Picnicka

First time there; staff were truly excellent, engaged, not hovering but right there when you needed them and delightful to talk to and knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine list. The restaurant itself is a fun and interesting design with lots to look at with big comfy seating. Before I write the next bit, I am going back to see if my experience was a one-off. Prawn Cocktail was awesome Tuna Tatare even better Hot chips coked perfectly, crispy, not fatty and with a (I think) Siracha Mayo However; the hero dishes were not great Lamb Skewers; tasty coating but dry as a bone as waaaayyy overcooked - grey an unnappealing inside, sent a piece back to the chef to show how it was. Buttermilk Chicken also tasty, but cooked to the point of mummification. And dessert, the Basque Cheesecake was burnt on the top and overcooked, dry and tough in the middle. The Cherry Compote with it was lovely though. Like I said, with how good half of the items were and the great wine on the menu (and you can even buy a sticky by the glass, a huge plus for me), I will write this off as needing another go.

I did enjoy my experience here. The service was great and the menu has plenty of good option but some of the dishes are lacking condements and as for a vodka soda... 6 dollars for soda thats crazy. But I will come back because I want to try more on the menu. Which is uncommon in some restaurants around Tauranga. So close to a full 5 stars

An absolutely amazing place. We had lunch here on a Thursday and were seated straight away. We had been wanting to try Picnicka since it opened and finally were able to for out 5th wedding anniversary lunch. The staff and service were exceptional. Cocktails were amazing (we tried feijoa and treacle cocktails). The food was absolutely top notch - starting with the flat bread and continuing through the fried chicken, barbecued cos, macaroni cheese, Lamb burger and the utterly incredible short rib. Picnicka does not disappoint and I would 100% recommend visiting as soon as you can (bonus you can park in the building and pick up a card for 3 hours free parking before you leave the restaurant).

Best prawn cocktail in the world Delicious Pinot noir Exquisite tuna tartar and fresh asparagus Basque cheesecake was sublime This is definitely one of our favourite top places to dine at It's less expensive than Fife Lane and it's more expensive than a casual walk in restaurant. The staff were fun friendly part of the vibe, the ambiance was great and we had a great time. Wil definitely return!

What a beautiful space to drink and dine. Knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff pulled the experience together seamlessly. Special thanks to Brie who created fantastic zingy and refreshing non alcoholic drinks; an area that is usually overlooked by establishments. She asked a couple of questions and freestyled excellent drinks for me - thank you so much! It was genuinely lovely to have this much care and attention given to non-alcoholic drinks and as a bonus, enjoyed her style/sass. Our servers were relaxed and patient when we took a while to decide. The food was outstanding. Exciting for me being vegetarian to see just how many dishes were available! Our wee table of three chose eight smaller plates of deliciousness. Special note about the Grilled Cos - you should absolutely try this. Smokey and spicy, crunchy and totally unexpected. Desert (baked cheesecake thank you very much) was on the house and we were absolutely full with a wee take away box for the following day. Thank you to the entire team for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I will be back as many times as possible. One of our group has already returned within a few days. What a well put together team of talented people, set in a beautiful space, serving moreish food and drinks.

Picnicka was new to us. Meeting friends for dinner it seemed like a good location, being kind of halfway between both of us, plus she’s an awkward vegetarian (who eats fish) and there seemed a lot of options on the menu. We had a very warm welcome when we arrived and thought the decor was beautiful. I didn’t really get the whole “picnic” theme that others have picked up, I just thought it was attractive and bonus points for great lighting that enabled us old decrepits to be able to read the menu! Happy hour G&T was ok, it was only when my friend got a full price one later that I realised I should have splashed out. Hers was a spectacular work of art, mine was beige by comparison. We went with sharing small plates and there was plenty to go around. I thought the prawn cocktail looked a little uninspired and the prawns had been frozen. Absolutely loved the chicken liver parfait with beautiful, pillowy, buttery brioche toast. I actually could eat this alone for the rest of my days. Every restaurant offers this, Picnicka’s is the best. But the beef tartare I hated. There was an overpowering taste of vinegar, not a fan. The Favourite Husband had the fish sliders and my friends husband the fried chicken. Two things of note, firstly they got stuck in so fast I wasn’t able to get a picture, secondly - THEY DID NOT SHARE. Unbelievable. So my friend and I had the buffalo cauliflower with a blue cheese sauce. This was the bomb. There’s plenty of other options on the menu to return and try. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. And we found it really good value for money. It was a great night, thank you Picnicka.

My friends and I went to celebrate a birthday and at our initial research we did not find the Google images and menu options particularly enticing. However word of mouth prevailed so we gave it a go. We ordered a large selection of the menu, including desserts. Everything tasted incredible! Delicious flavour combinations incredibly fresh ingredients and all cooked to perfection! The restaurant has gorgeous, really interesting decor and a relaxed feel with many seating options. The service was friendly, helpful and complimentary when an order mix-up occurred. I would highly recommend trying it out before its too hard to get a booking.