NZ South Isle - Restaurants / Wine Bars request

brad · Post by **brad** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 2:20 pm

Guys, any current recommendations for restaurants and wine bars in Christchurch, Queenstown and around Marlborough much appreciated.

Not five star silver service - simply great food, wine and ambience.

Thanks in advance.

cheers, brad

sanjay · Post by **sanjay** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:34 am

Hi,

Went last year to south Island
Queenstown:

Boat lake ? can't recollect the name exactly but its on the lake - quaint old place. nice food.

Arrowtown- saffron and another top one whose name escapes me.

sanjay

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 9:48 pm

Hope this isn't too late but was in Queenstown last week and had dinner at Saffron in Arrowtown (19kms/10 mins away) one night. Food to die for, great ambiance and great service. Not BYO but good wine list with a big wooden book for the reserve wine list. I had salt and pepper squid as a starter and Lamb rack (when in Rome) for mains. Fabulous! With a glass of sav blanc it came to around $60 a head. The current release Awatea was about $60 and drank very well with decanting.

Also pop across to the blue door bar after your meal and collapse into one of their leather chairs in front of the roaring fire. Noice!

We also had dinner in a thai place in Wanaka but I wouldn't recommend it. Over priced and not so authentic.

Also the Pizza and pool place upstairs on Shotover street in Queenstown opposite the westpac is great. Mondays are happy hour all night and beers become very cheap. The pizzas are great and the pool hall is very old school and fun. Complete convert to NZ beer, by the way. Why don't we get it here? I could get through truckloads of Cantebury Draft!

Naff Cafe opposite that is great for breakie too.

brad · Post by **brad** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 7:37 pm

Thanks Kris, friends have just returned - I was researching for them. Not sure exactly where they ended up but they had an excellent trip. Raved about the happy, friendly service everywhere they went. I used to spend a bit of time there for work and remember the 'comfortable style' that is Sth NZ. My friends are both in wine here in MR and it sounds like they were well looked after over there on their travels.