We had dinner here in March 2002 on a previous visit to NZ. It was so refreshing that the quality…read moreand service have not changed over the intervening years. Located across from the water, each of the window tables has incredible views of both the bay and the Kaikoura Mountain range. The evening we were there, they were receiving the first snowfall of the season on the upper peaks, which was awesome to watch. We had tried to book online, but somehow our reservations got mixed up. Elly (I think that's her name - or Ivy?), was wonderful to accommodate us at the time we wanted, and at a table with a view anyway. But reservations are definitely necessary, and if you want a table by the windows, book well in advance. Hubby and I each started with the fish chowder, then had the fresh catch gurnard, which were both amazing! My taste buds were definitely happy here. The fresh bread was hot and also tasty. Joanne, our server was very attentive, making the experience truly special. I just hope the quality remains the same for our next visit to Kaikoura, whenever that may be!

I'm pretty sure green dolphins don't exist, so you're not going to find any of those here. What the…read morerestaurant does have is fresh, delicious fare and a partial view of the water. I stopped by last night and tried a variety of dishes. The white bait, fish chowder, crayfish (I chose grilled) and chocolate cake were all excellent. Even the roasted vegetables that accompanied the crayfish tasted amazing. In addition to attentive service from the staff, I found the restrooms to be very clean. If you are planning to visit the seals after your meal (~15 minute walk), then I'd recommend tinkling here before setting off on your journey.

We were staying in a local AirBnB without a car and these are one of the two places in town that…read moredeliver so we went for it -- really delicious, fast and precise service, and they even agreed to pick up a bottle of wine for us at the supermarket and no extra charge! We were very impressed and loved our meals.

The quality of the chicken in our dishes tasted old, but we ate it anyways. This resulted in us…read moregetting food poisoning. Ambiance and service was nice though

The clam chowder was amazing, the service was excellent, and the view was stunning. It was the…read moreperfect place to relax and recharge after a three-hour cliff walk.

An absolute must when visiting the charming town of Kaikōura! Reservations are essential- so make a…read morebooking! Everything was excellent- fish perfectly cooked- mussels in thick and lucious coconut cream, the crayfish with garlic butter and lemon were sublime. Loved the staff- hardworking and so so friendly! The pavlova was huge! enough to share 4 ways!

Food/Pizza REVIEW:…read more Okay so here's the deal. Unfortunately relying on good reviews doesn't always turn out to be good. Hence I was completely disappointed by the food, and am a bit shocked by the good pizza review. This has got to be one of the worst and most overpriced pizza I've ever eaten. Burned crust, moisty dough and no fresh toppings. It tasted like a frozen supermarket pizza -- and even for that it was bad. Maybe the other food's better, but as a cook I would've never even send these pizzas out. Beer is great, and we were friendly treated. But for a 25$ pizza this was an absolute disaster. Salad was okay! Local Beer on tap was great. So maybe pop in for a snack and a beer, but please no pizza.

The pizza was super good and the place was super nice inside. I got a Hawaiian pizza with chicken,…read moredefinitely would recommend that.

At a rest area in a highway pullout off State Highway 1, this is little more than a food truck…read more Technically, a trailer and it's permanently installed. Nin's Bin is a seafood shack and you will want to ignore appearances. A selection of fresh seafood is on offer including lobster and crabs and crayfish. It's all available in an iced bin for inspection. I have not had the New Zealand delicacy "White bait" and opted for that. It's also the least expensive thing on the menu and since Nin's Bin i cash only, it's the only thing I had enough cash to afford. A few minutes later, my name was called out and I picked up my sandwich. Tasty, interesting and I am glad to have experienced it. Sitting at a bench overlooking a beautiful bay at the absolute edge of the world may have improved the flavor. I wouldn't miss it. [Review 414 of 2024 - 67 in New Zealand - 21447 overall]

Crayfish! This is a little food van hidden amongst the road…read moreworks along Highway 1 just north of Kaikoura - blink and you'll miss it! The menu was limited to crayfish and chips on the day that we stopped - but the crayfish was amazing. It was fresh and delicious and tasted even better for eating it outside with the beautiful views. Nicey but pricey - we paid $96 for the largest crayfish she had!!

Some of the best Fish and Chips we tried. We shared one of…read morethe Crayfish and shared the Blue Cod F&C - and that was enough for a great lunch. Perfect location near the beach in Kaikoura. Outdoor seating - nothing indoors.

The fish was good, the fry, just ok. The oil that they use to fry was either old or they overheated…read moreit. It permeated the crust and produced a semi foul flavor. Maybe they don't change the grease often enough...

We enjoyed our experience here. Friendly staff. Would recommend the craypot chowder and anything…read morefrom the dessert cabinet

The prices here were twice the fancy hotel restaurants and the plates don't show it. Order at the…read morecounter, wonderful selection of brews and vie for one of three tables on the sidewalk. PS if you do get one of the outside tables, bus your plates inside when your done or leave your fellow diners to fight off the winged rats!

Phenomenal fish and chips- a must-eat in Kaikoura. Everything is so fresh, flavorful and the fried…read morefish texture is light and not oily Recommend getting your food to go (everything wrapped in pieces of paper versus in paper boxes) to eat onsite because it's a funner ambiance!

My wife and I visited Coopers Catch during a recent trip to Kaikoura. We ordered the Blue Cod and…read morethe Whitebait Fritter. The Blue Cod was fresh and flaky in an airy crisp breading and paired with large soft fries and flavorful malt vinegar. We also tried the Whitebait Fritter; this omelet was airy and enjoyable. The Blue Cod was some of the best fish and chips we had ever had so we visited a second time before the end of our trip. Coopers Catch is a must stop in Kaikoura.