WellingtonNZ.com,
New Zealand 

Jared
3rd December 2011 1 star 

Ham sushi? What the f***?


I am being asked by the website to elaborate about my experience. Do not be fooled by nostalgia. Eating at such a place will destroy all fond remembrances of your childhood!

Moosey
21st November 2011 1 star 

We went to this restaurant on Sunday 20/11/11 for a family gathering. I have been once before and knew how bad it was but as I wasn’t paying it wasn’t my choice on this occasion. I read the feedback on this site before I went as I was hoping things had improved, but it really just backed up my low expectations, confirmed as soon as I set foot in the restaurant. The restaurant itself was filthy and outdated with torn couches and stained chairs. The food bars were also filthy with spilt food and dirty dishes. Nothing looked appetising. The bread rolls were contained in a plastic container with a dirty lid and you had to lift the lid to get a roll. The ice-cream was splattered all over the wall. I would give this place a D- rating from the Health Dept!! I ate very little…….hot chips (over cooked), battered fish more batter than fish (doughy and disgusting), brandy snaps were okay but cream was foul, ice cream came out all curdled. Over all this restaurant serves nothing better than pig swill. My one star rating is being generous. Dine there at your own risk!

Zana L.
24th September 2011 1 star 

My family & I dined at “VALENTINES PETONE ” tonight…We thought we’d treat ourselves as we don’t dined out much..To my despair it had increased somewhat to $39:90 for Adults which included my 12 yr old & 14 yr old…My 9 yr old was $13:95..& the price of a Jug of OJ or Coke was $14 each….So 4x at $39:90 & 1x at $13:95 + 2x jugs of drink $28..TOTAL= $201:55c…So what do you get for your money ???…seafood chowder..should’ve been called crabstick chowder, which was in everything..The mushroom soup tasted like Butter soup..The bread buns were hard not fresh at all.,So next I tried the curries..Butter chicken was chunky & Dry..Both curries were very Creamy..Turning your stomach almost..Then I tried the Pav & friut salad..The Pav had a after taste that wasn’t nice that was on the outside the inside was Very Marshmallowy & the texture was funny..Friut salad..I only could taste the 2x grapes..next I tried the Cheese cake…That was Horrid like curdled Milk..& the small piece of jam cake was 2/3rds of artificial pink icing…No oysters..no mints at the counter..too help with the sickly feeln…my question is where are these food critics that are suppose to check the food standard in these restaurants ??? I later rung to speak to the manager the same guy answered who’d answered when I’d rung earlier to see about bookn..He went on to say the Manager had gone & that was the after hours service..DOES VALENTINES HAVE A AFTER HOURS SERVICE..???..They could afford anything at that rate !! I would have preferred to have gone & got takeouts from my fav take-aways…& doubled the Order still would’ve been under $100..I saw a man wearing a Scottish Rugby jersey in there.. * ALL WORLD CUP RUGBY PEOPLE STARE CLEAR OF ” VALENTINES PETONE ” * Unless you what to leave feeling ripped off…how embarrassing for NZ..But the same old little indian guy runs it. Obviously doesn’t EAT THERE..I’m guessing hes the Rodney guy that’s signed the reviews here twice…you’d have to be a NO TASTE BUD..BLAND PERSON TO LIKE ANYTHING THERE……..yes I’m NOT HAPPY..!!!!!!
Wasted $200 thanx ‘Petone Valentines’ for ruining my families annual dinning out sessions…No stars from me but i had to place a star to submit my review…The food is worse then when it was at the old place.

Greg M.
31st May 2011 4 star 

Buffet dining isn’t for the cuisine and to tell people about the amazing experience, and for that, you wouldn’t compare it to a-la-carte for presentation or flavours. You take it for what it is. However, I must say, after working in a Valentines in a past life (a time I was not so proud to call myself a chef) these guys at Petone do it very well. It seems the multiple dishes that Valentines used to serve have made way for less dishes, but done well. Hot section – everything I tried was delicious. Seems us Kiwi’s have a love for curries, and butter chicken and Lamb curry were there, both of which you could have served at an Indian restaurant and be happy with your choice. and you get to go back for more! The only thing was no Naan bread with which the chef replied “Try it with the garlic bread!” Brilliant! Seafood mornay’s were to die for. The only gripe I had is the dessert buffet is a little lacking of options. Ice cream choices were good but the ice cream scoops in the water is cringe material. The Manager had a name badge with “Dishwasher” on it, which summed up the tone. Casual dining and feed the hunger.

Mark R.
7th April 2011 1 star 

We have been here a few times over the years (for family functions) and they’ve been nothing more than average on any of these occasions. Luke warm food that’s a little tasteless with bugger all in real choice. Don’t get me wrong there’s a lot to choose from but there’s no real choice. It all tastes and looks the same. I can get potatoes done three ways. I’d be happy with one way if they were hot. Or warm. Or tasty. The meat might be different kinds; beef, pork, chicken. Or not. I’m not sure. The vegetables all taste the same – watery. The salads are scary. We’ve been smart enough to stay away from the seafood. Desserts are very average, and that’s being kind. However, they now seem to be getting worse. I didn’t think it was possible, but it is. To top it off they’ve moved and unfortunately the location is totally rubbish for parking.

You do get the opportunity to watch other people lean over, and in some cases into, the food you’re about to get to. This is a great appetite suppressant. Especially kids with their hands in the ice cream. It would be great if anyone who worked there (I use the word work loosely) actually did anything to stop this but it seems easier for them to watch. And they did. Actually that’s not fair, it wasn’t they, it was just one of them.

Not somewhere any relative will ever be able to make us go to again.

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