📍 180 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
📍 Address: 180 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
📞 Phone: +64 3 366 1389
🌐 Website: casapublica.co.nz
Casa Publica keeps things classic fish‑and‑chips and focused on flavour. Ribs and steaks arrive seasoned and tender. Sweets lean classic and not overly rich. Serve sizes show solid value. Fillets arrive fresh and the fry keeps clean.
Went here on a Sunday afternoon. The atmosphere was really unique. There were couples dancing in the foyer. We had tacos and beer which were delicious. Try the jackfruit tacos if you're vegetarian. The baja fish tacos were also really good.
Perfect location for a lazy Sunday afternoon ale in the sun! Superb Mexican food, huge range of beverages, excellent ambience and top notch customer service from engaging and informative staff. I suggest this is one of if the best for pre and post shows at Isaac Theatre Royale!
Pork bites and tacos were the best we've tasted; we'll only eat pork bites here from now. And the rum flights a great way to tempt the taste buds. Think this will be a monthly date spot!
The overall atmosphere of Casa Publica is fantastic — warm, lively, and inviting. The food was great overall, and it’s definitely a place I’d come back to with friends. We ordered the following dishes: • Gambas Pil Pil • Tacos – Jackfruit and Baja Fish • Peruvian Fish • Pico de Gallo • Adobo de Cordero Since it was our first visit, I asked the staff for recommendations and basically ordered a good range of their popular dishes, except for the cauliflower. The tacos were truly impressive — the Baja Fish reminded me a bit of the crispy fish from classic fish and chips, while the Jackfruit taco was incredibly rich and unique in flavor. I personally recommend the jackfruit one! (One of the staff recommended chicken and jackfruit, but we ended up going with fish and jackfruit instead — no regrets at all. I’ll definitely try the chicken one next time. All the ceviche and salsa-based dishes were delicious, especially the Peruvian Fish — the cured fish was so refreshing and light. That said, ordering two dishes that both came with salsa and corn chips felt slightly redundant in terms of variety. The Gambas Pil Pil was another highlight — the prawns were fragrant and flavorful, and honestly, I would’ve poured that sauce over a bowl of hot rice and happily eaten it as a meal! The only downside was the bread that came with it. One slice was completely burnt on the underside — I took a few bites and thought it tasted off, and when I flipped it over, it was blackened. I raised this with the staff, and they mentioned that their bread is always grilled, so it was “normal.” I’d personally disagree on that. As for the main courses, I unfortunately didn’t enjoy the lamb (Adobo de Cordero). The meat was bitter, and everything on the plate looked and tasted over-charred. While the inside remained a nice pink, the outside layer was completely blackened and left a strong burnt bitterness. I still tried to explore the dish by mixing the sauce and potatoes underneath, but by then, my taste buds were kind of shot. After sharing this with the staff, they kindly replaced the dish with pork ribs and coleslaw. The coleslaw was incredibly fresh — crunchy, juicy, and seemed like it was hand-shredded in-house. The pork ribs were cooked very well: tender, clean-tasting (no porky smell, which is often a challenge with NZ pork), and the meat fell off the bone easily. The sauce was sweet but well-balanced. If I had to nitpick, the meat itself lacked seasoning — the flavor relied heavily on the sauce. At one point, I found myself wondering if I should sprinkle a bit of salt to enhance the taste of the meat alone. Overall, I’d say the star dishes are everything except the mains. I would definitely recommend this place to friends — especially for the tacos, ceviche, and starters!
The trust the chef menu was excellent, it allowed us as a group to try lots of different items from each menu. 4 courses, the guacamole, made by hand in front of you was so delicious. The pork belly tacos were out of this world. Leah was wonderful and always made sure we had what we needed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Will dine here again.
Had my Stag do dinner here and was not disappointed. The staff were great, the rum selection exceptional, and the food just kept coming. We did trust the chef which was exciting and well worth it. Was not disappointed in the slightest! Will definitely be back again!
Great experience. I had the chef choice with the wine pairing. Great Guacamole followed by fish tacos, pineapple salsa and shrimp ceviche. Mains was chicken skewer and desserts were churros and Argentinian chocolate cake. Good size portions too and great wine/Rhum.
The Casa Publica restaurant offers a wonderful dining experience that is sure to please foodies and casual diners alike. From the moment you walk in the door, you are greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that is perfect for a night out with friends, a romantic dinner for two, or even a family celebration. One of the standout features of the restaurant is its menu, which offers a wide variety of Mexican-inspired dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're in the mood for classic favorites like tacos and burritos or you're looking to try something new and adventurous like the grilled octopus or roasted pork belly, there's something for everyone on the menu. But it's not just the food that sets the Casa Publica restaurant apart - it's the attention to detail and the commitment to quality that really makes this place special. The ingredients are always fresh and locally sourced, and the chefs take pride in creating dishes that are not only delicious but also visually stunning. In terms of parking options, there is paid parking available on the road side, but it's limited to 1 hour up to 8.30pm. There is also Wilson Parking available in nearby areas, which can be a good option for longer stays. Another option is to park near the Margaret Mahy playground, which is a short walk from the restaurant. In addition to the food, the service at Casa Publica is top-notch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, and they go out of their way to ensure that every guest feels welcome and taken care of. Overall, I would highly recommend the Casa Publica restaurant to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience. From the delicious food to the warm atmosphere and attentive service, this restaurant is truly a gem that is not to be missed. Just be sure to plan your parking accordingly to avoid any issues.
Took my wife here for her birthday dinner, absolutely phenomenal food! The staff are extremely knowledgeable with the menu and different Rum selections, all the staff were friendly and professional but happy to have a laugh with you. Perfectly made Piná Coladas, big wraps to the bar staff too! The staff here are a big asset to this restaurant. Can't highly recommend this place more and when back in NZ again I will definitely having dinner there again!. Thank you
Casa Publica is located at 180 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
You can contact Casa Publica at +64 3 366 1389
You can find directions to Casa Publica by following this map link
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