Location: Oamaru
Top Restaurants in Oamaru
Top 10 New Zealand food in Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand
Find out what New Zealand restaurants to try in Oamaru. Oamaru (/ɒməˈruː/ ( listen); Māori: Te Oha-a-Maru) is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Timaru and 120 kilometres (75 mi) north of Dunedin on the Pacific coast; State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connect it to both cities. With a population of 13,900, Oamaru is the 28th largest urban area in New Zealand, and the third largest in Otago behind Dunedin and Queenstown.
Things to do in Oamaru
10. Severn Club Restaurant
Reviewed By Hawean
We haven't been to the Club for a few years and we were impressed. Wide choice of food on the menu - I had Thai beef salad. The beef was so tender you could have cut it with a spoon. We were a group of about 30 and the staff didn't keep us waiting too long for the food to come out. Prices were most reasonable.
9. Galleon Complex
Overall Ratings
3 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By kiriE17
Booked our table through the website which they confirmed via email. Got to the complex to be told they only had buffet which was $35 per head all you can eat. Looked at us like we where meant to know this, there where no notices on their website and nothing was said via email when our booking was confirmed. Buffet didnât start until 6pm and was told we could only eat a few things off the menu. It was 5pm and we had also been booked in to go bowling. We where fine with eating a few things off the menu so the waitress went to take us to our table (we had booked) and then the manager yelled out and said we couldnât sit there as we werenât doing the buffet. So they took us out front on some bar leaners where people are walking in and out of the entrance. The waitress apologised saying she didnât understand why we couldnât sit at our table we booked. We ended up leaving and eating elsewhere. I would like to recommend a few things to the venue manager:1. When confirming an online booking for a restaurant if there is a âbuffetâ on I would recommend putting that on the email, as we drove an hour to go bowling and eat there. 2. Get friendlier staff when telling them they canât have their booked table and maybe letting them stay in the restaurant where no customers where at this time and give them until the buffet started to then move. 3. Donât make it the customers fault that you donât have signs or anything on the website, but explaining that buffets are on a Saturday and only bar snack menu is available via website and email would be helpful. FYIWe also went bowling which was a waste of money. Everyoneâs lanes kept breaking down. Ours broke down 20 times an didnât drop all the pins down. The only good thing about this is when it was my turn it made my points look better. Also the staff didnât care and one of the girls looked pretty stressed. We had already paid for 2 games but wasnât offered our money back or anything as we wasted a good 15mins getting the girls attention to fix it. In the end we gave up and kept playing with missing pins. Will never be going here again and will be telling everyone about our bad experience.
8. The Woolstore Cafe
Overall Ratings
3 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By Murray K
After looking around for a nice place for breakfast, we settled on going to The Woolstore Cafe. I had a big cooked breakfast with an iced chocolate. My wife had an omelette with a cappochino. Both meals and drinks arrived on the table quickly and they were perfect. Very friendly service and an atmosphere that flowed all around us. Highly recommended.
7. Coast Cafe Restaurant and Takeway
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Situated on a cliff top just ten minutes south of Oamaru is Coast Cafe and Restaurant. As the days warm up, people in the know head for beautiful Campbell's Bay and Kakanui for recreation. Coast Restaurant is an integral part of these day trips for good r
Reviewed By TheHoulis
Six of us dined here last week which was our first time with new owner. All our meals were ok but with a few tweeks could have been even better. The comment about the steak was that it could be a little bit thicker otherwise good. I had the Moroccan lamb as a main with 3 pieces of lamb...I understand the entree size has 2 pieces so I wonder for $8 more for one little piece whether this is good value for money. Otherwise flavours were nice. Would also like to see a chicken dish and a curry for more variety on the menu.We love that we have a nice place that is so close to dine at and will certainly be back.
6. Badger and Mackerel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By GrayMcGowan
We'd been recommended this cafe on our way through Oamaru and we were looking forward to its offings. However, our arrival was past the usual lunch period, so we had only the cabinet from which to choose our mid-afternoon snack.What was on offer was lots of chocolate items and very little else, but I opted for a scroggin slice which was really sweet while the boss went without.My coffee was quite ok, but the chai was again very sweet yet weak.Neither of the two young ladies on duty appeared to be wanting to be at work, showing no real interest in their customers, providing lip service only.Perhaps the recommendation we'd received was for a different time of day or day of the week even, but that assumption aside, I doubt we'll return.
5. Portside
Overall Ratings
4 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By MysteryGuide
These guys were really busy but we certainly did not feel like a hindrance. Out of the eight of us ladies I'd say six had cocktails (or two!!) with our lunch without too much added effort. Our lunch platters were amazing. The ocean to alps was amazing with lamb, pork and an assortment of seafood - very happy!! Reasonably priced as well.
4. Fat Sallys
Overall Ratings
4 based on 294 reviews
Reviewed By zodiac70
We dined there Saturday night. Food was very good, my ribeye was delicious. The Tv's were very loud couldn't hear each other talking but probably understandable as the All Blacks were thrashing the Wallabies. The only disappointment for us was they didn't stock a 00% alcohol beer. Every where we go we are told how popular it is especially with our drink driving laws. My partner can't drink because of health issues but still enjoys a beer. Come on guys get with the times
3. The Last Post Pub Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 334 reviews
Reviewed By TwoTravellers34
We were pleasantly surprised at the unique venue full of local history but with a modern menu that satisfying our entire group. Specials were $18 but no shortcuts here. Abundant quantity and so tasty. Staff we very friendly and so accommodating. We will be back!
2. Star and Garter
Overall Ratings
4 based on 476 reviews
Reviewed By IndiaCairns
Had lunch with my parents last week which was superb. The service from the minute that we walked in the door was second to none, the atmosphere and location fabulous and the food definitely did not disappoint with such a wide range of menu choices with most tastes and dietary restrictions covered. Will definitely return.
1. Riverstone Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 803 reviews
A busy restaurant in rural Oamaru, New Zealand owned by Bevan + Monique Smith. Reservations are recommended.
Reviewed By Lynda415
We went there for lunch today and, as usual, the food was eexquisite and the service was great. However, for the second time, when we went to the shop counter, we were unable to purchase anything because there was no shop person. At the time, the shop was busy with approx 8 customers. We rang the bell 8 times and nobody came to the till. Like last time, we left the products on the counter. We were prepared to spend $51 in the shop but left having spent nothing. Disappointing especially since it has happened before.
