We’ve all been there—sitting at a restaurant and ready to treat ourselves, only to end up with cold chips, rubbery steak, or being ignored by three different waiters. After enough of these letdowns, it’s easy to see why some people give up on dining out. 

We’ve had our share of duds too. That’s why, when we visited the Canterbury region, we wanted to see if their restaurants were actually good. 

After plenty of meals (and a few food comas) and chats with locals, we’ve rounded up the top restaurants in Canterbury that you can trust for a reliably good night out.

1. Greta Valley Tavern

Address: 9 Tavern Drive, Greta Valley 7387

Contact Details: +6439753924

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 2 AM 

Website

Greta Valley Tavern has a wine list that pulls in some of the region’s best bottles. We ended up picking a local Pinot Noir for the table, and loved every bit of it.

The first sip was all dark cherry and a hint of spice—smooth enough to keep pouring, but with enough bite to stand up to the food.

The menu leans into classic Kiwi comfort food, with brunch kicking off at 11. One regular couldn’t stop talking about the eggs Benedict, so we had to try it ourselves.

The hollandaise was silky and just sharp enough to cut through the smoked salmon, all piled onto a toasted English muffin. 

The only letdown was the coffee, which arrived lukewarm.

Lunch kicks off after 2 PM. The lamb steak sandwich we had during lunch was absolutely delicious. Thick slices of lamb, sweet caramelised onions, and a swipe of mint aioli bring it all together.

The vibe here is relaxed. Families like that the kids can run off to the playground, while a few locals told us they always squeeze in a quick game of pool before their meal.

Hands down all of us praising the food 10/10 

“My whanau couldn’t place this highly enough.

Fantastic food

Kiwi burger made my brother struggle decent size and full of flavour

My niece has a big cheese burger for a kids meal and was very happy

My sister had the gluten-free meat lovers pizza

And I had a pepperoni pizza

The bases made on sight and hands down all of us praising the food 10/10 or 20/10 so good

So full and taking away the leftovers for later.

Top marks.”

– Tarley t, Google Reviews 

Food was delicious 

“Called into Greta Tavern for bite to eat on the way to Blenheim . Ladies were very helpful with gluten free options for coeliac. I decided to get seafood chowder which was generous on prawns and sea food. Rob got sausages and mash which was tasty and came with generous portions with 4 sausages. Food was delicious and the chowder super tasty. Recommend stopping. Fabulous play ground for little people.”

– Liz Fisher, Google Reviews

2. Tussock Hill Vineyard and Cellar Door Restaurant

Address: 210 Huntsbury Avenue, Cashmere

Contact Details: +6432600902

Operating Hours: 

• Wednesday & Thursday – 10 AM to 4 PM 
• Friday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM 

Website

Tussock Hill Vineyard and Cellar Door Restaurant is one of those places where we couldn’t help but notice the view first. The vineyard was beautiful, with rows of organic grapevines stretching out. 

The menu is always changing, depending on what just comes in from Canterbury’s farms. We like this because they use fresh seasonal ingredients to prepare their dishes.

But this also means that if diners come in hoping for a dish they saw online, it might not be here.

On our visit, we started with their housemade wakame sourdough. It was chewy and warm, and the garden pickles on the side had a tang that made the bread even better. 

But the lamb shoulder was the dish everyone at our table kept talking about. It was so tender it barely needed a fork, and the chimichurri jus was sharp enough to cut through all that richness. 

One local swore by the oysters. He loved their unique green-apple-and-wasabi sorbet on top. He didn’t expect that combo to work, but it did. 

We also like how careful the staff are with dietary needs. A diner with a gluten allergy said the kitchen handled her meal without fuss. 

Service was friendly and professional

“A lovely visit despite the rainy weather. Service was friendly and professional. The miso butter and fresh bread was sensational and I loved my fish and the cauliflower side. Delicious dessert and the rose wine was crisp and balanced. Feeling like you are in the country when you are actually ten minutes from the city! Delightful! Pictured is the venison and our vanilla dessert.” 

– Talei Howell-Price, Google Reviews 

Truly an exceptional experience!

“Truly an exceptional experience! A spur of the moment treat for us, but make sure you book ahead for a window table!

Utterly fabulous staff; personable, knowledgeable and passionate. The food sublime. Exquisite dishes crafted to perfection. Beautiful and entirely original blendings of the very best local ingredients. The sum of each dish greater than it’s individual elements.

I am very much looking forward to a special occasion to indulge in the Chefs Choice.”

– Gilly Dawber, Google Reviews 

3. Twenty Seven Steps

Address: Christchurch Central City

Contact Details: +6433662727

Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM 

Website

Twenty Seven Steps has a reputation for its wine list and cocktails, but what stood out to us was how the staff actually listened to what we liked before suggesting a wine bottle. 

They take cocktails just as seriously. Instead of just listing off whatever was on special, the staff suggests drinks that actually matched their customers’ food. 

One diner at the next table raved about the limoncello tiramisu, calling it light, lemony, and not overly sweet.

Food-wise, they elevate classic Kiwi ingredients with just the right amount of flair. 

The chargrilled octopus was a favourite. It was tender, not the least bit rubbery, and the creamy almond puree underneath made every bite richer. The beans on the side soaked up all the smoky, briny juices.

The Canterbury beef fillet was also good. The rosti underneath was crisp but not oily, and the jus tasted deep and beefy, like it had been simmering for hours.

The only real downside? It gets loud. We came on a packed weekend night, and the chatter bounced off the walls, so we had to lean in to hear each other.

Great atmosphere

“Wednesday night walk in for one. The restaurant was busy but they had a spare table for me. Complementary bread and butter and a beer was all I needed for an entree. Venison rump with a glass of Craggy Range for dinner – very tasty and right sized. Staff were all attentive and friendly. Great atmosphere, funky fitout, convenient location, cool vibe. Loved it, definitely recommended and look forward to visiting again.”

– Matt Bull, Google Reviews 

Delicious food and great service

“Delicious food and great service. I ordered venison, my first time trying it and it was beautifully cooked and absolutely delicious. Our waitress was very attentive, and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I even walked out without paying because I was so relaxed after the meal. The staff kindly caught me downstairs to remind me. I blame the cocktail and yummy meal ! 😄

Highly recommend❤️”

– Snow, Google Reviews 

4. D.O.T.I. Eatery & Bar

Address: 71 Carters Road, Amberley 7410

Contact Details: +6433140220

Operating Hours:

• Thursday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM 
• Sunday, Monday – 11:30 AM to 8 PM 

Website

D.O.T.I. Eatery & Bar has a laid-back, come-as-you-are energy that makes it easy to settle in, whether diners are fresh off the beach or dressed up for a night out. 

We started with the grazing platter, which disappeared fast.  The smoked salmon was silky, the pastrami had a peppery edge, and every dip brought something different—especially the creamy pesto, which we kept going back to. 

The pork belly sliders were the kind we would order again: juicy, with a hit of sweet and salty. A diner at the next table swore by the pineapple jalapeno prawn tacos, calling them their must-order starter. 

For mains, their sirloin has two versions. One comes with mashed fries, onion rings, and garlic butter. The other, which we picked, comes with mild salsa verde and creamy hummus.

The salsa verde was bright and herby, and the hummus added a smooth, nutty layer to the steak.

If we had to nitpick, the waiter hovered around our table a bit too much. This made it hard to relax and enjoy the meal without feeling watched.

The food and presentation was outstanding.

“We had dinner at DOTI this week whilst visiting The Greta Valley.

The venue was warm and inviting, with fabulous service.

The extensive wine list was impressive to say the least.

We were so taken with the food we didn’t take many pics!

The food and presentation was outstanding.

I would have to say the Pork Belly was probably the best I have ever eaten.

We definitely recommend visiting DOTI when you’re in the area.”

– Katie Hooker, Google Reviews 

Staff were friendly

“A small yet comfortable place,  cosy with a friendly atmosphere. The place was quickly filled to full so would recommend phoning to book as i think this will be an Amberley Hit. The food was lovely and was priced suitably. The menu only gave a few options and unsure on some things. It would be nice to see more vege options with the steak.

All in all. Pretty good. $115-00 for 2 people,J beers, 2 meals and 2 deserts.

Staff were friendly too”

– Alison Scott, Google Reviews 

5. Thirsty Acres

Address: Corner West Coast Road, Courtenay Road, and Kirwee

Contact Details: +64 3 318 1814

Operating Hours: 

• Monday to Wednesday – 11 AM to 9 PM 
• Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM 
• Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM 
• Saturday – 9 AM to 11 PM 
• Sunday – 9 AM to 9 PM 

Website

Thirsty Acres stands out for its top-quality local beef and lamb.

On our first visit, we tried the steak frites: a thick, juicy cut of Southern Station’s Wagyu. It was cooked medium-rare, with chips that were crispy on the outside but still fluffy inside. 

The garlic butter was made in-house, with a real punchy flavour that didn’t overpower the steak. 

One regular we chatted with swears by the Lumina lamb rump, and after trying it ourselves, we get why. The lamb was tender and came with golden herbed potatoes and a minted gravy that actually tasted of fresh mint, not just sugar. 

Those who like burgers will enjoy their burger selection. One regular said their go-to is the savoury falafel burger. Another diner likes how the pulled pork burger is loaded with slaw and onion jam. 

If there’s a downside, it’s that service can be a bit slow, especially when the place is packed. We waited nearly twenty minutes for our mains on a Friday night. 

Great food with great options 

“This was a great place to end our great southern holiday at and invited our friends to before heading to the airport! Great food with great options for adults and kids menus! Great service! Even has a kids corner to keep the little one entertained while you catch up with old friends!Great all around! Will definitely be stopping off next time we come through!

– Daniel Barker, Google Reviews 

An amazing experience here

“An amazing experience here, we would highly recommend! The food was incredibly tasty and the waitresses and bar staff were all so lovely and welcoming. The restaurant was so busy and gave the place an awesome buzz to it! The owner was also gracious enough to give us a complimentary drink to make up for a small wait on food which was understandable for a busy night! There aren’t many options in the area and this is by far the best choice. Overall a great experience and we will be heading back very soon!”

– Cameron Hynd, Google Reviews