ortega fish shack & bar

we've been wanting to eat here for ages, but always struggled to get a table. tonight we managed to score a table for 2 at really short notice. the food was good(ish). hubby loved his steak and chips, my prawns in garlic sauce were over-rich, even as a starter, the wine was good though! but the big issue with ortega is the lack of space. our table for 2 was tiny and tipped up every time we leaned on it. the neighbouring tables were so close you got nudged every few minutes and the waiting staff had to lean over you to serve the table behind. this restaurant needs to understand that more often equates to less, experience wise. we won't be returning.

this place is so awesome. staff are so friendly and the atmosphere is nice and cozy (good place for a romantic date). there were 5 of us and we all enjoyed our meals. we went for my son's 17th birthday and they gave us complimentary truffles and his one had a candle to blow out which he was happy about. food is really nice and i cant wait to go back next time.

wow. ortega you continue to provide. the first time i came here was a couple of years ago. very attentive wait staff who really know their menu. i love the fit out, with character and a more relaxed nature the service and food really shine without having the stuffy fine dining air about it. the waitress suggested a blonde pinot noir as a wine match for the fish. genius. have been hunting it down ever since. great service, food and drinks. will always recommend

edit: came here tuesday 29th aug 2017. busy night. mains took longer than expected so if dessert was something we intended to order?... it would be on the house for the whole table. the service was brilliant in that sense. honest and apologetic. thank you again team ortega

visited this place due to the high review - and there is a good reason why it is so high. the food was amazing - the tuna tataki and soft shell crab was absolutely amazing. i am based in auckland but i would definitely return when back in wellington. one of the waitresses took a fair while to disperse out cutlery - she thought really hard before placing down each fork and spoon which was nice in a way.. (felt looked after) but it did test my patience a little bit - took about 10 mins in total for her to finish (we did have a big group of 8 though!).

always a treat, the service is very good and the food matches. my girlfriend's dad loves the big beer list! we make an effort to come here whenever he's in town. recommend ortega

i was looking for somewhere nice to go for a birthday meal and looked on zomato and trip advisor. ortega comes in as #1 in wellington on both (at time of writing) - that made it a must try!

we booked for 5:45pm on a friday, which was fortuitous as it fills up real quick from 6pm.

great ambience. not pretentious, great decor, cool, yet relaxed vibe.

even though we were just a party of two, they accommodated us by letting us order from the group menu.

the sommelier helped us with our wine choice. very knowledgeable and quick to identify what wines may suit our expectations. they offered us tasters and sure enough, they hit the spot and we made our choice.

for entree:
* soft-shell crab, roasted pork belly, sweet tamarind, peanut slaw, coconut dressing
* corn fed duck liver pâté, pedro ximenez syrup, feijoa & saffron chutney

both were delicious. the pate was soft and creamy. plenty of everything.

the crab and pork belly was great. i don't know how they got the pork so tender. it was like cutting butter, and flavoursome. the crab was delicate, very enjoyable.

for mains we both ordered:
* beef fillet, café de paris butter, fries. my partner medium rare, mine rare.

the steak was the finest i've eaten in new zealand. it was rare, but firm. and it didn't leave blood on the plate. exceptional.

the café de paris butter was quite strong but it complimented the dish well once i figured out how much was enough.

plenty of fries, and as we were on the group menu, we received for the table- organic mixed leaf salad & duck fat roasted potatoes, sage, parmesan & truffle mayo

for dessert:
* chocolate mousse, espresso marscapone, dark ghana ganache & chocolate crumb
* catalan crepes with orange caramel sauce, vanilla ice-cream

the crepes were superb, soft sweet and light. moreish. the chocolate mousse, was rich, decadent and thoroughly enjoyable. it was comprised of various consistencies of chocolate .

a real nice touch - my partner must have mentioned she was booking the table for my birthday. they bought us two matching desert wines and a truffle with a candle in it.

the staff we great and catered to our needs all through the evening, even as we left, holding the door open for us and wishing us well.

the whole experience at ortega was phenomenal. we left extremely satisfied and discussed our favourite aspects of the night on the way home.

will definitely be back...soon!

the only issue i had was the pacific oysters weren't at their best. maybe a bit early in the season? tasty but skinny. everything else was amaaaaazing - john dory; prawns; duck liver pate; kingfish tartare; olives & duck fat roasted potatoes (delicious but only nibbled at as we were so full). fresh, tasty, well prepared, unfussy but beautifully presented. service exceptional. vibe is casual but special. and the place was full. go here.

simply the best!! dined here for a special occasion and it certainly delivered; from start to finish the food and service was impeccable. even though they were incredibly busy we were not rushed. would highly recommend!!

i had an all seafood meal for entre and main. the food presentation was good and dishes prepared really well and tasty. the portions are not big so would recommend having a few courses.

had a great night at ortega fish shack, wish i hadn't waited so so to come back. all courses delicious, great wine matches and excellent service. would definitely recommend it.

ortega is a seafood lover's dream! we started with the pan-fried prawns and tagliatelle in a creamy garlic sauce. this dish is a classic and it was executed without fault. for the mains we picked another classic, bouillabaisse and something a bit funky, john dory with arroz negro (black rice). both were outstanding! all the dishes are imbued with a rich seafood flavour and each seafood component was cooked to perfection. i especially enjoyed how each dish had little hidden morsels of potato and chopped up mussels respectively. each bite was like a culinary gift. the complimentary chocolate truffles were a classy touch. thanks ortega! helpful, attentive service and light, airy atmosphere upstairs. great for gatherings and romantic dates alike. will repeat!

outstanding !! you must try, but best book as it was super busy when we got there and people were waiting for tables.
loved the busy vibrant atmosphere, service was fast and efficient.
menu is great all the dishes we had were delicious mostly fish or seafood based but they do have some meat dishes in there for the meat lovers i will definitely go back.

for someone who isn't a big fan of seafood, i found this place amazing. the moment you walk in you can feel the family vibe in the room, the staff are very friendly and give exceptional suggestions. fantastic service, absolutely amazing food and a wide range of vegetarian options as well. if you are planning on visiting then make a booking first, this restaurant is crazy popular!

this is a favourite of mine, we've been here several times and have been impressed with the menu including drinks and food. the service is very friendly and the tastes are spectacular. if the parking was better it would be perfect, but still worth the walk if required. a great meal and service is second to none.

this has to be my favourite place for a special dinner in wellington. elegant yet relaxed, the atmosphere complements the menu. the food is always exquisite - complex and interesting. i love seafood and this restaurant always does it justice. i have never been disappointed with the food or the service at ortega. i must come back again soon #bestseafoodinwellington