Very Tasty Option
- June 29, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
It must be said that the dining options in Lake Tekapo are slim to none. It is, after all, a very small village despite the renowned it's had for the lake and a few of it's newer sight seeing options.
Add to that a nice little selection of budget accomodation, and you have a large number of tourists passing through the area.
And it's also true that there are very few places to stop between Christchurch and Queenstown, and even fewer places to eat. Lake Tekapo - though it has more options than surrounding towns and places to stop, still only has about half a dozen places to eat. And many of these are very over priced.
Which brings us to Pepes Pizza and Pasta.
Located on the main street of the very small town centre of Lake Tekapo - this is easy to find and easy to get to from any point in the town (just a few minutes walk from most hostels and hotels)
This - quite simply - is a very nice little place to eat. It is small, but can accomodate several groups of people if necessary. It has a very pleasant atmosphere, very relaxed and cozy. It is well put together and very comfortable with a large wood burning fire, and a rustic feel.
And the pizzas and food in general are very good. I can't complain about anything I ate at Pepes in the time that I lived in Lake Tekapo. And the service, too, is very good. At every visit the staff were very pleasant and helpful.
I thought that it was a little bit pricy for a pizza in the middle of nowhere in rural New Zealand - but you soon realize you will be paying tourist prices for most everything, and in that light it is not too overpriced.
All in all, if you are prepared to pay for a meal and are looking for something reasonable, pleasant and very tasty, then this is an excellent option.
From journal The Visual Perfection of Secluded Lake Tekapo
Warm, Friendly, Honest Fare
- November 15, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
wolfbrother from Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Pepe's can be found down near the Earth & Sky offices in Lake Tekapo. Everything in the village can be pretty easily found because it's all on the one promenade, and Pepe's has prominent signage out front.
It opens at 5pm through most of the year and when you go in you'll find a few cozy booths, a well stocked bar, friendly, helpful staff and an open log fire. It's a great place to go in winter for this alone, as they keep it well stoked and it really adds to the atmosphere of the place.
The menu is simple but very good - it's all relatively straightforward pizza and pasta dishes (as the name would suggest) themed along the standard Italian/Godfather type norms, but the portions are good, it's all freshly prepared and it's not too expensive. This is perhaps where Pepe's stands out most in Lake Tekapo, as it's a very expensive place in general, being way out in the middle of nowhere with a captive tourist crowd. When we went we got a large pizza between us for $29, which was plenty to satisfy two large appetites, and their pasta dishes generally come in at about 13-15 dollars. For what you get, that's a good price.
Service was prompt and pleasant, the restaurant was clean and well decorated with a good, friendly atmosphere. All in all, it's a great place to eat if you're looking for something tasty and simple and relaxed. Comes recommended by this reviewer.
From journal The Turquoise Tranquility of Lake Tekapo