The front door handle
When I visited Bali several years ago, every Balinese person asked me if i had been to Ubud. This time visiting Queenstown, New Zealand, the question I was asked by everyone was “Have you been to the Botswana Butchery?” Thankfully we had a booking, and it was lucky we did as it was booked the 2 nights before, despite being able to seat up to 200 people. Executive Chef and Owner Leungo Lippe (pronounced Luno Lippy) is from Botswana and being a Butchery, well I don’t need to tell you what their speciality is. It’s meat, meat and more meat. If you were under any misunderstanding the numerous cleavers that dot the place starting with the logo to the front door handle stress the point.
It’s a stunning looking restaurant rich in black and whites. Our Canadian born waiter is seamless and friendly and he is happy to give us recommendations. We know we want the 450g Prime Whole Rib which at $36NZD is the most expensive item on the menu aside from the lobster claws. The prices are surprisingly reasonable with most mains under $30NZD. The Fine cuts, i.e. the meat are slightly more. You can choose a sauce to go with your meat and sides which range from $5NZD to $9NZD. Our waiter asks whether we’d like it cooked pan fried or wood fired and we take the chef’s preference of wood firing.
Private Room
Private room
Bar area
After taking our order the waiter invites us to browse it upstairs where there are private dining rooms, the wine cellar and the bar area. I go upstairs and am surprised to find 2 private dining rooms for 2 (which I recommend booking, more reasons for wanting to book that later) and a room for 4 and a large room for 20. All can be booked at no extra charge and some have fireplaces.
Wine room
450g Prime Whole Rib $36NZD
Our food arrives, my husband and I are sharing and I start on the 450g prime whole rib with confit garlic aioli. It’s succulent and delicious, a fantastic cut of meat and despite there being a large serve of it, we have no trouble finishing it at all. The garlic aioli is admittedly not quite as superb. Usually I love garlic aioli but I leave most of this behind. It’s not garlicky enough and too liquid. But back to the recommendation to book a private dining room. It comes down to my desire to pick up the rib bone and gnaw every piece of delicious meat off it. I don’t, after all this is a very nice looking restaurant but I fight my way with a fork and knife risking a Pretty Woman “Slippery Little Suckers” Snail moment, wishing the whole time we were in a private dining room so that I could gnaw away to my heart’s content without attracting any stares.
200g Waikanui Sirloin $26
The Waikanui Sirloin is a lovely thick piece of beef, grain fed so that it has more flavour and the wood firing produces a lovely, distinct smoky flavour. My husband is a big fan of the wood firing as am I. It’s ordered with a thyme and pinot noir sauce but as I don’t like thyme I don’t partake of this.
Spinach, rocket salad with beetroot $9
The spinach, rocket salad with beetroot is dressed with a sweet balsamic and oil dressing and is simple but good with the freshly roasted beetroot.
Confit garlic Mash $5
The confit garlic mash is beautifully creamy and garnished with deep fried garlic shreds.
We’re too full for dessert, so we forego this in favour of ending on a delicious note. And I have a permanent mental note to book a private room for when we come back.
Botswana Butchery
Archers Cottage
17 Marine Parade, Queenstown, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (02) 442 6994
www.goodbars.co.nz
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30 Comments | Add your own
what a stunning looking restaurant! Too bad husband is a vegetarian…I think he’d go if I show him your side dish photos though! YUM!
Nothing says welcome more than a cleaver embedded in a door. I guess the owner have a sense of humour. Gotta give him that
The meat looks so tasty! I a fan of almost anything that had a wood fired smokiness to it. However, the wagyu looks somewhat burned on the outside. Is it just the lighting?
oh how beautifully decorated is this place? and the meat looks wonderful. was it cooked to your liking (rareness etc?)
Looks really lovely… despite all the meat cleavers!! hehe
My husband and I both love a good steak so I think we’d enjoy this restaurant a lot. If only it weren’t so far!
You certainly did your research before going to NZ! I love a slab of juicy steak – this looks like the place for me on a return visit!
Like the meat cleaver in the front door
The desserts sound kind of interesting too.
my significant other is a vegetarian. damn his principles.
what is loosely wrapped around those white paper lanterns that are hung over the long table?
the name appeals to my inner cheeky – it’s like ‘we eat meat here – deal with it’
It looks like a really comfy restaurant. Sounds like the food was good too.
o i so adore the use of butcher and cleaver knives as door handles and decor.
nothing like a fab steak to get the senses going! Looks so tasty!
I love the door handle and that Waikanui Sirloin looks fantastic!
Yet another reason to go to New Zealand…
I love the meat cleaver door handle! Looks delish…and the garlic mash…yumm…
Oh this looks right up my alley! The meat cleavers are a wickedly dark design touch too. Wish I’d know about this the last time I was in Queenstown!
Love the wall of knives! Shame about the aioli – it’s such a treat when done correctly.
The handle on the door looks original!! Beautiful pictures, Lorraine!!
You’re really making me want to go to NZ…is 12,000 miles too far to go for woodfired steak? I think not!
Hi Tiffany-It was, I was so impressed when we walked in!
Hehe aww well I can assure him that the mash is divine!
Hi Simon-Yes it’s an unusual welcome but you’re not under any illusions when you see the name and the cleavers
Nope thee wagyu wasn’t burnt, perhaps it was just the lighting.
Hi shez-It’s amazing, I wish I had booked a private room ahead of time
Yep it was perfectly cooked which I sort of expected (well if meat is the thing 
)
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-haha perhaps I wouldn’t want to sit under the display!
Hi Kathy-Ahh perhaps next time you’re in Queenstown?
Hi Cakelaw-I did didn’t I
Not a single meal wasted while we were there!
Hi Y-It’s rather different isn’t it! Really? None of the desserts grabbed me.
Hi reddoorread -Ah damnit!
I think they were leaves (faux ones probably as real ones would die). The room was stunning I have to say. Haha yes no apologies there, if one didn’t heed all the clues then they can’t he helped! 
HI Arwen-It was comfortable but still elegant. And I wasn’t comfortable enough to gnaw on the bone although I don’t think they would have cared
Hi Cherie-It’s so clever isn’t it!
Hi Reemski-I love a good steak, there’s nothing quite like it!
Hi Anita-I’d love to do one on my front door
Hi Claudia-Yup there are so many!
Hi Alexandra-It’s very clever. I bet everyone that sees it has a chuckle
Hi Forager-I know, I’d love some for Halloween too!
I think it’s very new, only since the end of last year so it’s doing very well being booked out!
Hi Christie-Let’s call it menacing chic
Yes I was rather disappointed about that as I adore a good aioli!
Hi Sophie-Yes I wonder if it was hard to do-and whether it ever comes off?
Thankyou Sophie! 
Hi Rachel-Hehe not at all, I often wish I could travel far and wide for meals
Oooh the meat looks really good. Love the cleaver as a door handle but not sure if I want to be sitting under/in front of meat cleavers though!
i would go just for the pleasure of eating in one of those wing backed armchairs! wow.
i’ve tried with all my might not to make a comment about lapdancing and private rooms.
Oh Yuuuummmm!! This place looks so gorgeous, and I love the cleaver handle haha XD! The meat looks so succulent and divine as well, pity about the sauce and wood firing sounds very interesting. Know of any places here that wood fires steak?
Wow is there one in Gaborone?
Those dining rooms are gorgeous, and the wine cellar looks so cool! And a bar area with couches and a fireplace? Yes please!
Love that butcher knife! Classic. You don’t like thyme? Oh man, we love it so much. This dinner looks fantastic. Really out of this world. Those cuts of meat are amazing.
Wow, I really need to visit New Zealand! I’ve always wanted to go – but I can’t decide between going during summer or winter – though eventually I’d get around to both! (I secretly want to go on a Lord of the Rings tour as well)
I am so surprised you don’t like thyme! It’s probably my favourite herb (after basil!) – I love adding it to omelettes, fried eggs etc!
Funnily enough I AM from Botswana and seeing this post put a big smile on my face.
I am privelaged enough to be eating the best meat in the world
I’m glad you enjoyed it
I knew I’d love this restaurant from the opening shot of the door handle. Awesome and very Dexter, too!
The steaks sound (and look) fantastic, and I’d totally go for wood-fired, too. It’s my favourite way of cooking savoury stuff, and as I know I’ll never be fortunate (or rich) enough to own one, I make a point of ordering wood-fired whenever possible.
I am, however, in mild shock about the thyme! What other secret dislikes do you have, I wonder?
Hi foodie-central-Haha yes that’s exactly what I thought! I meant to ask them if they were sharp
Hi. the projectivist-Yes I loved the furniture here! Fantastic decor
Haha well you couldn’t help yourself could you? 
Hi FFichiban-I wonder if it would be hard to do your own
This place is right up your alley no? 
Not that I know of, in fact if I were to ask anyone it would probably be you!
Hi Thabo Skosana-I am not sure!
I think there is just one in NZ.
Hi anna-Isn’t it just so welcoming and gorgeous?
Hi The Duo Dishes-Yup I know, many can’t believe it but I just don’t like it
They were very well cooked and lovely cuts!
Hi Zam-Ah yes well if you like skiing or snowsports Winter but otherwise Summer is just stunning
They’ve definitely got a few of those LOTR tours!! I know, so many people love it. I used to and grew it but just didn’t like it after a while-perhaps I had too much.
Hi Jo-Oh wonderful! Thanks we did enjoy it very much!
Hi Angela-Hehe we just knew we’d like it after seeing that too and yes very Dexter indeed!
WE don’t often get offered wood firing here I’m afraid so you’re very lucky! Haha just tripe and kidneys 
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