The Wharf Akaroa

The food was bloody fantastic, and the service was super friendly. We both had salmon, while the kids chose chicken tenders and pizza. Those were generous portions too. It’s a beautifully situated restaurant.

We’d missed lunch and stopped for snacks, but left pretty full. Dad really enjoyed the chowder, while Mum and I shared olives, chicken liver parfait, and bread with dukka. Everything was good. Service was okay, though not especially hospitable. The man who took our payment at the end was warm.

In July 2021, I visited again. I think it was under new management, and the old menu had been completely replaced with pub and bar style food. We’d come for crayfish and couldn’t find it, which was a bit disappointing. The food felt average for the prices: plain fish and chips cost $28 and was nothing special, just served like a bar meal. On my November 2019 visit, the food had been plated much more attractively. The Akaroa salmon was $33 and okay. We ordered salmon pizza but got chicken pizza instead. The server apologized and offered the salmon pizza for free, which deserves full points, but both pizzas were just okay. The plain cheese pizza was $27, and I’m not sure why it cost so much. The tuna at $35 was probably okay. For three adults and two kids, the bill was $171. Honestly, I’d rate the value at 1/5 and the taste at 2/5 now. I’d recommend other places. On my November 2019 visit, I was unsure about trying the place because many reviews didn’t recommend it, but I wanted to taste the crayfish. The salmon sashimi starter tasted good, though at $19 it was expensive and the serving was very small. The crayfish cost $88, which was expensive, but I thought it was worth it. It was my first time having crayfish in NZ, and the cold poaching had me worried. If you’re open to trying new things, though, it wasn’t a problem. It tasted good and was satisfying. My partner had pan-fried cod, which was good, but the smashed potato base didn’t work and probably should be changed. The caviar was nice, though the menu didn’t say where it came from. That dish was $37. For dessert we shared meringue with ice cream and berries. It was either $15 or $18, I’m not sure, and it was very filling. The coffee was good too. The taste was good overall, but $150 for two people without drinks felt expensive. Food is expensive in NZ. I’d recommend it once if your budget allows.

The location was great, and the restaurant meal was delicious with no issues. The accommodation, where most of the money went, was disappointing for what’s meant to be a premium place. It felt about 25 years old, with a microwave of that age and just a few cheap modern additions. There was even a vase in the room without any flowers or plants. The TV had no reception through the dish box, and there was no Sky or DVD player, so there wasn’t really anything to watch. I’ve stayed at “top 10” places that felt more luxurious. It was a disappointing place to stay for a nice night away from the city.