botswana butchery

i was in queenstown in february and discovered the delights of the botswana butchery.on 2 occasions for drinks only overlooking the beautiful lake and also in the upstairs cocktail bar. this enticed us to return to try the dinner menu as the service we received from the warm friendly staff was excellent. we were not disappointed as the food was superb and our only difficulty was choosing from the menu as everything was very appealing. so you will not be surprised to learn that we went back again on our last night in town. our only complaint was the smokiness of the open fires both in the cocktail lounge and at the front area of the restaurant. it was quite unpleasant, however the staff addressed this problem to the best of their ability although i think gas fires would solve this issue very easily.
we are returning to queens town next week and will look forward very much to the botswana experience especially their delicious food. highly recommended

the ambience of the restaurant is very nice. they have many tables for sitting the guests but recommend you to pre-book for securing a table because it is very full especially during holiday season. they have private dining room as well if you need some privacy. the angus beef steak was so tasty and the price was reasonable.
a not to miss steak restaurant in queenstown.

food was delicious!!!!! we ordered oysters, fillet and the tomato and french onion soup. everything was excellent. worth every penny. highly recommended.

the best steak i’ve ever had, cooked to perfection. the filet mignon was divine, i loved the potato and chicken gravy it was kind of addictive haha, really enjoyed the peking duck as well. highly recommend!

belated review.
brilliant service.
we went on my birthday a few years back. i was i’ll so couldn’t actually sit the rough the dinner (nothing to do with the food!). the waitress actually packed away the food for us on their plate so we could take it away to our hotel.!
very impressed!
we did return the plates the next day 😊
outstanding customer service.
food was good too

awesome service, staff go above and beyond - especially with the photography service (the waiter even prompted us to walk 10m out of the restaurant for a good background 😆)

i loved the food, favorites would be the oysters, pork cheek, and venison.
oysters were extremely fresh and sweet. accompanied by a vinegarette + sherry shallot dressing (the better one in my opinion).
the pork cheek was so tender that when we tried to halve it (to share) it just fell apart so we ate it in bits. there were many different textures to the dish - pillowy polenta, soft pork cheek, and crunchy crackling
the wild fiordland red deer was supposedly a rare (chef recommended) but was more like a medium rare. it was still amazing. again, multiple textures coexisted. the deer was not simply a steak, but there was also a portion that was slow cooked and thus fell apart, like the pork cheek.
other dishes included the duck, grilled garlic prawns (both tasted nice but was not special), duck fat potatoes (i liked the density of the potato that they used, and how crunchy the batter was).

for 6 people sharing (and none of us were that full), we spent $400. it's a great place to come once in a while for a special event but a bit expensive to come often!

located on queenstowns' beautiful waterfront, botswana butchery offers a wonderfully relaxed and endulgent dining experience. this is a must try when making the trip down.

there is a relaxed ambience here with a dark setting creating a rather romantic atmosphere. the dining area has a great view of the lake if you are lucky enough the get a window seat, and the space is small and cozy, perfect for the food! this is a beautiful space with super comfy chairs and loads of character.

next the service. this was impeccable, in which we had a fantastic waiter who was extremely knowledgeable of the menu as well as being extremely attentive to our needs.

the food was great! i got the venison, which was perfectly cooked and all that was left was a clean plate. my partner got a cut of steak which was some of the best she has had, and again all that remained was a clean plate. we also got the brocolini and mashed potato as the sides which were delicious and uncomplicated (just what is on the tin). finally the wine selection is really good, however, word of warning is that there isn't a lot by the glass. i will also say that this is quite a pricey establishment so be expected for a larger bill at the end of the night. however, you won't be disappointed!

my wonderful friend gave me a voucher for my birthday and i decided to use it last night on my trip to queenstown. the service was outstanding and the food was phenomenal. this will be a regular when we are back in queenstown for sure!

luckily we live in auckland so will be sure to visit the botswana butchery there soon.

i know there’s a botswana butchery in auckland but i feel as though you have to visit the one in queenstown first. botswana butchery offers amazing service and a fine dining experience in general that many should try in their lifetime.

my dad got the lamb rack, my mum got the venison, my brother got the hare risotto as a starter and the venison as his main and i got the 180g eye fillet. we got the seasonal vegetables, which was maple glazed brussel sprouts with bacon, macaroni and cheese with bacon and duck fat potatoes to share. i tried a bit of my brothers risotto and it was really creamy, the rice was cooked perfectly because it wasn’t mushy and overcooked. my eye fillet was absolutely amazing. crispy on the outside from the grill and soft and melt in your mouth like on the inside. botswana butchery really knows how to cook their meat properly as all meats were done to perfection. the brussel sprouts were tasty, even if they just boil it, i would still eat it because it’s my favourite vegetable anyway. the duck fat potatoes weren’t too special in my opinion, a bit soggy if i’m honest. lastly, the mac n cheese was so delicious. creamy, rich and not too salty so you can eat a lot of it. if i ordered just that, i guarantee i would walk away with a full stomach.

i recommend botswana butchery if you’re looking to splurge while in qt!

late post, this was a year ago.

atmosphere was so cozy
food was pricey (50 for each main) but good quality
best duck i have ever tasted hands down, so succulent and flavourful
lamb was also good
will try the auckland branch soon

stunning building on the waterfront of the lake.

onion soup is mind-blowing good super rich. the peking duck was recommended by some locals and was very nice you construct it yourself so can muck around with how you want it. wagyu cappacio was also good a little salty but ok for me. wasnt a fan of the scallops so much but the salmon dosh was very good.

fantastic cocktail and wine lists with a funky cellar upstairs. there is also a log fire out side to keep you warm

tremendous restaurant! great setting and exceptional service! really extensive meat based menu with lots of different cuts of meat! get the lamb if your in a group and share it, it’s amazing!

the botswana butchery - located on the marine parade overlooking lake wakatipu - is a restaurant par excellence. food is cooked to perfection and presented aesthetically.
tried their pumpkin soup - soup of the day - it was delicious. so was the veg mushroom ricotta cannelloni & the high country lamb preparation. dessert & wine menu will spoil you with choice. we tried the creme brulee and i can say that it’s the best i’ve had so far - it was served with an assortment of strawberries n macaroon n guava icecream n the works.
restaurant has a good seating capacity with a small outdoor section as well, however, prior reservation is recommended. decor is warm and old world. service is very good with servers providing great recommendations. definitely a must try.

love this place. food is amazing and service is good. great ambience. pork is delicious. good wine list.

delicious food. the mains, sides and entrees all tasted great. we had a mix of main meats, salads, duck fat potatoes and entrees to share. the restaurant is located lake front, so is in a great spot