Review: Fossil Point Cafe, Greta Valley, New Zealand

Greta Valley is a hamlet in New Zealand's South Island, about one hour's drive North of Christchurch. The only thing of note to travellers is the Fossil Point Cafe.

They only sell one flavour of burger, beef, but it may be one of the best in the country.

The first thing to strike me upon being served is the bottom half of the bun has a thick layer of cheese melted directly on top of it with fried onions on top of that in turn.

Where this burger amazed me however was the patty. Unimaginative patties are an ongoing frustration of mine and delightfully Fossil Point takes the opposite approach. Mixed through the very generous patty was very finely chopped onion to contrast against the beef and make it taste even meatier. There may have been some more subtle ingredients such as a trace of soy-sauce at work also.

The salad (as pictured above) consist of common classics in generous proportions. Foreigners may be surprised to find this includes beetroot in New Zealand however. The mayonnaise also may have been home made.

Served with the burger its self is a side of crinkle-cut chips that are cooked perfectly but far from the star of the meal.

The one minor complaint I have is that the sauce could have had been a little more acidic to give some bit but otherwise this is kept well in touch with the fast-food root of hamburgers while vastly exceeding it.

As to the Fossil Point its self it is pleasant though not quite perfect. It is named for a display of locally sourced fossils and ceramic artworks. This is balanced out by additional decorations made from used muffin baking trays, the decorated mirrors favoured by past generations and the occasional painting. Somehow it works with the one exception of a single corner having been neglected.

I cycled for hours over large hills to get there and was not disappointed; 9/10.