DALANTE ARTISAN BAKERY

About DALANTE ARTISAN BAKERY

Dalante Artisan Bakery brings the flavours of the Mediterranean to Lincoln, with everything handmade from scratch on-site every day inside a uniquely designed, Italian street-themed space. The name comes from a family story — the owners' youngest son, Tomer, once misheard "al dente" and used it to describe anything delicious, always with his own hand gesture. "Dalante" stuck, and now describes the warmth and care behind everything the bakery makes.

Each morning starts with fresh loaves of bread baked from a range of flours and textures, before the wood-fired pizza oven and fryer are fired up for Moroccan Sfenj doughnuts and traditional falafel. The menu spans authentic wood-fired pizza, Middle Eastern falafel and pitta sandwiches, Mediterranean salads, gourmet sandwiches, and sweet and savoury pastries, alongside speciality coffee from Coffee Embassy, a B Corp-certified Christchurch roastery.

Whether it's a quick lunch, fresh morning bread, a cosy spot to sit and eat, or a takeaway option, Dalante brings a genuine taste of the Mediterranean to the Canterbury community.

Dalante Artisan Bakery: Mediterranean Flavours, Handmade Daily in Lincoln

Dalante Artisan Bakery brings a genuine taste of the Mediterranean to Lincoln, with every loaf, pizza and pastry handmade from scratch on-site each day, inside a space designed to feel like a typical Italian street.

A name born from family

The bakery's name has a story behind it. Years ago, the owners' youngest son Tomer overheard them saying "al dente" and mistook it for a word meaning something truly delicious. From then on, every time he took a bite of something good, he'd light up and declare it "so Dalante," complete with his own signature hand gesture. The word stuck, and Dalante became the family's way of describing food made with love and made just right.

A day built around the oven

The bakery's rhythm starts early, with loaves of bread made from a range of flours and textures baked first thing in the morning. Once the sun is up, the wood-fired pizza oven is lit and the fryer turned on for Moroccan Sfenj doughnuts and traditional falafel — a routine repeated fresh, every single day.

Wood-fired pizza and Sicilian specialties

Wood-fired pizzas, available from 12:30pm onward, range from a classic Margherita and Funghi through to the meatier Pizza Salsiccia and Capricciosa, plus Greek and Spanish-inspired versions. The bakery is especially known for "Grandma D" — a Sicilian-style pizza with thick, airy dough, a rectangular shape and a signature crispy bottom, available in vegetarian, meat and vegan versions, alongside Rome-style Pizza al Taglio sold by the slice.

Middle Eastern street food and more

Beyond pizza, the menu leans into Middle Eastern street food, with a Labneh starter of hand-rolled strained yoghurt cheese, silky classic hummus, and a full falafel line-up served in a pitta pocket or as a generous falafel plate. Freshly baked sandwiches include a hearty four-meat combination on Sicilian focaccia or a Challah bun, and a Middle Eastern schnitzel pitta that's only available on Thursdays and Fridays. Mediterranean salads, including a Provence salad with pear, walnuts and blue cheese, round out the savoury side.

A sweet finish

For dessert, Dalante bakes Sfenj — a Moroccan doughnut with a chewy, airy inside and crispy exterior — and a classic Baklava layered with nuts and rosewater syrup. Coffee comes from Coffee Embassy, a B Corp-certified speciality roastery based in Christchurch.

Visiting Dalante Artisan Bakery

Dalante is open Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, closed Monday to Wednesday. It's located at 4/4 Eastfield Drive, Lincoln, and welcomes both dine-in and takeaway visitors looking for a taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of Canterbury.

Signature items

• "Grandma D" Sicilian Pizza
• Traditional Falafel
• Labneh
• Sfenj Moroccan Doughnut
• Margherita Pizza
• Baklava

Menu

Salads

• Classic Greek Salad — Mesclun, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, onion rings, Kalamata olives and feta with pitta croutons and vinaigrette.
• Provence Salad — Mesclun leaves, pear slices, red onion, walnuts, dried cranberries and blue cheese with house vinaigrette.
• Side Salad — Mesclun, tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers, onion rings, radish and carrot with vinaigrette.

Falafel

• Traditional Falafel — Falafel balls in a pitta pocket with homemade hummus, salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce and tahini.
• Traditional Falafel 1/2 Pitta Pocket — A smaller pitta pocket serving of the traditional falafel.
• Falafel Plate — Falafel balls, homemade hummus and tahini, mesclun salads, pickles, vegetables, Kalamata olives and a pitta pocket on the side.

Starters

• Labneh — Middle Eastern strained yoghurt cheese balls coated in Za'atar, Sumak and garlic, served with marinated olives and warm focaccia.
• Hummus - Classic — Silky-smooth hummus made from blended chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic, served with warm pitta bread.

Sweet Tooth

• Sfenj: Moroccan Doughnut — Deep-fried ring doughnut, chewy and airy inside, dusted with sugar or sugar and cinnamon.
• Baklava — Filo pastry filled with chopped nuts, sweetened with rosewater syrup and topped with pistachio.

Wood Fired Pizza

• Margherita — Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella and fior di latte, garnished with Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and olive oil.
• Calzone — An Italian oven-baked folded pizza with pomodoro sauce, mozzarella and fior di latte.
• Funghi — Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte and mushrooms.
• Pepperoni — Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte and pepperoni.
• Pizza Salsiccia — Pomodoro, mozzarella, mixed sausages and chorizo, capsicum and chilli flakes.
• Capricciosa — Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, courgette, red onions and Kalamata olives.
• Greek — Pomodoro, mozzarella, red onion, fresh tomato and Kalamata olives, topped with feta and chives.
• Spanish — Pomodoro, mozzarella, Spanish Manchego cheese, red onion, Kalamata olives, bacon and a touch of chilli.
• Vegetable Focaccia — Topped with a variety of seasonal vegetables.
• Garlic Focaccia — Topped with garlic, fresh rosemary/oregano, olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano.

Sicilian Style Pizza

• "Grandma D" - Vegetarian — Tomato sauce and mozzarella topped with mesclun greens, feta, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano and seasonal vegetables.
• "Grandma D" - Meat — Tomato sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni topped with mesclun greens, feta, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano and prosciutto.
• "Grandma D" - Vegan — Pomodoro, mesclun greens and seasonal vegetables, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.
• Pizza al Taglio — Rome-style pizza baked in large trays and cut into slices, available with a range of toppings.

Freshly Baked Sandwiches

• 4 Meat Sandwich - Sicilian Focaccia/Challah Bun — Salami, ham, roast beef and pastrami with piri piri, aioli, mustard and chilli sauce, mesclun, pickles and sauerkraut.
• Pitta Sandwich - Meat — Homemade pitta filled with salami, ham, hummus, tahini and chilli sauce, pickles, sauerkraut and fresh vegetables.
• Pitta Sandwich - Vegetable — Homemade pitta filled with hummus, tahini and chilli sauce, pickles, sauerkraut and fresh vegetables.
• Middle Eastern Schnitzel in a Pitta Pocket — Available Thursdays and Fridays only. Chicken schnitzel in Middle Eastern spices with hummus, matbucha, vegetables and tahini.

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Dalante Artisan Bakery serve?

Mediterranean-inspired baked goods, wood-fired pizza and Middle Eastern street food, all handmade on-site daily.

What are the opening hours?

Thursday to Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-3pm, closed Monday to Wednesday.

Are there vegetarian and vegan options?

Yes, many menu items are clearly marked vegetarian or vegan.

When is wood-fired pizza available?

From 12:30pm onward.

Can I get the Middle Eastern Schnitzel pitta any day?

No, it's only available on Thursdays and Fridays.

What is "Grandma D" pizza?

A Sicilian-style pizza with thick, airy dough, a rectangular shape and a crispy bottom.

Where is Dalante Artisan Bakery located?

4/4 Eastfield Drive, Lincoln.

Tips

• {"body":"A Sicilian-style pizza with a signature crispy bottom.","title":"Try the famous \"Grandma D\" pizza"}
• {"body":"Wood-fired pizzas are available from 12:30pm onward.","title":"Time your visit for pizza"}
• {"body":"Only served on Thursdays and Fridays.","title":"Don't miss the schnitzel pitta"}
• {"body":"Try the Sfenj Moroccan doughnut or the Baklava.","title":"Save room for something sweet"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian and vegan options are clearly marked across the menu."}