I was very excited to try the food at Hopgoods and had high hopes for this restaurant, especially after reading all the wonderful five star reviews. My partner and I ordered the chefs tasting menu $95 and drink pairing 50$ at a price of $145 each. I felt that the tasting menu fell flat on many aspects. There were multiple inconsistencies in the dishes, such as some dishes having too much sauce versus scant sauce, the size of the portions, and the amount of ingredients received on the plate. The plating also left something to be desired, with the first and last course covered by a ? Parmesan crisp and purple toffee? respectively, meaning you cannot see any of the dish underneath. The reason why I add question marks is because the dishes were simply brought to us without any explanation of what we were receiving, methods in which the ingredients were cooked or prepared, or why the particular wine pairing was chosen for the dish. The dishes themselves were unimaginative and not executed properly. The second course gnocchi were mushy and over cooked, the third course market fish was underseasoned, and half of the fourth course beef brisket was rubbery and dry. At the very least I expected properly cooked tasty food … at least the wine was good. Ultimately I left feeling disappointed and I don’t think I will return to this restaurant.
The BEST FOOD I've eaten. AMAZING! The service is brilliant. Had the 5 course taster menu on our recent visit and was just delicious!! Can't fault this restaurant.
Incredible food, friendly, laid-back atmosphere, did I mention the delicious food? We had the pork cheek, beef fillet, confit duck and tiramasu for desert. All of it was amazing. The truffle butter with the bread was a revelation. But what really made our night was the service. All of the staff were really warm and friendly, particularly Vicky, who made us feel like we were her life-long best friends. Would definitely recommend, will definitely go back next time we're in Nelson.
We have been meaning to come here for ages and finally got the opportunity this time around in Nelson. It was great, every dish was beautiful and the atmosphere was perfect too. The Lobster toast, the salmon entree and the fish main were the best selections on the night. The potato side we had was outstanding too! We paired our food with an excellent bottle of Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay….amazing! Service was good and the maître d was outstandingly good at taking care of customers. We will return!
Impressive! An incredible fine dining experience - such an epic set up - service, atmosphere, food, drink - everything was amazing!! Will be back for sure the next time we are in Nelson, def a must do!!Food: 5/5
We had one of the best meals in Nelson. From the moment we walked in and the server greeted us, then preceded to give us a gin tasting prior to ordering our gin cocktail, then a wine tasting to ensure we chose the perfect bottle of vino to match the food. Oh and then the food was delicious. The crayfish ravioli was juicy and sweet. The richness of the cheese soufflé was cut perfectly with the Temata estate Zara viognier! Our main choices were the confit duck leg and the fennel turbot. Both dishes were just epic. That turbot was one of the nicest fish dishes I’ve ever tasted. Highly recommend you visit Hopgoods next time you visit Nelson or live in Nelson!
First of all, I would like to thank the staff at Hopgoods for accommodating us for NYE dinner which was made the day before. We were in town w/o making any NYE dinner plan and scrambled around at the 11th hour checking openings at numerous restaurants until husband showed up in person to Hopgoods and the staff graciously squeezed us in. Service was impeccable and warm with staff checking up on us quite often, tasting menu was creative and delicious and the staff kindly adjusted my husband's meal to dairy-free so some of his dishes looked like a completely different item from mine. Great place in Nelson for upscale dining. Dietary restrictions: dairy-free
Wow, I’ve been traveling for 6 months and this might be the most sublime, flawless, and “I already wish I could come back” dining experience I’ve had. It reminded why I love the art of food, the surprises and subtleties. And the service! My waitress was cheeky, fun, and always ready to help. Her advice was golden - she even gave me a half portion at half price of an incredible saffron potatoes side when I said I was medium hungry. She also gave me three wine tastings to pick from as I chose my glass for the main course. She deserves a medal for her deft and faultless work. The rest of the staff is lovely and warm, every face and every course. I am actually sad I cannot back again as I move on to Queenstown then return to the US. You MUST get the duck confit, the local Paua appetizer, and the most divine yogurt cake I’ve ever tasted. Come here. One of the greatest meals of my life, and I’ve had ~20 2-3 star Michelin meals.
Best fine dining in town . Had the delicious Degustation Menu when we were last in, absolutely delicious . If you haven't tried Hopgoods it's a must, worth every cent.
We ate here on Saturday night. Loved the staff and the food. The servers were extra friendly and informative. The fish was delicious in a light lemony sauce. I've never had battered broccoli before. It was good.