Botswana Butchery

Very tasty food in lovely modern chic setting. We had a table outside, and the view of the lake was just amazing. As the sun sets, enjoying the food, the fireplace, and the wine was such a treat. I would definitely recommend to book as it gets quite busy. The lamb shoulder was delicious. Enjoy all!

Very good surprise to have a private room table. It's very delicious food. Simple menu but very efficient. The service was great. Céleste our waitress was very fun and professional, she explained to us the food menu and recommended us some. Thanks to her. A must try in Queenstown!

Loved the service. I got served by a German waitress and unfortunately I forgot her name. She gave great suggestions and was always checking on how the food was and whether I was doing good. Tried deer loin here for the first time and it was tender. The accompaniments went good with the meat. I need to try more to get acquainted with deer meat taste though. The Pannacotta dessert was lovely.

VERY tasty!!! Service was also impeccable - thank you very much! Sat outside here, barely in the shade (be careful if you aren't! They have sunscreen and hats in case), enjoyed some exceptional food and very good cocktails. Venison tartare was perfect, and the lamb sirloin was exceptional. Hefty wine selection, other food looked delectable as well. Highly recommend.

The terrace was closed despite it being December, which was disappointing. The service was good, and we had a waiter who skillfully guided us through the menu. The meat was excellent and clearly the highlight of the experience. The fish, however, was underwhelming, especially the salmon starter, which felt overpriced and didn’t live up to the menu’s description. Desserts were average at best. This is truly a meat-focused restaurant, so sticking to the Butcher's Block offerings is the best bet. On the wine front, prices were high, with varying quality; the Australian selections offered better value compared to the local options.

Botswana Butchery delivered a honeymoon dinner to remember, combining stellar food, excellent service, and a view that’s impossible to beat. Seated overlooking the lake as the sun set, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more picturesque. The ribeye was simply fantastic—perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful. Definitely one of the better steaks I’ve had, and the marrow butter sauce brought it to the next level. While I’m now curious to try the mushroom cognac sauce for a future visit, I have no regrets with my choice. The side of prawns was a surprise star: rich, flavorful, and a great complement to the steak. Service was top-notch. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and gave great recommendations that enhanced the meal. And then there was the espresso martini—bold, smooth, and packed with enough kick to keep me buzzing late into the night. All of this combined with a stunning lakeside view made for a wonderful dining experience.

The food was delicious. The service was okay at a crowded New Year's Eve dinner. The tables were very close to each other. The drinks were really good. I loved the creme brulee, my family loved the fillet special. The French onion soup was not the traditional American style, it was very saucy.

While the food was superb, that made our lunch special was the service. We had the best waitress on that day. She was so friendly, kind and helpful. It really made this meal extra special. And the food… divine! The French Onion soup for the entree was perfection. The steak was gorgeous as were all the food we ordered. Please give this restaurant a try if you want amazing food, service and views of the lake

Service is great, ambience was lovely and romantic, food was also phenomenal. Really enjoyed the lamb, the prawns, and even their wine selection was amazing

Botswana Butcher is a Queenstown favorite and classic. I had the tuna tartare which is my go-to at a steakhouse. Each bite was a burst of freshness. Pro tip: don't miss the cozy cocktail bar upstairs by the fire. I paired my meal with another perfectly crafted Old Fashioned on a cube and soaked in the mountain-town charm by the cozy fire. We came here twice for the drinks.

It was amazing. Pricey but worth it. We went on our last day in Queenstown. Get the lamb shoulder!

We went here while visiting for my birthday. The staff took great care of us and the food was DELIGHTFUL

Botswana Butchery in Queenstown offered the best meal we had on our 12 day tour of New Zealand. The mushroom soup and the salmon main course were incredibly savory. The wine list was impressive. The ambience was perfection. The service, provided by Sir Conor of Liverpool, was perfection. He was so helpful with his suggestions and incredibly engaging in his conversational skills. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

Service was impeccable, drinks were yummy, and food superb. It's our favorite Queenstown eatery.

Food was amazing but smaller portions than I expected. Overall everything went great!

Place deserves 6 stars. You can literally taste the high-quality ingredients, specially their meats. Service was fantastic and friendly. Food was incredible. Great spot for date night or if you're in the mood fine dining without the pretension. Only problem encountered, I didn't have more days left in Queenstown to revisit BB.

The food was amazing and the service is great. We love the decor and the different rooms upstairs. Our steaks were cooked to perfection and the deserts were to die for! The only incidental note is that the two toilets upstairs open directly into the dinning room...literally. People are seated outside your toilet door. So if you're booking a dinner, request not to be 'outside the toilets' upstairs. Amazing place and well worth a meal.

My mother told me, "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." I'm mad and disappointed.

Came in for lunch on a recommendation from a close friend and was very impressed overall. Excellent service and ambience, the inside was warm and cozy next to the fire. Everything sounded great on the menu, but was on my own so I opted for the lamb saddle main and a side of the duck fat potatoes, all of which were delicious and cooked just right with the lamb juicy/tender but the skin crispy, as well as the potatoes. Very nice wine list but opted for the drink special, which was the manzanita.

The food was outstanding; service equally fabulous, and the champagne room perfect for our anniversary dinner!

It was an amazing meal I had the duck and i enjoyed it very much it was a bit dry though The service was amazing and I would go again

Outstanding dinner. Friend recommended it to us, and we were definitely not disappointed. Food and service were both outstanding!

A gorgeous restaurant overlooking the lake that serves fantastic food! We ordered the mussels and Cardrona Marino High Country lamb along with the mushroom side, and each dish looked and tasted wonderful. New Zealand is known for their green lipped mussels, and the one served here were big and succulent, and the white wine broth was a perfect complement, along with the bread. I'm not a huge fan of lamb and I can't stand any amount of gaminess, but Botswana Butchery's Lamb blew my mind. I couldn't believe that there was a way to make lamb that was so tender and delicious and not gamey at all! I was almost licking the plate. Even the mushrooms we had as a side were well done and extremely flavorful. I wish this restaurant wasn't so far away... kudos, Queenstown!

Beautiful restaurant with an excellent location. Party of 12 in attendance for a wedding dinner and seated in a private room. Decor is very nice, wWe were quite cramped and it was uncomfortably warm in the room. Service is slow here so I hope you are patient. On to the food. Lamb - I'm not a fan but this dish made a convert out of me! Tender and flavorful a highly recommended dish Calamari = yum! Tender salty and sweet

Get the cured salmon and the Australian king prawns for your appetizers. Both are incredible! The ribeye and the lamb rack were fantastic as well, and the cauliflower and Greek salad were wonderful sides. The place seems a little short staffed and there was an awkwardly long interlude between the starters and our entrees but the food here deserves 5 stars!

I chose this place to try bluff oysters for the first time. They've been on my to-try list forever. My dining partner, unfortunately, throws up whenever she eats raw oysters, but luckily the restaurant was nice enough to split our half dozen into half battered for her and half raw for me, so no throwing up occurred. The oysters were by far the best thing we ate. Expansive and meaty, almost more like scallops than oysters, they didn't even need any of the multiple fancy accompaniments they came with. I'm not sure I even so much as squeezed a lemon over mine. I like my oysters to taste like oysters! Our other two dishes were fine - not great. We ordered the crispy squid with "pickled spring onion and cucumber, coconut, coriander and kaffir lime mayonnaise, squid ink". The dominant flavor was coconut and breading - you had to really drag it through the tiny amount of mayo and then I also dipped it in the chili oil meant for the oysters, honestly. If you got a rare cucumber slice you were lucky. But it was lightly breaded and tender, and overall enjoyable when you dipped it correctly. We also got the whitebait Spanish style (sorry NZ style, you lost me at Wonderbread). The garlicky oil broth was nice, but quickly became overwhelming, especially since the whitebait itself didn't have much innate flavor.

What a beautiful restaurant! We had a really nice view from our table. Our server was quite lovely and the food was delicious. We will definitely be back for another meal. Thank you! :)

Came here on a Sunday night and it was packed. The decor can only be described as "2000 Kim Kardashian wedding" -- black and white, tacky, outdated. The acoustics are terrible; it was super loud and we couldn't really hold a conversation. I wish the food would make up for the decor and ambiance, but the food was underwhelming as well. The mains are supposed to be self-contained meals but we were disappointed to see that they did not include vegetables. The tuna tataki included only five slices of fish and was just OK, nothing special. The Peking duck was laughable -- there was no duck skin included, which is the whole point of Peking duck! The duck was shredded, not sliced. We should have known better than to order Peking duck at a restaurant called Botswana Butchery but nevertheless, if it's on the menu, it should be done right.

4.5 stars. My favorite restaurant in Queenstown - Dishes are served beautifully but also taste amazing. - The highlight is the lamb chop - perfectly seared, one of the best lamb chops I have ever had. - For sides, would recommend the duck fat potato - crispy on the outside the right texture on the inside. Asparagus / black pepper sauce were standard, but this is expected since the highlight should be the meat - We also ordered the salmon which was good though not amazing. - For starters, we had fried oysters which were good though the oysters were a bit small in size. - For dessert, we had a chocolate parfait which was ok. - Excellent wine selection and very knowledgeable sommelier.

A lovely place for a great date! A special place for sure. They say that New Zealand Lamb is the best and I can say now the rumors are indeed true especially at Botswana Butchery. We had a lovely meal. I had their signature lamb dish and it was perfectly cooked medium with a plated appearance that you'd expect at a high end French restaurant. They featured some nice off menu specials including the market ceviche which this evening was tuna served with apples, lemon and an elegant garnish. The best part was their dessert menu my wife had the chocolate Mousse and I had their homemade ice creams which were decadent and they had a nice selection of port wines available as well. Would definitely attend again recommend getting a reservation as they book up early.

Really tasty with great views before sunset. The service was a bit slow though. I went with the French soup as a starter and it was really good. My wife went with the green salad and was also good for a salad. We shared the lamb shoulder (1.2 kg) it was amazing! Very tender and the portion is big making great for sharing with another person. I would recommend getting two sides with this dish. We only got the sautéed vegetables as a dish.

We were greeted by one of the waiters the moment we stepped inside the restaurant. We got seated immediately but to my husband and I's surprise, we had to wait 15 minutes in order to get the menu. I was puzzled at first but then we overheard one of the waiters that the restaurant ran out of menus. Now this is something unusual but it didn't bother us that much. Although I wouldn't like to see it occur again, especially if the waiter gives you a table and makes you wait more than you should for an actual menu. My husband ordered the french onion soup with croutons and he liked it. I didn't personally try it but it smelt good enough. We both went with the garden salad as a starter and enjoyed it. It was drizzled with olive oil all mixed up with the fresh greens. Nothing special but good overall. We both devoured the slow roasted lamb shoulder. Very satisfying because you can't go wrong with that order. The sauce was a bonus.

I understand why this restaurant is so loved by the people of queenstown and why it has the reviews it does! This was one of the best meals we had in queenstown and best service we had in the town. The friendly staff are aware of Different diets and know exactly what you should order accordingly. We had a late lunch where I ordered the raw noodle dish which was mind blowingly amazing. I don't say that lightly. It's a dish that is so crave worthy and as I write this, my tummy growls for it! The raw noodles with tons of veggies are downed in this spicy, sweet and slightly tangy peanut sauce and tons of crunchy peanuts. This indulgent dish is a massive one and easily enough for two people to share. Even my carnivore husband could not get enough of it. The restaurant is very vegan and gluten free friendly and love that their items are fresh and tasty.

Mussels and oysters are good to try. Try the natural instead of the cooked way. Mussels are highly recommended with additional bread. Nice view outside just along the lake

The hubby and I were in Queenstown and looking to do a nice dinner to celebrate our anniversary. The ambiance is here is very upscale and luxurious. However, that does not mean that you have to get completely dressed up to come. I wore leggings, Ugg boots, a nice sweater and my parka. The staff is really nice. When we walked in, we were instantly greeted by the hosts/hostesses and they took us right to our table. The hostess also offered to take both of our jackets so they wouldn't be in the way. While very expensive, I think the food/wine is TOP NOTCH. We had the following: -Mulled Wine: Perfect drink to unwind after a long day. Not too sweet and just the right amount of spice -Devilled Duck Livers: Interesting appetizer that had the perfectly cooked duck livers paired with a sweet/salty sauce. The crispy gave it just the right amount of airiness.... SO YUM -Lamb Shoulder: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE?!?!? The most expensive of the bunch, but the MOST delicious. Incredlby tender and slow-cooked to perfection! -Macaroni & Cheese: Cheesy, gooey and DECADENT! This one is definitely for sharing! -Fries: Crispy and hot! All in all, we were happy with our experience. The staff is friendly, the food is amazing and it was a good place to celebrate our anniversary. While I think you can get lamb as good other places, the ambiance and service makes up for the price discrepancy. Pros: -Beautiful ambiance -Comfy Seating -Wonderful Staff -AMAZING food Cons: -Pricey -Parking is metered only Tips: -It's just beyond the lake... On the left side if you're headed into Queenstown Gardens

Food is good, but not very convenient for parking. Staff is amazing. We went to this restaurant without reservation this we waited for seat at bar 2nd floor but all booked. The bartender are very friendly and let us eat at the bar and the dinner turn out to be a 'private dinner' at 2nd floor. Food is good, as other guests said in review, price is high. Cocktail - Mojito is the best I ever had before. lake view, suggest make reservation first to get a good view seat.

The restaurant name sounds so exotic, but the food did not trigger any excitement in my Suany Pants. I guess the red deer tartare was decently enticing, but the rack of lamb was lackluster with its only source of flavor from the small sauce dish it was served with. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a huge meat-eater so all this subpar meat in my mouth was really hard to swallow.

This place lived up to the hype! Amazing food, exceptional service, and a beautiful setting made for a memorable meal. Our group of four shared 3 starters - the paua (NZ abalone), whitebait, and cod komoda - all 3 dishes were quite flavorful. My husband and I shared the slow roasted lamb shoulder - it was absolutely amazing! The meat fell off the bone and was full of flavor. Our group shared the affogato, which in retrospect, wasn't the best dessert for sharing! Our waiter Dmitri was incredible! He was very patient with our indecisive, inquisitive group. He carefully and thoughtfully answered all our questions. Also, Dmitri and his colleagues didn't chase us out, despite the fact we were among the last groups to leave at the end of the night - we appreciated this very much. The food came out in a timely manner, and the restaurant's modern, elegant setting was stunning. Fabulous dinner!

Very nice experience! We were welcomed and served without a reservation. They accommodated us in every way. Very professional service, nice people and very knowledgeable about the dishes they serve and drinks. Food was presented 5stars way, cooked to perfection, tasted extra good, we loved each bite. Nice decor, inviting, cozy. Loved everything about it! Wish most restaurants would be like this one!

Their menu reads really well. In fact, I wanted to stay longer in Queenstown just to try out more of their dishes. Their wine list has many local wineries, which we prefer when traveling to new places. The service was very friendly, but inconsistent. Long waits to order and also between appetizers and main. Seems like they were overwhelmed on a Tuesday night. The oysters appetizer was delicious (we tried it battered). The red deer was quite good, but it was odd to have several pieces medium rare and one very well done. The petite filet was stringy, not melt-in-your mouth, and the bacon hadn't received a good sear.

I can't say enough about this place! When people ask how our two week trip through New Zealand went, I always spend the most time describing the amazing food and service here at Botswana Butchery! We arrived around 7:00 p.m. without reservations (note: make reservations) but they were happy to accommodate us with a "bit of a wait" so they escorted us upstairs to the waiting area/bar. The wait was so brief that we weren't even able to order drinks before they asked if we would be alright sitting near the kitchen pass, which we were not against! Our waitress was a young French woman whom was incredibly pleasant, amicable, and gave us tips for our trip (Waiheke Island among them). The drinks and food were equally as pleasant and as a "thank you" of sorts for sitting at that table, they brought out a complimentary palette cleanser of tart sorbet and some gels. If you are in Queenstown, do try this lovely spot!

Really great room, beautiful food, warm helpful service. Had the Snapper and loved it. Keeno couldn't finish her lamb which filled me with delight...and lamb. And ..Bluff Oysters natural. The most unique oysters in the world. Not sure how they were shucked (would have loved a bit of the brine) but they were fantastic. What a massive flavour hit.

On a busy Easter evening, we decided to try Botswana Butchery on a whim rather than wait for our reservation at another Queenstown restaurant. The host was able to offer us a spot in the upstairs lounge area next to the bar. Based on pictures and reviews on Yelp, I expected an amazing experience. I found the food to be good, but not exceptional. The variety was good however. Mains were around $35-$50, starters around $15-$25. Sides around $10. Portion sizes were adequate, but definitely on the smaller side. The pictures on Yelp must be zoomed in because they definitely looked bigger there than in person! I ordered one cocktail for $20 and was disappointed in that it was mostly ice, very little volume of liquid. I did not order another. Our waiter was very friendly and spoke to us for about 5 minutes about our travels in NZ. However, after that interaction we did not see him the rest of the meal not while we waited to get our check. For deliciousness alone, I rate 4 stars. Service, 2. Value 2. Overall 3 when everything is factored in.

I can't say enough about this place. First of all the cocktail- Hazel eyed girl was delicious. Days later and I'm still thinking about it. Our family had the lamb and two steaks and they were all delicious. Started with French onion soup but too be honest I shouldn't have because I was full by the time my lamb arrived. Don't hesitate. Make a reservation for sure, it's that kind of place. Also maybe ask to be seated near the fireplace? That's my tip.

Botswana Butchery... Way overpriced, small portions and both the snapper and the venison were poorly cooked, we were dumbfounded. If you want some bread, buy the "bread plate" this place will probably even charge you for the napkin. We left there with a $150 tab and still hungry. The venison was supposed to be rare came out medium on two cooked pieces of kale. Total amateur hour! We went to fergburger after and each had a burger. Do not waste your hard earned money at this place. Save your money and do the Shotover boat ride. Cheers! Sol

Very, very good place for dinner. Had a great waiter who shared Queenstown knowledge plus steered us towards a local Money Shot shot - all in all it was very good food and the vibe matched our moods.

This place is nothing short of amazing. It is in a prime location with beautiful view of the lake and mountains. Couple that with unbelievable food, great drinks and spectacular service and you have to make this a must stop while in Queenstown or a nice night out if you regularly are from the area. We had the pre fixe menu and as an entree we had the mushroom tart and the whitebait fritter. Both entrees were great but the mushroom tart was unreal. Both a hearty portion for an entree. As our mains we had the duck and pork and sausage roll dish. The duck was full of flavor and fall of the bone tender. The pork and the sausage roll dish were always phenomenal. The drinks were great and they are very knowledgeable about wine and the wine in the area to make a great recommendation.

Great food, great service, definitely an expensive meal in Queenstown but worth it. Good atmosphere and great sommelier who will give recommendations and check back with you. We sat inside but they have patio seating with a great lakeside view, just be forewarned that it gets cool quickly and can be very windy! We had great seafood - some incredible escargot (not drowned in butter!), whitebait, and a charcuterie tray to start. We had lamb and rabbit for our mains and I'm still dreaming of that rabbit, it was exquisite. We had the duckfat potatoes and cauliflower sides. We had way too much food but we were celebrating and wanted to try a variety of dishes! The Nanny Goat chardonnay that accompanied it was perfect - buttery and crisp. Lovely meal although this is definitely a special occasion place.

This is my favorite restaurant in Queensland for sure. The high ratings are well earned and deserved. We were a party of 5. Everyone in my party rated their dining experience 5 stars. The decor is relaxing yet elegant. Chairs were inviting to dine in for hours. Our waiter, a handsome Frenchman, was a perfect combination of knowledgeable, happy, chatty and aloof. The food was outrageously delicious. Prices are a bit high but well worth it.

Too bad you can't give more than 5 stars! This place would qualify!!! Great ambiance to start. AMAZING food!!! My partner and I had one of the best meals we've had in a long long LONG time... Started with the whitefish fritter and crawfish appetizers. Divine! But that was just the beginning. For the mains we had the lamb plate and an amazing porterhouse steak. Again, out of this world taste and execution!!! And the sommelier helped us with a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir to accompany our meal... Dessert was equally as impressive and the perfect ending to a truly unforgettable meal... As we're heading back to Auckland shortly before our long trip back to the States, we might just have to try their sister restaurant there!!!

I am not sure if I prefer the food here to the Botswana Butchery in Auckland. Located in a house near the lake, we thought it was pretty ok. The place was crowded for a Wednesday night and we had to give up our table for the second sitting. We ordered 2 x Slow Cooked Shoulder of Lamb. The meat was tender off the bone. This was a bit too much for the 6 of us. The seared Tuna was disappointing and the Garlic Harvey Bay Prawns was tasty but the portion a little small. All in all, it was a good meal. My suggestion for next time is to order less lamb and try other dishes as well. Too much of a good thing tends to make you feel yuk!

Nice lake view, wood fire and a great ambient. I got the Pie and the chocolate parfait and was pleasantly surprised with both. Both looked pricey at the onset but were much better than what you can get elsewhere.

Very small table and very close to people sitting around us, making it hard to have a private conversation. The wine took a while to arrive, the water glass was always low, and the server missed the beat on asking if we would like another glass of wine when ours were empty. We ordered a large amount of food to share. Salmon, added on garlic "prawns", eye fillet with bacon, duck fat potatoes, and corn fritters. The salmon was over cooked, and the "prawns" were very small (3) over cooked shrimps that weren't even edible, was surprised they were even called "prawns". The fillet was also over cooked, and overall everything lacked flavor, with no salt and pepper on the table and our server no where near to ask for some. Very disappointed for the price we paid, would not recommend eating here.

We were looking forward to Botswana given reviews were better for the Queenstown restaurant vs the Auckland version. The atmosphere is very inviting and the private dining rooms upstairs make this place quite a special place. We came in straight from the airport for 10pm and the staff we all very welcoming. All the food we ordered was great. The rabbit pie and confit leg that I ordered was great. Duck fat fries, mac & cheese, and cauliflower cheese as sides were ah-mazing!! Highly recommend to anyone.

We visited Botswana based on the recommendation of numerous people in northern and southern New Zealand. It features a diverse menu of local Kiwi foods and wines that are thoughtfully prepared in a manner and setting that is comfortable, without being pretentious. We started with the French onion soup that smelled almost as good as it tasted - definitely one of the best I'd ever had. The beet salad featured roasted beetroot, cow's feta, walnuts, soft herbs, Cabernet vinegar, extra virgin olive oil was a great set up for the main course. The specials came from the chef's "Little Black Book" which featured items from their food and wine festival submission. The grain-fed Scotch filet from Wakanui was from the L.B.B. which I topped with the blue cheese butter was dry aged for 120 days, and cooked medium (per the chef's suggestion) to maximize on the marbling. Nearly all steak on the menu is grass fed, so it tends to be leaner which made the grain-fed steak nice and rich but fatty enough so it was very flavorful. The steak coupled with the dark fruit flavors of the Delegat 'Crownthorpe Terraces' made the meal feel so complete. We also had the Ora King Salmon filet which was perfectly pink and tender. Sides of the mashed potatoes and gravy was a nice savory treat as a side to our main.

I sat upstairs in the cozy bar area which was great for dining alone. If you like tartar do not miss the deer appetizer. It was wonderful. Rack of lamb for main course with their horseradish sauce. Very nice wine list. I highly recommend this spot and hope someday I get to come back!

After a rough first day of our vacation, my husband and I decided to treat ourselves to a good meal. We got the bluff oysters which are supposed to be the best in the world - very unique in that it's salty, briny, sweet and creamy at the same time. It's meaty and tastes like the ocean. The metallic aftertaste is a little unique, my husband wasn't a fan but I didn't mind it. The Wanaka sirloin with garlic herb butter was phenomenal. Soo good my husband was speechless. The steak was perfectly seasoned. It also had the perfect amt of fat on it. I had the pan fried market fish which was lean and tasty, spinach delicious. Can't say I'm a fan of the pickled vegetables with the delicate fish. We also got the Mac and cheese side which is pretty good, if I wasn't already stuffed. The waitress was very helpful with wine recommendations.