Restaurants in Christchurch
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Two Fat Indians
Closed until further notice.
Drawing backpackers and locals alike, this polished twin-room eatery lives by the tagline 'The art of pint and curry'. The extensive menu pleases both carnivores and vegetarians, and includes palak kofta (spinach dumplings) and a reliable chicken tikka masala, all with matching beer recommendations.
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Caffe Roma
Closed until further notice.
Often voted Christchurch’s best spot for breakfast, a relaxed attitude at Caffe Roma means goodies such as salmon with hash browns are available until 3.30pm every day.
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Bodhi Tree
Christchurch’s only Burmese restaurant is also one of the city’s best eateries. Don’t come expecting spicy flavours from neighbouring Thailand, but look forward to subtle food crafted from exceptionally fresh ingredients. Standout dishes include the le pet thoke (pickled tea-leaf salad) and the ciandi thoke (grilled eggplant). Meat and seafood also feature. Dishes are starter-sized, so drum up a group and sample lots of different flavours. Bookings are essential.
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Lotus Heart
Relocated to the edge of the CBD, this organic and vegetarian eatery does curries, freshly squeezed organic juices and filled pita pockets. Try the chilli, coriander and garlic-studded eggs Akoori for breakfast, or drop by for a healthy pizza, wrap, or shared platter for lunch or dinner. Organic, vegan, and gluten-free options abound, and there's an interesting gift shop onsite.
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Sticky Fingers
Closed until further notice.
Carnivores can go crazy here on aged beef fillet, twice-cooked duck or on numerous pizzas and pastas. Follow your main course with 'Love Handles' (kiwi-fruit pavlova with hokey-pokey ice cream) for a slice of sweet kiwiana.
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Liquidity
Closed until further notice.
Liquidity’s eclectic and stylish decor mixing chandeliers and warm timber tones combines with a diverse and proudly local menu. Free-range chicken with Israeli couscous and prime Canterbury lamb are a cut above other players on ‘the Strip’. Later at night good cocktails and plenty of European beer on tap fuels Liquidity’s eventual metamorphosis into a bar. Eclectic beats kick off most nights from 10pm. The morning after it’s a good riverside option for brunch ($13 to $20).
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Under the Red Verandah
After losing their original premises in the 2011 earthquake, Under the Red Verandah reopened in a spacious villa at the same location. Christchurch foodie types quickly returned, and now fill the shady garden for leisurely combinations of coffee, oaty pancakes and the city's best corn fritters. Look forward also to lots of organic and gluten-free baking.
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Tatsumi Kitchen & Pub
Closed until further notice.
Grab a table, or prop yourself at the bar with a handle of draught Asahi beer and choose from an almost-too-big selection of Japanese snacks and small plates. The sushi and sashimi is supremely fresh, and there’s a tad more innovation – soft shell crabs or fish carpaccio anyone? – than your usual Japanese eatery. Lunch specials ($15) are particularly good value.
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Le Bon Bolli
A French-leaning menu is served within this brassiere's inspired interior, with one room daubed with frescoes; upstairs is a more formal dining space (open for dinner, mains around NZ$32). The Caesar salad here is excellent, as is the crème brûlée (even if they do say so themselves). You can stop by just for bubbly or coffee on the terrace too.
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Chinwag
Closed until further notice.
Designer Thai food comes to Christchurch with subtle spins on the traditional Thai cookbook. Start the night with a heady Wild Thang cocktail and graduate to zingy, zesty dishes including green curry with prawns and baby corn. Bookings recommended. There is another branch dubbed Chinwag II ( [tel] 03-366 4544) at 131 Victoria St, with the same opening hours.
reviewed
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Indochine
Closed until further notice.
Indochine’s menu travels seamlessly from China to Thailand, and it’s usual for the mains to also feature a brave pan-Asian fusion focus. The successful experimentation continues on the cocktail list, which includes the mighty Indochine Mojito, blending vanilla-infused rum and palm sugar.
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Mum’s
Closed until further notice.
No-nonsense food just like Mum used to make. That’s if you grew up in Seoul or Tokyo anyway. More than a few Japanese and Korean language students regularly co-opt Mum’s as their tasty home-away-from-home, and the sushi, sashimi and bowls of ramen noodles remain authentic.
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Lunes
Closed until further notice.
Just maybe the perfect Christchurch cafe: Lunes mixes cool jazz, a professorial approach to making coffee, and perfect midafternoon treats like baked New York cheesecake. Only open for six weeks during research, and is already easily one of the favourite caffeine haunts in town.
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Bicycle Thief
Tom Waits on the stereo, a corner spot overlooking leafy Latimer Sq, and an excellent wine and beer list. What more could you want? How about great thin-crust pizzas and lovingly prepared rustic Italian cuisine? Cafe, bar or restaurant? You choose.
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Memphis Belle
The shortish trek from central Christchurch is definitely worth it for the city’s best pizza. Look forward to retro furniture and thin-crust savoury marvels that put to shame the international chains. Cash only and bookings are recommended.
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Retour
Closed until further notice.
Raised splendidly above the banks of the Avon on a small, canopied rotunda, intimate Retour is an accomplished practitioner of modern NZ cooking. Eat your way through crab and crayfish ravioli, braised leg of wild hare or loin of venison.
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Cook 'n' with Gas
A favourite of local foodies, this exuberant cottage restaurant serves up NZ produce with prize-winning flair and the help of a great wine (and beer) list. You can't go wrong with lamb or beef, though seafood dishes are equally tempting.
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Java Coffee House
Closed until further notice.
Funky, paint-splattered place with groovin' music, hungover staff and leaflets for upcoming dance events. It's a good place for a late-morning serve of eggs any way you like them, and you can get your latte or chai tea in a cup or bowl.
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Topkapi
Grab yourself a cushioned, low-slung bench in the tapestry-draped interior and enjoy some great Turkish food, including a wide range of meat or veg kebabs and the all-important baklava finisher. The takeaway counter does brisk business.
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Nobanno
Closed until further notice.
NZ’s only Bangladeshi restaurant dishes up sub-continental flavours that are slightly more subtle and subdued than the sometimes overt spiciness of Indian cuisine. The seafood – including prawn and fish curries – is especially good.
reviewed
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Zydeco
For something different, blackened lamb, spicy prawns and a hearty gumbo are just some of the Creole/Cajun dishes you can sample in this laid-back eatery. There's a balcony bar here too, with live music from Thursday to Saturday.
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C1 Espresso
C1 is a versatile spot with a global selection of teas and coffees, lots of local beers, and everything from robust breakfasts to bagels, wraps and burritos. Check out the selection of framed postcards and plan your next escape.
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East in the City
Overlook the grungy interior and appreciate this place for what it is - a barnlike Asian food court where you can get your fix of cheap pad Thai, dim sum or gado gado from one of the 10 or so food outlets.
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Savoy Brown
Closed until further notice.
One of many fine, laid-back cafés on High St, in among the cool shops and galleries - well worth a wander. Excellent coffee, bumper brekkies and homemade cakes are a feature; peak hour is weekend brunchtime.
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Daily Grind
The perfect refuelling stop while out sightseeing, and in a number of city locations. Daily Grind provides express delivery of coffee, juices and smoothies, plus fat bagels and rolls, salads and muffins.
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