Mama Hooch - Christchurch

As part of our day in Christchurch we headed to Mama Hooch for a lunchtime feed and we were most definitely not disappointed! It’s open from breakfast to late most days of the week and was the sort of place I would have liked to come back to later for a few drinks as well. They have an all day menu full of interesting breakfast lunch dishes ranging from your staples like avo on toast (it’s jumped the ditch from Melbourne! and muesli, to things like stuffed mushrooms, tacos and burgers. The menu is well marked for dietary requirements with lots of vegetarian and gluten free options, and the staff were very happy to make adjustments as needed. In fact, as it was a new menu they asked us for ideas for tweaks or changes afterwards.

There isn't a lot to Mama Hooch, it is a small intimate place with a dark wood and leather them that permeates through dark corners littered with almost as dark furniture. There isn't a huge amount consistent about the seating arrangements here, from comfortable looking couches, to high seated solid wooden table and small round dining tables in various sections.<br/ <br/ The entrance, and to some degree the interior, to Mama Hooch reek of recycled materials and I'm not sure if this is the case, but it does look good. An entrance door in the middle there are 2 outer, road facing areas positioned either side of the entrance. I'm not sure if smoking is permitted here, but if it is, they may as well just be smoking inside. You also wouldn't be able to enter without a lungful of it.<br/ <br/ There is an additional outside area towards the back, which is nice and quiet and fortunately, also non-smoking. This section, if you are lucky enough to catch the place quiet, will afford you some peace and quiet, if not some intimacy.<br/ <br/ Full, this place is not the most comfortable and not the most quiet either as you battle not only ambient noise from other guests, but also the assortment of music playing in the background.<br/ <br/ The food options are in keeping with being more of a cafe so there are limited options, but what is there that I have seen, looks fantastic. The burgers would be my recommendation to try (the Piggy Burger in particular).<br/ <br/ Generally service was very good and always is very good, as I go here every so often even for just a drink.<br/ <br/ I don't know if they have  DJ in the latter evenings (I know they previously had one at night), but Mama Hooch reminds me very much of the lounge setting cafes you so often see in Australia, with a DJ playing a mixture of neo-soul, acid jazz, motown classics and somewhat more underground R&B ... this would be a near perfect spot for me if they did.

Fantastic service, fantastic atmosphere and fantastic place. We have been here twice, once for lunch and once for drinks before dining down the road. Both times the service has been absolutely outstanding and is what makes this bar so great. While we were orginally disappointed when we looked at the menu a bit limited) we absolutely loved our meals. The waitress recommended both the beef and chicken burgers and she was spot on. Every table has a lovely atmosphere at night. We will be recommending it and returning. The only thing my husband would like to see different is a steak on the menu! Keep it up Mama Hooch!

A wee way out of the rest of the other bars and clubs. Next to the restaurant Rangoon Ruby on Colombo St, a great bar to end up with on a Saturday night. Friendly security staff. Retaining its class. Must wear cover shoes. Live DJ mixing crowd's favourites with techno style music. Bartenders were great at what they were doing.

This place has nice decor but it doesn't make up for the incredibly rude staff. The bouncer decided that I shouldn't be wearing a hat, but instead of saying something he thought it would be okay to take my hat off my head for me. When my friend and I asked for a small sample of one of the beers, the bartender basically threw the glass on the bar towards us. I wouldn't go back here if I was paid.