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Top Eats In Mid Canterbury

Central South Island

Mid Canterbury’s Top Eats

Mid Canterbury boasts a range of eateries well worth getting to know. We’ve gathered some of the best to help you explore the region. Expect everything from traditional Japanese ramen and your classic baked goods, to hearty pub grub and quality coffee.

Formosa Food

Formosa Modern Asian Cuisine

One of Ashburton’s latest food destinations, Formosa boasts an Asian fusion cuisine experience. There are plenty of exciting dishes to try here, but we recommend taking your taste buds on a journey with the Garlic Seafood Risotto (think scallops, prawns, mussels and roe) – it’s pure yum!

173 West Street, Ashburton

Cleavers Corner

Cleavers Corner

Cleavers Corner is your classic gastro pub specialising in quality food and drink, and great customer service. Burgers are the go-to, as is the Southern Fried Chicken Burger – a pretzel bun stacked with fried chicken (obvs), streaky bacon, onion rings, cheese, lettuce and chipotle mayo. Get there on a Tuesday for their Burger + Pint deal for $25. Not bad, not bad at all.

159 West Street, Ashburton

Sim's Bakery Doughnuts

Sims Bakery

What started out as a bit of craze has become a staple at Sims – the cronut. These bad boys are made fresh each morning. The dough is folded with butter, deep fried, filled with custard cream and drizzled with white icing. A large cronut will satisfy the biggest of sweet tooths and the small ones are the perfect taster or kid-treat. Yes please.

123 Main South Road, Archibald Street, Tinwald

Blue Pub In Methven

Blue Pub Methven

A classic stop-over-spot after a day up the mountains, Blue Pub Methven is big on a warm atmosphere, a cold beer and a great pub grub meal. Go for the Chatham Island Blue Cod served with chunky chips, slaw, tartare and lemon – that’ll have you fed and ready for your next adventure.

1 Barkers Road, Methven 7730

Triangle Espresso

Triangle Espresso

Triangle Espresso is Ashburton’s newest coffee spot serving Allpress coffee and café food with a twist. Stylish and welcoming, it’s a sure-fire winner for lunch with friends and the fam. Their Triangle Stack is super Insta-friendly, a vegan dish of roasted kumara, pan-fried tomato and mushrooms, wilted spinach and roasted pepper coulis.

114 Victoria Street, Ashburton

Primo E Secundo Shop

Primo E Secundo

Stepping inside Primo E Secundo is like entering a cosy living room or perhaps your auntie’s house. The space is full of knick-knacks, vintage goods and old records that keep the eyes busy. The house special is a Tomato & Silverbeet soup, which has been served here for seventeen years!

38 McMillan Street, Methven

 

The Dubliner
Credit: Bill Irwin

The Dubliner

A true Irish pub in the heart of Methven, The Dubliner is a cosy spot for a pint and some serious grub. Go for the Lamb Rack – herb crusted rack with kumara and Irish whiskey mash, wilted spinach and roasted garlic – and you’ve got yourself a winner.

116 Main Street, Methven

Purple Dragon

Purple Dragon

The Purple Dragon food truck parks up between 6-8pm every Friday night on Forest Drive in Methven. Check out their traditional Japanese ramen and gyoza (dumplings). Try the spicy Miso ramen to clear those sinuses or play it safe with some pork or vegetarian dumplings.

26 Forest Drive, Methven

 

Staveley Store Cake

Staveley Store

Established in 1876, the Staveley Store is nestled under the Mid Canterbury foothills serving delicious home-baked goods, lunches and award-winning coffee. The sweet treats steal the show here – it’s a tough call between the famous carrot cake and the brownie. Why not go for both, you only live once right?

2 Burgess Road, Staveley

Topp Country Cafe

Topp Country Café

It’s not every day you walk into a café and bump into a Dame, but at Topp Country Café you’re in luck. Run by Lynda Topp, one of New Zealand’s loved Topp Twins entertainers, together with wife Donna, here you can sip a cuppa and spot a celebrity in the kitchen. Pies are their crowd pleasers, made exclusively by Canterbury Spitroast. Rumour has it the Pork and Apple Pie is the one to dig your teeth into.

45 Forest Drive, Methven

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