Joe&#x27;s Garage

It was alright. It tasted fine, but it wasn't worth the long wait time…read more In-N-Out is better

Iconic burgers eatery with such high flow of foodies... fast moving with limited seatings…read more Beers are good pairing (local plus). Interesting meats besides standard... looking to try lamb. Best to diet before to much intake

Limited indoor seating

See all

Devil Burger

4.2(61 reviews)

0.1 km

Solid burger restaurant! We didn't want to wait in the Fergburger line so ended up at Devil Burger…read more My burger was great, full of flavor! I forget the name but it had pineapple and bacon. I also tried a few bites of the Bleu Cheese burger with the roasted pears, it was also delicious! And as for the Curry Fries, I could have eaten them all myself! The prices were reasonable and the kids' meals were good sized compared to most. You order at the counter and find a seat inside. There's not a ton of seating but it looks like you could get it to go and sit by the lake very easily. I would eat at Devil Burger again for sure!

Worst burger I have had in NZ. All dry bun and a mediocre patty. Stay away from this place. Ugh!read more

Steak Burger

Devil Burger split in half to share

See all

Garlic cheese chips

Fergbaker

4.6(93 reviews)

The Ferg strikes again... with some renowned, memorable meat pies! An added bonus for an always…read moreeasy-going line with the ability to pop in either in the morning or afternoon for a quick fuel and/ or re-fuel. Pies are at 8.90 NZD. A well-balanced pie with an even 50:50 ratio between the puff pastry lid and base. Their pies be more flakey and soft, none too crusty, and with ultra tasty fillings. The puff lid was delightfully layered and just melted in your mouth. The boy felt inclined to stop here twice in one day so I'd reckon it was a hit!

Love that Fergbaker is open late and the meatpies and almond croissant was delicious. We got a…read moresteak and cheese meatpie while waiting in line for Fergbaker and it was worth it. Service is quick and compared to Fergburger, there was rarely a line. Also limited seating since it's the same block as Fergburger, Mrs. ferg and FergBar.

Meatpies

Steak and cheese Meatpie

See all

Beef & Cheese Pie

Flame Bar & Grill

4.3(74 reviews)

•$$$

Flame was a relaxing place to enjoy a good meal of good meat. For our dinner, we enjoyed the lamb…read moreskewer which was dramatically presented hanging down over the plate and the half rack of ribs. Both were delicious as were the accompanying fries. The space features lots of plants and windows that, on the day we were there, were open to bring in the breeze. Their signature dessert was very theatrical as it is set aflame right at your table. It was a fun way to end a very satisfying dinner.

This place is known for their ribs and steak. It was bustling and difficult to get seating, but…read moresince I was solo, I got a spot at the bar. The interior was rustic, spacious, with a warm and comforting ambiance. I wanted to try a little of everything, so ordered the Flame Mixed Grill ($67 NZ), which consisted of famous Ribs, grilled Sirloin Steak, Boerewors Sausage, rotisserie Peri Peri Chicken, along with roasted baby potatoes with sour cream. This took awhile to come out, but it was worth it! Ribs were sticky in a bold, smoky, tangy, savory BBQ sauce. The meat was delightfully tender. Steak was cooked perfectly, succulent, and well seasoned. Sausage was slightly charred and quite juicy, paired wonderfully with flavorful chimichurri. Chicken was not really my favorite, as I found it lacked flavor and was a bit dry. Potatoes were soft and pillowy that worked nicely with the creamy sour cream, but only 3 small ones. Service was solid. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was tasty and it was a lovely, hearty feast of a dinner!

Mixed grill for two

See all

Inside

Public Kitchen & Bar

4.3(107 reviews)

0.3 km

There were many great options and I had a hard time picking what to order. I ordered the oysters…read moretempura which were delicious. I thought the lamb rack could use more seasoning and was a bit too bland for my taste. Love the outdoors and the lake scenery which made my experience more enjoyable.

Fabulous Italian food with a beautiful view of the water. We had the Fruiti de Mare and Bolognese…read more Delicious!

See all

The Fat Lamb

4.6(5 reviews)

0.1 km

I'm a sucker for fun restaurant names, and The Fat Lamb easily enticed me. The elegant and romantic…read moreinterior is contrasted amusing works of art featuring lamb(what else?). It was a slow Sunday night, so we were seated promptly and provided with friendly attentive service. $37NZ Lamb Osso Buco...I'm not sure what part of the lamb I was eating, but it they were tasty tender pieces on the bone. The cous cous made a fine light starch which soaked up the juices nicely. $22NZ Moroccan Lamb Kebabs...the wife wasn't too hungry, so she ordered this appetizer/entree as her main course...these kebabs were seasoned perfectly and far more flavorful than my Osso Buco. They should turn this into a main course! Unfortunately I didn't get to eat here again, but I would definitely eat here again on my next visit.

We really enjoyed dinner at the Fat Lamb. The lamb ragu pappardelle was fantastic and full of…read moreflavor. The fresh homemade pasta was delicious. Nice intimate atmosphere inside with a fireplace, as well as ample outdoor seating in a busy tourist district. Good people watching spot right in the middle of everything. Service was good, and we enjoyed our meals.

See all

Bespoke Kitchen

4.7(70 reviews)

0.4 km

Food and service, both amazing! Really delicious & "farm to table" style. Even the decor is cozy,…read morecasual and cute! The juice is super refreshing, can really taste the freshness! Love the straw.... will definitely be back here. It's on the way to the gondola... great stop before or after the ride!

Such a great vegan-friendly menu. The vegan blueberry/blackberry pancakes were to die for and…read morefreshly-squeezed juice was incredible. I wish I could've come back and tried all of the many vegan menu items, which included: Vegan cake Vegan Benedict Vegan mushroom burger Smoothies This place is super cute and walkable from the center of town. I highly recommend!

Pre-made options and bakery items

Karage Chicken Burger

See all

Karage Chicken Burger

Mrs Ferg

4.6(23 reviews)

Delicious meat pies! Our favorite food of the trip!…read more PARKING: Some street parking available, we opted to park in the paid lots nearby. LOCATION: Right next to Ferg Burgers, be sure to stand in the right line. The line to Ferg Burgers is often very long & out the door, whereas the line for the bakery is often quite short. SERVICE: Efficient. You place your order and your items are handed to you quickly. FOOD: We tried a couple of the meat pies (steak & lamb) and were surprised by how delicious they were. The crust was flaky and the meat was warm and perfectly seasoned. We also loved the brownie, which was fudgy but not too sweet. There is no place to eat in the shop itself, so we took our food to a nearby area and enjoyed the pies there. It was a bit chilly so the pies were absolutely perfect.

The deliciousness can be seen and smelled From…read moreThe moment you step inside. What amazing gelato and sorbets.

Halumi cheese croissant- made to order

See all

Panna cotta & Figs and Manuka Honey

Slow Cuts

4.5(10 reviews)

17.0 km

We asked one of the local shop owners for a recommendation and the recommended slow cuts. Well the…read moreservice was excellent and the lamb special was even better. We also had the Mac it too was great. Very clean, nice fireplace great ambiance. The local that recommended this place got it on the nose. Thanks to all the staff, great place

Definitely a go to place while in Arrowtown. Was pleasantly surprised that the Chinese restaurant…read morebeside it was closed, as this forced us to eat here. Do their burgers, both the classic beef and the buttermilk chicken are good. And don't forget the fried smashed potatoes, served with aioli and tomato sauce (nope that's not ketchup), really amazing. Outdoor and indoor seating available!

See all

Cuban sandwich... One of the best sandwiches I've ever had

Ivy and Lolas

4.4(76 reviews)

0.3 km

Yelp community isn't kidding when it raves about your breakfast. I went with the herbed pea and…read moremint fritters - I had no idea what to expect (not the most common flavors for us Americans), but I want more of it. It was flavorful and filling. We had great service - they were friendly and hospitable; they provided menu recommendations and were courteous about allergy needs. The lake and mountain view was Remarkable :-). The menu was delightful. I'd love to come back for breakfast again.

Came here for a glass of mulled wine to slowly wind the day away on vacation. Unbeknownst to me, I…read morearrived with only 30 minutes left before they closed. Despite that, staff was kind and attentive, not rushing to close. The mulled wine hit the spot and sitting outside, even in winter, is well worth the views. There was also a woman singing opera on the wharf - drinks and show. Very nice spot.

Permanently closed

See all

Brunch Menu. 03/31/2023

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Corinne M.

199

31

3

2 months ago

It's no longer there. Walked there and couldn't find it, so it's either not correct on the map, or it's no longer in business.

Kathy L.

1469

13

1

4 years ago

Love to have an email of the owner.... Im not a negative person and if it was my place I would want the feedback.

Bill L.

0

30

3

10 years ago

Went with the family!. The staff were terrific, friendly and the food was terrific!

Jason S.

0

9

0

10 years ago

It was hopping when I grabbed breakfast.

Joe's Garage - cafes - Updated September 2026

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Joe's Garage also viewed

Yonder

4.4

(36 reviews)

Very rude staff. Good food, get ready to feel unimportant…read more Menu shows a fish option for dinner. Item did NOT indicate that it was breaded when other items clearly note "crumbed" or fried. Item arrived, deep fried and breaded. Okay - not the end of the world. Maybe it's my own mistake... here's where it gets nuts.... I told the waiter about the issue, said I don't mind even paying for the item because maybe my kids will eat it, but could I please order some grilled chicken instead. First, his response when I OFFERED TO PAY for an item that was ultimately their own miscommunication was "okay, good." Like, good, you SHOULD pay for this item. But then he proceeds to roll his eyes and get visibly upset that I asked to order (and pay for) an additional item that was grilled. I'm not a cheapskate, was even giving the benefit of the doubt that this could've been customer error (it wasn't, but let's just take ownership here, right?). But then to get visibly shamed by the waiter, not a single apology or helpful manner, just frustration and irritated behavior. So, I sent a note to them on instagram about the menu and the experience as I didn't want to just leave a review. They view the message, never reply or acknowledge. So, it tells me a lot about how they run their business. Funny thing is, we are there for breakfast and then came back for dinner. The food was good, but do NOT come here for service. We're easy going, not looking for a freebie, just wanted food AS LISTED on the menu. The waiter at one point came back and said "you know it's fried but still gluten free, right?" I acknowledged and said "yes, but it isn't about the gluten, I'm just not interested in fried fish." He became even more irritated because he felt I was being difficult by wanting to eat cleaner. That's WHY we wanted to eat here in the first place, because it IS SUPPOSED to be cleaner! Anyhow, I can see by recent reviews that this place is going downhill with the service. I get it, people can be difficult, but don't shame customers that are polite and trying to do the right thing. We've been in restaurant service before, I know it's tough; but also, level up and take responsibility and check the ego at the door. PS: Turkish Eggs with Brekkie were out of this world delicious.

What a beautiful restaurant! They offer indoor and outdoor seating and both have great ambiance!…read moreThe service was friendly but a bit slow. Full disclosure they told me upfront that it would be about a 30min wait once my order was placed and it took about that much time. No biggie, we are on island time! I ordered coffee, chili egg toast with bacon and a side of fries. All were delicious but it was entirely too much food for one person. I could have done without the tasty fries. I would recommended you try this place but be patient or choose another spot if you're in a hurry. High recommend you give it a try!

Halo Forbidden Bite

4.5

(33 reviews)

This restaurant has been replaced by another breakfast / brunch place called Odd Saint so different…read morefoods but still good. Just a heads up so you aren't disappointed when you can't find it!

Had a take out coffee. Service was scattered upon trying to order. But yuck on the cappuccino. Old…read morebeans and unclean machine. Ick. $6.50 In the trash.

Bespoke Kitchen

4.7

(70 reviews)

Food and service, both amazing! Really delicious & "farm to table" style. Even the decor is cozy,…read morecasual and cute! The juice is super refreshing, can really taste the freshness! Love the straw.... will definitely be back here. It's on the way to the gondola... great stop before or after the ride!

Such a great vegan-friendly menu. The vegan blueberry/blackberry pancakes were to die for and…read morefreshly-squeezed juice was incredible. I wish I could've come back and tried all of the many vegan menu items, which included: Vegan cake Vegan Benedict Vegan mushroom burger Smoothies This place is super cute and walkable from the center of town. I highly recommend!

Vudu Cafe & Larder

4.3

(132 reviews)

Food was great, got the smash burger, blueberry cheesecake french toast, eggs w/ bacon and…read morepotatoes, and the eggs benedict with manuka smoked bacon We also got the maple latte, peppermint mocha, flat white, and the long black The drinks were great, and the food was good too though the sauce on the burger was a little strange (but not necessarily in a bad way) The place itself is cute, but quite small. We had to wait outside a bit for a table. It was pretty annoying to be kicked off the wifi for no reason halfway through and having to rejoin though The servers were nice, though we barely interacted with them aside from ordering and them delivering our food. The food and drinks came out pretty fast, which was nice Overall a good place, my only complaint being the wifi issue and the fact that the bathroom feels like its in the backrooms of a supply closet

A friend recommended this place to me so on one of the mornings I got up to try it out. I came in…read morearound 7:30am and there were only a few other tables occupied. I ordered my go-to breakfast item, which is their Vudu Benedict ($30NZD), along with a cup of their Housemade Lemon Honey Ginger ($6). You order at their counter in the middle of the shop, and then they give you a number to take to your table. The tea came out pretty quickly, and the benedict followed maybe about 10 minutes after. The benedict was good, and while there was only 1 egg, the whole thing stuffed me for hours afterwards. The bread at the bottom was definitely the most filling part, and I was struggling to finish it all. They had a glass display with various bakery items, and they looked so good I was so tempted to get something even though I was stuffed from the benedict. If I ever come back to Queenstown I would definitely be coming back here to try some of those bakery items.

Bobs Weigh

3.9

(18 reviews)

It's been a few years since we were there, so I can't speak to the current conditions, but I had…read morethe best French Toast of my life there.

Don't let the funky, youth hostel vibe put you off, Bobs will serve you up with something much…read moretastier than you ever scrapped from any of those kitchens. The coffee was above average and the still-warm white chocolate muffin certainly did the trick on a cold morning in Queenstown. All I did was grab and go, but it's no wonder this cheap and cheerful cafe is a solid local institution.

Ivy and Lolas

4.4

(76 reviews)

Yelp community isn't kidding when it raves about your breakfast. I went with the herbed pea and…read moremint fritters - I had no idea what to expect (not the most common flavors for us Americans), but I want more of it. It was flavorful and filling. We had great service - they were friendly and hospitable; they provided menu recommendations and were courteous about allergy needs. The lake and mountain view was Remarkable :-). The menu was delightful. I'd love to come back for breakfast again.

Came here for a glass of mulled wine to slowly wind the day away on vacation. Unbeknownst to me, I…read morearrived with only 30 minutes left before they closed. Despite that, staff was kind and attentive, not rushing to close. The mulled wine hit the spot and sitting outside, even in winter, is well worth the views. There was also a woman singing opera on the wharf - drinks and show. Very nice spot.

The Exchange

4.2

(13 reviews)

I merely stopped in The Exchange for less than a minute, on my search for a bakery where I could…read morefinally obtain a long-sought date scone takeaway. Found it! Freshly baked-a warm date lemon powdered sugar dusted scone-ready to go. Outside, crispy, flaky crunch, then inside a moist, dense, rich flavor. Hearty ample chunks of dates, with a light lemon zest. Absolutely delicious. Had I not grabbed the scone to go on our way to the airport, I would have definitely returned to The Exchange to try out more eats- highly recommend.

A lovely space and a nice place to grab a beverage and get some work done, undisturbed. Be aware…read morethat the wifi is atrocious so best to hotspot yourself.

The Bath House Cafe

4.8

(26 reviews)

•$$$

What a great oasis and place to just sit and chill...literally. we were outside and a little…read morecool...but they gave us a blanket. The food was great. I had the mince with poached eggs and my Wife had the chicken sandwich. The coffee - best we've had in Queenstown. We even ordered a second coffee each to go. Oh, and the view isn't bad.

This quaint little spot on the edge of the lake was a perfect spot for breakfast! We had the egg…read moresandwich and the eggs and bacon Benedict.

Balls and Bangles

4.4

(21 reviews)

Smoked salmon bagel sandwich on Rosemary and sea salt bagel sent me to heaven and back. Flavors…read morewere well balanced and the bagel was perfectly chewy and tender Donut reminded me more of a malasadas but it was delicious

I'm staying in the city center and attempted to go to this address but I think they closed/moved…read morejust down the road to Shotover ST. No big deal so I headed to that location since there are two locations on Apple Maps. I ordered number 8 bagel which is essentially a bacon, egg n cheese. It was pretty tasty but I did not like the tomato sauce on it (probably bc I'm from the states and am only use to 57 lol). I also got a side hash brown which was slightly better than a mcdo hash brown. I got the Nutella donut which I thought would be filled but it was only a dallop on top (still really good and probably my favorite part of the meal). I chased it down with an iced americano. Once is enough for me but def give it a try!

Glenorchy Cafe - THE GYC

4.3

(15 reviews)