Hungry Mr Wolf Eats at Boulcott Street Bistro
The Hungry Mr Wolf is a former restruaratuer and wine industry professional who has taken on the daunting task of finding the best dining establishments in New Zealand. Why you may ask? So you, our valued readers, know who’s kicking butt in the hospitality industry and where the must go spots are no matter where you are. Hunting high and hunting low, Mr Wolf is always hungry for an epic dining experience.
When I walk into Boulcott Street Bistro, it feels a bit like walking into my living room. It’s warm, familiar and comfortable; everything I wanted on a blustery Wellington evening. I take a seat at the bar to wait for my dining companion and have a chat with the forever friendly bartender, Sam. Now you may have already guessed, but this isn’t my first visit to this fine establishment. I’ve been known to make the most of the whitebait lunch special when the season allows (it’s bloody amazing value and delicious) and the Sunday roast is not to be missed.
This iconic Wellington restaurant was established in 1991 and has stood the test of time. While other ventures have opened their doors, and then subsequently closed their doors around the city, Boulcott has held onto its loyal, regular customers and welcomed their children too. What’s the secret you may ask? They know their customer, which in my opinion is everything. They offer warm and welcoming service, the food and beverage offering is consistently on point and you always look forward to returning.
I enjoyed my well made gin and tonic and when my guest arrived, we moved to the table. Our waiter, a friendly young woman, bought us menus and sparkling water while we chatted about boring life junk before getting to the serious stuff, ordering wine and food. The wine list has a strong New Zealand focus, featuring some of my favourite brands, along with a smattering of international wines and a great little cellar list. As it was a school night, we chose to drink by the glass. We ordered a glass of Champagne Taittinger each and a dozen oysters – my favourite way to start a meal. No surprises here, the oysters tasted like they were fresh out of the ocean, perfection!
One thing I noted and approve of is it is made clear on the menu which dishes are dairy-free and gluten-free and if they can be altered. I imagine this eliminates a lot of tedious conversation for the wait staff, brilliant idea. We ordered the Beef Carpaccio and the House Made Mushroom Ravioli for entrees. The carpaccio was sliced into delicious, perfectly seasoned slithers that melted in my mouth, served with a smooth and creamy mustard moussline and horseradish that added just the right amount of heat. The ravioli is, and I don’t say this often, to die for. Delightful packages of perfectly cooked pasta containing a tender mushroom filling which are doused in truffle dressing and Grana Padano, seriously intoxicating.
For the mains, I couldn’t go past the Aged Fillet of Beef and my companion opted for the Braised Lamb Shank. Now I’m a sucker for a delicious sounding side dish and this menu is packed with them, so I knew I was in trouble. I ordered the Broccoli with Caesar Dressing, the Cauliflower Gratin, and the Field Mushrooms and then made a mental note to go to the gym an extra day that week…which I did not. The steak was cooked medium rare, it was tender and juicy and don’t get me started on the fries, delicious! The humble shank, I remember when it became all the rage on restaurant menus and so many people messed it up, but of course this one was spot on. Now, even if you think you don’t need a side dish, you do. Trust me, you won’t regret a single mouthful of that Cauliflower Gratin and it’s a vegetable, so it’s practically healthy.
Our bellies were too full to even contemplate the dessert menu, but from past visits, I can highly recommend Crème Brûlée and the Toffee and Date Pudding. I can’t wait to go back and have them again.
5/5 Thumbs Up