Aosta (Arrowtown)

I've dined at quite a few Michelin and hatted restaurants worldwide and I really expected more from a 2 hat place. We had their chef selection dinner menu. The one standout was the Cervo /Venison which was an absolute joy to eat, perfectly balanced and intriguingly complex with the parsnip puree, parsnip chips and elderberry jus. The second best dish was the wallaby tartare mostly because I've never had wallaby before. But apart from that, their octopus and tomato tagiatelle was disappointingly claggy and sticky/gluey in the texture, and the octopus was chewy and way over salted which was a shame. The kingfish crudo also was heavy on too many salty elements and not enough acidity. The tiramisu sabayon was slightly grainy and apart from the theatre display there was nothing memorable about it. Ambiance was warm but not intimate enough, table settings are super close to each other and we were crammed right next to the fireplace where another table was sitting perpendicular, so close that another guest's hair was almost touching our table when she leaned back. We asked to move to the table next to us, which we were told was "reserved" but stayed empty the entire night from 5.30 to 8pm. This kind of service is just shocking for 2 hat restaurant. Service was brisk and professional but not personalised except when they assembled the tartare and tiramisu dishes in front you... All in I wouldn't return, it doesn't live up to 2 hats. Except for their deer (cervo) dish which was the one saving grace and a dish I would gladly eat 10x over.