Fig Restaurant & Bar is the publicly bookable dining room at Hotel Elms on Papanui Road. It keeps unusually broad hours for a single restaurant identity, moving from breakfast and barista coffee into all-day plates, dinner and dessert. Indoor and outdoor seating allow the experience to change with the weather, while the menu balances creative combinations with recognisable grill-house classics. That breadth makes Fig useful to Christchurch residents and travellers alike, whether the plan is a morning meeting or a full evening meal.
The current starters show a playful approach to familiar flavours. Flatbread combines mozzarella with onion jam, garlic and parsley, while queso dip brings corn chips and chilli oil. Cheeseburger wontons fold beef brisket, smoked cheddar and gherkin mayonnaise into a crisp shell. A salmon waffle layers smoked fish with avocado, beetroot and crème fraîche, and buttermilk fried chicken is finished with chilli honey and saffron yoghurt. Together, they create several distinct openings rather than one predictable entrée style.
Main courses range from game and fish to carefully built vegetarian cooking. Venison Denver leg comes with harissa potatoes, peas, beetroot and walnut dressing; Moroccan-spiced chicken is paired with crushed-potato salad and chermoula. Akaroa salmon gains parsnip katsu and pea mayonnaise, while a herb-crusted pork cutlet meets gnocchi, mushroom ketchup and kimchi. Baked cauliflower steak, braised lamb shank, steak with egg and chips, battered fish and a Kiwi burger ensure the menu retains approachable alternatives beside those more detailed plates.
Breakfast offers Belgian waffles and the substantial Fig Big Breakfast alongside a full hot buffet, giving the morning service both à la carte and help-yourself routes. Later, dessert might mean ginger chocolate crunch with orange olive oil, rhubarb sponge with whipped white chocolate, crème brûlée or the day's cheesecake. Special-diet notation quickly distinguishes meat-free recipes from dishes available without gluten or dairy. Fig's strength lies in this all-day flexibility: the restaurant can be casual or occasion-ready without narrowing itself to one style of dining.
Address: 456 Papanui Road, Papanui, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Fig restaurant and bar Christchurch Menu
Entrée
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Flatbread
Mozzarella, onion jam, garlic, parsley (v, gfa)
Queso dip
Cheese dip, corn chips, chilli oil (v, gf)
Cheeseburger wontons
Beef brisket, smoked cheddar, gherkin mayo
Salmon waffle
Smoked salmon, Belgian waffle, avocado, beetroot, crème fraîche
Crispy chicken
Buttermilk fried chicken thigh, chilli honey, saffron yoghurt dressing (gf)
Soup du jour
Check with the waiter for today’s flavour, served with bread and butter (v, gf)
Main
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Chef’s cut of the week
Mashed agria, braised onion, greens, mushroom sauce (gf). Check with waiter for today’s cut Price: Market price
Venison Denver leg fillet
Venison fillet, harissa potatoes, peas, beetroot, walnut dressing (gf, df)
Grilled chicken
Moroccan spiced chicken thigh, crushed potato salad, chermoula, mango chutney (gf)
Akaroa King Salmon fillet
Akaroa salmon, crumbed parsnip katsu, confit leek, pea mayo, pepper sauce
Herb-crusted pork cutlet
Pork cutlet, potato gnocchi, sprouts, mushroom ketchup, kimchi (df)
Baked cauliflower steak
Baked cauliflower, roasted capsicum sauce, walnut salsa, mango chutney (v, df, gf)
Roasted Moroccan vegetable salad
Winter vegetables, spinach, pickled red onion, saffron yoghurt dressing (v, gf, df). Choice of Grilled Chicken, Beef Sirloin, falafel
Classics
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Braised lamb shank
Slow cooked lamb shank, braised onion, whipped potato, jus (gf)
Steak egg and chips
Beef sirloin, fried egg, fries, mushroom sauce (gf)
Beer battered fish & chips
Fish of the day, fries, house slaw, tartare sauce, lemon (df)
Kiwi Burger
Potato bun, cheddar, beetroot, onion relish, fries (gfa). Choice of chicken or beef
Sides
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Fries
Crispy fries, aioli (v, df, gf)
Crisscut fries
Crisscross fries, aioli (v, df)
Kumara fries
Kumara, sweet chilli, sour cream (v, gf)
Winter vegetable
Roast winter vegetable, romesco sauce (v, df, gf)
Steamed fragrant rice
Mushroom soy sauce, chilli oil, spring onion (v, gf, df)
House Slaw
Cabbage, carrot, seeds, aioli (v, gf, df)
Breakfast
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Eggs your way
Poached, fried or scrambled, sourdough, butter (gfa, dfa, v)
Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs, potato rosti, hollandaise. Choice of bacon, salmon, mushrooms (gf)
Elms big breakfast
Bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato, hashbrown, sourdough, eggs your way (gfa, dfa)
Corn fritter
Corn fritter, romesco, avocado, sour cream, poached egg (v)
Smashed avocado
Avocado, sourdough, feta, spiced seeds, poached egg (v, gfa)
Pancakes stack
Pancakes, bacon, banana, maple syrup (v)
Almond Porridge
Oats, almond milk, rhubarb, white chocolate (v, df)
Omelettes
Ham, cheese, tomato, onion; Mushroom, spinach, onion, cheese (v); Smoked salmon, spinach, créme fraîche (gf)
Sides
Bacon; Mushrooms; Sausages; Hash brown; 2 Eggs; Avocado (gf)
Bar Menu
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Fries
Crispy fries, aioli (v, df, gf)
Crisscut fries
Crisscross fries, aioli (v, df)
Kumara fries
Kumara, sweet chilli, sour cream (v, gf)
Flatbread
Mozzarella, onion jam, garlic, parsley (v, gfa)
Queso dip
Cheese dip, corn chips, chilli oil (v, gf)
Cheeseburger wontons
Beef brisket, smoked cheddar, gherkin mayo
Salmon waffle
Smoked salmon, Belgian waffle, avocado, beetroot, crème fraîche
Crispy chicken
Buttermilk fried chicken thigh, chilli honey, saffron yoghurt dressing (gf)
After Hours Menu
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Ham & cheese toasted sandwich
Ham, cheese, fries, tomato sauce (gfa)
Cheese & onion toasted sandwich
Cheese, onion chutney, fries, tomato sauce (v, gfa)
Lamb shank
Slow cooked lamb shank, mashed potato, gravy (gf)
Fish bites
Battered fish bites, chips, tomato, lemon (df)
Vegetarian pizza
Sundried tomato, mushroom, spinach, onion, mozzarella (v)
Fries
Crispy fries, aioli (v, df, gf)
Ice cream sundae
Vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, wafer, sprinkles – Choice of chocolate or caramel sauce (v)
Desserts
v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Ginger chocolate crunch
Chocolate, ginger crumb, orange olive oil, crème fraîche (v)
Rhubarb sponge
Poached Rhubarb, lemon sponge, whipped white chocolate, almond crumb (v)
Cheesecake of the day
Check with the waiter for today’s flavour, served with vanilla bean ice cream
Crème Brulee
Crème brulee, biscotti (v)
Ice cream Sundae
Vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, wafer, sprinkles – Choice of chocolate or caramel sauce (v)
Cheeseboard
Cheese of the day, honey, fruit, chutney, crackers (v)
Kids Menu
$22 with dessert. Under 5s eat FREE with a full paying adult. v – Vegetarian; gf – Gluten free; df – Dairy free; gfa – Gluten free available; dfa – Dairy free available
Fish and chips
Battered fish, fries, tomato sauce (df)
Fried chicken
Fried chicken, fries, tomato sauce
Cheeseburger
Beef burger, cheese, fries, tomato sauce
Inspired soup
Check with the waiter for today’s flavour, served with bread and butter
Ice cream sundae
Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, wafer, sprinkles – chocolate or caramel sauce (v)
Fruit salad
Mixed fruit, sorbet (v, df)
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Christchurch
- Fish and chips Typical in Christchurch: $28.00 $30.00
- Eggs benedict Typical in Christchurch: $25.80 $24.50
- Smashed avocado Typical in Christchurch: $24.75 $22.50
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