Had lunch in the cafe and drinks and dinner later after completing the nearby fabulous Charming…read moreCreek walkway. Everyone was very friendly and the food was excellent. Free wifi was good.

Great service and the food was very good! My husband had the salmon special and I had the pot…read moreroast. The veggies in the roast were so good!!!

Well, color this jaded Southern California girl (by way of New Jersey) VERY pleasantly shocked and…read moresurprised!! My Kiwi boyfriend and I have been touring the South Island for the past few weeks and ended up here in the very small town of Westport. After driving through torrential rains up the western side of the island for the past few days, we were looking for a respite. I always mentally scoff when I read that any restaurant outside of the NY/NJ area advertises itself as having authentic Italian food. But this small and unassuming place did just that. And I was craving some pasta after a steady diet of fish and chips, lamb and whitebait. We walked in and were immediately seated by the bar and had our drink orders taken, which arrived very quickly. I opted for the special, the spaghetti bolognese, while Boyfriend chose the Chicken Piccata. Let me tell you it was probably the best Bolognese I've had in my entire life. An extremely generous portion, accompanied by a yummy little palate-cleansing side salad, which I also devoured. Boyfriend was very happy with his dish as well, and we were both members of the "Clean Plate Club!!" I raved about the food to our very kind waiters/bartenders, and they said they would pass the compliments on to the chef. Who knew that on the wet, wild, western side of the South Island of New Zealand that you can get actual delicious Italian and Italian-inspired food in a tiny one-horse town?? I have been humbled. And my tummy is still full. And I'm still happy. Burp. Go there. And tell 'em Jenny from the Block sent ya.

OMG, This is the West Coast's best kept secret! Having recently moved to Westport, we dined at…read morePortside this evening and can't recommend it highly enough for service, food quality and exceptional value. Our experience was during the taste of Asia menu, and what delicious, fresh and authentic flavours. This is our new go-to and can't wait for the French menu next month. Thanks team, you're stars! see you again soon.

Great place. Nice staff. They were very attentive and cooked the meal just as we asked. Strong…read moreWiFi, which is hard to find in NZ. Good menu. This is worth your time!

Quick service and wide variety on their menu…read more I got the garden salad and the chicken bruschetta. I don't recommend the chicken bruschetta as there wasn't anything resembling a bruschetta at all on the plate and it was quite bland, but the salad was delicious! I'd come here again and order something else.

My pizza was delicious and my husband enjoyed his burger. Sweet ambiance, relaxed laid back…read morerestaurant with good food. Clean establishment : )

Ronnie was there to greet us at the door. Try to figure out the word of the day from the jumble of…read moreletters on the blackboard

Only sinners here to seek out an afternoon pick-me-up with a visit to a quaint, aged church,…read morere-purposed into a beer bar! Blessed be! When in hop capital, the Freehouse is an automatic add onto one's rotation. The most friendly, helpful staff to serve up a fresh pint and give all the best recs. Quite a few tap handles, but per the sheet, only those with the red check mark were the ones "On". No matter, because the selection with the 15 available was eclectic and very exciting. Surprisingly a number of sours on draft along with some cask options and beers featured from their on-site brewery "The Flavourtorium". We sat outside near this makeshift brewery within a shipping container, fermenter tanks and mashers in full view as a worker toiled away gathering the spent grain for disposal. Many a patron chatted away -- visitor and locals alike -- and dogs lazed away or wandered around off leash for a joyful afternoon basking in the Nelson sun. What an absolutely terrific vibe and what a time to be alive enjoying the fresh Nelson hops of the region!

Good place. They helped me out when I arrived in Nelson to an unacceptable hotel/motel, reviewed…read moreseparately. I ordered a pint and asked for recommendations. I got a few and followed up on one and ended up in a much better spot. It was admittedly not busy, so I had a bit of an opportunity to chat, and they were quite pleasant to get along with. A group came in as I was winding down my pint, and it is clear that they have a good community following (also confirmed by a recommendation of the Freehouse from a friend who lived in Nelson for quite a while). It was also a Sunday evening, so things were already pretty quiet in Nelson. There is a beer garden/patio out front with a food stand, but it is late winter now, so that wasn't active, and they have only a light kitchen themselves, so they were happy to recommend nearby places for take-out to eat-in at their spot. Good neighbors then. Good people. Very helpful. Good beer. Worth the visit. Oh, and it's in a repurposed church. Very cool.

Monteith's in THE original West Coast brewery, a classic worth visiting in Greymouth. Despite this…read more-- and the inclusion of a seemingly delightful brewery tour through their expansive brewery area with many a shiny stainless steel tank -- they apparently don't even brew on-site anymore. Regardless, it's a strategically located lunch spot on ones way down the rugged, tempestuous West Coast. They were shamelessly open on Good Friday, but with the 15% surcharge in full effect, of course. We ordered a tasting flight of 3 beers (200mL's at 20 NZD) and some small bites. The Driftin IPA and West Coastin' IPA were solid with familiar hops (some American) though the Wayfarer Pilsner's crispness sums up my new appreciation for NZ pilsners. For food, we had the fried Calamari and the Venison sliders, the latter being quite yummy, the toasted up brioche buns and venison medallions smothered in chili jam and aioli making for an enjoyable mix of sweet and salty. Seating was super comfortable in the truly massive restaurant. Many a friendly worker to service you on your lunch stopover.

Decided on this place by their recent reviews. When you…read morewalk in the door there are signs that tell you to go to the bar to place your order and to first find a table where you will be seated and give them the table # so they will know where to bring your food. If you need anything you have to go to the bar to get it. They do not have servers walking around. We orders a couple of Local lady's and a prawn appetizer. For the mains we ordered Fish and Chips and the Warm Thai Chicken Salad. The salad had great texture but the mayo and avocado was really bland. Perhaps ordering a different dressing would help. Other than that we enjoyed our food. We talk to locals that were sitting at our table. It was great!

Entrees are pre-made and reheated for serving, nothing is freshly made. A total disappointment and…read morea waste of money.

Very generous servings. the pork belly was Disappointing, all the more because the gratin potato…read morewas so perfect. I'm used to pork belly being very tender and flavourful. This wasn't. Where's the 5-spice and slow cooking?

If you're in Takaka, chances are your pants have already been completely charmed off. But if you…read morecan handle one more ounce of charming, head to The Brigand. You'll walk through a garden of outdoor seating and into a cozy bar/cafe/music venue that, with open fires roaring and booze flowing, feels more like your best friend's living room than a restaurant. That is, until the food arrives. With a heavy emphasis on fresh Kiwi produce, it's an embarrassment of riches with lamb, sirloin steak, fresh fish, spare ribs, cheese, wine, really, I'm not sure why you're still reading and not simply heading here immediately. My only regret is not getting to try the apricot schnapps cheesecake as it was sold out. Welp, I guess I'll just have to head back...

Great place for a really damn good dinner! Good craft beer selection, amazing food and desserts…read more So nice to sit outside and have a drink with amazing food.

The food was absolutely delicious! One of the best steaks I have ever had! It was wonderful being…read moreable to cook the steak on the hot stone! The service was amazing everyone there was so nice! Fun ambiance! I just wished I could have gotten one of their Saint shirts!!! Oh and the drinks were tasty!

The stonegrill venison wound up being a pleasant choice, as the cut was both tender and flavorful…read more Being able to cook it myself was a positive; I'd done this with beef before but never with game meat. Friday evening is an ideal time to drop in here since draft pints are offered at a discount, and I happily took advantage of that offer. The server assigned to my table was kind but admitted she had only recently started work there, and her inexperience showed a few times.