ombra

this place cooks seriously delicious food. it is in the style of a venetian bacaro, the food comes in small servings so you order a selection to go round the table. in my opinion this is the best way to eat as you get to try a little bit of everything! some of my favourites are the pizzettes, the venison meatballs, and the risotto. the atmosphere is great, music and dimlights which is just what i like when going out to enjoy a meal on a cold winter's evening. the food was consistently tasty and ofgoodquality. the belinis weren't too bad either ;)

we had high expectations going here due to all the amazing reviews & they were all met! the service, ambience and food were all fantastic.

because some reviews said the servings were small we ordered a few dishes & it was way too much food.

in hindsight we would have only ordered the duck risotto & the bavette steak along with the ciabatta so that we had room for dessert. we didn’t need the arancini or the beef meatballs & they weren’t as great as the other dishes.

the service was friendly, attentive & professional.

the prices weregood& we felt it was value for money.

wish we could visit again soon, but unfortunately our visit to wellington ends tomorrow.

yum! i moved away from wellington seven years ago and visit home around once a year - i can't remember what used to be in this spot, but who cares. ombra takes the cake. delicious and appealing food in a warm and inviting venue. suchgoodvalue for the quality of food being served.

the gnocchi was beautifully cooked and presented but painfully dry with very little burnt butter. lacked flavor.
the ragu was packed full of flavor and was agoodsized serving. delicious!
some of the smaller dishes such as meatballs did not contain any pasta which is a brave call for an italian restaurant. would have beengoodto have an option of a side of pasta with these dishes.

with the 4.9 in reviews which lifted my expectation sky high. walked all the way to this place and felt like it didn't meet the 4.9. service wasgoodbut as it was really busy, we only took a side bar place. the steak was too rare to be honest and the staff didn't ask or mention it. the risotto was average.

the 4.9 review and my friends recommendations lifted my expectations for this place sky high, and i’m afraid this place didn’t meet them. they makegooditalian comfort pastas, different to what i’d expected. everything was great but not exceptional enough to be 4.9?. the portions were huge though, especially the lamb for its price, however it was vinegary which i found odd... the sauce on the mushroom arranicini was also really odd (can’t tell what it was). the risotto and salad was absolutely delicious, the gnocchi wasgoodbut was a bit too oily.

really appreciated the prompt and friendly hospitality from staff who made me feel welcomed.

the bruschetta bread was soft and the avo/tomato/olive 🥑 🍅 flavours worked nicely. the tarakihi market fish🐟 and green beans was well cooked. a tad bit oily for my liking, but the taste was spot on.

would recommend for any wellingtonians or anyone wanting agooditalian experience in the heart of cuba street.

love anything that i ordered, especially the polenta chips.goodsize and price and quality . very busy place but withgoodservice

the food was really good. fish was done perfectly and lamb rump was tender and juicy. staff were accommodating. i recommend this place for first time tourists looking forgoodfood in the heart of cuba street.

one of the best italian resturants i've been to, with best quality and delicious food.goodvibes friendly staff. will visit this place next time i visit wellington.

i must say i'm very impressed with the 4.8 rating here on zomato, so decided to try it for myself. and what better time than at the wellington on a plate food festival! ombra put up mighty ducks, a burger with pulled duck with crispy skin and pâté, giardiniera pickles, endive and saffron aioli in a housemade italian milk bun, with duck fat fries. must say: this burger was spectacular. flavors were so well balanced and really complemented each other. excellent! my friend had the gnocchi and it was one of the best she'd ever tasted! the décor and the service was also fantastic. really made agoodfirst impression.

would definitely love to return to try the a la carte menu!

edit: so over the weekend i went back to try the ala carte menu and i must say, it was far above my expectations! do try the lamb rump cacciatore and the bavette steak. steak focuses on the freshness and quality of the produce, while the lamb rump was slow cooked i believe with the sauce, along with a layer on fat on the meat which really enhanced the flavor of the dish! will definitely definitely be back!

we stopped by on our travels through wellington.
customer service was perfect, staff were very friendly, tentative and helpful.
meals were amazing, very fresh and tasty.
verygoodpricing.

would definitely recommend.

what a great little restaurant in cuba street -italian tapas.

we had the white anchovies, parma ham, two small pizzas, beef meatballs and rabbit risotto. finished with warm orange almond cake.

agoodwine selection by the glass and great service- what more could you want.

but book or go early / the place fills up fast.

wonderful first experience that we couldn't stop raving about. for us the stars of the meal were definitely the pork belly saltimbocca and black truffle pecorino, absolutely delicious. potions were on the tiny side, although it is supposed to be tapas/small plates style. bresaola was good. pizza topping was a bit watery but the base was great and crispy with somegoodchewiness. beef meatballs were well seasoned and filled with an oozing cheese centre. we tried an array of desserts, and my personal favourite among them was the orange almond tart, but they were all delicious. recommend trying the honey and fig pannacotta as well. dessert portions were even tinier. excellent service! the staff were extremely friendly and patient in explaining how to make the best out of our dining experience (we did not come at a busy time). also the stripped down interior really made a warm, unique atmosphere. we will definitely come back if we find ourselves in wellington again.

ombra is all about italian food & their menu has many favourites. one recommendation was their meatballs, & having enjoyed the ones from baduzzi in auckland we were keen to compare. we think that ombra wins! the flavour combinations were delicious & their was enough substance in the bowl from polenta, ricotta etc... to make agooddish. we enjoyed all 4, but in order of which was the favourite - pork, lamb, venison & beef.
good range of other dishes & a comprehensive wine, beer & cocktail menu, they have it all covered. service was great too & you have to check out the different salt & pepper shakers on all tables.