Their menu reads really well. In fact, I wanted to stay longer in Queenstown just to try out more of their dishes. Their wine list has many local wineries, which we prefer when traveling to new places. The service was very friendly, but inconsistent. Long waits to order and also between appetizers and main. Seems like they were overwhelmed on a Tuesday night. The oysters appetizer was delicious (we tried it battered). The red deer was quite good, but it was odd to have several pieces medium rare and one very well done. The petite filet was stringy, not melt-in-your mouth, and the bacon hadn't received a good sear. read more

Too bad you can't give more than 5 stars! This place would qualify!!! Great ambiance to start. AMAZING food!!! My partner and I had one of the best meals we've had in a long long LONG time... Started with the whitefish fritter and crawfish appetizers. Divine! But that was just the beginning. For the mains we had the lamb plate and an amazing porterhouse steak. Again, out of this world taste and execution!!! And the sommelier helped us with a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir to accompany our meal... Dessert was equally as impressive and the perfect ending to a truly unforgettable meal... As we're heading back to Auckland shortly before our long trip back to the States, we might just have to try their sister restaurant there!!! read more

Botswana Butchery - Bars Near Me - Queenstown, OTA

See all

I can't say enough about this place! When people ask how our two week trip through New Zealand went, I always spend the most time describing the amazing food and service here at Botswana Butchery! We arrived around 7:00 p.m. without reservations (note: make reservations) but they were happy to accommodate us with a "bit of a wait" so they escorted us upstairs to the waiting area/bar. The wait was so brief that we weren't even able to order drinks before they asked if we would be alright sitting near the kitchen pass, which we were not against! Our waitress was a young French woman whom was incredibly pleasant, amicable, and gave us tips for our trip (Waiheke Island among them). The drinks and food were equally as pleasant and as a "thank you" of sorts for sitting at that table, they brought out a complimentary palette cleanser of tart sorbet and some gels. If you are in Queenstown, do try this lovely spot! read more

Really great room, beautiful food, warm helpful service. Had the Snapper and loved it. Keeno couldn't finish her lamb which filled me with delight...and lamb. And ..Bluff Oysters natural. The most unique oysters in the world. Not sure how they were shucked (would have loved a bit of the brine) but they were fantastic. What a massive flavour hit. read more

Botswana Butchery... Way overpriced, small portions and both the snapper and the venison were poorly cooked, we were dumbfounded. If you want some bread, buy the "bread plate" this place will probably even charge you for the napkin. We left there with a $150 tab and still hungry. The venison was supposed to be rare came out medium on two cooked pieces of kale. Total amateur hour! We went to fergburger after and each had a burger. Do not waste your hard earned money at this place. Save your money and do the Shotover boat ride. Cheers! Sol read more

On a busy Easter evening, we decided to try Botswana Butchery on a whim rather than wait for our reservation at another Queenstown restaurant. The host was able to offer us a spot in the upstairs lounge area next to the bar. Based on pictures and reviews on Yelp, I expected an amazing experience. I found the food to be good, but not exceptional. The variety was good however. Mains were around $35-$50, starters around $15-$25. Sides around $10. Portion sizes were adequate, but definitely on the smaller side. The pictures on Yelp must be zoomed in because they definitely looked bigger there than in person! I ordered one cocktail for $20 and was disappointed in that it was mostly ice, very little volume of liquid. I did not order another. Our waiter was very friendly and spoke to us for about 5 minutes about our travels in NZ. However, after that interaction we did not see him the rest of the meal not while we waited to get our check. For deliciousness alone, I rate 4 stars. Service, 2. Value 2. Overall 3 when everything is factored in. read more

I can't say enough about this place. First of all the cocktail- Hazel eyed girl was delicious. Days later and I'm still thinking about it. Our family had the lamb and two steaks and they were all delicious. Started with French onion soup but too be honest I shouldn't have because I was full by the time my lamb arrived. Don't hesitate. Make a reservation for sure, it's that kind of place. Also maybe ask to be seated near the fireplace? That's my tip. read more

Very, very good place for dinner. Had a great waiter who shared Queenstown knowledge plus steered us towards a local Money Shot shot - all in all it was very good food and the vibe matched our moods. read more

See all

This place is nothing short of amazing. It is in a prime location with beautiful view of the lake and mountains. Couple that with unbelievable food, great drinks and spectacular service and you have to make this a must stop while in Queenstown or a nice night out if you regularly are from the area. We had the pre fixe menu and as an entree we had the mushroom tart and the whitebait fritter. Both entrees were great but the mushroom tart was unreal. Both a hearty portion for an entree. As our mains we had the duck and pork and sausage roll dish. The duck was full of flavor and fall of the bone tender. The pork and the sausage roll dish were always phenomenal. The drinks were great and they are very knowledgeable about wine and the wine in the area to make a great recommendation. read more

Great food, great service, definitely an expensive meal in Queenstown but worth it. Good atmosphere and great sommelier who will give recommendations and check back with you. We sat inside but they have patio seating with a great lakeside view, just be forewarned that it gets cool quickly and can be very windy! We had great seafood - some incredible escargot (not drowned in butter!), whitebait, and a charcuterie tray to start. We had lamb and rabbit for our mains and I'm still dreaming of that rabbit, it was exquisite. We had the duckfat potatoes and cauliflower sides. We had way too much food but we were celebrating and wanted to try a variety of dishes! The Nanny Goat chardonnay that accompanied it was perfect - buttery and crisp. Lovely meal although this is definitely a special occasion place. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Queensland for sure. The high ratings are well earned and deserved. We were a party of 5. Everyone in my party rated their dining experience 5 stars. The decor is relaxing yet elegant. Chairs were inviting to dine in for hours. Our waiter, a handsome Frenchman, was a perfect combination of knowledgeable, happy, chatty and aloof. The food was outrageously delicious. Prices are a bit high but well worth it. read more

See all

Went in a group of about 15 and got a private dining room with a 3 course set menu at $79. There are also plenty of other private rooms to suit different sized groups. Would recommend having a drink in the cosy bar upstairs before dining - there is a HUGE list of wines and cocktails to choose from. Food was amazing and service also great, my wine glass was always full! 5 out of 5 from me read more

Great service generally (with a minor accident involving spilled gravy marring a perfect score for service). Atmosphere is very pleasant, the roaring fires a nice adjunct to the attractive and pleasant interiors. The crayfish risotto entree was nice, and the scallops served with pork belly well liked by those who had them. The Peking duck looked terrific, and I was assured by the friend eating it that it was as good as it looked. But let's get to the point. Is the meat served at Botswana Butchery any good? The answer is YES, carved in those large letters used in the titles of the old TV show "El Cid". The main dishes, being the ribeye on the bone for two, and the slow roasted lamb shoulder for two, were superb. In fact, I would have to say the lamb shoulder was so tender, flavoursome and enjoyable, we joked it could have been considered our dessert. I would happily go back to Botswana Butchery - and if entertaining a group again, the lamb would be a certainty for dinner. Best lamb I've ever had at a restaurant. read more

It's taken 5 years of using Yelp and after at least more than 200 cities before I'm adding a new business. I have been walking around Queenstown for almost a week and today, I wanted to find a nice and good restaurant. My experience here so far has been average at best. Nothing to knock me off of my chair but wow, was I pleasantly surprised with my serendipitous find! Cannot believe no one has reviewed this place here on Yelp!! The ribeye was charbroiled to perfection. You can taste the flames flavored on the well marbled meat marinated but the right amount of acidity and sweetness. The pork was nicely cooked till it fell off the bones and perfectly seasoned. The 21 day aged scotched fillet was perfect pink with some exquisite spices. My favorite was the roasted potatoes in duck fat!! Oh my goodness gracious me!! To die for!!!!! The deserts were also sublime and I'm really running out of superlatives to describe my first 1st-business post on Yelp!! So glad we walked into this restaurant. It was truly a wonderful experience. ;)) read more

I am not sure if I prefer the food here to the Botswana Butchery in Auckland. Located in a house near the lake, we thought it was pretty ok. The place was crowded for a Wednesday night and we had to give up our table for the second sitting. We ordered 2 x Slow Cooked Shoulder of Lamb. The meat was tender off the bone. This was a bit too much for the 6 of us. The seared Tuna was disappointing and the Garlic Harvey Bay Prawns was tasty but the portion a little small. All in all, it was a good meal. My suggestion for next time is to order less lamb and try other dishes as well. Too much of a good thing tends to make you feel yuk! read more

See all

Nice lake view, wood fire and a great ambient. I got the Pie and the chocolate parfait and was pleasantly surprised with both. Both looked pricey at the onset but were much better than what you can get elsewhere. read more

Botswana Butchery - The chocolate parfait, looked like a work of art! - Bars Near Me - Queenstown, OTA

See all

Very small table and very close to people sitting around us, making it hard to have a private conversation. The wine took a while to arrive, the water glass was always low, and the server missed the beat on asking if we would like another glass of wine when ours were empty. We ordered a large amount of food to share. Salmon, added on garlic "prawns", eye fillet with bacon, duck fat potatoes, and corn fritters. The salmon was over cooked, and the "prawns" were very small (3) over cooked shrimps that weren't even edible, was surprised they were even called "prawns". The fillet was also over cooked, and overall everything lacked flavor, with no salt and pepper on the table and our server no where near to ask for some. Very disappointed for the price we paid, would not recommend eating here. read more

We were looking forward to Botswana given reviews were better for the Queenstown restaurant vs the Auckland version. The atmosphere is very inviting and the private dining rooms upstairs make this place quite a special place. We came in straight from the airport for 10pm and the staff we all very welcoming. All the food we ordered was great. The rabbit pie and confit leg that I ordered was great. Duck fat fries, mac & cheese, and cauliflower cheese as sides were ah-mazing!! Highly recommend to anyone. read more

Botswana Butchery - Rabbit Pie and Confit Rabbit Leg - Bars Near Me - Queenstown, OTA

We visited Botswana based on the recommendation of numerous people in northern and southern New Zealand. It features a diverse menu of local Kiwi foods and wines that are thoughtfully prepared in a manner and setting that is comfortable, without being pretentious. We started with the French onion soup that smelled almost as good as it tasted - definitely one of the best I'd ever had. The beet salad featured roasted beetroot, cow's feta, walnuts, soft herbs, Cabernet vinegar, extra virgin olive oil was a great set up for the main course. The specials came from the chef's "Little Black Book" which featured items from their food and wine festival submission. The grain-fed Scotch filet from Wakanui was from the L.B.B. which I topped with the blue cheese butter was dry aged for 120 days, and cooked medium (per the chef's suggestion) to maximize on the marbling. Nearly all steak on the menu is grass fed, so it tends to be leaner which made the grain-fed steak nice and rich but fatty enough so it was very flavorful. The steak coupled with the dark fruit flavors of the Delegat 'Crownthorpe Terraces' made the meal feel so complete. We also had the Ora King Salmon filet which was perfectly pink and tender. Sides of the mashed potatoes and gravy was a nice savory treat as a side to our main. read more

My husband and I dined her on our first night in Queenstown. It set the tone for what would be the next 3 days there - slow, romantic, and classy. A few tips: 1. Definitely make reservations beforehand 2. Try to get seating outside overlooking the lake. During the summer the sun sets very late (9ish) so its a great opportunity to have the view 3. Expect a slow paced friendly service. Dinner is not a race. 4. Go all out when you dine here, apps, mains, drinks and dessert. 5. There are private rooms (couple and a big group upstairs). Look into that option when you make your reservation for a more intimate dining experience. My husband and I ordered a deliciously light local shrimip appetizer. I ordered a red deer and my husband had the lamb. I loved the red deer main as it was cooked medium rare perfectly with an abundance of roasted baby vegetables and beets. I paired it with a local Central Otago Pinot Noir and it went so well together that it just melted in my mouth. The lamb dish was more on a traditional side with lamb ribs on a bed of mash potatoes and braised lamb. Coming from NY, I appreciated the variety of local meats the restaurant used for their mains. It was amazing to try the local meats that I see being raised across New Zealand. Some of which are not common even in NY restaurants. read more

I sat upstairs in the cozy bar area which was great for dining alone. If you like tartar do not miss the deer appetizer. It was wonderful. Rack of lamb for main course with their horseradish sauce. Very nice wine list. I highly recommend this spot and hope someday I get to come back! read more

After a rough first day of our vacation, my husband and I decided to treat ourselves to a good meal. We got the bluff oysters which are supposed to be the best in the world - very unique in that it's salty, briny, sweet and creamy at the same time. It's meaty and tastes like the ocean. The metallic aftertaste is a little unique, my husband wasn't a fan but I didn't mind it. The Wanaka sirloin with garlic herb butter was phenomenal. Soo good my husband was speechless. The steak was perfectly seasoned. It also had the perfect amt of fat on it. I had the pan fried market fish which was lean and tasty, spinach delicious. Can't say I'm a fan of the pickled vegetables with the delicate fish. We also got the Mac and cheese side which is pretty good, if I wasn't already stuffed. The waitress was very helpful with wine recommendations. read more

I went into this place for lunch at the second day in Queenstown, because of the google result. Before this place, I was disappointed by the service at many restaurants here, but this one changed my mind. Waitresses were friendly and attentive, and the food was not bad, which let me felt good after some adventure activities during that morning. read more

Botswana Butchery - Light lunch - Bars Near Me - Queenstown, OTA

French onion soup and Mac and cheese were over the top!!! The steak was not the best. Love the ambiance and the outdoor seating by the fireplace. read more

My wife and I stopped in for our final dinner of our two week adventure in NZ. Our meal was hands down the best of our trip, and one of the best we've experienced overall. Our B&B recommended the place and suggested we dine a bit after the main rush period. We took the advice and made a reservation later in the evening. When we arrived, the dining room was still humming from the main rush. We were seated immediately at a lovely table for 2 against a wall in the main dining room. A great spot to watch the room, and private enough to enjoy a meal together. Our main was the slow roasted lamb shoulder for two (also on recommendation...FYI, they do run out of these, so plan ahead if interested...we got lucky!), and it was the star of the meal. The meat fell of the bone, the flavor amazing, and the lavender jus which accompanied was phenomenal. The appetizers (scallops and croquettes) and wine only helped to accent the experience. Our server wasn't great, but he also wasn't poor. The food certainly defined the evening. We are planning a return to Queenstown this winter, and a return to this restaurant is already part of the plan. read more

Things turned for the worse the next day after eating at Botswana and getting a undercooked market fish. My wife and I took a bus to Franz Josef, from the morning thru the night, she got dizzier, nauseated, and her bowels were no longer steady. The food poisoning set in last night with a high fever and cold chills among other worse symptoms. She's missing our scheduled glacier hike today, and that just makes it an even worse experience. We hope she feels well enough this afternoon to at least walk around Franz Josef. Careful when you eat here. I bet most of the food is good, but this experience has been the worst. read more

See all

Overpriced food for the quality delivered. I had high hopes for this spot but was let down. The venison was boring and unimaginative. Oysters and drinks were above average. read more

Outstanding. Better than Morton's or Ruth Christ's or any big chain in states. The lamb shoulder was particularly good!!!!

We loved this restaurant while staying in Queenstown. Everything we ate was amazing-French Onion soup, Country lamb entree, filet, Mac n cheese, bread and side of veggies! The French Onion soup and rack of lamb were particularly delicious. You won't be disappointed. read more

Great service, sat us down with no reservations. Food was excellent and the staff was top notch. Would highly recommend the wild deer!

Great food, slow cooked lamb for two was done tender and goes very well with side orders of Potato & Gruyère gratin, Cauliflower cheese, jamón crumbs, Sautéed mushrooms, bacon, garlic butter. Desserts were amazing and highly recommend chocolate mudcake with icecream. read more

Botswana Butchery - Bars Near Me - Queenstown, OTA

We have been in NZ for 3 weeks and this was the worst meal we have had and very expensive. The $79 bottle of wine was good but have had wine for $30 that was just as good. The tuna steak was good but small. The vegetables were undercooked and tough. Disappointing!!. read more

This restaurant has a great selection of unique New Zealand dishes and a great wine list. I had the lamb and the chocolate mousse, which I'd highly recommend. read more

Totally shocked so many people have given such a high rating. At first I thought we had just been unlucky, but after 2 starter meals and 2 main meals, I knew it wasn't bad luck....just bad food!! Mussels were ok but over cooked and quite rubbery. Peking duck Pancakes was shredded, dry duck. Main meal of Scotch fillet was 50% fat & 50% beef...very expensive for $49.00. Side of coleslaw may have come from a pre packaged Countdown fridge. Other main was the Blue eye cod....super bland. Sorry but can't see what all the excitement is about.... read more

The Venison was out of this world, steak was wonderful, Brussels sprouts awesome. We were there for lunch and then dinner the following night. Dinner we were there with a large group and it was a busy evening so service was a little lacking but the lunch service was lovely. So not to fussed. Food is delicious and great quality read more

I would highly recommend the Wagyu---melt in your mouth deliciousness. A butter knife can easily slice right through it in one stroke. The chef will recommend that it is cooked medium, however, if you usually prefer your steaks cooked medium rare, that would be how I would have it. The lamb was also beautifully done. Quick tip, when booking, definitely try to get a table with a view of the water! :) Great romantic date spot! read more

I was planning our trip to Queenstown Botswana was a name that would consistently come up in the conversation while asking where to eat. I found the experience to be spectacular, one of only a few places in Queenstown that didn't flinch when I ordered a dry stirred martini and when my wife ordered a margarita. Now that we have the cocktails ordered, the menu was delicious with plenty of variety, including specials. We finished with the Money Shot, just ask. read more

One of the best meals Ive had in quite some time. Ambience was 10/10, great cosy tables, roaring wood fire etc. Food was phenomenal, wine was superb and service was very good. read more

My favorite place in Queenstown. Awesome rabbit pie, super fresh fish (my favorite is the fish medley) in a quaint little house on the waterfront (that used to be a local lawyers office). If you want a romantic place to propose for marriage, this place cuts it. read more

I went to Botswana for a work dinner and was blown away! The steak tartar app was out of this world and the rest of the meal followed in suit. I don't usually eat red meat (I actually haven't had any red meat over the past year!) but I made the exception after trying the tartar and was very happy that I did! I ordered the bone in fillet for my entree which was perfectly cooked and tasted like heaven, the portions were good too! For dessert I had the creme brûlée which was fantastic! The ambiance and vibe in this busy restaurant was also great! I highly recommend! read more