Dine in divine culture: Manu
There exists a place where the delicate flavours of Pacifica and Asian fare dance in your mouth, where every element from food to furnishings delights the senses. By Nina Tucker.
As if dining during a tropical retreat, Manu, on Cambridge Terrace, is an escape to the islands – and it’s much easier to organise than an international holiday.
The vision was to represent “culture, diversity, and connection,” founder and restaurateur Karen Hattaway explains. Unbeatable flavour profiles and flawless service bundled into a venue that feels ethereal yet still like home – Manu is magic. That combination’s success is reflected in its top spot on Christchurch’s TripAdvisor leaderboard out of over 1000 restaurants. “It’s terrifying,” Karen laughs, living up to the esteemed position both she and the restaurant hold.
Authenticity is what sets Manu apart. Adventure immerses you on entry, leading you through an extraordinary experience of culture, flavour, and kindness – as if taken under the wing of the restaurant’s namesake, a feathered creature in te reo Māori. Setting alight the senses come simply to Karen, through taste and touch, sound and sight. Velvet furnishings and vivid colours join luxuriant greenery and careful artwork in a beautiful curation. A vibrant, welcoming team are the finishing touch to a perfect formula.
With each dish comes an incredibly well-balanced flavour profile – a fusion of deliciousness that would otherwise seem impossible to achieve. Small plates start you off, sensational pork, prawn and crayfish dumplings garnished with caviar or spicy-sweet lamb racks that fall off the bone and melt in your mouth. Dive into the warmth and comfort of Aunties Rēwena Bread, divine with a lashing of chilli mānuka butter, and made better dipped in the marinades of neighbouring plates.
Enjoy a mouth-watering banana cream to accompany – and almost reimagine – a classic Manu Fried Chicken. Find tender, moreish meat across big plates including the Ōtautahi Duck Thai Curry, Caramel Pork Adobo, Indo Beef Cheek Rendang, and Pacifica Lamb. Savour the flavours of the sea with staple plates such as the Kaimoana Laksa and Hand Speared Marari, or sample it all through the Chef’s Aotearoa sharing platter. For the sweet tooth, indulge in deep fried banana wontons and coconut ice cream to refresh, and dream you could do it all over again.
Personally catering for functions is another element of the Manu magic. A speciality offering, the team creates exquisite canapés and set menus alongside heavenly tablescapes, crafting an unforgettable event. Find more information online.
