Zest Restaurant - Timaru

We enjoyed a delicious salad and pizza! We tried the vegetarian pizza and veggie salad, both of which were fantastic! The only reason I'm giving it four stars i... read more We enjoyed a delicious salad and pizza! We tried the vegetarian pizza and veggie salad, both of which were fantastic! The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is because the desserts, while good, didn't quite measure up to the main dishes. We ordered the carrot cake and Neapolitan cheesecake. The staff was incredibly kind and helped me pick a sweet Riesling wine, which I would definitely recommend! This place is absolutely worth visiting for lunch or dinner—we had a wonderful time here!

As both a pizza restaurant and café, Zest offers quick café sandwiches and coffee, along with a full restaurant menu for those looking for a leisurely meal. The... read more As both a pizza restaurant and café, Zest offers quick café sandwiches and coffee, along with a full restaurant menu for those looking for a leisurely meal. Their pizzas, known for their thin crust, are generously topped with your choices, and they offer the option of a half-and-half pizza for an additional $2. One regular pizza is certainly enough to share. We tried the Greek and the Zest Favourite. The Greek pizza features a tomato base topped with fresh roasted garlic, feta cheese, olives, chunky tomatoes, red onions, and spinach, all finished with sour cream and parmesan. It’s simply delicious and refreshing. The Zest Favourite, meanwhile, includes chicken, red onions, bell peppers, cranberry sauce, and Brie. It’s incredibly tasty, though slightly more savory than the Greek. The cranberry sauce is pleasantly subtle, contrary to what I expected. This pizza also has a tomato base. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, Zest offers a selection of pastas and other main dishes, as well as appetizers and desserts. Unfortunately, we were coming straight from the Cadbury Factory, so we focused on the main proteins. Zest also boasts an extensive wine list primarily featuring local New Zealand wines, along with some from Australia, and a moderate selection of local New Zealand beers. If you find yourself in Timaru or just passing through, I highly recommend stopping by for a quick lunch or dinner.

Zest always has a fantastic atmosphere, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The food is delightful and consistently of high quality. I recommen... read more Zest always has a fantastic atmosphere, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The food is delightful and consistently of high quality. I recommend making a reservation because this place tends to be quite busy—though that's no surprise given how excellent the food is! I would rate Zest a perfect 10/10 and wholeheartedly recommend it time and time again!

This is probably the most delicious pizza and pasta I've ever tasted. If you find yourself waiting a long time, trust me, it’s worth it! read more This is probably the most delicious pizza and pasta I've ever tasted. If you find yourself waiting a long time, trust me, it’s worth it!

Zest is fantastic! The coffee is amazing, making it a great spot for kids and families. The food and service are also exceptional! read more Zest is fantastic! The coffee is amazing, making it a great spot for kids and families. The food and service are also exceptional!