Little Fish Co brings a working seafood counter, raw bar and hot kitchen together inside Christchurch's Riverside Market. Its ocean-to-plate idea begins with the daily local catch, continues through fishmonger preparation, and ends with chefs cutting, curing, smoking or cooking the seafood. That close connection between retail display and kitchen gives the counter a clear identity within the indoor market: diners can see seafood as an ingredient first, then choose how simply or elaborately they want it prepared.
The fried and grilled sections make good use of that changing supply. A fish and chips box pairs the day's market fish with slaw, tartare and lemon, while blue cod receives its own boxed treatment. Grilled market fish comes with roast corn salsa and citrus mayo, and grilled salmon is matched with turmeric-pickled cauliflower, spiced chickpeas and tzatziki. A box combining fish bites, chilli squid, popcorn prawns and potato bites suits anyone who would rather sample several textures than order a single fillet.
Beyond those familiar seafood formats, the menu moves through bowls, hand-held dishes and chilled preparations. Vietnamese prawns arrive with rice noodles, mint and a sharp dressing, while teriyaki salmon is set over brown rice with edamame, carrot and toasted nori. Tempura fish and chilli squid appear as two taco choices; there is also a soft prawn roll and a thick-cut tempura sole sandwich. At the raw bar, sashimi trays, coconut ceviche and dressed prawns provide a cooler counterpoint to the hot kitchen.
The fishmonger side remains useful even when the meal is not being eaten at the market. Whole and filleted fish, shellfish, ready-to-eat sashimi, salads and chef-made hot specials can all become part of a meal at home, while seafood platters extend the same focus to catered gatherings. This mixture of casual cooked dishes, carefully prepared raw seafood and take-home options lets Little Fish Co serve both an immediate market lunch and a later meal built around fresh New Zealand seafood.
Address: Riverside Market, 96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
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