Life Outside PLT1

Dining: At Butter Bank on Bank Street Whangarei

October 7, 2009 on 10:33 pm | In Food | | Balinor

With me today was Kirsty Williams. I first saw this place open a few weeks ago but I’ve been told that it’s been there a little longer than that. When it was open it doesn’t matter, it’s a restaurant that I haven’t been to yet.

At the Whangarei Food Show at the 3rd of October 2009, there was a stall representing the Butter Bank and the Butter Factory. Upon closer probing of what’s what. I found out they are connected, or soon to be in the near future. Also the Butter Bank is more a bar/club than a restaurant. They serve Spanish tapas and pizza as their main sort of food. It does sound very bar like and I also found out they have salsa there on Tuesdays.

When we got the place and was seated. It was evident that this place was more of a bar/club than a restaurant. The whole place was seat out in that fashion although if it was a club I didn’t see the dance floor, maybe it was to the back. I’m not sure the advantage of having it at the back as if you seat it closer at the front it’ll generate more attention. Maybe they encourage their patrons to head to the Butter Factory for fun times on the groove floor.

Being seated near the main road of Whangarei isn’t the best as you can’t have a conservation without boy racers hooning past and they can’t help it. It’s right on a hill so you have to accelerate. The tables was small, obviously intended for drinks only. The lighting of the place too was quite deem. It might be my eyes but I just find it being that dark isn’t the best for eating food. Then again, not intended as a restaurant I suppose. There was a few people there but on the whole, pretty empty for a Wednesday evening. Maybe I should of treated more like a bar/club and actually ordered a drink. I found out tonight that I prevent people from having a drink if they are the only person drinking. It’s a good thing I don’t completely swear of alcohol. I do have my drinks and I’ll remember it for next time. I hate being ‘that guy’ that dulls the fun.

Food wise, since the guy at the food show mention tapas, I ordered the chef selection of tapas, hoping to get a taste of the different appetisers. Kirsty order the spaghetti and meatballs which was the special for the night. Time wise, it was quite the wait before the food came out although I didn’t time it. When food was bought out, Kirsty’s spaghetti was first but the server at the time dropped it. A new portion had to be made so more waiting again. I think it was because they only had one chef at the time but there wasn’t that many others, another table of two maybe, to serve.

When we finally got the food my tapa variety was served on a circular chopping board. On was a selection of small portions of medium pan seared steaks, chicken roasted with pepper and other herbs, roasted small cubes of potatoes, sliced tomatoes with fresh herbs and cheese, bread that was toasted to be really crunchy and a martini glass of black and green olives. Was fair to say that the food served was nothing special. Each of the portions was prepared like any other european style restaurant would prepare the food. I was hoping actually to get more of a variety than just steak and chicken. There was seafood and a few others on their menu that didn’t make it to this order. Nothing wrong with the food in itself, cooked nicely and nicely seasoned but I was expecting a bit more than just steak and chicken. The bread was way too toasted, it was really crunchy and hard to eat. The olives in the martini glass was nice looking but there was way to many of them and thus the left overs would of gone to waste. This particular dish might have been meant for multiple people, but no more than two I guess as there isn’t that much food on it three.

Kirsty spaghetti and meatballs looked quite good I have to say but I didn’t get to try the meatball. The spaghetti and sauce itself was quite good. Fairly standard but Kirsty says the meatballs was quite tasty.

On the whole, not a bad night out but I have to say am disappointed in what I ordered. I would come back to this place however I’d have bar/club in mind than a full eating place. Thing is now, I think I’m obligated to head to Danger! Danger on Vine Street in Whangarei as well as they’re classified as an eating place as well. One day, hopefully I won’t get stabbed although I hear getting stabbed is the pinnacle whangarei experience. Or so I hear