The Core Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Christchurch

A group of us recently dined here for an evening dinner, our group contained a vegan and someone who was Gluten and Soy Free. The Core Bar was able to accommodate all of us with a tidy selection of options.

Before preparing our meals the chef came out of the kitchen to confirm our dietary requirements and politely answered any questions we had. I opted for the seasonal vegtables for my starter and the vegan burger for my main. The chef informed me the vegan beef patty is hand made on site.

The veggies were surprisingly amazing and a jewel in The Core Bar's crown. The veggies came topped with an incredibly tasty seasoning, which I believe holds the power to convince a fussy child who doesn't like veggies, to like veggies.

Next the main, The burger bun is pink and contained the hand made vegan beef patty (much more tastier than the generic vegan patties other restraunts use) thinly sliced pickles, a signature sauce, vegan cheese and a side of fries. The burger was a fantastic choice, packed full of flavor and incredibly filling.

While we had every intention of ordering dessert, we were too full, so I'm unable to comment on the desserts but I will be sure to make room the next time...

Saturday night, a mostly empty restaurant and no attentive staff (had to grab our own menus from the counter). The ribs were overcooked as the little meat (mostly fat) was dried out and covered by the sauce. The vegetables were the best part of the meal but for $34 for roughly 2 oz of meat and 10 oz of fat shows a poor selection of meats prior to cooking by the chef. They shouldn't have let it leave the kitchen like that.

The drinks menu was extremely unimpressive given it advertises as a Bar and Grill. There wasn't a bartender that could make drinks, only premade drinks that come out of a can. The bar was effectively just a backdrop.

The low energy staff was a contrast to the piped Spotify playlist of 90's US hip hop playing. We might have hit a night with missing staff or no restaurant manager that night, but the almost empty restaurant on a Saturday night when other restaurants across the street had plenty of patrons indicates this isn't just...

It’s rare to walk away from a restaurant feeling like everything was just right — but this place nailed it. Usually, if you get two out of three (service, quality, and price), you’re happy. Here, I felt like I got all three. Service was exceptional. Our waitress was efficient, friendly, and prompt. She explained the First Table rules clearly and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu without feeling rushed. Her attentiveness really elevated the experience. Food quality was solid. We ordered pizzas, which arrived quickly and were tasty — fresh, well-made, and satisfying. Price was the cherry on top. Even without the First Table discount, it would have been a very affordable meal. With the discount, it felt like incredible value. I’ll definitely be returning — and recommending this spot to friends. It’s not often you find a place that gets...