The Wobbly Kea Restaurant Review

Arrived at 1800 wanting to eat. A party of six. We were told that most of the menu was not available with no explanation. When we then saw items being served to other customers which were on the full menu we were told that they were 15 minutes earlier and the chef was leaving.

The staff were surly and though the food we could order was acceptable there was no pleasantness in the serving.

It was extremely wet and cold outside yet we had to place a special request for the fire to be lit to which the response was that they had to check the gas.

Altogether a sense of being unwelcome and an inconvenience.

Nice and cosy place to come to get away from the cold, after a day doing the walks around the area. As there are not many options around here, it's pretty good. Honest food, with no bells and whistles. I would call it a pub rather than a restaurant. Good service

We wandered in there after completing Avo Peak loop. 3 pints of beer cost an astronomical $38. Service was friendly and it was nice to sit outside at the back. We left thirsy because that's just too expensive, and found a more affordable pub enroute to Chc. Would've happily paid $10/beer and spent $90 there, and bought food. Business owners need to understand greediness is not good for business. I'm in a tramping club and several of us visit AP - but will make sure to take our own beers and chilly bin.

We are a restaurant!! Not a charging station for freedom campers..who spend all day at a table.. Then have the nerve to complain about the price of a pizza... Tool..

A good feed for the end of a long day! Had the nachos and they were both ample and delicious. The cheesy garlic bread also earned rave reviews.

Wet miserable day when we called in for coffee the cafe was cold. Would have been very welcoming and cosy to have fire. Staff were polite and friendly. Toilets smelt of urine although just being mopped out. Perhaps the mop needs a good wash and airing.

Other reviews noted, however, when we ate here the service was quick and friendly, the beef nachos were well portioned and nicely seasoned, and the salad was nicely dressed. It is slightly expensive for what you get (especially if you go for the pizza I fear) but for a cafe situated in the middle of nowhere definitely not unreasonable. Recommended.

Great service, good coffee, decent menu for lunch options. Was also nice and warm on a freezing cold and wet day!

We came here for a hot drink on our stay at the budget camp site down the road. It s a nice place for a hot drink or meal given that there s not really much around the area. We were pleased and grateful for a place with free wifi and warmth.

Surprisingly nice food!!! Cosy setting. The curry my friend had met our Asian tastebud standard hahaha! The tomato soup and coffee was great too! A 5 start from me!!!

Look nice but not nice...
2 people can not finished one pie too dry and salty.
Not recommend

Nothing special, as it could be if a bit more effort was put in by the staff.

Friendly service, food menu quite limited though. Still, nice to have a hot soup after cold day out

Excellent pizza says feeds 2 but more like 4 good service from staff

There are few kea birds at the door and the dishes are huge

Perhaps the gentleman serving today might want to rethink his career in the hospitality industry. Neither friendly nor welcoming... in fact, we felt like we were an inconvenient interuption. We won't be back.

Popped in for take away coffee and cake but not made to feel welcome at all. Girl at the till walked off mid-way through taking our order, telling her busier colleague he could take over, much to his confusion. Coffee was 'meh' but the brownies were really nice. Shame about the service.

Went in on a cold, wet winters lunchtime, asked (twice) if the gas log fire could be turned on but told 'No, it won't be switched on till evening'. So we sat there, along with numerous others, wearing wooly hats and jackets to keep warm. Food very average, prices high. Pretty poor performance from the Wobbly Kea, definitely NOT recommended.

After a day's hike (Avalanche Peak), I was ready for a beer and FOOD. Despite being packed with people (many of whom we had seen on our hike), the Wobbly Kea was efficient in taking orders and serving people. The pizza (veggie) was delicious and a good size for two people. It was a great stop to refuel with food.

I ordered the pumpkin soup for $14 and received a small bowl of watery broth that tasted vaguely of pumpkin and mostly of nothing. The kitchen was not accommodating enough to exchange the bread that comes with it for even a small amount of anything else gluten free. After trying to give the soup a chance, I politely asked for a refund and was eventually given one with anger and disregard, and was scoffed at by the cook as I left. No wifi. Cold interior during cold weather. The curry plates I saw others eating looked like it would have been a much better choice.

While the atmosphere may look better than the place over the road, I do not recommend going here based on my experience. The coffee is plainly awful. I also noticed they want to charge you $2.50 for plugging in a laptop or phone for a bit of charging. I didn't need to charge, but I think it's pretty ridiculous to ask for a fee.

Very good staff ( helpful and kind ) we loved the fish and chips. Not many options in AP but we're happy to give 4 ! Would love table service.

Stopped in for lunch on the way back from the coat. The haloumi and peer salad was really yum and the place no too busy at 1pm on a Sunday. Sat out back in the sun but shame about the clanging compressor(?) chugging away there.

If not for the unsettling and altogether unwelcoming service by the short-haired blonde woman at the bar this might have been a little higher. Stale pie, tasty halloumi and nice back garden. The woman at the bar regarded us with disgust and disdain, sneering at us as we asked about dietary concerns and filled water. She moved to glower at us, arms crossed from the porch when we decided to sit outside. When we moved our table a little more into an open area and out of the sun, she promptly came over and asked us to move it back. Not worth the service. Go across the street.

Cool old school place staff were lovely. Unfortunately it was raining so didnt get to see the kea

Very nice restaurant, everything is good. The servers are friendly and attentive. Good atmosphere, perfect after a day of hiking!

Friendly staff, seems they are over worked!! Owner wasn t friendly what so ever, felt unwelcome and overwhelmed by the prices for a extremely limited unappetising menu!

Best bar (only) in town. The beer is Cold and the pizza has promise. The toppings are good but the crust is thick and tough. Nice relaxing atmosphere.

We had the vegetarian fettucini, which was really tasty,fresh, hot and was a large portion. It arrived quickly(15 minutes) , although we had been warned the wait could be longer.
Good staff.

This has always been a cafe that you can enjoy good food

don't do it the coffee is expensive and terrible, they need more barista training

Not the best experience for such an expensive place. I took the 32 dollar vegetarian pizza which was not that nice. The pizza base was like cardboard and overall was the pizza a big mess for 32 dollars.
It said on the menu that you can share the pizza for two, but honestly I wouldnt even share this with my dog.
My friend had the mash potato with sausages dish which he described as below average.

Friendly staff though, but we were never asked how our food tasted. Not that we really cared.. we were tired after a hike so anything was okay basically.

Food ok, no atmosphere, price was a bit expensive but then they are the only restaurant in the area.

Excelent coffee and cake with the company of the wobbly kea.
Highly reccomend

Big portions, value for money and a warm meal on a cold day. Couldn't ask for much else!

Staff are rude as hell. Food is really expensive and takes forever. Heaters are never on. Better off going across the road. How is this place still on buisness

A cosy bar restaurant, limited and fairly expensive menu. Coffee and snacks available.

The coffee, the hot chocolate, the carrot cake and the banana cake were really good but the waitress was not really smiling, we felt like we bother her... so I recommend this place for the drinks and for the food and even if I know it is not always easy, I encourage this person to smile, and let the customer feel welcome :).
Thank you anyway.

Definitely expensive, but what do you expect from a town with 2 places to eat? Had the vegetarian pizza, it was pretty good and was more than enough for 2 people. Staff was friendly.

Kitchen shut from 2 till 5 so plan your visit. Still have some ready pies, sandwiches, dessert and coffee throughout the afternoon

Truly awful coffee, over-priced mediocre food, no WiFi. No reason to stop here at all really!

Good place for lunch on the way from Christchurch to the West Coast (or back).

We visited this place on a Saturday for lunch. The food was good, the place cosy and relaxed. While the prices are on the higher side, this is a good place - all things considered!

We will be happy to come back.

Went here for lunch. Couldn't get coffee. Half the family got coffee and tea, we were told that we don't make hot drinks anymore. Later was told that they were too busy to make coffee. You are a Cafe and you are too busy to make coffee at lunch time? Your food was less than average. I come over the pass several times a year. I will never use your Cafe. Hopefully you will never be too busy again. Not impressed.

Beef nachos was quite nice (a bit spicy), fish and chip was ok. Staff are very friendly.

It's a bit expensive, about $25 each main course (e.g. Fish and chips, beef nachos). But there are not many choices around.

Nice pizza and other food. Might be the best restaurant in this area.

Big place with heaps of tables, nice quiet outside area. Food isn't cheap however truly on the larger side of things so it's fair value for your money. Order 2 meals for 3 adults and share! Best place we know at this location.

Almost a British pub in the middle of Arthur's Pass. Good food offerings at nice prices. Good service. Very nice ambient. Overall an excellent place to get warm while exploring Arthur's Pass.

Great food, quick friendly service. Awesome location.

Poor service... Woman was cleaning up. Didn't come to serve us... Waited 10 mins and left. Odd food choices.. Dutch apple tart and curry...

The pizza was good, and really big. $34 My husband got a burger. He thought it was just okay.

Very bad food, bad service! The food not fresh. The silverware are not clean! The staff had stone cold long faces! Not worth the time and money!

Great taste of music
Average food
Terrible service

Do not buy anything that comes across from this bar even if you still buy food from them otherwise you will literally clear.

The place is nice to have a break on the road. Coffee is really bitter though which not everyone might like.

Terrible - rude and grumpy staff....the staff and owners should rethink what type of business they operate in

I'm not picky, but the food here was disappointing. Fish undercooked and stale nachos with lazy topping. Not much other choice in town when you are hungry, but for the overpriced underwhelming selection here, you would be better off to skip it

Very average re food choice and all things cafe food. Does the job but not overly flash....

The service was very friendly, also give some recommendations. After 10min waiting I get very delicious food, the price for that was also good. I can recomand the Wobbly Kea. In the surrounding there are lot of Kea's.

An honest review. The place has a nice vibe, pleasant staff, great surroundings. We had Pizza, something I love making myself. It was plenty for two, & full of ingredients, it was however a little boring. A little use of cracked Pepper, some herbs & spices, would make a huge difference. I very much doubt it was mozzarella cheese they used, much a pity!!!. And the bought base was a big downfall. Why don't they make their own. There is just is no substitute to a freshly made base.

Expensive. $32 for a pizza. Closes early (7pm). No Wifi. Charges to use a power socket! Not recommended. Cafe over the road is nicer, cheaper & has free Wifi.

The environment is cool, and I loved the Anne Wilson pastels of the area

Has some lovely alpine character & staff seemed nice but would have been so much better if they put the fire on. Especially as there was snow on the ground outside & everyone inside had their big jackets still on.

This is located in Arthur's Pass. Food is good. Pizza is enough for two people and the vegetarian pizza comes with a lot of cheese. Food Presentstion is nice. It will take a quite longer time to serve the food though. Seating is available inside and outside both. Wash rooms are available inside. Ice Creams and sweet food are also available.

Amazingly good fries, nice salad - but don't bother with the chicken pie.

The food was decent enough but the prices unbelievable. We had a pizza, a soup, and a small tap beer and it cost us 40$!

Nice warm place to eat. Food was well proportioned, expensive though there's not much to eat out there.

Wobbly Kea. A stop by for food in Aurthur's pass. Located in such an old building. As an ADS accreedited tour guide, I've driven this place >50 times but never got a chance to stop. Now I can finally stop and smell the flowers. Ancient kauri/rimu floor are shining. What oil did you use??? We had pizza, pasta, chips. Food is average in your trip, but it is fast! Well done, speed is the key for such restaurants in this place.

Good coffee but unfortunately the menu was limited and high prices. Staff seemed uninterested in customers. This was disappointing as the location is excellent