Hippopotamus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar

My friend and I had High Tea at the Hippopatamus. I had been for dinner a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed. High Tea was very elegant. Tried to book for the Saturday but could not get in so went on the Sunday which was also very busy. The service was excellent and the food beautifully presented. Some of it was very sweet which I enjoyed but my friend would have liked to have forgone the sweet and had more savoury. I think it is the best high tea I have experienced in the Wellingtron area.

We flew into Wellington delayed and fortunately our reservation at Hippopotamus was held for us despite the 25 minutes overtime. The restaurant was very empathetic and understanding despite this being a busy night. The restaurant was beautiful and exotic with accents of wildlife adornments offset with opulent crystal chandeliers and Savoy like embellishments highlighting a stunning seascape harbour view.

Instantly, we were warmly greeted and our luggage was stored at the main desk as we were seated. The restaurant staff was engaging, warm and consummately professional.

To start we had Antipodes accompanying glasses of Hawkes Bay Syrah and a North Canterbury Pinot Noir. Since the menu was very impressive, we settled on the 6 course degustation Discovery Menu. I was most impressed by the sommelier who looked after us, because his knowledge and engagement was educational, fascinating and enriching.

We began our cuisine journey with an amuse bouche of pineapple mango tea with salmon sashimi and picked vegetable. This complementary dish was confusing with only the salmon being enjoyable. This was followed by warm baguette and apricot bread within seaweed butter which was amazing.

The first of two entrees and first two courses was a pamu deer milk panna cotta with freeze dried Manuka honey, kawakawa oil, turmeric caviar on white chocolate saffron paint. The smooth texture of the panna cotta was wonderful and flavoursome.

Following on, we had the grilled brown mushroom with porcini and shallot escabeche, cream of charred cauliflower, wilted kale with a truffle tapenade. This dish was delicious, complex in flavour and very exciting.

Our first of two mains was chicken roulade with pear Stilton cheese filling on quince paste with pecans and walnuts finished with chestnut butter and confit garlic cream. This dish was simply heavenly and aromatic, not to mention highly memorable.

The second main was fish of the day, pan fried trevally on a lobster bisque with couchettes, aubergine and confit garlic with roast capsicum. This dish was divine with beautiful textures and layers of flavour, despite the fish type not being a favorite of mine.

A palate cleanser of kawakawa, lemon and Italian parsley sorbet was served and this was wonderfully refreshing.

The fifth course of a cheese plate of goats cheese with baguette, spinach, apricot, walnut and plum chutney. This was a lovely prelude to the closing dish and dessert 5 textures of chocolate including mousse, bavois, truffle, sorbet and soil. The dessert dishes were the perfect crescendo to the meal.

Overall our dining experience was superb, the service was excellent, attentive and faultless, wine list was impressive and cuisine was mostly memorable for positive reasons. I’d love to experience more of their menu. Highly recommended with consummate distinction!

Came here for High Tea!! Definitely recommended, nice view. Great staff too!

Superb restaurant. Beautifully decorated, comfortable, and classy. The food is delicious with a good variety to suit all tastes. A broad wine list to match. Staff are pleasant and knowledgeable.

A sensational, world class unforgettable dining experience from start to finish. So worth it to come here if you are in Wellington. Food and service is to die for, seating and interior add a touch of class to the harbor view. Has to be seen to be believed.