Kaiser Brew Garden
What makes your venue the Best Gastropub in New Zealand?
At Kaiser Brew Garden, we believe that a gastropub is not just about serving food and drinks; it's about creating an experience that resonates with every guest who walks through our doors. Our commitment to excellence has not only garnered us glowing reviews on Google, Facebook, and Trip Advisor, but it has also embedded us in the hearts of our guests, making us a frontrunner for the Best Gastropub in New Zealand.
Our menu is a celebration of share plates, where each dish tells a story of culinary craftsmanship. The star attractions, our Pork Belly Bites and Calamari, have been loved by many, with many of our guests declaring our Calamari the best in New Zealand. These dishes, along with our assorted shared plates, showcase our commitment to high-quality ingredients, innovative cooking, and presenting food that not only satisfies but also sparks conversation.
Our front-of-house staff are more than just employees; they are the ambassadors of Kaiser Brew Garden's ethos of warmth and hospitality. Trained to perfection, our team ensures that every interaction is personalised, making our guests feel valued and taken care of. This level of service, combined with our culinary offerings, creates an ambience that is both inviting and comfortable. Our venue is thoughtfully designed, keeping in mind not just aesthetics but also comfort and inclusivity. We take pride in our female-friendly premises, which provide a safe and comfortable environment for all. This was and continues to be a real priority for us as Christchurch faces numerous challenges in this area. The ambiance at Kaiser Brew Garden is a blend of contemporary style and comfort, making it an ideal location for both casual gatherings and special occasions. At the heart of everything we do is our guests, a lovely mix of locals and visitors who find joy and comfort in our hospitality. We don't just serve meals; we create relationships and create moments our guests will remember long after they leave. Our approach to genuine, warm hospitality has turned first-time visitors into regulars and our establishment into a hospitality hub for after work drinks, date nights, birthdays and more.
Kaiser Brew Garden stands out as the epitome of a great gastropub through our exceptional culinary offerings, outstanding service, welcoming ambiance, and an unwavering commitment to our guests. We are not just a gastropub; we are a destination where every visit is an experience, every meal a celebration, and every guest a part of our ever-growing family. It is for these reasons that we believe Kaiser Brew Garden deserves the title of the Best Gastropub in New Zealand.
Describe the experience your customers have at your establishment – what is your food and beverage offering and why do people come back for more?
As the proud title holder of the Best Bar in NZ for 2023, we're not just about serving up food and drinks. We're about creating moments, dishing out delights, and offering a venue for our guests to connect in.
Our share plates are the heart of the Kaiser Brew Garden dining experience. They're about bringing people together, offering a spread that includes everything from satisfying pizzas and refreshing salads to innovative creations that cater to gluten-free and other dietary needs.We understand the importance of catering to different dietary requirements, and it's a challenge we embrace with enthusiasm. The majority of our menu is gluten-free, a feature that our guests appreciate and love. This commitment to inclusivity means that everyone, regardless of their dietary preferences or restrictions, can enjoy a wide range of our dishes without compromise.
As the home of Kaiser Bros beers, we take our drinks seriously. But that doesn't mean we don't have fun with them. Our on-site microbrewery is a gem in Christchurch’s brewing scene, a testament to our love for all things beer. Over the last three years, we’ve brewed over 4200 litres (about 10,000 pints) of beer right here. Our range is as diverse as it is innovative, featuring classic IPAs and pilsners, and unique brews infused with Werthers Originals sweets, mānuka honey, and blueberries. This adventurous spirit in brewing is what we believe makes our microbrewery Christchurch’s best-kept secret.
From our brewery-fresh beers to a selection of wines, gins, and cocktails, we've got something to quench every kind of thirst.
Our creativity doesn’t stop at beer. Our cocktail menu changes seasonally, and shows off our team's love for innovation. We’re constantly concocting new and exciting blends, ensuring there’s always something fresh and intriguing for our guests to try. This commitment to innovation keeps our cocktail offerings as dynamic and inviting as our food.
The atmosphere at Kaiser Brew Garden is as integral to our identity as our food and beer. Our all-weather garden bar combines urban chic with a welcoming vibe, creating an environment that’s ideal for both lively social gatherings and relaxed conversations. This unique setting, appreciated by our guests, complements our outstanding culinary and brewing offerings, making every visit a memorable experience.
It's the combination of our vibrant shared plates menu, the exceptional range of drinks, and the inviting atmosphere that makes Kaiser Brew Garden a landmark in Christchurch’s social and culinary landscape. We are a destination where we take huge pride in the quality, creativity, and service, creating experiences that keep our guest coming back for more. It's these reasons and more why we are a beloved destination in Christchurch’s vibrant social and culinary scene.
Tell us how you showcase NZ produce / offerings? Does your menu change with the season and how is it locally influenced. How do you accommodate allergy and dietary requirements?
At Kaiser Brew Garden, showcasing New Zealand's produce and offerings is a key part of our culinary philosophy. Our menu is carefully curated to reflect the seasonal availability of local ingredients, ensuring that we offer the freshest and most flavourful dishes throughout the year - while also ensuring we keep the favourites our guests know and love. This seasonal approach allows us to continually introduce new and exciting dishes that are locally influenced and celebrate New Zealand's rich agricultural heritage.
In terms of accommodating allergy and dietary requirements, we place a strong emphasis on inclusivity. Our menu features a variety of options catering to different dietary needs, including a significant selection of gluten-free dishes. We understand the importance of providing safe and enjoyable dining experiences for all our guests, regardless of their dietary restrictions. Our kitchen team is well-versed in allergy awareness and takes great care to avoid cross-contamination, ensuring that every guest can dine with confidence and comfort at Kaiser Brew Garden. We are often tagged in posts and recommended by gluten free social media diners on various social media platforms and forums.
What are your key points of difference and how have you managed to deliver them?
Our dedication to outstanding service sets us apart in Christchurch's bustling hospitality scene. Our commitment to this core principles is not just a part of our ethos; it's the foundation of our success. Our exceptional service is a key point of difference, something that is evident in our 1200+ glowing Google reviews. We achieve this through rigorous training and a focused approach to hospitality. Our staff are not just well-trained; they're passionate about making every guest's experience memorable. This high level of attentiveness and care ensures that our guests can fully immerse themselves in connecting with friends and family, without the inconvenience of waiting in line at the bar. We've crafted an environment where service is proactive and hospitality is intuitive, allowing our guests to focus on what matters most: celebrating moments and creating memories. To ensure we maintain this level of service, we really position hospitality as a path to a fulfilling and sustainable career. We provide our staff with a range of benefits that go beyond the norm. This includes financial intelligence sessions, KiwiSaver advice, and eight-week fitness programmes. Our approach to open book management allows our team to understand the intricacies of our business operations, fostering a sense of ownership and passion for their work. We have implemented a unique initiative where 3% of the bar’s sales are given back to the staff, effectively adding about $2 to their base hourly rate. This not only boosts morale but also tangibly rewards our team for their hard work and dedication.
We believe that an informed and engaged team is key to delivering exceptional service. These initiatives have cultivated a high-energy and happy work culture at Kaiser Brew Garden. Our staff are genuinely passionate about their roles and take pride in representing Christchurch to the world. This enthusiasm and commitment are palpable in every aspect of our service, making us not just a place to dine and drink, but a symbol of excellence in hospitality.
Another significant point of difference is our diverse menu. We understand that a great dining experience caters to a variety of tastes and dietary needs. Our menu is a reflection of this understanding, offering a wide range of dishes that appeal to everyone. From our popular shared plates to our unique Bavarian-style pizzas and gluten-free options, we ensure that there's something delightful for every guest. This diversity not only satisfies different palates but also makes our gastropub a preferred choice for groups with varied preferences. The way we deliver these points of difference is through a combination of continuous staff training, attentive service, and a constantly evolving menu. Our team is trained to anticipate guest needs and provide a level of service that goes beyond expectations. We listen to our customers' feedback, and ensure that our menu remains exciting and relevant. This approach allows us to maintain a high standard of service and offer a genuine hospitality experience that keeps our guests returning.
Best Known for:
Share plate menu
On-site microbrewery
Please describe your commitment to sustainability.
At Kaiser Brew Garden, our commitment to sustainability is reflected in several key practices:
Seasonal Menu Approach at Kaiser Brew Garden: At Kaiser Brew Garden, we embrace the changing seasons by regularly updating our menu with in-season fruits and vegetables. This not only ensures maximum freshness and flavour but also significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with the transportation of out-of-season produce.
Eco-Friendly Takeaway Boxes Initiative: Understanding the importance of reducing food waste, we offer eco-friendly takeaway boxes. This initiative helps address the issue of uneaten food, with approximately 17% of served food typically going uneaten, these boxes encourage our guests to take their leftovers home.
Inventory Management for Sustainability: We are committed to careful inventory management at Kaiser Brew Garden. By controlling our inventory levels, we avoid over-preparation, thereby minimising food waste, an essential step in our sustainable practices.
Portion Control for Efficiency: Implementing weighed and prepped portion control is another sustainable practice at our establishment. This ensures that we use our ingredients efficiently, reducing waste and promoting responsible consumption.
Strategic Menu Planning to Reduce Waste: Our menu planning at Kaiser Brew Garden is done strategically, focusing on preparing less perishable or less popular items in a way that reduces waste.
Community Engagement through Food Donation: We engage with our local community by distributing leftover pizza to homeless individuals nearby. This not only contributes to social sustainability but also ensures that food waste is minimised.
Optimised Delivery Schedules for Lower Carbon Footprint: At Kaiser Brew Garden, we optimise our delivery schedules to reduce our carbon footprint, a key aspect of our sustainability efforts.
Use of Sustainable Materials and Practices: We extend our commitment to sustainability through the use of paper straws and eco-friendly cleaning products, ensuring that our operations are environmentally friendly in all aspects.
Waste Management Practices: In our commitment to waste reduction and recycling, we use plant-based rubbish bags and separate trash for efficient bulk collection. Additionally, we creatively repurpose our gin bottles as water containers, showcasing our innovative approach to recycling and reducing waste.
Have you won any awards in the recent past? Tell us about them.
We are really proud that we are not only loved by our guests but we have also earned prestigious accolades in the hospitality industry. Our recent achievements at the New Zealand Hospitality Awards for Excellence are a testament to our dedication and passion for what we do. We are proud to announce that we have been honoured with three significant awards: Best Bar, Best Marketed Establishment, and the coveted Supreme Winner title. These awards reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of our operations, from our unique culinary offerings to our innovative marketing strategies. The achievements extend to our team as well. Our General Manager, Mason Lattimore, was recognised as the Future Leader of the Year, underscoring his influential role in shaping the future of hospitality. Mason's belief in hospitality as a rewarding career, rather than just a temporary job, is a guiding principle for our team. We are so proud of these achievements and this recognition in this highly competitive industry
Please describe how you create ambience.
Creating the perfect ambiance at Kaiser Brew Garden is an art form that we've mastered by focusing on key elements: heating, lighting, music, and the vibrant energy of our staff. While we don't want to give away all of our secrets there are a couple of examples we can share!
Our heating system is thoughtfully designed to ensure comfort on colder days. We provide outdoor heating and blankets, creating a cosy and warm environment that allows guests to enjoy the scenic views over Christchurch without the chill. As the seasons change, so does our approach to lighting. On bright, sunny days, our all-weather garden bar is the perfect spot to bask in the sun or relax under an umbrella, enjoying the bustling terrace filled with people connecting and chatting. As dusk falls, we dim the lights to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, transforming the space and giving it that real night out feel, still full of energy and fun!
Music is a crucial component of our ambiance. We meticulously select our playlists to match the mood of the day and the tempo of the crowd. The volume is strategically managed to enhance the environment - lively and upbeat during busy times, softer and more subdued when a relaxed atmosphere is desired. This careful curation of music ensures that the ambiance is always in harmony with the guests' experience.
Perhaps the most vital element in creating ambiance is our staff. Their genuine happiness and enthusiasm are infectious, making a significant impact on the overall vibe. They are not just serving food and drinks; they are creating moments of joy, engaging with guests and each other, contributing to a dynamic and energetic atmosphere. Their warm greetings and attentive service make every guest feel special, turning every visit into a memorable experience.
The cumulative effect of these elements is an electric and infectious atmosphere. The garden bar becomes a lively hub on sunny days, a place where laughter and conversation flow freely. In contrast, the winter days offer a different kind of charm - snug, intimate, and warm, with guests wrapped in blankets, enjoying the cosy vibes and the view. This flexibility in ambiance, adapting to different seasons and times of the day, ensures that every visit to Kaiser Brew Garden is unique and enjoyable.
