The Elmwood Trading Co. is a Strowan neighbourhood tavern where the restaurant, bar and local social calendar share the same roof. It opens from morning every day, so the pace can shift from coffee and lunch to dinner, drinks and an evening event without the venue changing character. The atmosphere is deliberately that of a suburban local: warm, informal and broad enough for regulars, families, sports followers and booked groups to use in different ways.
Smaller plates give a table several routes into the main menu. Melted brie fondue arrives with toasted ciabatta and cornichons, while salt-and-pepper calamari and a sizzling garlic prawn hot pot lean towards seafood. Moroccan meatballs, pork-and-chive dumplings and creamy chowder add warmer choices, and the antipasto and grazing platters assemble cured meat, cheese, smoked salmon, ribs, wings, breads, pickles and dips for groups that prefer to share.
The mains travel widely while keeping the generosity expected of a tavern. Slow-roasted pork belly comes with potato-and-kūmara gratin, and blue cod is battered in Emerson’s beer for fish and chips. Balinese chicken curry and slow-cooked beef cheek in a mild Malabari sauce sit beside chicken parmigiana, carbonara and ricotta-spinach cannelloni. Canterbury lamb shoulder and two ribeye cuts complete the grill end, with a choice of potatoes, vegetables and sauces.
Daytime dining adds eggs, chicken waffles, a large breakfast, steak sandwiches, salads and nasi goreng, while pizzas and burgers run across both casual and evening occasions. Desserts and hot drinks make it easy to extend lunch, and a children’s menu keeps family visits practical. Weekly burger, pizza, steak, blue-cod and roast features then give each night its own rhythm, linking the food programme to quizzes, sport and the social life of the local.
Address: 1 Normans Road, Strowan, Christchurch 8052, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
The Elmwood Menu
Dinner – Desserts
Ice Cream Sundae
Two scoops of vanilla ice cream, topped with berry compote and chocolate sauce.
Portuguese Tart
Served with chantilly cream and tuiles.
Chocolate Torte
Served with berry coulis and vanilla ice cream. (GF)
Lemon & Meringue Pie
Served with berry coulis and whipped cream.
Dinner – Small Plates – Or To Share
Basil pesto and parmesan flat bread
Garlic ciabatta
with Home made garlic and herb butter.
Brie Fondue
Melted Brie Cheese, Served with Toasted Ciabatta and Cornichons.
Salt and Pepper Calamari
Crispy flour-coated calamari, fried and served on a bed of salad greens, lemon wedges and aioli.
Garlic Prawn Hot Pot
Prawns tossed in olive oil with garlic, coriander and a hint of chilli, in a sizzling cast iron pot, with ciabatta.
Moroccan Meatballs
Beef meatballs cooked in spiced tomato sauce, served with toasted ciabatta. (VG) (Vegan Option available)
Creamy Seafood Chowder
With salmon, shrimp, mussels and squid, served with house bread.
Pork and Chive Dumplings
Steamed pork, onion and chive dumplings, served with soy and ginger dip.
Crispy Chicken Tenders
Tender strips of chicken with a crispy coating, served with a honey mustard sauce.
Antipasto Platter
for 2 people. Selection of cheese, cold cut meats, smoked salmon, marinated mussels, dried fruits and nuts, pickles and olives, toasted breads and condiments.
Grazing Platter
for 2 people. Pork spare ribs, chicken wings, onion rings, kranskys, gherkins and olives, toasted breads and dips.
Dinner – Pizzeria
$30.00. Gluten Free Option Available – add $5
Moroccan
Spiced lamb, red pepper, red onion, mushroom.
Sicilian
Pepperoni, kranskys, ham, red onion, BBQ swirl.
Venice
Chicken breast, cranberry swirl, brie, cashew nuts.
Margherita
Fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil.
Santorini
Smoked salmon, capers, red onions, topped with cream cheese.
Tuscan
Chicken breast, crispy bacon, red onion, aioli swirl.
Dinner – Burgers
The Elmwood Burger
200gm homemade beef pattie, edam cheese, onion rings, tomatoes, lettuce, aioli and tomato chutney, served with fries.
Chicken Burger
Crispy chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, cranberry sauce, aioli, onion rings and brie, served with fries.
Dinner – Main Menu
The Classic Caesar
Cos lettuce, crispy bacon, croutons, parmesan, poached egg, tossed in caesar dressing. (GF Option Available)
Pork Belly
Slow roasted pork belly, kumara and potato gratin, roast vegetables and jus, topped with apple slaw. (GF)
Balinese Chicken Curry
Creamy chicken curry with Balinese flavours, served with fragrant jasmine rice and popadoms. (GF) (DF)
Beef Cheek Malabari
Slow cooked beef cheeks in mild malabari curry sauce, served with duck fat crushed potatoes and seasonal roast vegetables. (GF) (DF)
Soy Honey Pork Spare Ribs
Pork ribs marinated in honey, soy, garlic and chilli, served with fries. (GF) (DF)
Fish and Chips
Emerson’s beer battered Blue Cod, served with fries, salad greens, tartare sauce, tomato sauce and lemon wedges. (DF)
Chicken Parmigiana
Crumbed chicken breast topped with homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, served with a side of salad and fries.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti, bacon, mushrooms and red onion cooked in a creamy sauce, topped with parmesan cheese.
Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
Home made ricotta and spinach filled cannelloni pasta baked in Duglere sauce, with garlic ciabatta. (V)
Dinner – From The Grill
Served with a choice of: Salad greens OR roasted seasonal vegetables. Your choice of duck fat crushed potatoes, pomme frittes, roast gourmet potatoes, or potato and kumara gratin. Sauce: Classic Jus, Mushroom, Peppercorn, or Garlic Butter
Lamb Roast
Slow cooked Canterbury lamb shoulder, crushed duck fat potato, roasted vegetables, mint jelly, finished with red wine jus.
250gm Ribeye Steak
(GF)
400gm On The Bone Winged Ribeye Steak
(GF)
Dinner – Sides
Fries
2 eggs
Roast Vegetables
Garden Salad
Lunch – Brunch
Free Range Eggs
Two eggs any style, ciabatta or wholegrain toast, with house made chutney. (DF)
Eggs Bene
Two soft poached eggs with Akaroa smoked salmon OR streaky bacon on ciabatta topped with hollandaise sauce.
Chicken Waffles
Tender fried chicken on Belgian waffles topped with crispy bacon bits & chilli maple syrup.
The Elmwood Big Brekkie
Two eggs any style, bacon, sausages, hash brown, mushrooms, slow roasted tomatoes and toasted ciabatta.
Lunch – Breads
Basil pesto and parmesan flatbread
Garlic Ciabatta
with home made garlic and herb butter.
Lunch – Soup & Salad
Creamy Seafood Chowder
Salmon, shrimp, mussels and squid served with house bread.
Thai Beef Salad
180gm grilled beef sirloin, tossed with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion and mint in lemon, garlic and chilli dressing. Topped with fried shallots. (DF)
The Classic Caesar
Cos lettuce, crispy bacon, croutons, parmesan, poached egg, tossed in caesar dressing. (GF Option Available)
Lunch – Pizzeria
$30. Gluten Free Option Available – add $5
Moroccan Lamb
Spiced lamb, red pepper, red onion, mushroom.
Sicilian
Pepperoni, kranskys, ham, red onion, BBQ swirl.
Venice
Chicken breast, cranberry swirl, brie, cashew nuts.
Margherita
Fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil.
Santorini
Smoked salmon, capers, red onions, topped with cream cheese.
Tuscan
Chicken breast, crispy bacon, red onion, aioli swirl.
Lunch – Mains
Salt and Pepper Calamari
Crispy flour-coated calamari, fried and served on a bed of salad greens, lemon wedges and aioli.
Moroccan Meatballs
Beef meatballs cooked in spiced tomato sauce with toasted ciabatta. (VG)(Option available)
Garlic Prawn Hot Pot
Prawns tossed in olive oil with garlic, coriander and a hint of chilli, in a sizzling cast iron pot, with ciabatta.
Open Steak Sandwich
Char grilled 180g Porterhouse steak, red onion, roasted bell pepper, lettuce, topped with aioli, served with fries.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti, bacon, mushroom and red onion, cooked in a creamy sauce, topped with parmesan cheese.
The Elmwood Burger
200gm homemade beef pattie, edam cheese, onion rings, tomatoes, lettuce and tomato chutney, aioli, served with fries.
Balinese Chicken Curry
Creamy chicken curry with Balinese flavours, served with fragrant jasmine rice and popadoms. (GF) (DF)
Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
Home made ricotta and spinach filled cannelloni pasta baked in Duglere sauce, with garlic ciabatta. (V)
Fish and Chips
Emerson’s beer battered Blue Cod, served with fries, salad greens, tartare sauce, tomato sauce and lemon wedges. (DF)
Chicken Burger
Crispy chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, cranberry sauce, aioli, onion rings and brie, served with fries.
Nasi Goreng
Indonesian fried rice with prawns and chicken, sambal oelek and fried egg, topped with fried shallots. (GF) (DF)
Tradies Steak, Eggs & Chips
250gm Ribeye steak cooked to your liking, served with fries and topped with 2 eggs and jus.
Lunch – Sides
Fries / Hash Browns / Bacon / 2 Eggs
Garden Salad / Roast Vegetables
Lunch – Desserts
Ice Cream Sundae
Two scoops of vanilla ice cream, topped with berry compote and chocolate sauce.
Portuguese Tart
Served with chantilly cream and tuiles.
Chocolate Torte
Served with berry coulis and vanilla ice cream. (GF)
Lemon & Meringue Pie
Served with berry coulis and whipped cream.
Snack Menu – Breads
Basil pesto and parmesan flat bread
Garlic ciabatta
with home-made garlic and herb butter.
Snack Menu – Snacks
Beer Battered Fries
With aioli and tomato sauce.
Seasoned Wedges
With sour cream and sweet chilli.
Spicy Chicken Wings (12)
Pork and Chive Dumplings (6)
Steamed pork, onion and chive dumplings, served with soy and ginger dip.
Southern Fried Chicken Tenders (4)
With honey mustard sauce.
Bucket of Cheerios 1/2 kg
With tomato sauce and mustard.
Salt and Pepper Calamari
With sweet chilli dipping sauce.
The Elmwood Bar Basket
Samosas, spring rolls, jalapeño poppers, onion rings, fries, aioli and sweet chilli sauce.
The Fisherman’s Basket
Tempura battered fish, fries, tartare and tomato sauce with lemon wedges.
Snack Menu – Pizzeria
$30.00. Gluten free option available – add $5
Moroccan
Spiced lamb, red pepper, red onion, mushroom.
Sicilian
Pepperoni, kransky, ham, red onion, BBQ sauce.
Venice
Chicken breast, cranberry swirl, brie, cashew nuts.
Margherita
Fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil.
Santorini
Smoked salmon, capers, red onions, topped with cream cheese.
Tuscan
Chicken breast, crispy bacon, red onion, aioli swirl.
Snack Menu – Platters
Antipasto Platter
for 2 people. Selection of cheese, cold cut meats, smoked salmon, marinated mussels, dried fruits and nuts, pickles and olives, toasted breads and condiments.
Grazing Platter
for 2 people. Pork spare ribs, chicken wings, onion rings, kranskys, gherkins and olives, toasted breads and dips.
Kids Menu
$16.00. All kids mains come with an ice cream sundae
Chicken Nuggets
Served with fries
Fish and Chips
Tempura fish bites, served with fries and tomato sauce.
Hawaiian Pizza
Cheese, Ham and Pineapple.
Mac and Cheese
Creamy oven baked macaroni pasta.
Cheerios
Served with tomato sauce.
Cheese Burger
Served with fries.
Hot Beverages – Coffees
Espresso, Double Shot
Short Macchiato
Long Black
Long Macchiato
Drinks – Cocktails
Espresso Martini
Served cold. Coffee Liqueur, Smirnoff Vodka and a Double Espresso.
Whiskey Maple Sour
The perfect balance of sweet and sour. Wild Turkey, Maple Syrup and Lemon.
Classic Margarita
Jose Cuervo Tequila, Triple Sec and Lime juice. Served with a salted rim.
Dark & Stormy
Appletons Estate Rum, Ginger Beer garnished with Fresh Lime.
Drinks – Tap
Speight’s GMA
Speight’s Mid Ale
Speight’s Summit Ultra
Mac’s Gold
Drinks – Bottled Beers
Speight’s Summit Ultra Quartz
Speight’s GMA Quartz
Lion Brown Quartz
Steinlager Quartz
Drinks – Soft Drinks
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
Schweppes Ginger Ale
Sprite
Drinks – Keri Juice Kitchen
Orange
Pineapple
Apple
Cranberry
Drinks – Zero Alcohol Beer
Steinlager Alcohol Free
Speights Summit Alcohol Free
Macs Freeride Pale Ale
Drinks – Chardonnay
Kopiko Bay
Soft ripe pineapple and apricot aromas combined with elegant length and subtle oak nuances supporting superb palate weight. A wine for all occasions
Torlesse
A vivid, stylish and elegant Chardonnay. The distinctive fruit profile of nectarine, fresh grapefruit and minerality is interlaced with the spicy, cashew nut nuances of fine grained French oak. Beautifully intense and expressive.
Wither Hills
A vivid, stylish and elegant Chardonnay. The distinctive fruit profile of nectarine, fresh grapefruit and minerality is interlaced with the spicy, cashew nut nuances of fine grained French oak. Beautifully intense and expressive.
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Christchurch
- Fish and chips Typical in Christchurch: $28.00 $34.00
- Chicken burger Typical in Christchurch: $27.00 $28.00
- Margherita pizza Typical in Christchurch: $26.00 $30.00
- Long black Typical in Christchurch: $5.00 $5.00
- Chicken parmigiana Typical in Christchurch: $29.00 $36.00
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