A cuisine for every occasion in Wellington

Have you found yourself googling "What are the best restaurants in Wellington near me?" Well lucky you, us good folks at First Table have listed some must-try restaurants in the Capital so you can try a new cuisine daily. And with First Table, you can do this without the spending guilts.

Indian restaurant Wellington: Great India

Foodies gather around! Named one of New Zealand's top 100 restaurants by Cuisine Magazine in 2019, Great India is the home of authentic Indian eats in the Capital! With each dish being prepared to order, expect the most moreish fresh aromatic dishes; Great India has been serving Wellington for over 30 years. If you're a creature of habit, all the traditional dishes such as Rogan josh, lamb vindaloo and butter chicken are all on the menu.  For something a little more adventurous, try a modern Indian delicacy such as Goan Pork Curry, marinated for 24 hours in Gewurztraminer, or Samba Masala, a venison curry from Nepal-North India. 

Mexican restaurant Wellington: Los Banditos

Los Banditos is the Mexican cantina and tequilaria that dreams are made of. With any great Mexican restaurant comes colour, flavour and FUN, and Los Banditos has all three in spades.  The menu can be shared with the 'bocaditos' items designed for this purpose. Try out their famous flaming cheese or the Banditos fried chicken, or dip away into their house-made guacamole. If you don't want to share, fair enough! There are enough taco and quesadillas options for the meat-lovers, vegetarians, gluten-free and vegans around. And what’s a fiesta without a margarita or tequila in hand? 

Vietnamese restaurant Wellington: Pho Viet Street Food

Traditional Vietnamese food made with love, welcome to the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam! Quick, convenient street food with next-level freshness and flavours, Pho Viet is the home of low and slow 8-hour Pho's with anything from chicken breast to crispy pork, beef meatballs or seafood. But first, start with a round of shrimp popcorn or crispy spring rolls. Then check out their sticky rice dishes, buns or a fresh salad, and wash it down with a Vietnamese coffee! Ăn chưa!

Seafood restaurant Wellington: Shed 5

Iconic, historic and delicious, Shed 5 is home to Wellington's freshest seafood, hand picked from the early morning fish markets by their long-serving fishmonger Richard. The menu is something special, starting with Oysters from around the country: Te Kouma, Coromandel, Te Matuku, Waiheke Island, Kiwa, Orongo Bay or Bluff, Foveaux Strait. Or indulge in the Wairarapa octopus and chorizo Panzanella salad. For the main affair, try their market fish prepared one of two ways, the seafood risotto that changes with the tide or the Shed 5 fish and chips. 

Pizza restaurant Wellington: Cable Top Eatery

You can't write about Wellington without including the Cable Top Eatery! In Wellington's most perfectly perched eatery, the views are unmissable. But let's not get distracted; pizza is on our minds. Inspired by the Mediterranean, classic pizzas are the traditional faves, Margherita with Napoli sauce and mozzarella, blue cheese, Fungi, spicy pepperoni and garlic prawns. Vegans fear not; there's a happy vegan pizza loaded with plant-based cheese, zucchini, eggplant, artichokes, olives and capsicum. Delicious! 

New Zealand restaurant Wellington: Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant 

Like any good Kiwi hangout, the Southern Cross serves up favourite NZ eats that all your family and friends can enjoy. Begin with some kumara wedges or classic fried with aioli. Then decide between the stone grill is busy with surf and turf, lamb rack or fillet steak. Or go for the burgers, signature beef patty, and Southern chicken. For hungry kiwis, there's the fish and chips, pork schnitzel or spiced lamb shoulder. Southern Cross is your home away from home.

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