Best Steak sandwich in town well worth a visit The Phoenix…read moreon the Strand Gastropub with an atmosphere!

While road tripping across the north island of NZ we stopped by The Phoenix in Tauranga for lunch…read moreand it didn't disappoint. The Angus burger was terrific and paired well with the golden lager. Nice atmosphere and staff was friendly.

I can't believe this place isn't on here . I want to let you know this is THE place to go for a…read moredrink in Rotorua . The service is pretty snappy and the music which what I thought was just an iPod was actually a two piece band . Go now !

Great bar, great music from the Dj and great brews. Easy to…read morefind on eat street. We are having a great time.

In Hamilton for 2 nights. Enjoyed this spot twice . One of…read morethe few bars we could belly up to as many in NZ seem to have no stools. Great cocktails and beer selection. Friendly, engaging staff.

This is a serious contender for best bar in Hamilton. I came here Saturday night with my husband…read moreand a couple friends. Why, why have I not been here before now?! I used to live just up the block! My husband had already been here and, somehow, did not bring me in immediately. This is one of those places where I had a "love at first sight" moment. Even on a fairly crowded night, the vibe in this place is super-cool. It's small, almost uncomfortably so, but in spite of that (because of that?) it has a great intimate feel. The cocktails are pricey, but different and skillfully prepared. There is a good selection of whiskey (my whiskey-loving friend tells me). There was a DJ artfully spinning a weird, awesome, "did-he-just-do-that?" selection of tunes. The decor is comfortable/cool, with walls of exposed bricks and "I never want to get up" comfy couches. The back walls are lined with loads of books and one portion of the ceiling is covered with records. They appear to have some bites to eat, but admittedly, we were just there for drinks. It's a little tricky to find, set back from Victoria Street down a side alley. But, it's SO worth finding.

Stopped in for lunch while in Hahei. The outdoor seating is very nice and there were not many…read morepeople there yet so we had our choice of tables. There are nice flowers and greenery surrounding the outdoor seating. You go in to order at the bar. We ordered a beer tasting flight, a margarita, and the Margherita Pizza. The margarita was fine (I never really had a great one while in New Zealand), but it was cool and refreshing. The pizza was nice and light, good for a small lunch. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Don't forget a tshirt or hoodie on the way out!

Loved their cocktails and ambience! The staff was super funny (read witty with sarcasm) and we had…read morea great time enjoying a cool beverage on a hot summer day after hiking to Cathedral Cove.

We came here after our tour at Hobbinton, which capped off the perfect LOTR themed morning. The…read moreambiance included Lord of the Rings memorabilia and the pizzas on the menu were named in honor of the trilogy. The service was great and our waiter asked for our names so she could address us personally. Food came out quick and hot. Portions are big enough to share so everyone can try each dish.

We arrived in Matamata to meet the bus for our tour of Hobbiton, but we had about an hour to kill…read morebefore the meeting time (and it was raining!) . Luckily, The Redboubt was open and was a nice warm place to kill an hour, have amazing snacks, and a few drinks. The Redoubt is located right at the I-SITE where you meet the bus, so you definitely can't miss it. It's decorated in all Lord of the Rings decor, down to the Hobbit hole style doorways/windows, getting you totally ready to get immersed in the journey you're about to take. We ordered a few beers to start and they arrived cold and crisp - definitely refreshing for a fun day in Hobbiton! Food-wise, we ordered the 3 Slider Selection, and picked the chicken, cranberry, burry, and brie sliders. They were super tasty and actually pretty large for "sliders" - and it even came with a small side of fries. We also shared the Redoubt's Famous Seafood Chowder, and it was super warming and hearty, but not too filling as it's seafood and not a heavier meaty base. With the delish food, awesome ambiance, and plentiful drinks - I definitely recommend stopping here if you're in Matamata for a Lord of the Rings tour, or for any other reason!

The oldest bar in Rotarua - highly recommend the ginger beer and it's such a great place to come…read morewatch the game!

Two of us came in for dinner after a long day out and about. Wanted something light…read more We had two Cloudy Apple Ciders, a Seafood Chowder and a Harissa Chicken Salad. Both were excellent. The service was fine, even though it was was very busy. Plan to book ahead.

This place had outstanding food. Service was pretty good, but some flies were relentless on our…read morefood and we had to bat them away perpetually. The food here is 5 stars all day. Highly recommended.

Casual but clean vibes, fun tunes, local beer and bomb food. Happened upon this place during a road…read moretrip and so glad we did. Chicken bao and lamb burger were both winners, but the other food we've seen come out all looked incredible, too. Worth a stop for sure.

Was worried about trying this place because of the lack of reviews, but glad we did! Perfect place…read moreif you're looking for a nice bar to relax, eat and chug some brews. We came in at 6pm on a Monday, which they have happy hour 430pm -630pm on the weekdays, $7 nzd for a beer pint. Our servers were pretty cool and friendly. Best of all, $.50cent wings! Everyday! Also you get to people-watch some locals coming in and out playing the slot machines in a room off to the side.

From the owner: Come down and experience that traditional, friendly pub atmosphere in Central Hamilton. It truly…read moredoes exist! The Quad - not part of any group or franchise.

We were recommended to eat here by a local, so we headed here. The food was alright. I ordered the…read moreveggie pizza - some of the mushrooms were undercooked and not edible. The crust was crunchy and good. My partner had the brisket burger - it was OK. The meal cost $140. In my opinion, this place is overpriced for the quality of food we had.

Worth a second meal!…read more We really enjoyed this restaurant! Table for four on a Friday night at 5:30 in the evening. We had two orders of the fresh fish and chips, the pulled pork pizza, and the fish of the day (tuna). All 4 were prepared well and brought out promptly. I am not certain if it is a New Zealand thing (as it has happened at two restaurants in two days), bit they bring the food out when it is done, not when all four meals are done ... Just something of which to be aware. This is a place where I will be happy to eat at again!