AMAZING food. The food is fresh, made with local ingredients, creative, and so good with every…read morebite. See photos for what was ordered. This was such a pleasant surprise in a small town, especially after a long hike through the snow. I called ahead to make a reservation so we were seated right away when we arrived. We were there on a weekday but think this place would be really busy on a weekend so plan ahead on that if needed. As for ambiance, it felt more like a cafe than a restaurant. We were right across the fireplace which worked well for us especially when we could feel the cool air every time the door was open. Overall, we loved our experience and enjoyed the food. Will recommend to a friend who will be in the area in the next few weeks.

Probably my favorite meal in my 10 day journey of the South Island. Recommended by our motel staff,…read moreit was a short walk away. We sat out on the patio for an early dinner which was really nice. The food was phenomenal. And I don't just think that about all meals. The bread was super fluffy and fresh to start. This place cooked the salmon perfectly and the filet was out of this world. If I lived closer I'd be here all the time.

Awesome place to visit. We stopped by here for a quick lunch on the way from Mt. Cook to…read moreQueenstown. They have fresh to-go salmon sashimi and a cafe/restaurant towards the back. We went to the restaurant and ordered some salmon rolls and fresh sashimi. They have lots of options for food (eg sandwiches, sashimi, sushi rolls and even coffee). They also have salmon fish in the ponds you can feed. Love that they have seating and bathrooms here and definitely worth a stop.

Wonderful place to stop for salmon on the way to view the beautiful lakes, Pukaki and Tekapo. My…read moreparty was looking for a full lunch, so we had some of the cooked entrees in addition to trying the salmon sashimi. The sashimi was wonderful, fresh-tasting, as expected. The entrees were all delicious, but my favorite was the chowder, which included perfectly crispy fried crab and tender Hokkaido scallops. Generally the service was good. Extra charge for ice for drinking water on a hot day was a bit off-putting given the price of the food. The farm seemed to be a great family experience. There are tours, a spot to feed the salmon, and a separate area for guided fishing of their farmed salmon. Parking was quick and easy, at the gravel lot next to the farm.

We had a very nice lunch at the Portside yesterday. The…read moreservice was the best, because of our server, ANNA. What a joy. The food was incredible, Salmon salad was so fresh, just out of the garden. The Blue Cod was cooked perfectly, moist and firm. If you go thru Oamaru, go to the Portside. It is a little out of the way but worth the visit. GO

We changed upon this restaurant for a quick bite before the penguin viewing session. Went without…read moreexpectation but we were pleasantly surprised. The seafood platter came in very generous portion of salmon cheese roll, juicy prawns, salmon steak and nearly a dozen mussels. The bacon wrapped mussels on stick is the bomb ! Fish & chips did not disappoint too ! Their portions are big hence shared 2 portions among 4 of us.

This is a small restaurant on the 2nd floor of a commercial building…read more Food: I started with the Caprese Salad (not memorable). For the main course I had the Stone Grill with Lamb which was good (very tender meat). My husband really enjoyed his Hanger Steak. Service: Friendly, efficient Ambiance: Functional, plain. Menus were looking a little worn and old.

The Te Mana lamb shoulder is the dish to get here and it is absolutely delicious. Full stop…read more The slow-roasted lamb shoulder is what my YEA and I rewarded ourselves with after a day of hiking Roy's Peak nearby. It's definitely a dish for two but if you are feeling extra hungry then no shame in turning it into a food challenge for yourself. The meat is so tender and juicy as you easily cut through it. Each mouthful was wonderful. The root veggies were on point and the bacon cabbage medley was crunchy joy. There wasn't much table talk because we were just enjoying the dinner so much and having a "moment". The restaurant is easy to miss because it is on the second floor of a building and you have to look for that door that will lead you up a flight of stairs. The restaurant decor in the dining room is very soft on the eyes and it has this modern minimalist elegance to it. Cheers to the friendly and caring staff. They didn't have any problem when we wanted to switch to another table as the sun was setting and the sunlight was blinding me from the window. Come here for the slow-roasted lamb shoulder, it's totally worth it!

We stop at this restaurant due to your reviews about their clam chowder. So we stopped in & tried…read morethe clam chowder and it did not disappoint! It was so good! Not filled with potatoes but lots of clams. Thank you for your help!

Oh my God, best seafood cheesy chowder on earth. I wish I could go there at least once a month but…read moresadly, I am in Los Angeles and they are in New Zealand. But go there for sure to see the little penguin show the town is known for it's not really a show. They're just coming up out of the ocean and it's very entertaining. You probably don't really have to pay if you went there late. You'll see them in the parking lot but it's way funner to have the anticipation of here they come they're coming. They're climbing up the rocks. They're super cute and it's just a good time if you like that sort of nature thing.

What a great place! Friendly service and efficient. Seated right away at a table with a fire. The…read moresalad came quickly and was delicious. Conveniently located right in Franz Joseph walking distance from hotels, activities, grocery store, shopping and views of the snow covered mountains. Would recommend trying this restaurant if you are in the area.

The worst pizza I've had in more than 20 years. Frozen pizza from the grocery store is better than…read morethis. To be honest the other dishes that we watched come out looked pretty good. Management if you're listening, if you're not going to do something right, then don't do it at all. Pull the pizza off the menu!

Service was excellent. Food too a while but not the server's fault. I could see how much she was…read morehustling to serve everybody and I thanked her for her hard work. The place is a really nice place to sit and relax. My eggs and smoked salmon were delicious. And the chocolate cake I took home was excellent. Thank you for a wonderful last meal in Wanaka!

We were blessed to find an open table at this popular and charming Wanaka cafe. Known for the…read moreseafood chowder, so of course I had to try it! It was full of ingredients- salmon, prawn, mussels, clams, squid, and tomatoes. Very creamy and delicious! Service was great and efficient despite how busy they were- impressive!

This place is phenomenal! Friendly staff, cute vibe, and everything we had was delicious. The BBQ…read morebrisket is especially good, and the Guilt Free Pleasure is a nice chocolate dessert. I'd come back here again.

We got caught in the rain in Arrowtown and ducked in to this darling spot for a bite and a respite…read morefrom the rain. And wow, what a cozy ambiance and darling spot that fits the small town vibe perfectly. The interior decoration matches the charm of the building's exterior perfectly - moody, cozy, vintage and intellectual. I love all of the nods to the town's history and New Zealand with the artwork and decor. Because we were outside of typical lunch hours and had just eaten, we didn't have much of an appetite and just split the BBQ brisket sandwich. Fare and prices are a bit on the higher end because it's an elevated gastropub, so note that when visiting. We liked but didn't love the sandwich - good enough for a quick pit stop! Service was friendly but we got the sense that splitting a meal was a bit frowned upon. Nonetheless, a cozy spot to get out of the rain with darling decor and exterior patio seating when not wet!

First: A business should make an attempt for its menu and hours to match its fancy website. Website…read moresays pizzas till 6:30. Nope. Show up expecting one and be told it is six. Look forward to lamb. No longer on menu. "Have the beef." Second: Service. When our table was cleared, they left a soda can sitting on a seat. When my salad was served (in an unstable bowl) I knocked against it and it spilled onto the table. The waitress said, "Five second rule. Are you okay picking it up yourself? I don't understand why we don't serve it on plates." After picking up all the dressed salad, I had to ask for napkins as none had been provided with our meals. My partner commented that her portion of salmon--which was excellent--was rather small. The waitress responded, "Yes, it is. But it's fresh. I like to go to a restaurant where it is all you can eat." Is it casual? Fancy? A fishing hole? Mini golf? We were looking forward to a nice meal. Very disappointed.

Had a fantastic lunch here on our honeymoon. Amazing concept...you can fish in their pond and they…read morewill cook whatever you catch. We were running short on time so we didn't end up fishing but instead got the salmon platter which was delicious. The beer on tap was also great! Sat outside and enjoyed watching the fish swim and the clouds roll by. Perfect day!