Reviews for The Kiln Restaurant

by Helen
23rd March 2012

I was looking forward to the recommended seafood chowder for lunch, but when the waitress said they had oyster chowder I opted for this. Big mistake! Oyster porridge more like it. I actually tasted four little chunks of oysters mixed into this non oyster tasting thick white/yellow sauce. I asked for no bread and still was charged the $15.90. I will never return.

by Markus H.
31st January 2012

After waiting ten minutes standing around to be seated because the barman was “to busy organizing bottles” (bit rude!) to seat us finally one of the waitresses had some common sense and seated us at our booked table. Good atmosphere earlier on but gets noisy later on as it is a bar also. Well….. our waitress was fantastic!!! one of the best parts of the night including the food. She defiantly knew what she was doing and must of had professional training abroad. Both my parents being in the restaurant industry for over 25 years from europe were both impressed too. The occasion was my sisters 18th birthday with my family and we all enjoyed our food. My steak was great cooked perfectly m/r and so tender. All the veges were very tasty and the whole dish had flavor, its good to see a chef that knows how to season a dish. Overall yes i would recommend this place to my friends and my family will be going back again for sure.

by cookie
2nd January 2011

My complaint… I didn’t even get to eat at The Kiln. I went there at midday-lunchtime with a friend on Dec 31st for lunch, and they were closed! Come on – the day of New Years Eve and according to your hours listed outside you weren’t opening until 5pm. I enjoyed my lunch elsewhere.

by Paul C.
5th August 2010

Thursday 5- Aug -2010 6:00 PM
Ordered the Oven baked Stewart Island Blue cod with gourmet potatoes. It was in-front of me with in 15 min , very quick . Not a huge meal and the potatoes were only just warm and the side salad could have done with a bit more acid. But the fish was a good amount and very much the star of the dish

by Ladyjayne
8th July 2010

Have visited here a few times and was disapointed with the lack of vegetarian meals on the menu, at one point there was no vegetarian meals and had to order from the lunch menu. Have had a pleasant dining experience as well, but recently was asked to leave as was with a group of singing friends (who were in smoking area). Will be avoiding this bar for a while now!

by Tasha
9th June 2010

Service was OK and the girl although clearly laking in training tried hard to please and be friendly. As for the food well the Lamb (Main Meal) was great but the other 5 dishes ordered (2 Entrees & 3 Mains) were not good at all. The Protein in each dish was either over cooked or very tough, disappointing as the Menu shows the Chefs to have promise. Dessert Platter to shear was nice and a good size for the price. Wines by the glass available in two different sizes is a great idea. Although the decor is trendy and inviting the noise level is very loud and the tables here are tiny and close together so NOT good if you are there to have a quite catch up with Friends of a romantic night out. But as a place to go for a drink with a rowdy bunch of Friends…. perfect. If I could have given 2 1/2 stars I would have.

by Peter D.
16th December 2009

We had lunch on a day that was not busy. The service was efficient, but not suffocating. The food , blue cod, was very acceptable, and was well presented. Would return.

by Slm
17th October 2009

For all of its attempts trying to look the best in town everything else lets it down.
45 minute wait for cold food by staff that seem preoccupied with their looks rather than providing good service.
The food was ok but nothing else was. I will not be dining here again.

by john
17th July 2009

Well went there for tea and will never go again i found the staff much to young and very rude they had little if any experance and the bar staff just stood there chatting up girls while we waited to be served for a simple beer food was good and i feel sorry for the cooks as they are very good but there front line staff let them down.

Comment from dave S. of The Kiln Restaurant 25/07/2009    Hide »

John, The Kiln welcomes all constructive criticism both of…    More »

John, The Kiln welcomes all constructive criticism both of complimentary and negative nature. I would like the opportunity to discuss this further. If you could please contact me on 0274386328 it would be appreciated.

Dave Steward
Manager.

by Dan
10th July 2009

Only eaten once at The Kiln. We ordered the seafood platter and it was AWESOME! More than enough for two of us to share. Serving staff were very polite and pleasant. I would certainly go back. I do however agree with the comments about going early, I have seen how this place changes into a pub later in the evening.

by Nikki
31st May 2009

Amazing. Clearly the best kitchen staff in Invercargill. It is nice for quality and not quantity to be served up for a change. Very resonably priced and a very welcoming atmosphere

by Jo
9th May 2009

Went to the kiln for lunch as i wanted something hot and yummy, i had to get two waitresses to find out if i could take it away as i was by myself. I ordered the monteiths blue cod and chips – didnt get it, the girl obviously got it wrong, got bluecod, potatoes and a green and tomato salad. Hate tomatoes!!! i didnt realise until i was back at work, too far away to go back and complain. one good point was the fish was fresh!! and i have to agree with the complaints about the waitresses. They’re obviously in the wrong job as they dont know basic customer service full stop.

by Debs
19th April 2009

The food here is always good & their half price desert day is a favourite with everyone but service is always slow & never friendly!
It is best to dine in early in the evening or lunch times because later on it turns into a pub, the music comes up & loud drunk people are crammed in all around while you try to finish a nice meal.
I am very disappointed that when we booked in a large group for afternoon tea on a very slow day and without any warning at booking time they gave us a seriously reduced menu because it was apparently too hard on the kitchen staff to let us choose any desert (they didn’t want to let someone who is allergic to most things on their menu order the icecream selection since it was not on the little menu they gave us!)
Service was so slow we had to go up to the counter & ask for orders to be taken and when paying the childs option (a small scoop of icecream & strawberry sauce in a cup) was not half price like all other deserts so cost more than the large adult size ones at $6.

In future we will turn up without booking as there was only 1 other person in the restaurant but they made our large group feel very unwelcome

by lauren a.
7th April 2009

A group of friends and I went here for dinner one Friday night and we had the worst experience ever! Service was slow, one in our party arrived 10mins late (we had told them beforehand)and they said the kitchen was now closed so she couldn’t order a meal! The food was average, and the noise levels were such that we had to shout to be heard….awful place! None of us 6 will go back there.

by seera
5th June 2008

I went for dinner and I must say the chicken caeser salad was absolutely divine…just enough of everything.Waitresses were lovely. Then to follow with a cocktail something hilton..it was delicious.

by Dave
25th May 2008

I found the food to be excellent and selection from the menu diverse and tasty. I would have to agree with the comments further down that the waitresses could have dropped their attitude and got on with it. Still the surroundings where nice and its a great place to unwind after work. I’ll be back.

by amanda
18th May 2008

I have visited the kiln on quite a few occasions and have found the service great staff friendly and the meals really well presented and delicious a definate must!!! is the chicken filo yum yum

by Sarah
24th January 2008

Southern hospitality not found here, went for lunch, and food didnt arrive until 50 mins after we’d ordered, (other tables arriving later than us were served earlier) leaving us either to be late back to work, or not eat our meal. There were no apologies from staff at all, not even the courtesy apologies, and in fact became quite obnoxious when one of our party members decided to tell them that it was not in good standard to wait so long.

A second visit, hoping that the first was a odd occurance showed us we were wrong, again obnoxious staff had to be tolerated when the wrong meal was brought out. Refused to believe that we had in fact not ordered the chicken, as we’re vegetarian… but there u have it.

Meals actually pretty good. Decent size. Well HUGE actually, and good atmosphere minus the host and the poorly trained waitresses.

Kiln does GREAT cocktails tho. Go for the drinks.

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