Having also been away from Auckland for a couple of years like Sarah below, we thought we would give SPQR a go. Sadly our babysitter didn't turn up, but were pleasantly suprised that they offered a take out service (and we even got it delivered by food runner!).

I can't comment on the service and ambience, however the food delivered (chicken fettucine and saffron risotto) was simply great, especially for a take out.

In fact, we enjoyed it so much we ordered in the next night as well!

Give it a go!

After being away for 2 years now living in Sydney, I was really looking forward to SPQR.
However I was meet with very bad service and paid a bill for this I never ordered. The experience left a very bad taste I will never go again.

Quite possibly the worst restaurant my friends and I have ever been to. Serving a table of six seemed to be quite the challenge for the staff of SPQR as we were left waiting in anticipation for our meals for over one hour. My meal was understatedly the most unpleasant calamari salad I have ever had, so bad it was returned. The simplicity of a salad was underestimated as my 5 friends had their pizzas 20mins before my meal arrived. Furthermore, two staff members were argumentative when we tried to get the salad taken off the bill. We will never go back to this obscenely run restaurant again.

For a restaurant that has been a staple of the Auckland restaurant scene for so many years I was stunned at the shockingly poor service and more than average food. We had a booking that had been confirmed for some weeks and had a set menu which had a good selection. Booked for 7.30pm, we placed our orders for all three courses approx 7.50pm. Our entrees arrived at 9.30pm - these were ok but a few of our party were served entrees they did not order as the kitchen had run out. No staff advised them that they weren't available. Our mains then arrived around 10.30pm after much asking & again some of the choices were now no longer available (in one case they had to come back twice). A number of people ordered steak & no one received the correct order e.g rare, med/rare etc. It was tasteless and tough. The waitress then brought salad & potatoes after we had all eaten our mains!! and offered them as complimentary! Desserts were average. The attitude of the staff was appalling. I & a number of others will never return. Not great considering we spent several thousand dollars.

yes, it was good, the food that is. We were waited on by a nice gentleman and had a great evening, but one small thing that bothered me was when we got the bill, the water that was continously being toped up by our kind waiter, was charged to us without asking, now i am not bothered about the price but the fact that they did not ask and state that it was going to be charged to the bill was not really on. apart from that it was a great night out and i highly recomend the place.

SPQR on Ponsonby Road never fails to hit the mark with a flourish. Fantastically over the top waiters, sleak ambience even during the day, impeccable service and as usual the food is perfect. Couldn't recommend it enough.

I have been to the iconic SPQR many times over the years and have in the past had consistantly great food and very slick service. The last time I visited, we took a guest from overseas to our trusted SPQR. The experience was nothing short of personally embarrassing for us. The service was D grade, serving one meal 25 mins before the other 2, and rudely responded too when we asked when the other meals were coming. The "too cool to be cool" attitude, did not work that night. I have never been back, and won't risk entertaining there again. Sharpen up your act SPQR

I was soooo disappointed of this place. Its location gives it a great potential however it was very disappointing. I think that previously I have had better service at the local takeaway shop, first it took them over 10 minutes to take our order even though the place was not even close to being full, after they very rudely took our order, it took them about 15 minutes to bring us a bottle of wine, the dinner was very late as well, and the waiter didn't care to check if the food was what we ordered, he mixed up the plates and gave my plate to my partner.
The whole experience was VERY disappointing and I am sure that I am never going back to that place