This October, we celebrate 25 years of hospitality in Wellington, making the Bistro one of capital’s oldest owner-operator restaurants.

On the 16^th of October 1991, the dream team John Lawrence and Chris Green took over the historic Plimmer House and set up shop. With ambition and a lot of hard work they created a recipe for success—the warm and welcoming gourmet bistro has become a much loved destination on Wellington’s culinary map.

The quarter-century milestone will be marked with a range of celebrations including a retro menu from the 90s, at 90s prices. Head chef / partner Rex Morgan and Chris Green are reviving the Bistro’s first award-winning menu, from the 1995 Corban’s Wine and Food Challenge, this will be available for lunch  Monday 10th – Saturday 15th October.

“We thought it would be a fun menu to serve. The three courses really capture the culinary trends of the time,” says the Bistro’s owner John Lawrence.

“Along with the retrospective menu, we will also mark the occasion with a few unofficial celebrations throughout the month and a staff party—I am really looking forward to catching up with people who’ve helped us reach this milestone,” says Lawrence, who believes the success of the Bistro is as much about the people as it is about the food,

“There have been friends of friends, children of friends and friends of children who have somewhere along the way made up our team— in the kitchen, doing dishes, working on the floor or supplying produce ”.

Lawrence also credits the capital for helping reach this milestone and the locals love of good hospitality,

“Wellingtonians have always been really supportive of what we do. It’s a great city for hospitality, both for diners and those working in the industry. I wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else.”

John Lawrence and Chris Green winners of the 1995 Corban’s Wine and Food Challenge

The Bistro’s Wellington On a Plate offerings include special lunch and dinner menus, an amazingly original and of course delicious burger, and a classic cocktail with a Wellington twist.

Available 14-30 August – bookings available for lunch via 04 499 4199. Dinner is casual dining.

Lunch

Choose any two courses plus a Wellington regional beverage – $45.00

Starter

Parkvale portobello mushroom soup with truffle and porcini

– or –

Kingsmeade sheep curd with roasted beetroot, ginger drizzle and Prana Greens

Main

Yellow Brick Road fish fillet with Bongusto tagliolini, broccoleaf and carrot nage

– or –

Preston’s lamb meatballs with tomato, bacon, shallots and smoked Zany Zeus yoghurt

Dessert

Lot Eight extra virgin olive oil cake with Fantail Grove hazelnut brittle

– or –

Roast Orangecello panna cotta with poached Te Horo fruit

Beverage

Urlar Pinot Gris 2014 or Bootleggers Lime and Soda

Restaurant Holiday Hours

The restaurant holiday hours from December through to January.
Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Open New Year’s Eve. Closed New Year’s Day.

Open for lunch and dinner until 23 December
Closed 24, 25, 26 December
Open from 5.30pm for dinner 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 December
Closed  1 January
Open from 5.30pm for dinner until 11 January
Normal hours resume from 12 January

If you are out and about in Wellington, here’s Tourism Wellington’s pick of things to do