Canterbury North Of Worcester Street

Santorini Greek Ouzeri (☎379 6975; www.santorini.co.nz), Cambridge Terr. at Gloucester St. A fun-loving family restaurant with platters of Greek specialties like souvlaki, moussaka, and paidikan (barbeque lamb chops; $26). Patrons often drink enough ouzo cocktails ($7) to dance on the wine barrels, and Conga lines have been known to invade the kitchen. Live music F-Sa. Open Tu-Sa 6pm-late. MC/V.
Indochine, Cambridge Terrace (☎365 7323; www.indochine.co.nz), north bank of the Avon River. Christchurch’s hottest new restaurant, the locals talk about the food and turn up in droves to eat it. Regular patrons opt for dim sum ($14-16) or mains ($25-30). Th-Sa 2-for-1 dim sum after 10pm. Open M-Sa 5pm-midnight. AmEx/MC/V.
The Bodhi Tree, 808 Colombo St. (☎377-6808). The subtly flavored Burmese cuisine of the Bodhi Tree draws crowds of locals. The meals are designed to be shared, so groups or couples can order dishes to split and sample. Meat dishes $10.50-14; seafood dishes $12-15; vegetarian dishes around $10. Open Tu-Sa 6am-late. MC/V.
Flying Burrito Brothers, Armagh and New Regent St. (☎377 7626; fbbchristchurch@xtra.co.nz). With an incredible tequila list ($6-85) and the perfect dose of spice, the Flying Burrito Bros. is the most authentic of Christchurch’s many Mexican joints. Quesadillas $12; heaping burritos $19. Open daily 4pm-late.
City Seafood Market and City Fish ’n Chips, 277 and 265 Manchester St. (Market ☎377 3377; Fish ’n Chips ☎377 4483). For the freshest fish ’n chips in town, you have to make two stops. The first is City Seafood Market to pick out a fresh piece of fish, and the second is City Fish ’n Chips to cook your “catch” for $1. Market Open M-F 9am-6pm, Sa 9am-2pm. Fish ’n Chips open M-Th 11am-6pm, F 11am-7pm. Cash only.
Strawberry Fare, 114 Peterborough St. (☎365 4665; www.strawberryfare.com). A restaurant committed to cooking with fresh, natural ingredients available. Sophisticated entrees (duck confit; $24.50) are a prelude to the Devil’s Dream, a light and dark chocolate mousse cake with raspberry coulis ($14.50). Open M-F 7am-late, Sa-Su 9am-late, usually around 10pm weekdays and 11pm weekends; earlier in winter. MC/V.
Cafe Valentino, 813 Colombo St. (☎377 1886). Dean Martin croons in the background at this cosmopolitan Italian restaurant north of the square. The lunch menu features salads and pasta dishes ($14.50-16.50), while dinner adds in a variety of seafood, lamb, and beef mains ($27-30). The 2 bars feature a well-rounded selection of wines ($5-8) and half pints ($5-6). Open M-F noon-10:30pm, Sa-Su 5-10:30pm. MC/V.