Ancestral Restaurant at 35 Riccarton Road — Restaurant in Christchurch

Had dinner here with our family of 9. Food was delicious and service was fast but not very friendly. However, when we asked about using the karaoke rooms we were told different things. The last thing we were told was if we ordered our food and it was over $90 ($10 per person fee) we would only need to pay the $35 per hour hire fee of the room. I asked specifically to the worker if we had to eat our food in the room and he said no and I said we would be spending over $90 (we spent $300) which he said we wouldn't need to pay the $90 fee then and just the $35 hour fee. So we ate our dinner and then went to ask for a karaoke room. But the lady there told us we still needed to pay $90 and the $35 per hour fees. I said we just spent $300 and she said but you didn't eat your food in the room and I said we were told we didn't have to. Then the worker started talking to the other worker who told us the wrong information and then started talking to the manager I presume. I pointed out again that we just spent $300 and was told again that we had to have eaten the food in the karaoke room and that if we wanted to use a room we would need to pay the $90 fee (order more food) plus $35 per hour hire fee. I said look I don't want to get that guy in trouble as it sounded like both the woman were given him a really hard time about his mistake (they were not speaking English). In the end I said just forget it.

I know you have your rules but if one of your workers has made the mistake you should fix it and give a solution not just do nothing. Especially seeing as we had spent well over the $10 per person fee. You could have given us the room and we would have happily paid the $35 per hour fee. You guys weren't busy in the restaurant nor were the karaoke rooms busy. But still you insisted on us paying more money. We order often from Ancestral through Uber eats and this is one of the first times eating in the restaurant but honestly I don't think we will be spending money at your restaurant again. The mistake was on your end and you could have...

I normally never write reviews, especially not negative ones, but I felt this experience needed to be shared. I was genuinely planning to dine at Ancestral but had an uncomfortable experience before even stepping inside. I parked in one of their designated carparks and was approached by a man, possibly a security guard or staff member, who questioned whether I was actually a customer. It caught me off guard and felt quite confrontational. I have heard stories about this happening before, and Ancestral already has a bad reputation for being strict and aggressive about parking. My experience sadly confirms why.

I am assuming this is because a new business opened nearby and Ancestral is trying to prevent non-customers from using their parking. I understand wanting to reserve spaces for your own customers, but there were plenty of empty parks available, so it is hard to understand the need for such a strict approach, especially if the concern is just about nearby businesses. Even if someone was not planning to eat there, a simple and polite reminder would go much further than making people feel unwelcome. It almost feels like they are trying to drive customers away from nearby businesses too, as if they do not want the whole area to have any business at all.

What’s most frustrating is that the ‘Ancestral customers only’ carpark was not even full. Being this picky, especially when there is clearly space available, makes no sense and honestly drives potential customers away. It certainly did in my case. I left to go elsewhere for my dinner and to be honest, I do not feel any desire to return to that place after being treated like that.

Unfortunately, that interaction put me off dining there completely. Hopefully they reconsider how they manage customer interactions because experiences like this can easily turn...

I stand in solidarity with all the recent reviews. The quality, atmosphere, and service of this restaurant has gone downhill upon the new management. At one point we have met with the dismissive and grumpy old owner who personally called us out for unknowingly parking in one of the Ancestral spots when we had decided to eat there, and was just picking a few takeaway drinks for later on the shop next door. That dented the relationship with the restaurant (even as a local and loyal customer), so much so that I have never tried to set foot in one of the nearby restaurants. Ancestral used to be on its prime. The recent parking saga reminded me of the Auckland company that had a Netflix series on it who obviously made money off towing cars and giving fines to those who park even for a couple of minutes. This ruins community as a whole which Ancestral previously is known for. Never setting foot here again or anywhere within the shops. Absolutely terrible.

EDIT: Upon reading the reviews, the admin of this shop is saying that it is under the towing company’s responsibility? WHAT A DISGRACE. The owner himself is just as greedy, don’t even try to pin this to the company that YOUR OWNER obviously HIRED AND PAID. At least be remorseful and have some accountability. Can’t wait to see what a community can do against businesses like Ancestral. Your customers gives you business,...