OMG! This is the Taylor Swift effect on Kiwi waiters

NZ Herald

30 Nov, 2015 04:51 AM3 mins to read

Left, the photo Captains Restaurant posted on its Facebook page after Taylor Swift's visit. Right, Swift makes her way into the Queenstown restaurant. Photos / Facebook / James Allan

Jetsetting popstar Taylor Swift has been enjoying some Kiwi-style VIP treatment - sampling on some local steak and truffle-topped risotto and staying in one of Queenstown's most exclusive hotels.

Swift surprised many when she quietly touched down in Queenstown over the weekend following a concert in Sydney on Saturday.

She arrived on a private jet, a Gulfstream IV, with an entourage including mum Andrea and has been seen travelling with a convoy of up to three SUVs while in town.

Swift's black dress showed off her long legs. Photo / James Allan

The pop queen and her team were seen yesterday evening dining at Captains Restaurant, where she ordered a $35.95 steak and the roasted butternut pumpkin risotto - topped with pine nuts, shaved parmasan, rocket and truffle - for $27.95.

She was wearing a short black dress with flat black shoes, showing off her long legs.

The restaurant posted a picture of one its waiters looking shocked, accompanied by the caption: "OMG! TAYLOR SWIFT enjoying the scene at Captains tonight. Thank you Alex for looking after her and the crew."

Not everyone was star-struck, though. Owners Grant and Karen Hattaway, who have just sold the restaurant, did not know who she was initially.

But the singer's visit was a nice way to end their 13-year run.

"I thought it was great," Mr Hattaway said. "I was actually here and was sitting outside in the mall.

"She came in with an entourage of about eight - three or four security guys.

"I'm not a huge fan of Taylor Swift. I'm 51 so it's not my cup of tea."

He added: "It was a bit of a surprise, to say the least. No-one even knew she was in town."

Restaurant staff left Swift alone. It seemed a few fellow diners noticed the star in their midst but others didn't. "We didn't hassle her or anything like that."

Taylor Swift and her mother, right, were accompanied by the singer's entourage for the private meal. Photo / James Allan

Mr Hattaway said Swift's choice of eatery was good for the new owners, who were starting today.

Swift flew into New Zealand on a private jet at 8pm last night and was taken in a convoy of three SUVs to accommodation in Queenstown.

About 9.30pm, she was dropped off at the top of the town's mall and her party made their way to the restaurant.

Taylor Swift's mother Andrea in seen in the back seat of an SUV as her entourage leaves the restaurant. Photo / James Allan

Swift played in Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night in front of 76,000 people, and her next gig is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane this weekend.

She is understood to be in Queenstown to film part of an upcoming music video and has been staying at the Eichardt's Private Hotel, where its Gourmet Package mountain view suite goes for $1750 a night.

Swift reportedly arrived in New Zealand last Monday and was the subject of various sightings and more than one blurry picture in the following days.

She also angered Auckland conservationists who said her crew put a rare native bird at risk when filming her latest music video at a west coast beach near Auckland.