Eat out in New Brighton
and lunch from Wednesday to Saturday, with a seasonal offering of wholesome dishes free of preservatives, white flour, refined sugar and artificial additives.
The cabinet features its famous hearty salads, and shelves are lined with homemade pickles, pastes and granola, which are available to take home. Every Thursday night, the eatery turns into a ’’Trust the Chef’’ dinner experience with a set menu of meat and vegetarian dishes matched with local wines and beers. If you have a hankering for a good burger, after two years of operating from its vintage caravan, The Burger Joint’s owners Caroline Riley and Sam Kubiek have opened a bright and inviting dine-in venue on Carnaby Lane. As well as the food truck’s familiar burger creations, more space has enabled fresh additions, such as Southpaw craft beers, boutique wine lists, and a large fryer to provide crunchy and golden sides. Different burger flavours, including more vegan options, will continue to emerge over the next few months. Though tiny in size, Chanakya shines in every other aspect. Most Indian restaurants in the Western World hero dishes from the country’s northern regions but this New Brighton hole-in-the-wall offers an authentic perspective of the colourful cuisine of South India. The menu, created by a skilled chef with more than 15 years’ experience, is rich in rice, lentil and vegetarian meals. Though you can still get your familiar saags and butter curries, traditional southern dishes such as the Dosa (lentil and rice crepe), Idli (steamed lentil rice cakes) and Biryani are not to be missed. Chanakya is open Tuesday to Sunday for dine-in or takeaway. It also offers a special lunch deal for just under $8. A little further along from the hive of Carnaby Lane, Level One is a unique place to gather for coffee, local wine and beer, great food, and unrivalled ocean views. The establishment is a co-working space but also operates as a craft beer and coffee bar with a small, delicious lineup in the cabinet and an all-day menu. The menu features fun kitchen takeovers from foodie start-ups.
Alongside Level One’s own food offerings, you may find yourself tucking into Fu Manchu Street Food’s fried chicken and baos, European dumplings from The Pierogi Joint or The Spice Whisperer’s signature curries. Level One also welcomes you to BYOF (bring your own food) from home or a local takeaway spot as you sip on a Canterbury craft beer or boutique wine from the bar.
Discover more neat places around town at neatplaces.co.nz and download the free and offline Neat Places smartphone app.