Alice May Restaurant, Franz Josef — Restaurant in South Island

We recently stayed a couple nights in Franz Josef and had two really nice dinners at the Alice May restaurant on Cron Street. Opening hours are 11.30am to 10pm daily. Reservations recommended for peak dinner hours

We arrived on the first evening around 7pm and found the restaurant full up. After a short wait, they were able to open up a table for two. On the second evening we dined earlier around 6pm and were able to walk in for an available table. The restaurant was near full throughout this second meal as well.

The seating area of Alice May is interesting, decorated with early 20th century items as well as information regarding the restaurant owners' distant relative and historical figure Alice May. This was all very interesting to learn and think about prior to our meals being served. Service was attentive, timely and polite on both nights.

For our meals, we ordered the baked salmon served with asparagus and pea risotto. This was a beautiful and delicious dish. Salmon fillet was fresh and very tasty. Our second order was the lamb shank slow cooked in a red onion, pale ale and raisin sauce and served with pumpkin, peas and mash. This was a great shank, tender, succulent and favour flavourful. We loved this order.

Very pleased with our mains, we ordered the sticky toffee pudding, which was moist slice served with vanilla ice-cream and whipped cream, topped with caramel. Again, a very good serving which wrapped up an overall impressive meal at Alice May, one we ended repeating the following evening. Happy to report, the team went two-for-two, dishing out another excellent showing the following evening.

In the end, we really liked the Alice May restaurant and will gladly return for the next time we visit Franz Josef....

Went here today as they opened. Really cute place and a que as they opened, started well. Friendly hello from most staff, also seems promising!

We sat down and ordered, food came very quickly, but sadly before drinks were brought. We asked about drinks and were told they would come soon. Food (pork ribs) were lukewarm not hot. No salt, pepper on table and none offered and no condiments.

When we asked for ketchup for chips (approx 5 mins after our food had been brought) we were told by the friendly waitress that other people were waiting to order and so she would get it after she’d taken a few orders. This was forgotten and after most of our food was finished we asked another staff member who eventually brought the condiments as we finished our food.

One waitress cleared one of our plates (two diners) whilst the other was still eating, which in most hospitality settings is a no no.

We went up to the bar to pay, paid, no one asked how our food was- it was ok, certainly not bad by any means, but not amazing and sadly the following let it down- food coming before drinks, and no rush to rectify this, staff member explaining they needed to serve other customers before checking on drinks/getting condiments, no one coming back to check on food, clearing one customer plate whilst other still eating, and finally as we left not checking in, whilst taking payment.

Food ok, and very limited other options in the area, hence why...

Wednesday 16 December We had been in Franz Josef two days waiting for weather to clear to get a flight up over the glaciers but without luck we decided to have a family night out at a gluten free restaurant that we could all enjoy and staying at the Orange Sheep it made sense to head for Alice May's just down the road. BEST DECISION ... EVER !!! I've eaten a many restaurants but I have never eaten at a restaurant where the starter, main, and dessert were all phenomenally good. Perfect in fact. With 2 teenagers with us, one being the gluten intolerant, even they loved everything they ate. My wife and I shared an Arancini starter. Delicious. Would happily have eaten more of that as a main. My ribeye was cooked to perfection - very pink. And was delicious. Wife loved her lamb shank. And teenagers reported the bangers and mash and the garlic prawns were to die for. Then desserts were just as delicious to eat as they were delicious to the eye. The staff were very friendly and nailed everything perfectly. We had a great night out and thorough enjoyed the setting and atmosphere and Alice May's story all around the rooms. Would definitely recommend you stop in if you're in the area, you will not be disappointed....