Ombra

Step off Cuba Street into a bit of Italy in the form of Ombra, Wellington’s very own Venetian-inspired restaurant. Whitewashed walls and polished floors ensure you feel like you’re dining in the middle of an Italian summer, even when the Wellington weather outside says otherwise. Come evening time, Ombra is the place to be, and the hosts here have that real Italian passion about making sure you have a good time and enjoy all the food that’s delivered to your table. Paper menus and calico curtains soften the edges of this restaurant, where the rustic interior makes you feel like curling up with a midday drink and eating your way slowly through a three-course lunch.

Don’t be startled if at first the menu seems a little tricky to read, as there’s both a glossary of terms at the bottom and attentive staff who are more than able to talk you through it. In true Italian fashion it would be wrong not to start the dinner date with some bread, so why not make it a bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes, ricotta and oregano. There’s local crafts on tap for the beer drinkers, or those keen on an Italian aperitif may find the Aperol Spritz more to their liking. The main meals become a little trickier to choose with pizza, pasta, fresh meatballs, fish and salad all gracing the menu, so it’s worth taking along an eating companion just so you can share a variety of plates. Breads, doughs and gnocchi are all made in-house.

There's no doubt Ombra is well deserving of its very loyal following. Honest, earthy and not straying from the real reason restaurants succeed, Ombra goes to show that great food and great service are a winning combination every time.