[T2DMan]

Add your review of Hog's Breath Cafe-Lower Hutt and be part of the fun .

Contact Details:
140 Queens Drive
Lower Hutt
ph. 0-4-569 1890

Cuisine:

[Tatebudz]

Having loved Hog's breath on Courtenay place, we thought we'd try out the one in the hutt. The service staff weren't quite as friendly, and althought it's a chain restaurant thats meant to have identical menu's, i ordered the ranch salad which I absolutely loved when i tried it in the city, and it arrived with almost a completely different assortment of ingredients. I'm fairly understanding of restaurants running out of certain ingredients, but the staff didn't even feel the need to advise me of this - there was far too much raw capsicum and sour sprout like objects. Usually their menu is delicious, but i was bitterly disappointed and have only been back once, when i ordered a steak to be on the safe side, which unfortunately was not cooked as per my request.

[Mer]

I made a booking for 29 people last week and was told due to another large table booking (pre booked a month or more ago), I am assuming of about the same pax... we would be on seperate tables - which was fine.. But with the amount of warning (for a very busy night) you would have thought - they would have sufficient amount of staff on board! NOOOOOO

Everyone was disapointed with there meals and it was embarrassing for me as it was my idea - going from the Wellington standard I felt safe but the food was awwwful the service was crappy and cashing up was like pulling teeth! Trying to pay in between the man cashing me up seating other people, I found it very rude! It took over 10 minutes to pay for my meal!

My partners steak was small, my crispy chicken burger was so tough I couldnt get my teeth through it, by the time I got my meal I knew it would take to long to get another so I just had a lettuce burger and curly fries which were not cooked through !

My mother in law vegies consisted of a carrot and small sprout of cauli - $28 what a rip! What is up with LHutt hogs breath - no comparison to the one in Napier and Wellington... something needs to be done... No one will ever go back!

Last but not least I asked if the cake could be brought out and I asked again and again as half our guest were leaving in the end my partner had to hunt it down in the kitchen light the candles and bring it out himself then chase down some plates which seemed like a big ask! The waiters were fine - I blame management as I feel they were so rushed off there feet .. I feel a new system needs to be in place for cashing up- I have never come across being left so many times at the desk when trying to pay for a meal as everytime the person would come back we would have to start a gain and again...

The meals were very disapointing, I can understand the $10 meals being average but paying nealry $30 for a small steak with minimal vegies and undercooked chips is awful!

Never never again....

Very embarrassing

[T2DMan]

Oh dear - pre booking should mean that sufficient food and staff are always made available. I know that it can be hard for restaurants, especially in the instances when customers can cancel last moment.

Thanks for your balanced review - your mention of "management" issues and the comparisons with the other restaurants in the group that you have not had issues with.

Could you balance out the review some more by finding a couple of restaurants that you have enjoyed and writing reviews on them - thanks

from email - Barry Huriwaka

I went to dinner at this establishment and I was greeted by friendly staff. I had quite a large group with me around 8. The food came on time and the dessert was delicious. Will go back again

[bensal]

Yup... O dear again... we pre-booked too and went for my son's 16th on a busy Thurs night but what a disappointment.. meals were either overcooked or undercooked.. the price was too high for the mains in regards to quality AND especially quantity and size... could never seem to get a waiter's/ess's attention! They forgot my son's surprise cake, so we left early and asked it to be returned from the kitchen while we were trying to pay the bill...which again seemed to take ages with a lot of interruptions.
However we had been there 2-3 months before and the meal was great! BUT it was only a Tuesday nite..??

[Kimi]

I have been here a few times now. I do like the steaks.

Cons
From ordering to food arriving can vary from long to too long
Steak can be a little grisely and fatty.

Pros
Yummy steak
Yummy steamed veges (when not overcooked)
Friendly service

Summary
I wouldn't hold any functions here, but I think its works fine as a family restaurant. I like it so much we are eating there tonight.
'watch this space for any editing when I return'

[JillD]

OMG - went to Hogs Breath last night and it was so bad that I felt the need to share our experience. Read story from Mer and it sounds exactly like our night last night - very disappointing

[strawberrys4ever]

Well, have been there 2 or 3 times, each time hoping for better but no such luck. Food was expensive, over rated, over cooked (especially the mixed appetiser) and I would think twice about recommending it to anyone. Unfortunate as a good steak house is a good restaurant but not in this case