THE COW, Wanaka - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos

Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

Yes

No

Unsure

Details

About

We are based in the vibrant night spot of Post Office Lane. The Cow Wanaka is famed for its pizzas and spaghettis but it is our garlic loaf starter that really impresses. So why not come on down and enjoy the warmth of our open fire in the winter and our sun focused courtyard in the summer. If you would prefer to enjoy our awesome food in the comfort of your own home that is not an issue to also offer takeaways.

PRICE RANGE

$8.00 – $36.00

CUISINES

Italian, Pizza

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Dinner, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

Contribute

Write a review

Upload a photo

Ask a question

We perform checks on reviews.

Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews

Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.

When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.

Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.

Learn more about our review moderation.

4.0

415 reviews

Excellent

192

Very good

126

Average

47

Poor

24

Terrible

26

These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?

This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.

Yes

No

Urs

San Miguel de Allende30 contributions

Still one of the cosiest places in Wanaka

Sept 2020 • none

We're visiting the Cow every time we're in Wanaka. It's such a cosy and nice feeling, kind of reminds us of the little huts on the European Alpine slopes. The service was friendly and helpful, the pizzas are good as always (american style, rather the thin Italian), the salads good, although was the sauce bought? May be a suggestion would be to do the same as in Italian restaurants: put a can of olive oil and balsamic with salt and pepper on the table and people could mix their own sauce. Simple and easy, but works fine.

Written 12 September 2020

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.

junismum

187 contributions

Always great!

Sept 2020 • family

We really enjoy The Cow and make it a point to eat here every time we visit Queenstown. It’s small, dark and cramped - and that’s the point. It’s cozy and the food is fairly basic pizza and pasta. But the bolognaise is our favourite and amazing! It’s cold outside but the fire is on in here. Right now we felt fortunate that there is not the usual wait for tables and we had no problem getting a table both visits.

Written 20 September 2020

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.

JacJac82

Brisbane385 contributions

Loved it!

Jun 2021 • couples

We hadn’t been to the Queenstown Cow so this was our first experience. We loved it! It’s very small and they don’t take bookings, but we went about 6:30 and got a table - the candlelight was a nice touch too. The garlic bread is next level, and our pasta dishes (seafood and bolognaise) were generous and tasty. We had a great night here!

Written 5 June 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.

mattgH3363MA

7 contributions

FERAL SERVICE

Jul 2022 • family

Sitting here at a table so far food has been ok but the 2 women who have served us are atrocious I have never experienced service so rude. So far we have had one snapping at us on the verge of breaking down. Then assigned a waitress who So far has been rude, snappy, (snapped at a child to sit down) forced us to take a benched table after we were settled in the booths I asked for (8 of us dinning) Then when taking our order she basically walked up said "garlic bread to start yes and then walked away without waiting for us to respond.... Seriously need to consider retraining staff and reminding them customer service and happy patrons should be the focus more than pushing $ per hour. Being from the southern south island this is not what southern hospitality is about...

Written 15 July 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.

Mike Street

3 contributions

Disappointed and an empty pocket

Jul 2023 • family

This place looked great as we walked in. Very busy and a 45 minute wait so we sat by the amazing fire and had a couple of drinks while we waited for a table. Once seated service was fast as far as ordering was concerned......then the wheels fell off. It took about another 45 mins to get our under cooked, under flavoured pizzas and to top it off overcharged at the till upon leaving. The best thing about this joint is the fire and the door outa there.

Written 14 July 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.

Katie G

26 contributions

Pizza good, pasta not so much.

Oct 2020 • none

The pizza was delicious and enjoyed by kids, I ordered the mushroom spaghetti however and it was described as 'creamy' on menu but was most definitely not. They were white button mushrooms with no flavour and the texture was bland. Salad was a bit sad also and something out of the 1970's so could improve there also. Service was great and the ambience is lovely.

Written 7 October 2020

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.

nz_tash75

Wanaka1 contribution

Date Night

Jan 2020 • couples

We have been blessed by a magic still warm Wanaka evening. Date night for hubby & I, service is an excellent 12/10 and the food brilliant. Garlic bread was delicious and love that it was wholemeal bread. (Work ates will be keeping their distance from us tomorrow! !!). Had the chicken/mushroom/chilli spaghetti and a large half half pepperoni and shrimp pizza. All was devine and we ALMOST finished it all. Thanks The Cow for a much needed relaxing evening with perfect food and service.

Written 13 January 2020

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.

GoPlaces814025

Thank you very much for providing us with such a glowing review. We are so pleased that we were able to give you with such a magical evening and hope that you will return to us again soon.

Written 29 January 2020

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

Phil S

Christchurch9 contributions

Overworked kitchen staff

Aug 2021 • couples

The pizza's were disapointing good bases gf but hard to tell what the toppings were just covered in cheese and more cheese. This is "not gourmet pizza" most bars do it better! And cheaper. Nice atmosphere but wont go again. They got our pizza order wrong and to their credit gave us another one foc but hard to tell the diference in taste! Chef looked very stressed and overworked.

Written 12 August 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.

Chizzamerica

South Island781 contributions

Fantastic pizzas! Cosy atmos

Dec 2022 • none

With friends visiting Wanaka, pizzas at The Cow seemed a great option; the team there did not disappoint! Large fresh pizzas, very flavoursome - and gluten free options of course. Delicious meal, nice busy atmosphere and friendly staff throughout. Need to get back again soon for sure

Written 1 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.

Travel S

Auckland26 contributions

Just don’t do it. Go to Queenstown Cow

Apr 2021 • friends

So I love the cow in Queenstown such a great experience and thought this would be the same, so excited. Went tonight and was like they wanted us to hurry through, tried to slow them down, ordered couple bottles of wine. Food was so so average and service didn’t exist. The location and atmosphere next to the fire is great. Wouldn’t go back. Very expensive, $350 for 4 of us, BYO was $17 per bottle

Written 23 May 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.

Elfi

Munich2 contributions

Surprise in Wanaka

Apr 2024 • friends

After another Italian restaurant in Wanaka ran out of space for us, three friends of mine and I decided to go to this restaurant. We were not disappointed, the homemade garlic bread was fantastic. But the other dishes such as the creamy tomato soup and spaghetti were also excellent and the waiters were all very polite. Overall it was one of the best restaurants I have visited in New Zealand so far.

Written 25 April 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.

2C2_travel

Boston117 contributions

Comfort food for hungry hikers in Wanaka

Dec 2022 • none

Hit the spot for our hungry family of 5 after a long hike (Rob Roy Glacier). Large and tasty pasta dishes (Bolognese, mushroom, seafood sauces) and we shared their signature pizza and a couple of side salads. Prompt and friendly service at a reasonable, no frills price.

Written 30 December 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.

ddijk

Amsterdam827 contributions

Friendly service

Oct 2024 • couples

Ended up here by chance. Sits in some kind of after-the-fact restaurant court. It ia there quite dark and was quiet. Very friendly lady in the service. Conveniently, you can share a large pizza here, with your own topping on each half. Nice music. Pizza is reasonably good and fresh driers

Automatically translated

Written 11 October 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.

Anonymous855

1799 contributions

Pizza or spaghetti, that is absolutely all you can get

Apr 2024 • friends

We didn't want pizza so ordered the spaghetti...it was spicy...maybe too much red pepper flakes in the kitchen, eh? It was expensive for the value received and although the place is cute, the food needs to live up to the billing and offer some cow? I know, it was the historical context why it's called the cow but I cannot recommend it as it is.

Written 30 April 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.

John

1 contribution

Awesone

Jan 2021 • friends

Went to The Cow pizza restaurant with a large crowd. The service was great and the pizzas were the best I have eaten in a very long time, from any restaurant. I thank "The Cow" so much for a great night out.

Written 1 January 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.

2

…

Showing results 1-15 of 397