Big Fig

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#4 of 74 Restaurants in WanakaCafe, Mediterranean, $$ - $$$

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.

Big Fig

Review

At a glance

Open until 8:30 PM

, 8:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Website

+64 3-443 5023Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Big Fig is all about slow food, served fast – an ever-changing selection of slow-cooked meats, tasty braises, pilafs, yummy vegetarian and vegan dishes and fresh salads – all packed with flavour, made with love and ready to go. We have an in-house bakery making fresh pittas, cakes, breads and more, all day as well as the best barista-made Allpress coffee. We serve breakfast and brunch from 8am-10am, lunch 11am-4pm, dinner 5pm-8.30pm, coffee and baking all day. Big Fig is soulful food with modern middle eastern flavours and a home-cooking vibe.

Features

CUISINES

Cafe, Mediterranean, Healthy, Middle Eastern

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Digital Payments

Dog Friendly

Free Wifi

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Outdoor Seating

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Street Parking

Takeout

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

105 Ardmore Street, Wanaka 9305 New Zealand

Street Parking

Does this restaurant allow dogs or considered pet friendly?

Yes

Unsure

Save this restaurant

Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 8:30 PM

Sunday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Monday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Tuesday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Thursday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Friday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

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4.7

(1,179)

Excellent

886

Good

226

Average

Poor

Terrible

John Keith

6 contributions

It’s the food, the vibe, the view and back to the food

Aug 2024 • family

Having wanted to eat at the Big Fig since it opened, nothing disappointed. We arrived in Wanaka the prior day after lots of travel, walking in quickly relieved any sense of hustle and bustle. Carefully cooked and served choices of meat, veg and salad. All tasty, and there was a vibrant sense of fun. We had a week or so in Wanaka, so tried lunch and take away dinner as well as eating in. Risking overkill there’s a soul here that shares fresh local produce, eating amongst hard working restaurant people, across the road from a stunning lake. And if there’s not a table, we found that waiting a few minutes will see people offer “an end of the table” or one comes free. Outside in winter needs layers (here to there being no outdoor heaters) and there are blankets on offer.

Written 14 September 2024

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.

Big Fig Wanaka

Thanks so much Johnny! We are so pleased you enjoyed your visit to Big Fig!

Written 15 September 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Stonefox

United Kingdom208 contributions

Good Food at a Good Price

Feb 2025 • couples

The food at this establishment is exceptional, as is the efficiency of the service. We chose the medium-sized portions, which included one meat selection and four vegetable selections, comprising either hot dishes or cold salads. The flavours were innovative and intriguing, with the meat being particularly succulent. It is refreshing to encounter a venue that offers truly delicious and healthy food at a reasonable price. We dined here on three consecutive nights, a testament to the quality of the experience.

Written 1 February 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Thank you so much! So happy to hear you had a great time!!

Written 12 February 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Colin M

Southampton81 contributions

Brilliant takeaway food. Amazing value.

Feb 2025 • couples

Really tasty food, with a Middle Eastern twist. It's amazing value as well, as you get a meat dish and four very tasty sides for $24. Add in a lovely dessert and that adds up to a very satisfying meal. You can even eat more cheaply as the small plate, where you get one less side dish, is only $17! It is very busy, but the service is very efficient so you don't have to queue for long. Very friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommended.

Written 6 March 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed :)

Written 10 March 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Londontripadviser

London949 contributions

I wish this place was round the corner from my house

Nov 2023 • couples

We are on a tour around NZ staying in amazing places and being stuffed with delicious food three times a day, albeit not necessarily the healthiest. So, it was an utter delight to come here for lunch and eat fresh, tasty, healthy salads at a very reasonable price. If I lived here, this would be a go-to staple destination for me.

Written 12 November 2023

gdababa

Tauranga91 contributions

Place to to on Wanaka lakeside

Mar 2025 • couples

Therefore a plethora of overpriced eateries on the lake front in Wanaka. If you don't do gluten, you'll likely find the big fig a very reasonably priced eatery, where you can choose 6 items for a mere $30. 5 items $24 and three, $17. The larger plate was excellent, healthy and enough for all but the hungriest couple. Highly recommended

Written 14 March 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Thank you so so much!!

Written 17 March 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Family Foods

Auckland362 contributions

Tasty, great value highly recommend

Mar 2025 • friends

Not hard to spot Big Fig, just look for the line out the door, bit don’t let that put you off. Quick on service and before you know it , you are out the door enjoying dinner on the lake front. Really simple, choose your dish size, 1 meat and depending on dish size will depend how many other vegetable or salad choices you can have. Here are my tips. Medium size Beef cheeks Kumara bake Chick pea salad Double up on the couscous, say no more !!! I did have the courgettes but wasn’t a fan. Stand out was the kumara bake. Staff, all so friendly and polite with big smiles. They were highly efficient dishing, taking care not to be sloppy and spilling down the side of your plate or cross contaminating. We went to dinner 2 nights in a row here, there were amazing

Written 10 March 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Kumara gratin is a fan fav! Thanks so much.

Written 10 March 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mike P

Auckland303 contributions

Value for money

May 2024 • couples

The big fig doesn’t advertise as fine dining and it clearly is not. They have cabinets of pre prepared food from which you can order a sized plate and build your own meal. The food is really healthy and service great. Lots of options. Quirky but quite different in a town of high priced options in a fine dining setting.

Written 25 May 2024

Chrissie Lahood

So happy you felt Big Fig was value for money – our hope is that most people can afford to eat with us. Thanks!

Written 28 May 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

niket s

New Delhi13 contributions

Slow cooked food, served fast - DON’T MISS.

Nov 2024 • couples

It’s a MUST TRY. Choice of portions - small, medium and large (hell yea!!) Get choices of 3 meats - you can have a combination of two meats in the medium and large portions. Each is cooked to perfection. Get a choice of 3-5 items (depending on the size of portion chosen ) from rice, lentils, salads, wedges and sweet potato. Sweet Potato is a must have!! Cool choices of desserts as well. True to their slogan - slow cooked food, served fast - you get your food in 2 mins (max 5 mins if there is a queue). And the food tastes amazing. Kudos to the folks running the place - courteous, warm and serving everything with a lovely smile.

Written 21 November 2024

Chrissie Lahood

Thanks so much for the review - we really appreciate it!

Written 9 December 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Liz H

Clitheroe101 contributions

Tasty delicious food

Nov 2024 • couples

Wonderful choice, the smell attracted us in along with the amount of people waiting for food. We got a table quickly, I chose the medium size plate of lamb, sweet potato parmingano, butter bean & harissa stew with apple & carrot coleslaw. The lamb was delicious, everything was hot & very tasty. Such a different concept in eating out. Definitely recommend forgot to take a photo as I was enjoying it too much :)

Written 13 November 2024

Big Fig Wanaka

Thanks so much!!

Written 14 November 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mark H

Tauranga2 contributions

Superior Quality food interesting Venue

Feb 2025 • family

What a fantastic lunch! I opted for a medium $24, this was a mistake even though I am a big gent, it was too much but wow. I had the beef cheeks and 4 sides. The beef cheeks were simply amazing and not a mean portion either. I will be back but will stick to the small @$17 with 2 sides from memory. A large is perfect for two adults to share and at $30 that’s a fantastic value superior quality lunch. It’s worth a trip from overpriced Queenstown just to visit “big Fig”

Written 6 February 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Thanks so much Mark :)

Written 12 February 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

stellamay

Brisbane255 contributions

Great idea for a café!

Aug 2024 • family

Wow, what a great idea for a café! Firstly you select plate size, small, medium or large. Then you have a choice of hot or cold meals, veg, salads, hot meats, curries, casseroles etc. When I was there I had meatballs in tomato sauce and some hot roast vegetables and a lovely seasoned rice. The family that I was with enjoyed the slow cooked brisket and said that it was incredible. The meals are always changing depending on availability of product available to the kitchen I believe. The service is line-up style, so you tell staff what you want on the plate and pay for it at the end. The is both indoor and outdoor seating although it was packed when we were there. I would recommend it if you are in Wanaka and after a lovely quick meal.

Written 6 October 2024

Big Fig Wanaka

Thanks so much Stella! Glad you enjoyed :)

Written 8 October 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Michael H

6 contributions

Not for me

Jan 2025 • family

I think we might it have come at a bad time because there wasn’t much food left in the hot cabinet, and all the food I tasted was bland and starchy. The waitress initially blanked me when I tried to ask about a food order we were waiting for, and then gave me a passive-aggressive answer. On the plus side - the coffee was great, and it was not the most expensive place we’ve been in Wanaka. However - will not be going back.

Written 29 January 2025

Big Fig Wanaka

Hi Michael Thanks for your feedback! Will take this on board and let the team know. Many thanks

Written 12 February 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carolyn T

Larne188 contributions

Big Fig is a Wanaka Gem

Mar 2023 • solo

The food was delicious. I stopped in for lunch so only got the small plate which was good value as I got plenty of pomegranate beef cheeks, onion gratin, vegetables and some quinoa salad. For the quality it was incredibly reasonable. Plenty of choice and lovely staff and ambience. Good, fresh healthy food and I believe when the food is gone its gone so don’t miss your chance to enjoy some when in Wanaka.

Written 6 March 2023

Jane P

Ipswich529 contributions

Something different

Feb 2023 • none

If you are looking for something reasonably priced but a bit different from the standard restaurant choice, the Big Fig is the place to go. You choose the plate size from small, medium or large and then choose from a selection of meats, vegetables and salads from the items on offer. Only one meat allowed though. I liked the fact that that the staff serve the food, as this is more hygienic than each customer helping themselves. Everything was delicious & fresh - fabulous flavour combinations. This is a popular place, expect to queue, and there is limited seating but they do offer takeaways as an alternative.

Written 27 February 2023

Jeff B

Milford54 contributions

Yes!

Apr 2024 • couples

Boy, is this place good. Healthy, delicious meats and veggies and salads laid out behind the counter, you pick size of plate and tell them which items to fill it with. Takes 5 minutes to walk through the line and you’ll be happy the whole way, especially when you sit down to tuck in. Liked the local beers on tap, too. We’re here a week so far and about to go for our third visit.

Written 10 April 2024

Chrissie Lahood

Stoked to hear you came back for round three! It means so much to us :)

Written 28 May 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.