Mr Go's

In the span of less than 100 metres between Eva Street and Leeds Street, you’ll find some of Wellington’s best bars and eateries in what’s known as the Hannahs Laneway – including Mr Go's.

Owned by Dean White’s Dining Room Group (Ombra, Kisa), Mr Go’s opened its doors at 3 Eva Street in late July 2023 after seven years on Taranaki Street. With the former space full almost every night, they needed more space.

The 140-seat Eva Street space can better cater to the larger groups that the sharing style of the food and upbeat atmosphere has always attracted, with several big tables among the more intimate seating.

Wonder Group’s Buster Caldwell and Annuska Menoita did the fit-out, and their initial inspiration was the famous and long-running Hong Kong institution Mido Cafe. They’ve referenced this with a retro-inspired feel and mint-green palette, amplifying the diner look with plastic laminate tables, checked floors, and booth seating. LED lights can be switched between red, green and blue to change the mood, and multi-coloured, textured lead-light glass windows add interest over the bar, the kitchen pass, and seating division.

The main feature of the new site is the all-weather courtyard, a clever indoor-outdoor space that has an opaque retractable roof to be opened on good days and keep the elements out on others.

The menu focuses on broadly Chinese and Taiwanese-inspired dishes. There are several dim sum-style dishes like dumplings, wontons and steamed buns, and the large grill kisses beef skirt steak and wok-fried rice cakes, cumin-spiced lamb skewers, and chilli caramel pork belly. There’s a selection of handmade bao buns, and a good range of vegetable dishes such as kung pao cauliflower, dan dan noodles (minus the pork), and grilled brussels sprouts.

To drink, find a hefty beer menu that includes local craft makers on tap (as well as a specials board for guest pours) and even more by the bottle including Asahi and Tsingtao. There's also umeshu (plum wine), sake and cider, a relatively concise wine list covering sparkling, white and reds, and several house cocktails and highballs.