Pedro’s Secret Vegan Picks in Christchurch

“The best little cafe in Merivale delivers a big surprise, once you discover that the entire cabinet selection is vegan. Lunchtime is one thing, but when meat-loving mates are hoovering up their meat and cheese platters in the evenings, you can be equally well stuffed with an endless selection of antipasti and confit-garlic hummus, a wasabi pea whip and cucumber salad that will rock your world, and the most moreish pizza-style pesto and sun-dried tomato flatbread you’ve ever had in your life.”

“Creative, chef-driven menus that change regularly. Best to call ahead to book and check the menu out for the week, to make sure everyone will be covered. With chef Alex Davies at the helm, you know you will be in for an unforgettable experience.”

“Much like Gatherings, Story puts creativity and seasonality first. As a chef, I am always appreciative of a meal I can learn something new from.”

“Simple and real. Pizza Trap is always my first choice when I’m craving a slice of dough. I’m all for the vegan mushroom pizza, but you can’t really go wrong. And if you’re there on the right night, you might just get dinner and a show, as Pizza Trap and Space Academy share the same space. Supporting the local hospo and the local music scene? You bloody hero.”

“There's something for the vegans on every page of the menu – that's a win in my book (and that's not just the delicious pints skewing my judgement!). Serving classic pub fare with flair, Moon Under Water is one of my favourite spots in town. It’s that place I have gathered with friends and family from all walks of life and it’s suited everyone. More often than not, that one quick pint and catch up turns into a few more and some dinner… No complaints here.”

“Trust the chef. Trust me, that’s the option you want to take. Let their team take care of what’s going to be set in front of you; and you just bring the appetite. It’s a good trade.

I may be biased (okay, I’m definitely biased) but Scoundrel is the spot you want if you’ve got a big group to feed and a dozen different tastes and dietaries to satiate. It’s not just me and my partisanship – ‘Scoundrel’ is popping up on the vegan forums any time someone asks the age-old question: ‘Help! Where do I take my meat-loving family for dinner where I can get fed too?”. With only a few months of trading under our belts, I’m very pleased to see the word of mouth is already spreading.

“The vegan gnocchi. Oh, the vegan gnocchi. Formaggio’s makes the list on the strength of this dish alone. With a full traditional Italian menu and a separate vegan menu, there’s no awkward fumbling to try and configure a meal for the vegans. It was one of the best surprises I’ve had while dining out in Christchurch. No fuss, just a full menu to delve into. Bliss.”