The Institution is a small craft cocktail and beer bar. The staff is friendly and generous. There…read moreare 5 local beers on tap with a selection of bottles behind the bar. They'll let you try all their beers on tap before purchase. I enjoyed all of them. The cocktail I had was also great. They have a cheese platter which is also amazing. The bar seems to attract interesting people. Both times I went, I ended up in fascinating conversations with people I met at the bar.

Super chill place with a nice upstairs bar area. We were planning to go to a few places in the…read morearea but ended up closing the night here. The bartenders were playing requests that day, asking everyone who came in to name a song on top of their mind. Drinks were strong and tasty - had the Commie Mule with the freshly crushed ginger (first choice was Dr. Orders - but no can't do as rosemary was out of stock). The beer flight was good as well as you get to try all 5 beers that they have on tap. Highly recommend on coming here.

What can I say ... wow. Bourbons from Kentucky and gins from around NZ and the world. The…read morebartender could make just about any drink you could imagine. We sat outside and had a cocktail as we did laundry (laundry mat is just a block away). This is the best way to do laundry, lol. Sunny outside so the umbrellas helped keep of the UV11 sun as we enjoyed the constant breeze that day. Highly recommend and we also were able to learn about other speakeasies in the area. It's very close to the Novotel Hotel in reviewed earlier.

I was extremely disappointed by my recent visit to The Last Word. Although the space has plenty of…read moreseating, most of it is upstairs and was closed and unavailable when I visited. The whiskey menu is extensive at first glance, but it turned out to be outdated; my first three choices weren't available. To top it off, the bartender / waiter seemed so indifferent to my presence that I actually felt unwelcome. Overall, the experience fell far short of what it could have been.

Still avoiding Asian food due to going to there later this month, I decided on Western food for…read moredinner. The food seemed reasonably priced and was less than a ten minute walk from my hotel, so why not? FYI this will be the last business on your left as you walk through the parking lot. Anytime Fitness is on the right, and this business is currently next door to a brewery (who might be moving, so do not count on that if you are reading this months from now). You walk in and order at the counter. I decided on appetizers of onion rings, fish goujons, garden salad, and a mai tai. Here are my thoughts: Onion rings: I really liked the consistency of the batter. It is very crunchy, but there is no flavor. You are really going to need to try to salt and pepper the food, and this is coming from someone who cooks with very little of either (per my dad's opinion). Fish goujons: This is the same batter as the onion rings, so this is where I get my "have experienced better" rating. I do not recommend using the same batter for each. The batter for onion rings needs to be more light and airy compared to fish when battering. The fish was also pretty bland, so when you add a bland batter, the appetizer is even more bland. I only ate 3 pieces because the food was not good. Seasonal salad: I ordered no dressing, as I had learned from a previous restaurant that a random salad dressing will be assigned if you do not specify. There was something strangely spicy in this salad - jalapenos? As a Texan that is what they tasted like, but culturally I was confused because we do not put jalapenos in salads. Mai tai - This was pretty good. I could have used a large portion, but otherwise delicious. I can see if you want to come here and just have that without the food. One thing I noticed is that Christchurch apparently does not have a no-smoking ordinance within X number of meters. Even though there was a plastic covering around the patio since it was cold, there were cracks within the covered awning. The smoke can penetrate through these cracks, so be aware that just because you are "inside" an awning does not mean you are immune to the smoke. If you have asthma or allergies, keep this in mind as 3 of the employees were smoking at the table closest to the door. I think I will pass next time!

I have been in Christchurch now for three days and have found a new home. With a large variety of…read moredelicious beer and outstanding food... it begs the question... why go anywhere else?

Great vibes, loved the food, loved the idea behind "we don't do individual plates, only shared"…read more Great drinks. Lovely people too.

Very elegant and nice warm wooden interior, love all the plants and natural light!…read more Service was also great, waiter explained the menu and was very attentive in answering questions and refilling water Plating of food was beautiful! Great flavor profiles and ingredients felt high quality. The saffron cauliflower was perfectly warm and hearty. The cucumber salad was creamy and refreshing. And the lamb shoulder was sooo super tender, no knife even needed! The whipped labneh cream and zaatar flavoring paired so well w the lamb. Great meal, felt full and very satisfied after :)

Jack is an example of 5 star bartendering due to not only his versatility but also his about to…read morequickly make cocktails on demand, would 100% recommend on a night out

I love Strange and Co for the nice eclectic indoor atmosphere and the lovely patio. There are…read morehanging lights above your head and fire places by your table if you are dining outside. This is a great place to get drinks or a bite to eat. I've ordered bloody Mary's, Mojitos, dirty martini's, and rum runners as well as some items from the food menu such as the curly fries and shrimp on a stick. I enjoyed everything that I've ordered here, and the bartender who made my drinks was very nice and accommodating.

Super tasty food. Price is right as well. Beer selection could be better but can't complain too…read moremuch! Would definitely be a regular here.

We tried going here one night and they were completely booked till 8, which the hostess recommended…read moreus somewhere else which was very nice. Few days later we got reservations. Dinner was good and guac was good as well. Only issue was a cocktail that we ordered was quite expensive for the amount we got in the glass.

We, 2 of us, were fortunate to arrive with no reservation and be seated; thank you! I loved my lamb…read moremeal with potatoes and eggplant with a wonderful glass of Malbec! My friend had the angus steak and a special cocktail that I forget the name ... it too was enjoyed!

Food was so good I couldn't even take a picture because it was gone so fast. Their cocktails are…read moredifferent and fun combined with delicious. The staff have really fun and hopefully comfortable uniforms and are eager to help. The building is literally an old government building ( As per the name ) and it's beautifully renovated with large windows to take in the beautiful trees and scenery. Totally need to stop here if you're visiting. Probably my favorite meal and drinks so far!

Review for the bar: This place has the feel of a Speakeasy bar without the hidden entrance (love…read moreit!). The bar is well stocked with an abundance of options. Now for the food. The burger w onion jam has easily cracked my top 10 burgers of all time. I'm a burger connoisseur, have had them all over the world, so believe me, I know what I'm talking about. So much flavor! The same can be said about the fried chicken (they boast the best in Christchurch). Being originally from the south eastern United States, I can't speak to the fried chicken at OGB without trying it plain, but it's easily the best I've ever had with toppings. The maple bourbon glaze, the (chipotle?) drizzle and the deli sliced crinkle pickles compliment the dish. Whoever crafted the makeup of the burger and fried chicken really knows what they're doing. Staff is friendly and attentive. I can't speak to the dining room or any of the other items on the menu, but if burgers and fried chicken are something you appreciate, get ready to be grateful when you try them here. Kudos, OGB!