Little India Merivale — Restaurant in Christchurch

During my recent holiday in New Zealand, I had the pleasure of dining at an Indian restaurant that turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of the trip—not just for the food, but for the story it told.

From the moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the warmth of the ambiance. The interiors were both nostalgic and captivating, adorned with autographs and memorabilia from world-class athletes—each signature a quiet nod to the global appeal of this humble yet extraordinary eatery. The walls seemed to whisper stories of legendary guests and cherished memories, creating a sense of heritage that extended far beyond just food.

What truly set this place apart, however, was the soul behind the menu. Every dish carried with it the essence of time-honored traditions, passed down from the founder’s grandmother. This wasn’t just food—it was a legacy served on a plate. The storytelling behind each recipe added depth to the dining experience, as if we were being invited into a family’s kitchen that had been cooking for generations with love, pride, and purpose.

As for the food—it was nothing short of spectacular. The North Indian flavors were rich, authentic, and perfectly balanced. The spices didn’t overpower; they elevated. From the buttery smoothness of the dal makhani to the fragrant, deeply satisfying biryani, every bite was a reminder of why Indian cuisine is considered one of the most soulful in the world. The naan was soft and charred just right, and the paneer tikka was smoky, succulent, and expertly spiced.

It’s rare to find a place that combines such high-caliber culinary skill with a deep sense of personal and cultural history. This restaurant managed to do both with effortless grace. If you find yourself in New Zealand and have even the slightest curiosity for Indian food, do yourself a favor—make this spot a part of your itinerary. You’ll walk in for the food, but you’ll leave...

When I entered the restaurant, it was bustling with people so I assumed this was a good sign and that it meant the restaurant was good. My assumption was false. We were sat down by a nice waiter, and sat for about 5 minutes before my family and I were given a menu. After more than 20 minutes, our order was finally taken. We ordered pappad, chicken biriyani, butter chicken, shahi paneer, amritsari choley, tandoori roti along with butter and garlic nan and a salty lassi. After our order was taken, the waiter took the menus and left. We were not give waters or any drinks until our food arrived which was very annoying. After a little wait, all our food was at the table. We received all our food and drink along with a basket of pappad. The menu said a basket of pappad came with four, but ours came with two (and we were charged the price of four) and the pappad looked like someone else ate out of it. The chicken biriyani was okay, but it was so salty that I felt my sodium levels rising. Butter chicken was the best. It was very tasty. Shahi paneer was not bad, it was nothing special. Tandoori roti was VERY good. If I were to come back it would be to get this. The amritsari choley was mediocre. It was okay, but nothing special. This restaurant is very overpriced for the portions and food quality. Each dish was about $22 and the portions were very small. For $22 the portions should at least be shared, and not for one individual. This restaurant is nothing special, and I would not come back. Service was poor and the...

Recommended to visit by an Indian friend, quote " 70% authentic how we cook in India, the way spices concerned ". We arrived and ordered right before a bus of Indian tourists. For me, it's usually a good sign of authenticity . To start ,we had vegetable Pakora and half Tandoori Chicken. Pakora was decent. Tandoori chicken was dry, tasted like a double cooked Tandoori chicken, the yogurt marinate definitely wasted on this chicken . Following a long wait, we finally received our curries after they serve the 40odd tourists . Our group of 4 order a Chicken Korma, Chicken Kadai, Vege Paneer and my Bhuna Chicken . Waitress A advised us that curries dishes were hot, cautious of burning. I received my Buhna, stone cold chicken .....All other curries were piping hot... unlucky .. Waitress A took it back to kitchen, returned 1 min after. asked about if microwave was used to reheat, she replied no. Not convinced, and felt lied to. we shared our curries. Korma, Kadai and Paneer all have really distinctive flavors . reheated Bhuna was average, wetter than my go to dry Bhuna at Corianders. Taste of a mediocre curry .Asked Waitress B about if microwave was used for reheating , she answered , yes, not their one, but their next door neighbors ..... We shall return for another try for their Paneer . definitely no more Tandoori or Buhna or any other cold curries when they don't have...