The 5 Best Restaurants in Palmerston North Worth Eating At
Jessica McNamara
| Last Updated: October 2025 In every country I’ve been to, from the ramen stalls of Tokyo to the busy streets of Sri Lanka, my travel compass always points me directly to food.
Yet, not every restaurant I’ve eaten at hits all the vibes. I’ve had croissants in Paris that tasted like cardboard left in the rain. I’ve paid $25 for ramen in NYC only to wonder if the chef confused salt with miso.
So, when I visited Palmerston North—a place better known for its rugby pride than its food—my expectations were…cautious. But after eating at my fair share of restaurants here, Palmerston North does have some surprises up its sleeves.
If you need somewhere to eat while visiting this town, here are my recommendations.
How much does it cost to eat at a restaurant in Palmerston North?
1. Tony’s Pizza
Address: 134 The Square, Palmerston North Central
Contact Details: +64 22 582 3790
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 12 Noon to 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 12 Noon to 10 PM
- Sunday – 12 Noon to 8 PM
Tony’s Pizza is the place I’ll be returning to when I crave a delicious slice of pizza, a good ol’ beer on tap, and fun arcade games.
Every month, they have a different rotating pizza special where the chef showcases his best pizza pairings. If you like spontaneity, give that a go.
I’ve had a few of their regular pizzas, and I have to say their signature Tony Pepperoni and Buffalo Chicken are at the top of my must-order list. The pepperonis are very crisp and are custom-made just for Tony’s from Woody’s Free Range Farm in Levin.
They also keep things healthy and use free-range chicken for their Buffalo Chicken pizza. This meshes well with their creamy buffalo and three cheese drizzle.
I always enjoy their dipping sauces too. My favorite is The Tony’s Trio—that garlic and herb & peri peri gets my taste buds every time.
My only gripe is that they aren’t very generous with the toppings. But hey, the flavour is still so good it doesn’t ruin the experience.
The best pizza I’ve had
“Tony’s Pizza is absolutely fantastic! The food is fresh, delicious, and full of flavor – easily some of the best pizza I’ve had. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the service makes you feel right at home. A special shout-out to Fran who helped us – he did an amazing job! Super friendly, attentive, and really made the whole experience even better. Thanks, Fran, for going the extra mile! Highly recommend Tony’s Pizza to anyone craving great food and great service. 🍕”
– Serena Han, Google Reviews
Pretty darn good pizza
“Pretty darn good pizza. Especially as slices are ready to go. The buffalo chicken had a little too much sauce for my liking, but it was still good. Nice dough thickness (thinness) and good flavours. Was a quiz night on when I went in and the place was pumping, but service was quick and friendly. Will come back for sure.“
– Jared Wood, Google Reviews
2. Nero Restaurant
Address: 36 Amesbury Street, Palmerston North Central
Contact Details: +64 6 354 0312
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 5 PM to 10:30 PM, Saturday
- Friday – 11 AM to 10:30 PM
Housed in one of Palmerston North’s original historic buildings, Nero Restaurant boasts an impressive architecture and ambience. It combines classic architecture with an elegant interior, creating a really welcoming fine dining mood.
When I visited, I splurged on their award-winning AngusPure Beef Fillet. One bite into their perfectly seared beef and I was hit with a caramelised onion buttery flavor.
The hash brown chips added a nice crunch, while the pecorino cheese and red wine made the dish more luxurious.
When I talked to other regulars, many praised the Lumina Lamb Rump. It’s topped with herbed pistachio nut crumb and cooked perfectly tender.
My only complaint is that the lamb is a bit on the smaller side. Then again, I noticed most of the portions here are a bit tiny for the price you’re paying.
At least, the dessert was flawless. I liked the Sherry & Ice Cream the most. It’s a Pedro Ximenez 12-year-old sherry with vanilla bean ice cream rolled in chocolate, coffee, and hazelnuts. It’s also accompanied by a shot of espresso and biscotti.
Best steak in Palmy
”Best restaurant in Palmy for celebrating special occasions. Best steak in Palmy. Very tender and flavourful. Lamb was also cooked to perfection. Went there to celebrate my friend’s birthday and they even prepped the dessert special for her. Definitely coming back!”
– Kenny Giovani Watono, Google Reviews
Our food was divine
“We went here for the first time for our 18th wedding anniversary. It has a cozy, intimate atmosphere and was lovely and warm on a cold evening. Our food was divine and the service was friendly but also highly professional. We loved our evening at Nero.”
– Julie Forman, Google Reviews
3. Angkor Restaurant
Address: 4 Coleman Place, Palmerston North Central
Contact Details: 4 Coleman Place, Palmerston North Central
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 5 PM to 9 PM
Angkor Restaurant is the go-to spot for authentic Cambodian flavors. I started off my night with their Angkor Platter, and it turned out to be a generous mix of their signature bites.
I had just one bite of the five-spice beef, and I get why this is one of the main dishes on their Angkor Platter. Their Cambodian spices shine through in every piece, balanced nicely with the salt and pepper prawns and stuffed mushrooms.
But if I’m being honest, it’s the Beef Lok Luk that I’ll come back for. Gluten-free and ridiculously good, it came with tender rump steak that was stir-fried just right. It’s piled onto fresh lettuce and veggies, then drizzled with this zesty Khmer pepper-lemon sauce.
For the most part, the service here wasn’t bad. The waitress came by often to refill my drink, and there were no extra charges on the final bill.
But I will say, even with a reservation, it took about 30 minutes for my meal to be served. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you don’t like waiting.
Took our order quickly, and our food arrived very promptly
“We were very lucky to secure the last 2 seater table for dinner (lesson learnt, make a booking!).
We enjoyed the plum pork and also ordered rice.
Lovely front of house team, very accommodating. Took our order quickly, and our food arrived very promptly.
We can see why this beautiful restaurant is so popular.”
– Stephanie Moorley, Google Reviews
So good that we came back two nights later
“We were new visitors to Palmy and some experienced locals took us to this little gem for fresh healthy delicious food, great service and a pleasant atmosphere, so good that we came back two nights later and we were not disappointed – awesome. Highly recommended.”
– Rob Whitmore, Google Reviews
4. Pirates of the Grill
Address: 334A Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North Central
Contact Details: +64 6 213 8814
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 4:30 to 9:30 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 11 AM to 2 PM, 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Pirates of the Grill is where you go for authentic Indian cuisine. Its food is knee-deep in spices and has the kind of aromas that make your stomach stage a mutiny.
I recommend getting Cheese Chilly Garlic Naan as a starter. This fire-kissed flatbread is stuffed with melty cheese, green chilies, and garlic that’s been roasted to perfection.
As for mains, the Amritsari fish tikka didn’t disappoint. It’s the fish of the day rubbed with spices, dunked in mustard oil, and grilled until the edges crisped up like edible gold.
The creamy Afghan chicken tikka is also quite delicious. It’s tender thigh meat marinated in yogurt, cream, and rich cashew paste.
For vegetarians, the Veg Manchurian—golden veggie balls come swimming in a sweet-sour sauce—was a hit among the regulars I spoke to.
My only gripe about this dish is that the portion size is small. I counted only three veggie balls when I got my order.
Great food and service.
“Great food and service. The food gets freashly made. The venue is not huge but enough tables for great dining experience. Not a lot of takeout customers which helps with the atmosphere.“
– Chris, Google Reviews
The breads took me back to India
“Recently I visited this restaurant with my family and was blown away by the quality of food served. I tried a range of items like Chicken Lahori, Amritsari Kulcha Chole combo, Chole Bhauture, Makki Roti and Saag and some beverages & desserts. The breads took me back to India, fresh and authentic.
The food to my surprise used fresh ingredients which you feel on your palate with the first bite and no added color or preservatives used which is quite rare. The staff were friendly and the service was prompt.
I highly recommend to give this place a try, be it takeaway or enjoying dine in with family or friends. I am giving 4 star cos there is always room for improvement but it’s an easy 4.5 stars.
Keep up the delicious work up Pirates of the Grill!!”
– Dee Sharma, Google Reviews
5. Mr. & Mrs Chefs Palmy
Address: 126 King Street, Palmerston North Central
Contact Details: +64 22 196 7122
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday; Sunday – 7 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 9:30 AM to 9 PM
Mr. and Mrs. Palmy serve up some of the best Sri Lankan food I’ve had so far in Palmerston North (and the portions are huge!).
If you come here, you have to try their Polos Curry. It’s made with slow-cooked young jackfruit and Mrs. Chef’s secret curry powder (I tried to pry the recipe, no luck!).
Mrs. Chef’s Creamy Dhal Curry is another dish I enjoy ordering when I visit. The red lentils taste anything but bland, and the dish is layered with spices that shine in every spoonful.
For seafood fans, I recommend getting the Kelawalla Steak (Tuna Ambulthiyal). They use a traditional Southern Sri Lankan method to preserve the yellowfin tuna. It’s served with white samba rice and this “Kochchi” sambal—fair warning, it’s very spicy.
Their Sri Lankan fried rice is another favorite. The chef whips it up in a wok with tons of veggies and your choice of meat. It’s very filling in itself.
My only tiny complaint? If you come when the restaurant is packed, you may have to wait up to 30 minutes to get your food
A must go spot in Palmerston North
“This is a must go spot in Palmerston North! We have been here countless times and had takeaway too, the food here has always been amazing, flavourful and quite generous in portion. Their $25 weekend buffets are a must attend – they have a variation of veggies, meat and fish dishes and the effort and flavour are definitely worth. Their house made chilli sambal on the side is a particular favorite! The owners are a lovely couple too, I definitely recommend.”
– Taz T, Google Reviews
The food is tasty, fresh, and filling
“This is our second time visiting Mr. & Mrs. Chefs, and we’re really happy with the meals again! The food is tasty, fresh, and filling — exactly what you need after a long day. Great value for money and consistently good quality. Highly recommend.”
– sameera maduranga, Google Reviews
