simply excellent. Portion is large enough to be appropriate for brunch but not overwhelming. 5/5 Pumpkin and ricotta cannelloni: Superb. Creamy and rich, which are my two favorite adjectives I use to describe a dish I adore. Pasta was nicely cooked and had developed a good flavorful burnt crust without being too crunchy or dry. 5/5 Overall highly recommend this restaurant! It's casual but the waitstaff still add a formal flair by taking your coats and serving menu and drink items with a flourish. I've seen that other posters have complained about the small portion size but that's exactly what I desire during a brunch before a day out and about in the city! As a tourist, this is probably in contrast to the locals... I would have nowhere to store leftovers so I really wanted to clean my plate and not be too stuffed to enjoy a day in Auckland.

Amazing is the only word needed to describe this place. Located in Britomart it's so trendy and cute with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was really friendly and we were seated right away when we came here for breakfast. We got the breakfast gnocchi and muesli and a flat white. The muesli was the best I've ever had - the yogurt was whipped and so light and fluffy and muesli had millet which was crunchy. The dish was topped with fresh passion fruit which really complimented the dish with its sweet yet tangy flavor. The gnocchi was also so so good. I wouldn't think to eat gnocchi for breakfast but they were pan fried, smaller in size and light. The dish was mixed with pine nuts, arugula, and eggs and some other items that made it taste great. Another nice perk is the free wifi so if you're from out of the country like we were it's a nice bonus.

A bit disappointing overall. Nothing a was REALLY bad, just average food, average service and average atmosphere/decor. I saw it in metro top 50 so thought I'd get better. One thing that was annoying was my girlfriend and I ordered a starter and a main each. They delivered one starter (a cheese pita type thing sort of like an enchilada)...then then nothing so we tucked in (we normally share anyway). Then they took that away and brought out our mains cutlery (gf having steak and I got the trevally off the specials). I mentioned that we'd not yet had our second starter but no apology, just rushed off to get it. That would've been fine except we started eating and our mains came out. A bit of a balls up all round but anyway. Food ok, not brilliant. Service poor but probably a one-off mistake. There's lots of good competition in the area so I probs won't go back.

What's great about Ortolana is that it makes you forget you are bang smack in the middle of downtown Auckland. I think, in large this is due to their open air courtyard being surrounded by gigantic planters of all different shapes and sizes, overflowing with greenery. I came here recently for brunch on a sunny but crisp Sunday morning. The relatively limited indoor seating was taken but the courtyard is sheltered and there are wool rugs on all the chairs so we were more than happy to sit outside. Although tempted by their quinoa and nut granola served with pear and yoghurt mousse, I decided to go savoury and ordered the taleggio, brown onion and herb omelette ($16) and a beetroot, carrot, apple and ginger juice ($7). The omelette was stuffed full of sweet caramelised onions and slices of melted cheese and my juice was quite frankly one of the best I have had in Auckland - perfect balance of vege v. fruit. Whilst the food here is brilliant, the service is also impeccable. Honestly, were did they find their waitstaff - they are brilliant (and oddly, all seem to be middle aged men??). Can't wait to come back for after-work drinks? UYE anyone?

Make no mistake - Ortolana dishes up some seriously good food, but high prices and a somewhat limited menu has it ranked just behind some of my other favorite Italian spots in Auckland (notably Baduzzi) Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? The service and atmosphere at Ortolana are excellent, with a relaxing indoor/outdoor hybrid dining area that pairs nicely with outstanding service. No complaints. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Ortolana, as you could probably guess, is on the pricey side; and my Beef Short Rib Agnolotti came to a whopping $30.00 for what was a medium sized portion with maybe twenty pieces of short rib filled agnolotti. That's quite a bit (~15%) more than nearby Baduzzi; and while it isn't enough to have me swiping away stars here it's noteworthy. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? I was warned prior to ordering the Beef Short Rib Agnolotti that the dish was designed for those who liked mustard. I love mustard, but all in all I'm glad that I was warned. The mustard sauce is indeed strong, but it complimented what was a good dish. The agnolotti filled with flavorful short rib was excellent, and I actually found it was the fresh herbs that overpowered things a bit versus the mustard sauce. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Ortolana is good, but I'd be lying if I didn't point out that I think Baduzzi is both better in value and product offering, and for that reason Baduzzi is my preference for Italian in Auckland. No Star Granted.

Still absolutely adore this place. To me, Ortolana has a different vibe to the other Hip Group members. Can't really put a finger on it, but whatever they are doing here, it works. The service is always phenomenal. The servers have perfected the balance of attentiveness without being overbearing - making it a standout after some pretty mediocre service experiences in AKL. I swear our server could have read the menu backwards in her sleep. She knew the details behind how each dish was prepared (and sourced). So for all the foodies out there, you're in seriously good hands. The most recent visit to Ortolana was for brunch, which I'm happy to report, they also do spectacularly. Also, you should really, really try the brussel sprouts (a single bite will LITERALLY convert you 'sprout haters' out there).

OMG what a beautiful restaurant!!! Ortolana reminds me of some top-notch restaurants in South Kensington, London that I used to acquaint: flavoursome food and star-service to match (ie Bibendum, Jo's) I had called in advance to see if I could book a table for 12 people, unfortunately no reserve bookings, so cross fingers and turn up early, more or less. All the wait staff were pleasant, courteous and accommodating. My guests arrived in drips and drapes, which they coped with extremely well. The coffee was great, the food was exceptional: unanimous vote. I had the lamb, others had salads, zucchini omlette, John Dory fish and asparagus main. Stunning. Trippy. Delicious. We then all had macaroons on the house, how lucky are we! Thank you for making my birthday special:)

Two of us came in for early dinner before a show. We started the night across the block at Mexico and so we weren't starving - but I wish we'd had room to finish everything! The piadina with air dried pork was an unexpected standout. It's simple and very tasty. The gnochetti was covered in greens and was a delight. The lamb was perfectly slow cooked but the flavours weren't as exciting as the other dishes. The setting is great, and the lights and sounds around Britomart transported us out of boring Auckland. The service was perfect. We were also plesantly surprised by the bill!

Going here for breakfast took a small act of faith. While Yelp reviews were all positive, other review sites spoke of bad service and/or average food. Let's go anyway, I told myself. Service was fantastic. We were seated immediately, served immediately, coffee and food came on time. Throughout our stay, six different people had served us. All friendly, attentive, accommodating, and articulate. Coffee was lovely. I had the zucchini omelette and my wife had the sausage with eggs. Food was great. We ended with the orange cake - divine. The place, of course, had great style. We sat in the front open air area, allowing us to see the the bustling Britomart. My advice to you: don't hesitate, just go there and have a perfect Sunday morning breakfast, like we did.

We were in Auckland visiting the Sky City tower when we found Ortolana. Its walking distance from Sky city tower. It is absolutely cute restaurant in a beautiful location. Ambience is great. They have creative and artistic interior. It is a cozy restaurant. It must look even better at night. It is a little slammed together though. Food was not good :/ We wanted to get some italian food since being a vegetarian it's always easier to find good italian food. But, not at this place. We couldn't find anything normal to eat. There is no pizza or pasta options. The only thing we were able to find was gnocchi. The description said it came with Peas and some other veggies. All of it was row and was just dumped in with gnocchi. We did not like this at all and would not want to be back here again. 30 dollars for a crappy entree!

I can't believe it took me this long to try Ortolana!!! Delicious, locally grown food right in the heart of the CBD, plus a restaurant serving desserts from MILSE, with the dessert bar literally only being a hop, step and a jump away - what more could you ask for?!? It was a beautiful crisp night when we arrived on a Saturday and luckily there was no wait for a table (they don't take reservations but have a waiting list system which they say proves to work well). We chose the cushion seats inside because they looked the most comfortable! We were both leaning towards something refreshing to drink, so went with a citrus juice and a mango iced tea, which were perfect accompaniments to our meals! There is also a short drinks list consisting of wine, digestives, sodas, smoothies and speciality cold/hot beverages (which all sound lovely). The menu is European based, with all their produce either locally sourced or grown in their orchard out at Kumeu. There are some unusual names on the menu, but don't fret (as we nearly did) just ask your waiter as they are quite knowledgeable. I ordered the gnocchi verde with cavolo nero, mozzarella and an egg yolk ($20). My friend ordered the crayfish ravioli with preserved lemon and garden herbs (also $20). Both meals were delicious and full of flavour, but not overly filling. This is the kind of food I like! It was still satisfying and yet we still had enough room for two desserts from Milse - bonus! The service was great - staff were super friendly, water glasses were always topped up and we didn't have to wait long for our meals. Dining at Ortolana was great and I can't wait to go back!

What an amazing place!!! Visiting from the US and you must go here! Food and fresh juices were amazing! Food delicious and coffee perfect! Super friendly staff!

We made an unplanned visit to Ortolana on Wednesday night. I never even knew it existed until someone suggested we try it whilst walking through Britomart on the way to the car. Immediately we noticed the great surroundings - fairy lights, outdoor tables, comfortable chairs, fancy but not too fancy... And great service. We were promptly seated and told our outfits were great (we were all fashion types, so obviously this went down well), the menu was explained (what the hell is a 'Gypsy Salad'?), complimentary sparkling water served. Drinks were ordered - a house-made lemonade soda for me (so, so good) and a passionfruit one for Maddy (also very good). Food was delicious - the boys got mozzarella, rib-eye and an 'air dried pork, straciatella and mustard leaves piadina', which turned out to be a fancy ham and cheese type sandwich. I wanted the crayfish but didn't want to be that asshole at the table who goes all out while everyone is just having a snack, so Maddy and I had kingfish carpaccio ($16) and a vegetarian pasta ($19), respectively. My pasta was handmade - I can't actually confirm this for sure, but I feel like I can just tell it was - and amazing. I'm not usually partial to vegetarian, but I loved it. I didn't try Maddy's kingfish because it had tomato in it and I hate tomato. She said it was delicious though. The side of lardo roasted potatoes ($7) was small, but good and not as greasy as one would imagine with the name 'lardo'. We had no time for dessert unfortunately, but today one of my dining compadrés told me that he's been back twice since that visit and the desserts are incredible and not to be missed. So I guess that's what I'm doing this week.

After 17 hours of travel and some lack luster airplane food, Ortolana saved the day! Located one block from the water in downtown Auckland we could've have asked for a better meal to start off a weeklong adventure in New Zealand. From the start, the quaint brick building with high pitched ceilings and awesome decor instantly prepared me for an amazing brunch atmosphere and cuisine. Extremely friendly staff, all smiles and warm greetings. They found us a seat quickly and got us started with a couple of almond milk flat whites. Coffee was on point with a deep rich espresso flavor that paired perfectly with the steamed almond milk. We decided on sharing some amazing brunch items. First, a delicious omelet with seasonal garden vegetables, fresh ricotta cheese, toasted pine nuts that was topped with a small micro green salad. Next up, a perfectly poached egg, garden vegetables with ancient grains topped with sunflower sprouts! Last but not least, two slices of 5 grain bread that was made in house paired perfectly with olive oil, sea salt and crushed black pepper. Coffee cups empty, plates wiped clean with the last slice of bread and a sense of calmness after knowing we just had an amazing meal. We will be back for sure to check out their dinner menu before we hit the road. If you're in Auckland this is a must, no questions asked!

I had been eagerly awaiting Ortolana's opening since late last year when it was announced the HIP group would be bringing three new dining experiences to the Britomart Precinct. Already well known for their other establishments such as Cafe on Kohi, Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store and the Richmond Road Cafe this place was going to be great. It was. I came here with a friend early this morning, we had wanted to sit outside in the courtyard amongst the foliage but it was packed but the inside was pretty amazing. For me interiors are a big part of the overall experience and I was wowed by the amazing light installation, like glass bubbles that had floated up to the ceiling. The seating is intimate, comfortable and the service is fantastic. The menu is diverse and features fresh ingredients, organic where possible with interesting flavour combinations and much variety so that there would be something for everyone here. The coffee, also very good. Absolutely fantastic, can't wait to go back.

Every aspect of Ortolana is warm and inviting - a dreamy outdoor garden filled with fairy lights and a buzz of people without being overwhelming. You cannot book and the wait list can be long (especially as Ortolana seems to be the place to be seen at the moment, and with the lovely summer weather it's not hard to see why) but you can always leave your number with the friendly maitre'd and they'll call you when your table is ready. There are plenty of little bars in the area where you can have a drink. The menu is simple but seasonal and very fresh produce driven which was a winner for me. Go for the atmosphere alone!

Lovely food, lovely atmosphere and as always immaculate New Zealand service!! Highly recommended. And the deserts? To die for!

We ordered a pasta dish and a gnocci dish for lunch, as well as some drinks and desserts. Everything came out very tasty and aesthetically appealing. Service was rather attentive and fast. The decor is very nice and ambiance is relaxing but elegant. Only downside was the size of one of the portions - it was rather tiny. So don't get the gnocci if you are starving :) all else was amazing and macaroons are delicious!

Ortolana is one of my favourite Italian restaurants and I could not bare the thought of dining here alone, or in the wrong company. That might sound a little insane but the truth is, good food is only surpassed by the delight of eating it in good company. I was willing to wait for the perfect moment or simply miss out. Thankfully, fate intervened and Chris and Mary were finally free to come along! :) The wine list at Ortolana is simply sublime and the menu epitomizes what good Italian cuisine is all about. It was a chilly night but we chose to eat under the stars. My friends sat with blankets draped around their knees - already appreciative of Ortolana's attention to detail. When the food arrived, every single element, of each of the dishes were carefully sampled and savoured with heart-felt appreciation. We started off with the mushroom ragu, crostino and printanor garlic.Chris summed this dish up beautifully - a really harmonious layering of flavours and textures. Next, we sampled the raviolo yolk with dandelion and truffle. This is my personal favourite. A Michelin Star-quality dish that won't fail to dazzle. Break into the perfectly cooked raviolo and the warm, bright yellow egg yolk oozes out to combine elegantly with the caramelized onion, dandelion and truffle. If I was Shakespeare, I would have written a sonnet to show my appreciation! Our meal came to an end with the lamb shank pappardelle, with gremolata and bottarga - It was so damn good, Mary scooped every last drop out of the bowl! We were well looked after by the very charming young Jonathan. I love listening to him explain the menu and the fact that he gets how wines work with different foods. Best of all, he organized a table for us at Milse and transferred our drinks and the bill over. His service was impeccable! As I mentioned earlier, the fine food was only surpassed by the wholesome company in which I got to experience it. Ps. Note to Mr Darcy; I would like very much to dine here with you one day...

On the plus side, the food is lovely and the location incredibly Zen and festooned by very nice flowers. On the minus side, I have an American-bank issued Visa card. In the US, we do not need a PIN - nor do I have one. About 1/2 of my transactions in New Zealand went through fine with just a signature. Another 1/2 seemed to require a PIN by the local credit card processor. Every vendor where my card required a PIN called up their processor and sorted it out except for Ortolana. The maitre d' simply continued to run the card again and again and then insisted on cash. A simple call to their processor would have allowed the transaction. So, they embarrassed me and refused to help.

Came here while on my trip to NZ. THIS PLACE IS FANTASTIC. I was extremely impressed with the service, food and coffee. Everything was so delicious! I tried all of my friends plates as well. So fresh, so light and SO TASTY!!! I would definitely be a regular if I lived nearby.

Wonderful experience. We just flew in from San Francisco! This place immediately felt like home. The olives were delicious. Skyrocket Chardonnay superb. Husband had the ricotta and pine nut omelette was light, fluffy and well seasoned! The pappardelle with anchovy was magnificent. Very little fish taste and light despite being a pasta dish. Also, a lovely location right across from Lulu Lemon. Ellen C was such an attentive and thoughtful server! Thank you so much for a lovely welcoming into the beautiful Auckland of NZ!

Excellent food, service and atmosphere in the Britomart District just a blocks from the Viaduct. From appetizer to dessert we tried a good selection of the menu. Excellent casual fine dining with a healthy modern Italian fusion flare. As a modern Foodist... I'd give them a 4.8 Definitely recommended!

Ortolana is one of my favourite places to eat in the city. Despite being smack bang in the middle of Britomart, you feel tucked away while still being able to do some great people watching. Previously I'd only been for breakfast and lunches - great spot for a business meeting - and everything has been spot on, and went to dinner for the first time yesterday which was excellent as usual. I had the delicious crayfish ravioli and a glass of my favourite Man O'War rose (my dining partner chose exactly the same, disappointing as I wanted to sample more than one dish on the menu!!) and we shared a 'gypsy' salad. The food is Italian-inspired and lovely and fresh, with many ingredients coming from their market garden. Instead of naming the dishes, the menu lists the main four ingredients of each, which can be tricky when they list a more obscure type of pasta, but the wait staff know their stuff. Service is efficient and friendly without being overbearing, and if you choose to sit in the courtyard there are blankets and gas heaters to keep you toasty. We didn't sample a pudding but I know they source sweet treats from Milse next door. The place has just the right sort of atmosphere for a good catch up gossip at a weekday dinner, or a good place to break for lunch if you're shopping up a storm in the weekend!

I have been away from Auckland for almost 2 years now. Back in the days, my foodie friend AJ and I used to eat our way around the city, if it is new name it and we will be there. So naturally when I got back home, AJ announced that she is taking me to her new city favourite. She had only been there twice but that was enough in her books. I trust her, I also secretly yelped it and it was a match. Take me there now, I beamed. The place is so nice like very nice that you immediately start to unwind. Is it possible for a restaurant to feel like a weekend? After finally shutting up about how much I like the place, we were seated down and got served sparkling water. No one serves that for free, ever, I was impressed. Mind you I like sparkles in my H2O. It makes me feel fancy. Now this is where my happiness ends at this place. We got the menu and we were lost, apparently they change things quite regularly so what AJ liked no longer existed. I said, never mind even better, be spontaneous. I consider myself to have a fair knowledge on food, but that menu, honestly I could barely understand two words put together. I felt like I was in a physics exam. We decided to ask the waitress, she wasn't impressed that we didn't know. At that we stopped asking, she was too peevish, and no the place wasn't full that she was in a rush. We ordered the piadina with mushroom for a starter. It was good but the flat bread was really bland, which ruined the taste for me. The piadine was cut into 4 pieces, the portion would be good for 2-4 people to share. I ordered the beef shin, the beef was meant to have been braised for hours and quite juicy. But while it was soft, the outside was dry. I liked the addition of apples to it, however at the end of the meal I was just so over the meaty taste, there were no other striking flavours in the dish. AJ ordered the pan fried fish on a bed of couscous. The couscous itself was good but not enough of it. The fish was bland and fried for a tad too long. Both portions were good. And oh I also ordered the citrus drink, which for $7 was tiny and tasted more like orange flavoured water to me. Ortolana, I wanted to love you so much. I wanted to agree with other Yelpers and be cool, but I can't. I wouldn't say it was aweful, it just wasn't great. Would I go back? No I don't think so. Auckland is booming with new establishments, will save my money and time to find the one.

Ortalana is one of my favorite restaurants. Despite being in the city they have managed to bring a vibrant Mediterranean comfort. Fairy lights and heaters cleverly line the entrance to the restaurant so its hard to pass up when wandering through the concrete jungle of Auckland. The food is light and really tasty and they dont overdo it with cheese or pasta. I eat quite a bit and still manage to reach satiety after a main + shared entre with the chicken coteletta being a regular winner. Another important feature of Ortalana is the attached dessert patissrrie/restaurant Milse which is like a treasure chest of yummy treats. Tip - advise the staff when you arrive at ortalana that you will be having dessert at milse and they can organise a table to be ready once you've eaten your meals to avoid nasty waiting times (45-90 mins wait)

This is one wee gem, no a jewel, in Auckland's crown. It's like our best kept secret, that's out now. Shame as I hate to wait for a table here ! Dining at Ortolana feels like Christmas, especially if you go there in winter. What a warming comfortable wee spot this is. Wrap around couches and chairs, wonderful menu with lots of tasting plates, vegetarian, pasta and exquisite deserts. Service that demonstrates a commitment by HIP group to training and professionalism. Sparkling fairy lights, people watching, remarkable wine list. And a view into the kitchen that brings you closer to the feeling of being cooked for in someone's ski lodge. Wonderful.

This place is definitely on my 5-star list, love the setting for starters. Auckland never looks prettier than sitting here and looking up at the city skyline. I love the huge planters outside filled with strawberries (yes, real). Not a French fry in sight, the food is delicate, fresh and pretty on the plate. Part of the Hip Group with a collection of stylish eateries, this place is a must. And don't forget to pop into Milse (just next door, down the alleyway) and treat yourself to dessert.

I am new to Auckland and a friend invited me to lunch at Britomart. Arriving a bit early and curious to check out the chique plaza, I walked past Ortolano and was drawn to it from a far. It has a wood and glass exterior with black wire chairs giving the place a casual and welcoming feel. The interior is bright and there is a cushion couch on the right of the restaurant with light oak tables and chairs that gave it a homey feel. Seated on one of the corner cushion couches, I was excited to learn that I could get free WiFi. For someone who is accustomed to getting it free at most of the places back home this felt like a luxury. I was already in love and I had yet to sample the food! When my friend arrived we ordered a 'Château du Breuil Cavazos', and asked the waiter for their recommendations, he asked us a few questions and proceeded to list some options. The service and his knowledge of the menu was impressive. For our starter we had the Crayfish ravioli, with preserved lemon and garden herbs. It was so delicious one could not get enough, it was so good I forgot to take a picture. He had suggested we order the larger portion of it and I wish I had, until our next dish arrived. I did not think our dining experience could get better but it did. Next we had the chicken with lemon and kale salad. Absolutely incredible the combination of the lemon with chicken and kale left a delicious after taste in your mouth. We were sharing each dish so we decided to have another one. At this point we trusted the waiter to just bring us whatever he thought we should try. He brought the Rare beef, green tomato, gazpacho Blanco. I did not want to share, the meat was cooked to perfection(at least for me, it was brown on the outside and slightly pink on the inside) so tender it melted in your mouth. In case I did not mention the presentation was excellent for every dish, I still cannot believe I did not take pictures!! Oh well a reason to go back. This was a fantastic way to kick off my Foodie experience in Auckland and if the cuisine is anything like this, I look forward to eating out much more. From one Foodie to another this is a MUST visit.

We'd been thinking about checking Ortolana out for a while given how close it is to our apartment, and how well rated it was on Yelp. The fact that they source ingredients from their own farm is also a huge draw. I'd like to say that our experience was really a bit less than a 4, but 3 really doesn't seem fair. The food was good, the atmosphere was lovely, but it just didn't have the spark in the food that I look for in a $$$ restaurant. To be fair, I got the market fish, and that was pretty tasty. It was a nice light meaty white fish served with an avocado puree, quinoa, some micro greens etc. It was yummy and fresh. My beef is with the not so exciting vegetarian options. I hear the meat dishes here are exquisite, but a restaurant that is going to charge a ton of money should match their excellent meat dishes with excellent veggie options. Both are pasta-centric, which seems lazy. Why not have one pasta dish and one completely different dish? My husband got the Casereccia pasta, asparagus, truffle butter, yolk -- that night it was spaghetti instead of the usual pasta, and green beans instead of asparagus. Maybe the substitutions took it down a notch. It looked beautiful but was seriously lacking in the flavor department. Rather boring/ho hum for the cost. I've heard the breakfast options are excellent, so perhaps we need to go back for that. Otherwise, I wouldn't go back by choice. Thumbs up for being open New Years Day though...

I've been here twice and both times was not disappointed. The first time was for lunch, sat inside with a friend. We split the gnocchi and the pillus pasta. Both were soo delicious. I had the plum & peppercorn handmade soda, my friend had the cucumber one. Hers was very refreshing, mine was a bit on the sweet side. The bench was cozy with big plush cushions that they hand-fluffed for us, and the ambiance was "industrial-yet-inviting." The second time here was for a glass of wine in the evening. It was a chilly night, so they sat us outside right next to a toasty heat lamp and gave us wool blankets to bundle up with. I felt so bougie and luxurious, but like in the non-gaudy way. $9 for the house montepulciano, which seems like a great price compared to places in the area. Definitely worth whatever it is you're coming here for, especially if what you're going here for is to feel fancy as while having something delicious.