Location: Timaru
Top Restaurants in Timaru
Most Popular New Zealand food in Timaru, South Island, New Zealand
Find out what New Zealand restaurants to try in Timaru. Timaru (English: /ˈtɪməˌruː/; Māori: Te Tihi-o-Maru) is a port city in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand, located 157 kilometres southwest of Christchurch and about 196 kilometres northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to 29,000 people, and is the largest urban area in South Canterbury, and the second largest in the Canterbury Region overall, after Christchurch. The city is the seat of the Timaru District, which includes the surrounding rural area and the towns of Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka, which combined has a total population of 47,100.
Things to do in Timaru
10. TGB Bar & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
TGB (Gastropub) is located in historical building with dramatic high ceilings, nostalgic exposed brick and modern touches. It's been operating since 1875 for obvious reasons: southern hospitality with exceptional food and drinks. Our food grub is no-nonse
Reviewed By AngelaA4617
Went for dinner mid week so not busy,ordered garlic bread to start tasted more like margarine with a hint of flavour,their famous jack Daniels burger came out cold and was disgusting could not eat it,friend ordered lamb shanks which came out on soggy vegetables and his words so tough I thought I was eating the bone for a start! At least the side order of fries came out hot and tasty so I didn't completely starve,will not be returning!Greetings Ms. AWe have been expecting your review and hello there! It's truly an honour that your sentiment propelled you to write your FIRST review on us.Just to clarify a few things here:There's definitely better garlic bread out there but our garlic bread ain't bad either. It is one of the most popular starters in our restaurant and so, what you like or dislike is purely subjective.Common sense dictates that if a dish came out to you cold, then, you should have notified our attendants or waiters or waitresses to have the food heated up IMMEDIATELY. We WILL do that obligingly. The whole definition of attendants, waiters, waitresses are that they are there to attend to your needs, to wait for your instruction. For a restaurant to function properly, we are total sum of all parts and that requires input from our guests too. The burger might not be THAT disgusting because the content was all eaten up except the buns and even the melted cheese on the buns was scrapped clean too?! The same applies for the lamb shank. It is one of our most popular dishes. Lamb shanks were cooked for hours, and the meat literally dropped from the bone. In actual fact, the dish came back to the kitchen empty except the bone part. Our team never had a chance to remedy the issue. Our Shift Manager and chef were discussing your feedback and we took them very seriously. Upon her return to the restaurant, your friend and yourself had left the premises.It's apparent that you are not familiar with The Grosvenor. It is not that our restaurant wasn't busy but that you arrived in between time when our regular customers (contractors who worked at wee hours in the morning) have already eaten and retreated to their rooms for an early sleep.Right from the garlic bread, our team had sensed that you had made up your mind that you didn't like this place, and you were already setting us up for failure. This is all too common in our industry, and guests have become keyboard warriors, emboldened to say what they weren't bold enough to say to us in real persons. We are sorry that we didn't meet your expectation, and not because of lack of trying but that we know all too well that we can't and won't ever please everybody.Still, we send you positive vibe. Life is too short to be vengeful. As Dr. Spock said rightfully, Live long and prosper.FaithfullyTeam Grosvenor
9. Bennys Again
Overall Ratings
4 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By Wtntraveller62
WE visited Bennys Again as visitors from WellingtonI cannot commend enough the service received at Bennys Again on Saturday 8th December. The restaurant was booked out, yet the staff made us very welcome despite this and brought in especially another table and set up beautifully for my sister and elderly brother. The entrees were huge and delicious, we could not manage to eat all that was on the plate. My elderly brother enjoyed the scallop meal that he had been talking about wanting for a long time. The staff were incredibly attentive and nothing was too much for them.. We are now planning as a large family to have our brothers 75th birthday party there in March. Congratulations to the staff. You guys get an excellent tick from us. Thank you very much.. You are a great asset to Timaru as a crusine provider, Speaking as a Wellingtonian
8. Copper Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 138 reviews
Family style dining at affordable prices.
Reviewed By Wanderingpom
The Copper Cafe will satisfy a broad range of customers. It is very welcoming, comfortable, spacious and has polite and attentive staff. The menu caters for all tastes and is very sensibly priced. It would be hard to find a customer who has ever been disappointed with the food and service at the Copper Cafe.
7. Columbus Coffee
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By rachb0611
We dined for breakfast and found the pricing very good, there appeared to be plenty of options to cater for GF, DF, Paleo and Keto and the coffee was fantastic, they were also happy to change things a bit for my 4 yr old. Very happy with our breakfast.
6. Custom Steak House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 129 reviews
Reviewed By Richard B
I ate here on a Monday night and had the place to myself! I started with a superb soup (sorry I can't remember what flavour) and then a rib-eye steak, cooked to perfection. This came with steamed veges and roast potatoes with rosemary (and perhaps a little too much salt). All washed down with a glass of house red. Delicious!
5. Bay Hill Brewery Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 272 reviews
Reviewed By GingerRose63
Service friendly, lots of lunch specials. Had the seafood chowder and it was tasty with lots of chunks of fish. Very nice.
4. Bullock Restaurant and Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By reneep801
What better way to treat the kids in the school holidays. Fantastic meals, great service and great atmosphere. I had the lamb shoulder and it was delicious, others had venison and pork belly and we all couldnât fault it. Kids loved the cheeseburger and pasta. Thanks bullock bar we will be back.
3. Zest
Overall Ratings
4 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By TimaruLass
The Little Italy Pizza is to die for. The kids love the Aoraki Smoked Salmon. Great Lunch for dinner restaurant. Pays to book ahead. Always get great service.
2. Fusion Restaurant Cafe & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 413 reviews
We are a casual dining restaurant producing seasonal menus of New Zealand produce with international flavours.
Reviewed By cozza22
Have always had great meals here, very well presented tasty dishes, great staff and a good location. Portion sizes are always perfect and the desserts are usually top notch
1. The Oxford
Overall Ratings
4 based on 291 reviews
âThe kind of food that makes you want to wipe the plate with a chunk of crusty bread to savour every dropâ We are located in the heart of Timaru. Our restaurant has three main areas. The bar, where you can have a glass of good wine or a craft beer on tap.
Reviewed By 657emiliet
Excellent meal on a winter night. Venison steak, salmon, and a delicious butternut squash salad. Weâre happy to see our favorite Waitaki Pinot Noir(Ostler Carolineâs ) on the list, so had to have a bottle.
