My meal did not meet my expectations. I ordered the special which was rump roast that was slowly…read morecooked which was suppose be tender and moist according to our wait staff person, The meet on the plate was dry and not very tender, implying that it was over cooked. The potato side dish was so-so. For dessert I ordered a lemon infuse olive oil cake, To my surprise the cake was extremely dry and I was unable to finish it. The setting for the restaurant is in an upbeat part of Christchurch and has an eclectic vibe to it. The staff was friendly and very attentive. I wish the meal would have been fitting for the environment.

Twenty Seven Steps - what a spot! Intimate space in a lovely location with great service, expansive…read morewine selection and they are happy to make you a tasty mocktail that suits your palate. Now... the food. Epic. Seasonal. Simple. Divine. I started with their marinated tomato salad which was fresh and flavorful. Entree was the steak with potato, onion rings and veggies - absolutely incredible. Naturally I had to save room for dessert and landed on the vanilla crème brûlée (though all the options sounded amazing). It came with fresh fruit and pistachio biscotti and was a great way to round out the meal. I would come back here again and again and again. Bravo!!

Nice atmosphere. Good food. We had a very long wait for food (around an hour) and when we mentioned…read moreit (even though my initial estimate of the wait was even longer), the staff was argumentative about it. For me, friendly service makes up for mediocre food but not the other way around. Ultimately, still worth a visit but unfortunately our experience was soured.

No 4 is definitely a "regulars" type of crowd. During the summers, the patio is filled every night…read morewith loud laughs, a sporting event on the TV or live music on the weekends. The average age is around 40, but on Thursdays it does draw in a good young population. With various specials featuring every day, it's a great place to unwind after work. As it's located in the Merivale/Saint Albans area, except to drop more than a few gold coins for a drink or a bite to eat, but the food is pretty tasty (put the mango back in the mango chicken salad, please!) and the drinks are made with care. Most of the beers on draught are Monteith's, so if you fancy something different, try a different spot. What makes this such a great bar (besides the taxi stand out front) are the various rooms that available. There are two separate outdoor patio areas (a larger one where live music is played with high top and low top tables and a smaller more intimate area great for a small group gathering to watch a sport match or for a birthday dinner). Inside they have a more formal dining area, a high top area and a library with a large TV and tall top tables. This is where the hen parties can go wild. It's definitely one of the top choices if you're in the area.

Excellent pizza and arugula salad. Service was fast. Nice location…read more Enjoyed our lunch in Christchurch.

The cocktails, the appetizers/starters and the Italian fare are outstanding. I have visited this…read morecorner restaurant right on the River Avon in beautiful Christchurch 3 or 4 times. My last visit Christmas week of 2024, I was very hungry and ordered the steak. I was not thrilled at how it was cooked or all the sauce they pour on it. Next time I'll ask for well-done and no sauces. But service, location, atmosphere and most everything else is worth a visit. It won't disappoint!

Baretta is one of my favorite establishments in the city for two reasons: 1) the food is amazing…read moreand 2) their outdoor patio bar is a great place to mingle with young professionals in the city. Visit Baretta on a weekend night and be sure you're into the bar well before 10:00 as the line of 20 and 30-somethings extends down the block. If you're visiting for the restaurant and a little taste of Italy in Christchurch, be sure to make a booking a few days in advance. They DO have Entertainment Guide coupons! FOOD: My husband and I started with the grilled ciabatta with parsley pesto and olive jam. The bread was extremely filling, so I definitely recommend sharing with several people. The olive jam was my favorite spread, but the parsley pesto is light and bright and an interesting take on pesto. We decided to split the side salad with parmesan cheese on top and a light balsalmic dressing. It was a crisp salad with a lot of complementary tastes. I ordered the Chicken Leg as my main and it was cooked beautifully: juicy and tender. It was served with pickled pumpkins (which were very interesting) potatoes with ricotta and garnished with radishes. I cleaned the plate! I just wish there had been about one serving less of the pickled pumpkins. My husband ordered the Squid Ink Gnocchi with mussels and calamari. If you enjoy the smell of fish and seafood overload, this is the dish for you. My husband enjoyed it, but the smell was overwhelming for me (a non-fish eater). We opted to pair the meal with a bottle of Chandon, but their wine list is quite extensive and the waiter will be more than happy to offer pairing suggestions. In fact, the waiters at the restaurant are on top of their game. Never was a glass left empty nor were we left alone for too long (but not in a creepy hovering way). He seemed to have his eye on our table at all times which made the evening a breeze. Step outside before or after your meal to enjoy a cocktail from the patio bar. Often there is live music playing and heated tables to relax on. What's the catch for the place? Be prepared to hand over your first born child with the meal as it ain't cheap. But quality food and impeccable service comes with a price.

A fun night scene for 18 and ups to socialize and drink. It has a classy feel with a pretty outdoor…read moresetting. There is a dress code, so make sure not to wear sandals or casual clothes. I have watched friends get turned away at the door for even wearing nice tennis shoes!

The staff and the food were beyond amazing!! It was asparagus season and it was a must order! Would…read moreeat here everyday if I could!! The ambience is also really pretty and intimate with an open kitchen concept. I told all my friends they have to try it since it was new and they haven't been before. Cant say anything negative about my experience and would give them 6 stars if I could.

Beautiful environment, great food and service. I ordered the lunch salad with lamb. Delicious!…read moreBack for the chicken schnitzel sandwich!

My wife and I stopped in for dinner after a day walking around Christchurch. We loved the staff,…read morethe food, and the environment. We liked it so much, we came for breakfast the next day. All the food was great: fairly priced, nice sized portions, simple, yet unique! Would strongly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, tasty, causal meal and/or cocktails!

Genuinely American diner food. Great place to grab punny, tasty breakfast or lunch. I got the Jenga…read moretoast which was actually served as a tower. The eggs, potatoes, biscuits, and steak are all what you would expect from most diners in the states.

An upscale, luxurious restaurant celebrating some Asian fusion ingredients and flavors. It's…read moreprobably a special occasions type of restaurant, though we viewed it more as a welcome meal on our first day off the plane in NZ. If you're having trouble determining what to get, their "Trust the King" tasting menu is a perfect choice. The "Royal" for 100 NZD nets you their best hits plus a dessert as a bonus. With the amount of courses you are given, this ended up being such an incredible value versus ordering all separately. After a final tally, it honestly felt like a highway robbery! Here's what our table received along with expected NZD: Small plate samplers (2): Natural oyster w/ nashi pear, Smoked salmon w/ spinach leaf, galangal, chili jam, and salmon roe Small Shared Plates (2): Wild Venison Carpaccio topped w/ nahm dtok, EVOO, and spicy sesame (32 NZD); Moong dal in mixed seed salad, avocado, and fresh lime (22 NZD) Larger Shared Plates (2): Marinated yellow fin tuna w/ chilli and mandarin, coconut salad (38 NZD); Crispy Pressed Half Duck in caramelized mandarin sauce (62 NZD) Dessert: Lemongrass panna cotta, lime granita, mint (18 NZD) It was a harmonic interplay between different Asian flavors, more Thai heavy than others, and even the local ingredients such as the raw venison entering the foray. They did ask if there was anything we didn't like before serving the meal to which I never thought to mention my aversion to overly spicy food (I was thinking of exotic foods I dislike). And, lo and behold, a lot of options were definitely on the spicier end such as the spicy sesame/ nahm dtok sauce which topped the carpaccio and abundance of red chili shavings in the marinated yellow fin tuna. On the bright side, it did require me slow down which enabled me to truly relish my food. Most everything was delicious even the duck with joyfully crispy skins and dipped in a sweet honey glace (though ever so slightly on dry side in the middle). King of Snake also houses the Monarch Cocktail Bar, to which I ordered a 'Paper Crane' (King of Snake Gin, apple soju, elderflower liquer, sake; 23 NZD) to pair with my meal. A buzzy, floral, and effervescent drink to really lend to the comforting meal.

Nicest Restaurant we've been to in a long while: upscale atmosphere, exceptionally nice ambiance…read morew:super helpful staff. We shared delicious plates and wine. would recommend the prawn dumplings, blue cod, tenderloin steak bites and curry pumpkin. We thought the curry pumpkin was the best!

It's a bit of a hole in the wall. Needs a clean! Yes, tables too…read more So this is how burgers were 20 years ago. The bread is amazing. This is a proper burger and chips. So good!!

We were recommended to try this place for great burgers and chips. The place is quite basic and…read morethemed in 50's horror. But the burgers were great and chips were amongst the best eaten, which is the reason for going there. It was nice to wash down with a local brew and listen to the band playing in the car park outback. I'll be back again when in town !