Dodson Street Beer Garden is a laid-back restaurant and bar in Blenheim. They have 23 craft beers on tap, a huge wine list (very fitting for a Blenheim restaurant!) and other yummy drinks. Eating here in summer is extra lovely as you'll sit and bask in the sun in their beer garden.

The menu is a mix of flavours from Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, or as they put it, “traditional German and Italian dishes with good old Kiwi classics."

That's a mouthful! In short, you can expect everything from chicken liver pâté, goulash soup and schnitzels to pizza, burgers and steak. If you've got room for dessert, they serve Schokoladenschnitte (chocolate brownie) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel). One of my best friends is German and once tried to teach me how to say "Schokoladenschnitte"—safe to say, I failed spectacularly.

Now, let's talk about that authenticity claim. I'm neither German nor Italian, but one look at the menu tells me that if any Italians are reading this, please, look away. No? Okay I warned you. They have the most unusual range of pizzas I've ever come across: Chicken, green curry paste and mixed nuts. Ground lamb and mint infused yoghurt. Mexican pork con carne and salsa. They even have a Russian Roulette pizza where one slice is extra spicy. Don't come here expecting a taste of home. However, if you like punchy flavours and don't mind straying from tradition, I think you'll love it.

Note: They're closed on Sundays but open Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm. You don't have to have a reservation, but you can make one in advance if you'd like.