Best restaurants of of new Christchurch
Last week I lamented the demise of The Villas in Montreal St. My feeling is that those driving the rebuild care naught about supporting existing businesses and, instead seem obsessed with promoting imaginary future businesses.
But hospitality is an old game. If prostitution is the most ancient profession and lawyers are the second, surely the next bloke to invent a job was the guy who sold grog to those waiting in line for the aforementioned prostitutes and whores.
And luckily for Christchurch, even with the rebuild doing its damnedest to shut down every small business in order to make way for grand plans and chain stores, some great establishments have emerged, survived and even prospered.
So while I’m negative about the way small business has been done over by the rebuild, I genuinely believe that what we have at present is the best hospitality scene we’ve ever had.
Today, I point you toward a couple of restaurants that I reckon represent the best of the new Christchurch.
Having almost run my family and myself into the ground with our failed restaurant, I have special admiration for those who work out the complex beast that is a restaurant.
My favourite restaurant in the city – hands down – is Twenty Seven Steps in New Regent St. It checks all the boxes for a business I love. It’s one of one and owner-operated by folks who care about the place like it’s their baby, welcome the public at the door, and a local take on something that’s ontrend internationally.
Owners Emma Mettrick and Paul Howells have created a wonderful space where the food takes itself just seriously enough. The bistro-style dining is bang-on for a city where some people like to dress up and go out, while others like to go out in jandals – if you believe it.
The food’s great, the decor’s unpretentious, the beer is local and tasty and the staff run like a military unit – the way they upsell me to sparkling water is a wonder.
It’s also a miracle to see a business on the first floor flourishing in a city and – indeed a country – where people seem to insist on having their feet on the earth when eating and drinking.
Best you call for a booking as they’ve had stellar reviews on Stuff and have a ton of nominations for this year’s local hospitality awards.
Ialso give a shout out to Joel Christian and The Monday Room (TMR) on High St. Joel is testament to the idea that if you work hard enough, good things will happen. He’s worked his pants off in a bunch of great establishments and when TMR moved from Moorhouse Ave to High St, it took its dining to a new level.
The food’s excellent, the prices are good, the decor is great – it’s nice to be in an old building in Christchurch – and the staff really care about the success of the place, which is something you can’t force on people.
Again, it’s owner operated and when you walk in, you may well get the owner greeting and seating you.
Joel’s first trade I believe was as a mixologist, so be sure to get a cocktail while waiting for your food – you won’t regret it.
TMR is now a bustling restaurant plying its trade on a section of street that has been a model for the incompetence of the rebuild.
Success in spite of a rebuild determined to drive it broke – what’s not to love.
We have the best hospitality scene we’ve ever had.