It's a date!
Sam Parish finds the best date spots. After having kids, she has a deeper appreciation for the world of eating out, dining, and patronage at restaurants and cafés. Is it the need for time to herself? Or the ability to focus during a meal on what she’s tasting? Who knows? All she’s sure of is that if you can find the time to eat out, whether solo or with company, it’s a date!
Gatherings
5/2 Papanui Road
The cosiest, one-of-a-kind restaurant. If you haven’t been to Gatherings, spring is the perfect excuse to get there. Think fine dining meets timeless flavour combos – complex and innovative dishes, evoking that ‘of course, this goes well together’ moment when you taste them. But also keeps it just the right amount of pared back so as not to scare you off completely. The ingredients are always respected and at the forefront of the plate. Gatherings offers a weekly updated menu with a focus on local and organic ingredients. Specialising in fish and vegetable-based dishes, prepare yourself for some of the finest preparations of New Zealand seafood. The turbot chops with Paris butter sauce they recently featured look incredible, not to mention dinner rolls with XO butter and salt-baked beets with pickled tamarillo.
I’ll admit, I’m slightly predictable – any industrial-style space with smiling faces, natural wine on tap, and a wood-burning oven serving pizza is bound to be a favourite of mine. Put Lillies on your must-visit list ASAP. They offer an ever-changing, season-focused menu featuring pizzas, substantial dishes, salads, and their oh-so-fun rotating seasonal sundae. If the babysitter isn’t an option right now (I feel you), Lillies opens from 4pm, so you can pop in during the family hour and let the kids watch the artists at work, making pizza – the ultimate free entertainment. The wine here is bespoke to the location, natural and full-bodied, and all crafted beautifully by the owners. The vision of this restaurant is clear: “A beautiful space with beautiful food where guests feel welcome to come and enjoy.”
Owner-operators Ryan and Hannah have created a truly romantic spot at The Monday Room. This two-level, wine-walled beauty is a warm, jazzy space perfect for an intimate dining experience. The food style is designed for sharing, so you won’t miss out on tasting what your date orders. I highly recommend the tasting menu with matching wines – any excuse to let someone else take the lead and serve you the best of the best. It also takes the hassle out of ordering, allowing you to sit back and let the team take control. The chef team here is top-notch, presenting beautiful seasonal dishes. When we dined, they served crumbed enoki mushrooms with Sichuan tofu cream – the textures were spot on. The wine selection is exquisite; be sure to ask Ryan to pour you his favourite drop. I was obsessed.
Perched gloriously overlooking the city and plains beyond, Tussock Hill is a standout regarding Canterbury’s food offerings. Just a short 15-minute drive from the city and into the Port Hills, it’s the perfect food escape in Christchurch. The menu is locally crafted and, in some cases, foraged, featuring beautifully curated dishes. We indulged in a special beef tartare with oyster cream, finished with crisp urenika taewa potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes from North Canterbury’s Pihi Farms, which truly stole the show. This was followed by the iconic lamb and thrice-cooked potatoes and a plate of yams with black garlic. With the sun beaming through the windows and two wine flights – red and white (highly recommended, as it’s the same price as a glass, but you get to try three of their wines) – this was an incredible way to do lunch.