Best pie in Waimakariri...

Last weekend I had lunch at the Leithfield hotel (Leithfield,  North Canterbury).

The reason we ate there was that the new owners of the pub are Mike and Denise McCutcheon.  Who?  You might ask.  They are the people who ran Robbie's in Rangiora before quake damage closed the building they were operating out of.

Robbie's was famous due in part to the excellent quality of the food and the nice atmosphere the owners created.  Their menu was wide and varied.  Everything on it was excellent.  This was why it became our lunch venue of choice.

Sadly, the quakes changed all that.

Now Mike and Denise have taken over the Leithfield pub and a serving up a (smaller) selection of the fare they formerly offered at Robbies.  In particular is the world famous steak and mushroom pie.

Having rediscovered this exquisite pie I can easily vote it the

Best Pie in Waimakariri

Go out to the Leithfield pub and try one.  You won't be disappointed!  

At $12 the pie meal is excellent incredible value. The taste is awesome. 

Thanks Mike & Denise!

Review: Espresso Garden Cafe (Rangiora, NZ)

Situated inside the building that houses Mitre10 Mega on the southern edge of Rangiora.

Atmosphere:

The cafe is small, with a handful of outdoor tables.  It is generally a quiet and peaceful place.  A nice place to have a mid-morning latte and a bite to eat.  

Because of it's location inside Mitre10, the cafe is a less obvious choice when seeking a cafe to travel to.  Instead it's more likely to be a place you visit when shopping in Mitre10.  The immediate area has no other choices of cafe.

The outdoor tables are a bit tired looking and occasionally rickety.  Pick a warm day to sit outside.

As seems to be the norm these days, local artworks can be found on the walls. 

Music is subtle and well chosen.  If you're lucky you might hear one of the senior staff sing a little of the song currently playing.  She has an excellent voice and I find the effect quite charming.  This is a relaxed place, not all bustle and noise.  So it is a great place to unwind a little.

At certain hours you'll be the only patrons present - I tend to like this.

Service:

Staff are courteous and friendly.  Nothing seems to bother them and you are made to feel very welcome.  Service is quick.

Drink:

Disappointingly, on our last visit the coffees were not as hot as usual.  This is not the norm as generally the coffees are quite good. Hopefully this was just a temporary glitch, but it will probably delay our next visit.

Food:

A good selection of hot and cold food is offered.  The food is of a high quality. 

Overall Rating: 

7/10 

Review: Under The Oaks Café (Oxford, NZ)

Situated in the picturesque rural town of Oxford in Canterbury (NZ), Under the Oaks Café is a nice place to enjoy coffee, brunch or something more substantial.

Atmosphere:

The building is fairly new and is situated on the High street of Oxford.  It has a clean and fresh feeling.   The oddly mismatched chairs and tables introduce a slightly quirky ambience.

The layout is good.  There is plenty of glass and a handful of outdoor tables to allow for indoor or outdoor relaxation. 

The building itself is raised well above the street, so views are commanding.  It’s a great place to enjoy the sun.

Local artworks adorn the walls.  It’s a very nice touch.

Music was overpoweringly loud on the day we visited.  I had to raise my voice to be heard when ordering.  Even conversation was affected.  Come on guys – it’s a café not a nightclub.  -1 point. 

Service:

Staff are courteous and friendly. 

An inexperienced cashier overcharged us by ringing up our coffees twice.  She was apologetic and refunded the difference without hassle when the mistake was pointed out.

Wait staff were very efficient and our food arrived extremely quickly.

Drink:

A latte and a mochachino were delivered in glasses, which I detest.  I want my coffee so hot that a handle on the cup is essential.  Both coffees were significantly below temperature so the glasses were handled easily.  Because of the temperature the overall the experience of coffee was poor.  -2 points.

Food:

Vegetable Fritata – Served with lettuce and dressing. Approx $7.  Excellent.

Homemade Creamy Vegetable Pie – Served with lettuce and dressing.  Approx $7.  Absolutely delightful.

Chicken Pie – Served with a light salad for $10.50.  Exquisite.

Overall Rating: 

7/10 with potential to improve (i.e. turn the music down, serve coffee in crockery and make them much hotter).  Food was well above expectation.