Airport Gateway Restaurant & Bar

About Airport Gateway Restaurant & Bar

The Airport Gateway Restaurant & Bar is a smart yet casual restaurant located at Corner Roydvale Avenue and Memorial Avenue in Burnside, Christchurch — directly alongside the Airport Gateway Motel and a short distance from Christchurch Airport. The restaurant is run by John and Kelly Lankshear, who source products from local growers and suppliers to serve Canterbury produce in a comfortable, well-appointed dining room.

The kitchen focuses on fresh, quality local product — seafood, grill meats, and Canterbury flavours — across breakfast, entrées, and mains. Breakfast is served daily until 1:30pm, with all-day menu options including burgers and flat breads available from 11:30am. The restaurant is fully open to the public as well as motel guests, is family friendly, and has an outdoor playground on site. Bookings for dinner are advised.

Review highlights from guests mention the ribeye steak and pork belly as standout dishes, and the slow-cooked lamb shoulder as a favourite that sells out daily. Room service is available to motel guests by dialling the front office. Out-catering is also offered for events on and off-site. A loyalty programme is available, providing a 10% discount on both accommodation and dining for members.

Airport Gateway Restaurant & Bar Burnside: Canterbury Grill and Seafood Restaurant Open to the Public Near Christchurch Airport

The Airport Gateway Restaurant & Bar sits at the corner of Roydvale Avenue and Memorial Avenue in Burnside, Christchurch — directly alongside the Airport Gateway Motel and just minutes from Christchurch Airport. The restaurant is run by John and Kelly Lankshear, who source produce from local Canterbury growers and suppliers, and it is open to the general public as well as motel guests.

The site itself has a quiet history worth knowing: before the Airport Gateway was built, the land was a productive orchard with over 1,700 fruit trees. Memorial Avenue — which runs alongside the property — stretches from the airport to Hagley Park and was named as a memorial to air service personnel who died during World War 2. Christchurch Airport became New Zealand's first international airport in 1950, and in 1955, US Antarctic Operations began its ongoing programme between the ice and Christchurch. It's a location steeped in Canterbury history.

What the Restaurant Is Known For

The kitchen has a clear identity: Canterbury produce, fresh seafood, and grill meats. Guest reviews consistently single out the ribeye steak — described as "the best ribeye I've ever tasted" by more than one returning guest — and the pork belly, slow cooked lamb shoulder, and house-smoked salmon as dishes that stand out. The slow-cooked lamb shoulder serves two and is so popular it sells out daily; the menu itself warns that once it's gone, it's gone.

Breakfast runs daily until 1:30pm and covers everything from a full Traditional Big Breakfast with Cumberland sausage, bacon, and rosti, through to a plant-powered vegan option, house-smoked salmon on rosti, and waffles two ways. The all-day menu begins at 11:30am with entrées, mains, burgers, and flat breads. Monday to Friday the restaurant opens from 6am; Saturday and Sunday from 7am, both through to late.

Guest reviews also mention the atmosphere: there are multiple references to the chef singing in the kitchen — at both breakfast and dinner — which appears to be something of a signature of the restaurant experience.

Visiting as a Non-Guest

The restaurant is fully open to the public and is family friendly, with an outdoor playground on site. Bookings for dinner are advised, and tables can be reserved by calling 0800 242 839. Out-catering is also available for events on or off-site. Private functions can be arranged by enquiry.

For motel guests, room service is available by dialling 0 from your room, and reviews note that it arrives promptly. A loyalty programme is available offering 10% off both accommodation and dining — worth signing up for before a meal if you plan to return.

Signature items

• 250g Ribeye Steak
• Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
• Angus Eye Fillet 250g
• House Smoked Salmon
• Seafood Chowder
• Traditional Big Breakfast

Menu

Mains

• Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder — Herb and sea salt crusted lamb shoulder, roasted root vegetables, seasonal greens, jus and mint jelly — serves two (popular, sells out daily)
• 250g Ribeye Steak — Cooked to your liking, potato gratin, seasonal greens or salad — choice of garlic herb butter, red wine jus or mushroom sauce
• Angus Eye Fillet 250g — Butter bean puree, roasted cauliflower with parmesan crumb, herb croquette and red wine jus — cooked medium rare
• Japanese Seared Salmon — Shichimi spice rub, soy infused bokchoy, pickled ribbon vegetables on coconut basmati rice
• Pork Belly — Shanghai braised with ginger and soy, smashed potatoes, sticky red cabbage with apple and cranberries, pork crackling
• Seafood Chowder — Served in a Good Honest cob loaf, topped with green lipped mussels and seared prawns
• Chicken Gnocchi — Poached stuffed chicken breast with sundried tomatoes, cream cheese and spinach over potato gnocchi with creamy capsicum sauce
• Beer Battered Fish of the Day — With fries, salad, tartare sauce and lemon
• Spinach and Ricotta Fritti — Crumbed bites on napoli sauce, courgette noodles and shaved parmesan
• Ribeye & Prawn Salad — Ribeye with prawns on salad

EntréEs

• Garlic Loaf — Toasted Good Honest bakery loaf with herb and garlic butter
• House Smoked Salmon Paté — With toasted Good Honest sourdough and seared prawns
• Braised Beef Croquette — Three croquettes served on horseradish aioli
• Risotto — Portabello mushroom, blue cheese and rocket
• Mediterranean Lamb Salad — Lamb tenderloin with roasted root vegetables, pecans, feta, sundried tomatoes, baby spinach and lemon garlic mint yoghurt dressing (vegetarian option available)

Breakfast

• Traditional Big Breakfast — Cumberland pork sausage, thick cut bacon, eggs your way, wholegrain toast, portabello mushrooms, grilled tomato, boston bean mix and rosti
• Plant Powered Vegan Brekkie — Multigrain toast with olive oil, rosti, boston bean mix, smashed avocado, wilted spinach and portabello mushrooms
• Eggs Bene — Poached eggs on English muffin with wilted spinach and hollandaise — choice of thick cut bacon, house smoked salmon, or portabello mushrooms
• Breakfast on the Go — Good Honest bap with bacon, fried egg, cheddar, hash brown, BBQ sauce and chutney — served with takeaway coffee
• Breakfast Fruit Salad — Seasonal fruit salad with Greek yoghurt, berry compote and granola (nut free option available)
• Waffles Two Ways — Choice of fried chicken and bacon with maple syrup, or berry compote, whipped cream and lemon curd with maple syrup
• Avocado & Salmon — House made rosti, smashed avocado, house smoked salmon, poached egg, whipped feta, pesto and balsamic glaze (GF)
• Eggs on Toast — Scrambled, fried or poached (GF)

Breakfast Add-Ons

• Side of Toast
• Side of Bacon
• Smoked Salmon
• Mushrooms
• Tomato
• Rosti
• Hollandaise Sauce
• Sausage
• Spinach

Burgers & Flat Breads

• Southern Chicken Burger — Brioche bun, slaw, southern fried chicken, swiss cheese and ranch dressing
• Beef and Bacon Burger — Prime beef smashed pattie, bacon, cheddar cheese, pickles and salad greens
• Plant Power Burger — Cauliflower pattie, spiced halloumi, chargrilled pepper, salad greens and aioli
• Flat Breads — Margarita (buffalo mozzarella, basil, tomato) or sweet chilli and cream cheese with mozzarella and dipping sauce
• Loaded Fries — Topped with melted cheese and bacon, sweet chilli sauce and sour cream
• Add Fries — House cut fries in a basket with tomato and aioli sauce — add to any burger

Frequently asked questions

Is the Airport Gateway restaurant open to the public?

Yes — the restaurant is fully open to the general public, not just motel guests. It is family friendly and has an outdoor playground on site.

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Friday from 6am until late. Saturday and Sunday from 7am until late. Breakfast is served until 1:30pm daily, with the all-day menu beginning at 11:30am.

Do I need to book?

Bookings are advised for dinner. Call 0800 242 839 to reserve a table.

Is the lamb shoulder available every day?

It's on the menu daily but the website warns it sells out — once it's gone for the day, it's gone. Booking early or arriving when the kitchen opens gives the best chance of getting it.

Are gluten free options available?

Yes — gluten free options are available on request. Some menu items are marked GF. All products are made in a general kitchen.

Is room service available?

Yes — motel guests can order room service by dialling 0 for the front office from their unit.

Is there a loyalty programme?

Yes — signing up to the Airport Gateway loyalty programme provides a 10% discount on both accommodation and dining.

Tips

• {"body":"The slow-cooked lamb shoulder (serves two, $87.90) is marked as always popular on the menu itself. If you're planning to order it, either book dinner early or ask when you arrive whether it's still available — once it sells out, it's off for the day.","title":"The lamb shoulder sells out — don't leave it to chance"}
• {"body":"The restaurant is popular with both motel guests and locals. For dinner, the website advises booking ahead. Call 0800 242 839 to reserve.","title":"Dinner bookings are advised — don't walk in without one on a busy night"}
• {"body":"The loyalty programme gives 10% off dining (and accommodation). If you're a repeat visitor or planning to return, it's worth registering before you order.","title":"Sign up to the loyalty programme before you eat"}
• {"body":"The kitchen serves breakfast until 1:30pm daily, which is useful if you're arriving on a morning flight and want a full breakfast after getting settled. The all-day menu kicks in from 11:30am if you want something from the mains menu instead.","title":"Breakfast runs until 1:30pm — later than many"}
• {"body":"Multiple motel guests mention ordering room service and noting how fast it arrived and how good it was. If you're staying and don't want to leave your unit, the front desk can sort it — just dial 0.","title":"Room service is quick and uses the same kitchen"}

Good to know

• {"wifi":"Complimentary high-speed wifi in all units; access code provided in your room","family":"Outdoor playground on site; cots and highchairs available for guests — contact reception","dietary":"Gluten free available on request; vegan breakfast option on menu; nut-free option available for fruit salad"}