IN BRIEF

Warm, generous and where the ingredients can speak for themselves.

WHY CHOOSE THIS RESTAURANT?

With more than 21 years in the highly competitive Wellington restaurant biz, Capitol has remained at the top of its game by elevating robust, honest cooking with fresh premium ingredients prepared with great respect.

ABOUT THE MENU

Whether you choose to grab a cocktail at the bar, a substantial bite for lunch or linger over a number of Tom Hutchison’s thoughtful dishes at dinner, the menu is sharp, always seasonal and relaxed. Never overlook the specials at Capitol – they offer you opportunities to taste ingredients that have jumped out at the chefs and inspired them to whip up something new – but it is the classics on the menu that are the rock stars. The seasonal risotto will always be outstanding, the parmesan-crumbed lambs’ liver is a must-have for liver lovers everywhere, and the linguini alle vongole in a sensational broth with parsley, garlic and chilli has all of the mandatory requirements for the perfect bowl: slippery, slurpy, delicious comfort, with spectacular bite and tension. It will end up all over your chin… and you won’t care. The puddings present a difficult decision but the saffron, lavender and thyme crème brûlée is a perfectly executed winner.

ABOUT THE CHEF

Tom studied patisserie and went on to broaden his skills in Auckland kitchens before hitting the Melbourne restaurant scene with partner Kate, moving on to London and Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine and Peter Gordon’s The Sugar Club and then to the south of France. Today, his food style is mindful and ethical, celebrating pure seasonal flavours with an uncluttered and straight- up approach, and an extraordinary commitment to showcasing the very best ingredients available.

ABOUT THE TEAM

With a menu that is always all about the food and the wine – or beer, or spirits – that owner-operators Kate and Tom Hutchison love to eat and drink, it is obvious that a passion for the art of great hospitality is at play here. Together, they mentor a team of talented chefs and front-of-house personalities that foster a strong relationship with their beloved community, and it is evident in the buzzing conversations humming back and forth on the restaurant floor.

OF NOTE

Once inside Capitol’s intimate and welcoming space you may find yourself imagining you are in a little hotspot in Paris, London, Melbourne or New York, although the food and the drink definitely demonstrate a fully committed Wellington romance. At Capitol, there is an air of elegance and style tempered with the casual warmth and generosity that only the slickest of operations can deliver.

ADDRESS: 10 Kent Terrace, Mt Victoria, Wellington
Check website for opening hours
MAINS: $28 – $48.50
CONTACT: 04 384 2855
WEBSITE: capitolrestaurant.co.nz