The Fine Lion — Restaurant in Canterbury

Just had my dinner experience with them. First impression was nice, cosy and fully recommended by my wife due to their photos & social media post as we are on our business trip.

However, it was disappointing to see how unorganized staff were, waitress didn’t know a thing about their restaurant menu and more disappointing to hear is waiting for an hour.

Must say, food was average.. best part was the ribeye steak. The ‘Salmon Kokoda’ was served warm with prawn slimy and Mussel was dry but we were extremely hungry after a long flight.

When paying, I asked for the manager in which ‘Belinda’ came to speak to me. She was rude, blunt and told me ‘Go speak to the chef directly, they made the menu.’ I agreed and went to the kitchen spoke to them, as always denied everything and said ‘Is our highest demand entree!’

I paid full bill of $130+ and left.. gone back to our hotel and vomit it out.

Overall experience were horrible with their terrible hospitality (definitely NOT kiwi culture), given Ashburton is a small town and with post COVID I expect slightly better customer service and take on those constructive criticism from paying customers.

Never again to visit this place, and especially with the tone/attitude from that so call...

I want to start with mentioning this is the very first review I have ever left on a restaurant but felt compelled to. Currently visiting from chch and decided to check out the local food places. As a coeliac it can be very difficult to find restaurants that I feel safe to eat at. Not here! Their entire menu is designed so practically everything (except for one dish - the pasta) is made naturally gluten free or can be made to do so. They do this without sacrificing variety in the menu, flavour, ingredients - the food was divine and the atmosphere was beautiful!

Thank you for having us and I believe this place is exemplary to other establishments for the future of...

The Fine Lion is THE BEST place in the whole of Ashburton!! I loved this place from the moment I walked in😍 It’s very intimate and there is a person with the warmest smile as soon as you open the door. A lovely bar wrapped around the entrance where you can sit a admire the view out the windows with the most amazing cocktails🍸 We had an out off this world experience with a 3 course dinner and I’d have to say, it was the best steak I have ever had. I finished with the biggest Affogato in the world. The service was perfection. I love to dress up a little for this place and make a night of it. The Fine Lion will be my, “meet...