THE PIER HOTEL RESTAURANT, Kaikoura - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews

Details

About

The site is superb and undoubtedly the best outlook in Kaikoura, with panoramic vistas of the Kaikoura Ranges and sweeping views of Ingals' Bay from the bar and restaurant. Come and see for yourself. We are open for lunch and dinner every day so come on in and have a beer, try our menu (with fabulous desserts) made fresh each day. We would love to see you! Reservations advised for evening dining.

PRICE RANGE

$7.00 – $24.00

CUISINES

Bar, Seafood, Pub, New Zealand

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Playgrounds

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4.5

1,454 reviews

Excellent

777

Very good

438

Average

142

Poor

55

Terrible

42

mgohokies

Austin48 contributions

Solid choice in Kaikoura

Jan 2020 • none

We were wondering where all the people were in town – plenty of No Vacancy signs but not a lot of action downtown Kaikoura. We found a lot of people at The Pier so thankfully our hotel made a reservation for us. It’s a big place at the end of what must have been the main wharf before the earthquake. The town seems to be coming back though still struggling. The Pier was back and we could understand why – the service was great despite the crowd and the food was solid. Crayfish chowder was really a very good lobster bisque with less cream and more lobster than typical – as the waiter said, this is a meaty soup that’s a meal on its own. I wasn’t a big fan of the grilled bread (and I love bread) but my family ate it all. The fish of the day was fresh and delicious in a light coconut sauce with fresh steam veggies. Very relaxed place works for families and couples, inside or outside at the picnic tables. Beware of the prices on the crayfish - $85NZ for about 1 pound lobster (no claws).

Written January 22, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rantin rover

Biggar9047 contributions

Popular for a reason

Mar 2020 • none

The Pier Hotel, as the name suggests, is by the waterfront at the edge of the town and as such it has a pleasant outlook towards the bay and the mountain backdrop to Kaikoura. That said, you're more likely to get the view from the picnic benches set out across the road, ideal for a drink as the sun goes down if the weather is good. It's an old building and the outside signage doesn't enhance the appearance however it has been refurbished in recent years. It's a popular place to eat and the interior has been adapted to cater for this purpose although it also has a bar area. We turned up on a Friday evening and couldn't get a table for a meal so booked the following night. We ended up eating across at The Green Dolphin that first night but returned for a drink later and found the atmosphere good. We even got a courtesy lift back to our accommodation after arrangements with our accommodation went awry. On the Saturday the restaurant was busy again however the service was good and staff friendly. As with most places in New Zealand it is a casual, relaxed dining experience. There's a decent choice on the menu, with an emphasis on seafood. On our servers advice we opted to share a starter of Crumbed Pumpkin Kumara & Cashew Croquettes served with salad, toasted seeds and a satay sauce($18). We both decided upon the Fish of the Day Special ($32 p.p.) as our mains. The croquettes were tasty and the portion size was fine for sharing as a starter. The fish special was Cashew Crumbed Gurnard with paprika & garlic potatoes, stir fry vegetables and a coconut cream sauce. The fish was nicely cooked and the flavours all combined very well - we both thought it was delicious. We each had a glass of Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc ($10) and my wife had another one for the road. Sadly I was driving and had to make do with a glass of water! Of the two places we ate in Kaikoura this was the better meal and at $112 in total it was decent value for money. We visited in March 2020, prior to Covid-19 lockdown.

Written August 18, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martyn B

Blenheim79 contributions

Seafood platter on the Pier

Jan 2020 • none

Great location right on the waterfront /pier, views over Kaikoura Bay towards the mountains was stunning, even though the hotel was busy our meals came out in a timely fashion. Food was fantastic all our group enjoyed there food choices. Will defiantly dine here again.

Written January 23, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amber L

4 contributions

New chef struggling

Feb 2020 • family

Mums crayfish wasn't cooked. Two wait staff did nothing about it. Cashier advised they had a new chef on and offer a small discount. Great spot but the wait staff could have done better when an eighty year old wanted to treat themself to a crayfish. Not something you do every day. The other family meals were fine

Written February 26, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chino26

Hi and thanks for your review I’m very sorry that the wait staff did not do something about your crayfish I’ll be talking to the manager about that today Could you please make contact with me and I’ll refund you for the crayfish viclee@xtra.co.nz Thanks Bernard Harmon Director Pier hotel

Written February 27, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

njb110

Wellington22 contributions

Disappointed with Crayfish meal

Mar 2020 • none

We went to the hotel restaurant (not staying there) as we were looking forward to a Crayfish meal (the signature dish for Kaikoura). We were not given any options when we ordered. But a different waiter later offered a choice of sizes for the table next to us. We asked for our waiter (the woman manager of the hotel?) if we could make a choice. She was rather irritated with us and said we had to take what ever the kitchen needed to get out. That did not sound good and she would not explain why the other table was given a choice. Unfortunately the half Crayfish we were given each were rather tired. Over cooked, not fresh, and covered with an unnecessary cheese and herb sauce that overpowered the subtle flavor of the Crayfish. We were not able to extract any usable meat from the legs. Too small and just mush. Cannot comment on the other items on the menu but the Crayfish meal was not worth it.

Written March 17, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Annelies G

Kaitaia16 contributions

A bit disappointed with the

Sep 2020 • none

A bit disappointed with the food ( not the service) as we came here based on the reviews. My partner ordered the seafood platter which came out slightly cold ( like it had been cooked and sitting there for a while) and I ordered the crayfish which was nice for the three mouthfuls that I got ( very small portion). We are honestly not fussy people at all but felt let down for the amount of money we spent on the meals based upon the five star reviews.

Written September 26, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cliff J

London2084 contributions

Great Food & a Pick-up too

Mar 2020 • none

We were advised to book a table at The Pier in advance and they were right, the place was packed. They will also run a pick you up and take you back to your accommodation, service, if its not too far away. Our pick-up was on time and soon whisked us to dinner. Our driver also turned out to be our waiter! The restaurant set over a couple of rooms had a great atmosphere and was absolutely buzzing. The food was excellent, as was the service; the staff being very helpful, particularly as one of our party is allergic to garlic. She chose the fish of the day and the chef made a separate sauce for her, as the one on the menu contained garlic. The Seafood Platter – 5-green lipped mussels, hot smoked salmon, shredded whitebait, pula (abalone), fish pate, fish bites, several breaded calamari, a seaweed salad and toasted bread was delicious. Once we had finished our meal our waiter, drove us home again - such great service and it meant of course that we could all enjoy an alcoholic drink.

Written April 15, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

emptyhead

261 contributions

Won't be returning

Feb 2020 • couples

Stopped for a light lunch on Waitangi Day, and had some garlic bread and a portion of chips. The server in the bar was barely civil and gave the impression she was doing us a big favour. The garlic bread was adequate but the frozen chips had some unnecessary pepper on them which was not mentioned in the menu. The premises seems to try to make a bonus out of its nineteenth century "character", when in reality it's a tired old pub/restaurant badly in need of modernisation.

Written February 8, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rob

Singapore51 contributions

Delicious crayfish beside the beach

Dec 2019 • family

My family and I were introduced to this restaurant by the landlady of the Anchor Inn Motel. This restaurant is well known for its signature crayfish dishes. Going over was easy as the restaurant was kind enough to send a shuttle to fetch us and another family staying at the same motel, but we walked back on our own as it was a nice short stroll along the beach and we were rewarded with a nice sunset with pinkish skies. The service was friendly and it wasn’t too long before our dishes were served. The signature dish didn’t disappoint and all of us had the crayfish, which were fresh and had succulent meat, complemented with salad and fries. It was a lovely way to spend our evening at Kaikoura.

Written January 4, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

idmc68

Orselina12 contributions

Good fish at the right price

Jan 2020 • couples

Good fish at the right price...I personally loved the Pier soup with Crayfish and the mix grilled fish plate. And the location with ocean view..we spent 2 days in Kailoura and we had a lunch and a dinner at Pier. Higly recommended!!!

Written January 26, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cheryl F

Christchurch13 contributions

Beautiful fresh food

Jan 2020 • none

We were greeted by friendly staff on entering the restaurant, we were wanting a small lunch and had heard that the food was so good. We had calamari, chips and salad, and mussels, all the food was wonderfully served and so fresh and tasty, the waiter was very pleasant and went out of his way to make our experience pleasant. We had visitors from overseas and they were very happy with the pleasant time that we had.

Written February 11, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joanne P

1 contribution

Slack service, nice pudding

Oct 2021 • family

After waiting an hour and seeing other tables that had arrived after us getting food, we had to ask for our first course which finally came. We complained to the waiter that the wait was unacceptable which he apologised for. The Manager came to apologise but actually didn't apologise but commented there was a 40min wait time which she found was acceptable and didn't acknowledge we'd actually been there an hour and had to ask for our food. She said they're busy but actually they had just missed us out. When the food came I was disappointed as the chips hadn't been drained at all so we're swimming in grease. I asked for some salad dressing or mayonnaise for my salad and got brought out some revolting green oil. Considering we'd just paid nearly $50 for crayfish you'd think they'd take more care. Hubby enjoyed his Crayfish Chowder and we quickly ordered a Lemon Meringue for pudding straight away so we wouldn't have to wait again. They should have admitted we were missed out and a gesture of a free drink would have been nice. We won't be back

Written October 28, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pier K

Well I was very surprised to see your negative review, mainly as most of it is quite frankly untrue. I was the person who came to speak to you. I clearly remember apologising to you at least twice when I first spoke to you. That is a given when dealing with any cutomer dis-satisfaction. I said that an average wait for food is usually half an hour. i checked the time on your food order in the kitchen and it had been 40 minutes, which I said was not acceptable. Your food arrived and I said I would be back to check on you. Neither of you mentioned any feedback,yes you did ask for some dressing, and yes I did apologise again for the wait. Sorry to hear you won't be back but I feel your review is unjust.

Written November 1, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

av106

Bristol130 contributions

Great seafood but book early

Feb 2020 • couples

Great location right away from main hamlet and tourist street of Kaikoura. Seafood is really good however ran out of whole lobsters as restaurant popular. So book early. Bizarrely half a lobster is fractionally cheaper than a whole lobster so not worth it. Good choice of ales and beers and selection of wines. Book early and get table overlooking the bay towards stunning mountains.

Written February 15, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IainR

Whangarei810 contributions

Very average

Feb 2020 • couples

Stopped in here for lunch whilst driving south. The restaurant is part of a hotel/bar and the staff were barely interested when we arrived. One of us ordered fish and chips which were good and I ordered a large seafood chowder. Whilst the chowder was nice, it was far from large and was more like a starter. Waiter only brought one set of cutlery,. Sorry to say I won’t be rushing back.

Written February 14, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Max_Bank

Shrewsbury81 contributions

Was it an off night ?

Mar 2020 • couples

Despite the good reviews we didn’t find The Pier to be good at all. One of us had the Crayfish Chowder and it’s was so smokey and bitter to be inedible by either of us. The other order was Mussels which were ok but ordered a side of fries to go with them which was forgotten and then chased halfway through the cooling mussels. They also didn’t give you a bowl to put the shells into. The chips were over salted and heavily peppered and were not pleasant. We paid quickly and left as couldn’t be bothered to complain on site. 35 minutes arriving to walking out the door.

Written March 11, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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