Cucina — Restaurant in South Island

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An absolute gem in the heart of Oamaru!

Dining at Cucina is like being wrapped in a warm Argentinian hug while sipping wine under the Southern sky. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted with impeccable service and the kind of genuine hospitality that makes you feel like family — not just a table number.

The food? Next level. Every dish was a celebration of flavour, beautifully plated and crafted with real heart. Their attention to local, seasonal produce was clear, and the South American influence brought something truly unique to the Oamaru food scene. Don’t even get me started on the steak — melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And the empanadas? I’m still dreaming about them.

The atmosphere is warm and effortlessly stylish, with a vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay for dessert (and trust me, you should). The wine list is thoughtfully curated, with both local and South American options that pair perfectly with the menu.

Cucina isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience. A little slice of magic tucked away in one of the quirkiest, most charming towns in Aotearoa. If you’re in Oamaru, this place is an absolute must.

Bravo to the team — you’ve created something...

The restaurant promises fine dining with a lovely atmosphere where walls are covered with plants. The server was attentive and professional, and expectations were high, coming in cold and hungry after watching the penguins at the penguin colony. The wait was not too terrible, and our food arrived at the same time. I had ordered their special, which was pasta with fresh truffles. It was bland and overcooked and the worst pasta I have had. I had to ask for some Parmesan in order to be able to eat it, and when asking the server if it is supposed to be overcooked, he told me that the chef said it was due to being served with flakes of fresh truffles. That sounds like nonsense, if you are asking me. Being starved, I finished my soggy meal. The others in my party had an overcooked fish and an ok rib eye steak. All in all, the food was grossly overpriced and incredibly poor quality. We were offered a 20 dollars discount as an apology, which was an insult given that the worst dish was almost 50 dollars. Could not...

Cucina is a good place if you really like eating meat. We gave the trust the chef menu a chance as we don't like to stress over what to chose of the menu always wondering if I we are making the best choice. Food was really good with just a few ifs that make me give 4 out of 5 stars. Canapé was a beef and black garlic emlanada with tomato sofrito. Very tasty. First course was black garlic with carrot puree, pickled carrot and crispy pork. It was nice, lacked a bit of salt but was colourful and interesting although by now it was black garlic on 2 out of 2. Main was an 80 day aged ribeye on the bone with a tomato and strachiatella salad and some baby potatoes with (yes, here it comes) black garlic. It was a lot of meat and the tomatoes were a nice refreshing touch. Potatos were OK but not much more. Dessert wasa chocolate mousse, chewy brioche and a really nice ice cream that had a little bit too much alcohol. On a personal note i would have chosen a fresher dessert instead of a heavy choc mousse after all that...