166 reviews
#2 of 785 Restaurants in ChristchurchContemporary, New Zealand, Dining bars, Vegan Options+64 21 932 606+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Tue
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wed
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thu
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Fri
11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sat
11:30 am - 12:00 am
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
Travellers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$10.00 – $40.00
CUISINES
Contemporary, New Zealand, Dining bars
Special Diets
Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
meals, features
Does this restaurant have live music
Details
About
Rascal is a modern bistro + dining bar serving fresh, fun food + drinks in the heart of Christchurch City. The Rascal way of dining is all about sharing. Everything is designed to be sampled by the table, and dishes arrive as they are made. It’s a social affair in every way, with casual, attentive service that makes sure everyone is well looked after. Open for brunch and lunch on Thursday and Friday. Open for dinner, drinks + snacks Tuesday to Saturday. Pull up a seat at the bar to find out more.
PRICE RANGE
$10.00 – $40.00
CUISINES
Contemporary, New Zealand, Dining bars
Special Diets
Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Dog Friendly, Gift Cards Available
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5.0
166 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
13
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
2
GGK
Christchurch9 contributions
Aug 2022 • friends
The food was so fresh and tasted delicious 😋. I only wrote reviews when a restaurant is worthy of them to be honest and this one is .
Food was second to none on taste - flavour - different mixes really worked. Pork belly , candy floss and plum sauce.
Cocktails 🍹 wee fresh and power pinched full of flavour some of the best cocktails I have ever tasted.
Dessert - I would recommend the apple wontons delicious 😋
Staff amazing too and very helpful around selections of what to have.
So overall a 10/10 for me .
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NB8041
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • none
Our waitress was incredibly helpful with recommendations - all of which were fabulous, would HIGHLY recommend the gnocchi! The food was wonderful and because it came as it was ready there was always something on our table. I would definitely recommend at least 2 plates per person in your dinner party as they aren't massive. Full dinner and a drink for 2 cost around $125 which was really reasonable for the service and quality of food.
Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz
This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJ B
Surfers Paradise7 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
I went for dinner last night with my daughters and partner - The food was exciting and had great flavours, came out fast - The service was excellent and the redheaded waitress (Sorry I forgot the name) did a great job of explaining the menu and making us feel welcome. The music was a bit loud to have a conversation but did not detract from what was an excellent night out. Best meal I have had in a long time!
Written 3 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SD2606
Christchurch2452 contributions
Mar 2023 • friends
Came here for dinner with friends and we were disappointed with everything that Rascal had to offer.
The service was friendly but really slow. We had to keep waiving over the staff to order food and drinks. It became frustrating as it felt as if we spent more time trying to waive them down than we got to enjoy the evening.
The décor wasn’t anything special. Old pot plants and a salad planter box on the window sill. Old tables that needed a clean. They weren’t rustic, just poorly maintained. The courtyard out the back was nice outside looking into Strangers Lane.
The menu here is all about sharing plates. Some big and some small. All very expensive and minimalistic. For $50 I got to eat two slices of bread with salami and beetroot, two medallions of lamb and two medallions of beef. We left hungry and out of pocket.
We wont be returning.
Written 28 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Celia H
Whangarei7 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
We made a dinner reservation based on a recommendation and were not disappointed! Delicious food with creative elements designed for sharing. The cocktails were also impressive. Our group of three ordered 5 plates to share.The ambience was lovely and the staff were obviously passionate about their food. Our server was more than happy to talk us through the menu and made great recommendations around what dishes to order.
Written 20 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MamaC
Christchurch26 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
We were welcomed with a warmth and charm that continued throughout the evening.
The food was beautifully presented, interesting and very tasty, catering well to a range of dietary requirements. We particularly enjoyed the karaage mushrooms and the zucchinis three ways.
What was most delightful was witnessing a single chef cater many dishes for up to 30 diners at a time, appearing totally calm. It was an unexpected treat to watch him and the very skilled mixologist at work. The way they warmly and respectfully engaged with the waiter was also refreshing. Great work team.
Thanks Rascal - we’ll be back.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent B
Napier28 contributions
Apr 2023 • family
As a frequent visitor to Christchurch we always like to try different taste experiences. We were not disappointed, the flavours were delicious however, the meal servings were very small in relation to pricing. Left feeling disheartened.
Written 9 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeeJane1991
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • none
I love this style of dining, you order a number of small plates and they come out as they're ready so you get to try a range of incredible dishes. The pork bites with candy floss was very cool. My favourite dish was the tataki venison
Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz
This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sasha
14 contributions
Oct 2023 • none
A friend and I dined here for lunch for her birthday. We ordered 3 shared plates and were very full afterwards. All food was cooked to perfection and the waitress was very attentive and inviting. Overall, the service was amazing and the food well presented and cooked perfectly! Definitely recommend this place, especially for large groups of people. As the shared platters are designed for this. Thanks!
Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz
This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.
Written 17 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryHeidis2023
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • none
Pleasant greeting from the waitress on arrival, she explained what was on the menu, the specials and the option to have sharing plates or individual meals. We had tea and coffee that was nice. The cocktail looked very tempting had it been a little later in the day. Meals were very tasty and served in good time. Nice decor, garden outdoor area looked nice but a bit cold yesterday to check it out. Overall, pretty good on all accounts.
Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz
This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Global01867958893
8 contributions
Mar 2023 • friends
What a delightful little place, with a menu that's a little bit different ...which we appreciate. There is a nice variety of foods on the menu, with enough vegetarian/vegan options to choose from. They all look delicious & tasty, and we're pleased to hear the menu changes regularly, so we won't get bored coming back again & again :)
The service was superb! ..super friendly, and fun. Felt like we were family.
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob F
Hawarden10 contributions
Dec 2023 • none
Lovely meal. Imaginative menu with a friendly and informed waitress to guide us through a wide ranging choice of shared dishes on the menu.
Went the extra mile making up cocktail for my wife which was not listed on the menu.
Review collected in partnership with www.restauranthub.co.nz
This business uses tools provided by Tripadvisor (or one of its official Review Collection Partners) to encourage and collect guest reviews, including this one.
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WingerJack
Christchurch506 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
This is in a site that was previously a bar but which has been empty for over six months. Renovated to a high standard and the proprietor and staff are just great. Fabulous service. Comfortable. Has a genuine "bar" atmosphere. It is small by most standards which makes it intimate. Pleasant choice of background music which isn't played so loud that conversation with your friends demands shouting. Opens earlyish for coffee and cabinet food. In the late afternoon it becomes a bar with a modest but enjoyable "nibble" food menu which the chef tells us is changed very week. We particularly enjoyed the cauliflower and especially the lamb burger. Small for a burger but larger than a slider. Pulled lamb shoulder, minty, just delicious. The wine list isn't huge but have they ever selected a quality offering. A good selection of cocktails and craft beers too. Can't recommend this business highly enough. It is on the east side of the city and away from the noise and predictability of Oxford Terrace but the proprietors can hold their head high. Closed Monday, and from about 3pm on Sundays. There may be other days it is closed but I'm sure their hours will grow as it develops some deserved popularity.
Written 4 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bhrjnq
Christchurch252 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
I had the pleasure of dining at Rascal Restaurant last night and it was an incredible experience! The creativity and flavors in the food were simply amazing. The standout dishes for me were the pork with candy floss, the king prawns and the tuna - each one was packed with unique and delicious flavors that left me wanting more. The presentation of each dish was top-notch and truly showed off the chef's skill and attention to detail.
I highly recommend Rascal to anyone looking for an outstanding dining experience in Christchurch.
I cannot wait to return and try more of the creative and delicious dishes!
Written 21 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Breezeseeker
29 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
A great find.
Small & cosy, with good atmosphere. Restaurant area had a rustic feel with open kitchen. The staff were friendly and welcoming but not pushy. Food is tapas style which was delivered at a good pace - not rushed. All 4 dishes (between two) we ordered were v tasty, hot and well presented. We really enjoyed our evening. Would recommrnd as couples or as a group.
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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