Armadillos Restaurant and Islington Tavern

bar — Islington · Christchurch

About Armadillos Restaurant and Islington Tavern

Armadillo's Restaurants NZ is a well-established casual dining chain with venues spread across the South Island and beyond, serving Kiwi pub classics in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Locations span Christchurch (Beckenham, Halswell, Belfast, Lyttelton, Templeton), Springlands in Blenheim, Richmond in Nelson, Timaru, and Te Anau — with The Moose Tavern and Islington Tavern also operating under the group. The group's stated mission is to provide a fun, friendly, and safe environment where every customer leaves with an experience to remember.

The menu covers the full range of Kiwi pub dining: a well-stocked grill section with prime ribeye and sirloin, classic pub mains, seafood, and a signature burger lineup. The Armadillo's Signature Ribs — slowly braised pork ribs in the house's own BBQ sauce — appear to be the dish most closely identified with the brand. Steaks are grilled to order and served with a choice of garlic butter, mushroom sauce, gravy, or peppercorn sauce alongside duck fat potatoes or crispy fries.

Beyond the standard dinner menu, Armadillo's offers a lunch menu, pensioner menu, kids menu, and function menus, along with dedicated private spaces at most venues for group bookings. The group also hosts fundraiser quiz nights. Online bookings and gift vouchers are available through the website, and franchise opportunities are open to enquiry.

Prices may vary at selected venues.

Signature items

  • Armadillo's Signature Ribs
  • Prime Ribeye Steak
  • Sirloin Surf 'n' Turf
  • Seafood Workshop
  • NZ Prime Angus Beef Burger
  • Classic Chicken Schnitzel

Menu

Sides

  • Fried Egg (1)
  • Mash Potato
  • Duck Fat Potatoes
  • Extra Sauce
  • Vegetables
  • Mushrooms
  • Garlic Prawns (4)
  • House Salad

Starters

  • Garlic Bread — Freshly baked ciabatta smothered in home made garlic butter
  • Chilli Cheese Bread — Ciabatta with cheese, home made garlic butter and sweet chilli sauce
  • Crumbed Camembert — Crumbed camembert fried until crispy with plum sauce and garlic toast
  • Sizzling King Prawns — Six prawns in a cast-iron ramekin with garlic, lemon and chilli sauce
  • Entree Seafood Chowder — Fresh seafood in creamy white wine reduction with ciabatta and crispy kumara
  • Chicken Tenders — Southern style chicken tenders with BBQ sauce
  • Soup of the Day — Ask your wait staff for today's special
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Wings — Battered cauliflower wings cooked golden, served with aioli

Chicken Mains

  • Warm Chicken Salad — Marinated chicken, bacon, grapes, greens and Armadillo's house dressing
  • Classic Chicken Schnitzel — Golden crumbed chicken breast with mushroom sauce, salad and fries
  • Chicken and Bacon Stack — Marinated chicken on creamy mash with crispy bacon and cajun cream sauce

Seafood Mains

  • Seafood Workshop — Pan-fried gurnard topped with garlic prawns and fresh salsa with choice of sides
  • Fish 'n' Chips — Beer-battered gurnard with house salad, fries, tartare sauce and lemon
  • Main Seafood Chowder — Fresh seafood in creamy white wine reduction with ciabatta and crispy kumara
  • Southern Style Crispy Chicken Burger — Crispy chicken, swiss cheese, smoked tomato relish, bacon, aioli and peri peri in a bun

Red Meat Mains

  • Prime Ribeye Steak — 250GM prime ribeye grilled to order with choice of sauce and sides
  • 300GM Sirloin Surf 'n' Turf — Sirloin topped with four creamy garlic prawns, with choice of sides
  • Armadillo's Signature Ribs — Slowly braised pork ribs in house-made BBQ sauce with crispy fries
  • 300GM Prime Rump Steak — Prime rump grilled to order with choice of sauce and sides
  • NZ Lamb Hotpot — Lamb hotpot topped with puff pastry, served with mash and gravy
  • Chicken Bacon & Mushroom Pasta — Pan-fried bacon, chicken and mushrooms in creamy white wine sauce with parmesan

Signature Burgers

  • Grilled Chicken Burger — Marinated chicken, swiss cheese, smoked tomato relish, bacon, lettuce, tomato and aioli
  • NZ Prime Angus Beef Burger — Beef pattie, beetroot relish, swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and aioli with fries
  • Fish Burger — Beer-battered gurnard, lettuce, tomato, aioli and tartare sauce with fries
  • Mushroom & Halloumi Burger — Portobello mushroom, grilled halloumi, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato and aioli