Akbabas Turkish Kebab House
130 bridge st, tel 03 548-8825 is one of nelsons most popular take-away restaurants. they offer wicked veggie and meat kebabs that come wrapped in flat tortilla-like bread. $7-12.
The Hot Rock Gourmet Pizza Pasta Bar
(http://hotrock.co.nz) 8-10 tahunanui dr, tel 03 546-4421 by the beach this award winning restaurant serves the region's only wood-fired gourmet pizza as well as delicious pasta, healthy salads, hearty ribs, mussels and wicked desserts. casual and friendly - a must visit in nelson. $15.50+.
The Beach Cafe and Bar
Reviewed in the Sunday Star Times as the place to go - enjoy this all year round beach location with finest homemade food and drink on offer. Always the warmest of welcomes. Best coffee [see New Zealnd Coffee Guide]and right on the beach. Kids friendly. Highchairs. Parking. Zoo. Tennis and Parklands.
Nelson has a wide variety of excellent cafes and restaurants using fresh local produce. Nelson is the largest fishing port in Australasia, so the fresh seafood is always great!
For the best Fish and Chips within 10,000 miles according to the Wikimapia (http://wikimapia.org/#y=-41264106&x=173268385&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2/ author, click the highlighted link to see the exact location right next to Guytons Fisheries Ltd on Wakefield Quay ...)
Gianni Pizza
Delicious, authentic Italian vegetarian pizzas, and friendly service. Tiny cosy sit-in area, or takeaway.
My Pie
(http://mypie.co.nz) rutherford mews, off hardy street crafts gourmet meat pies that put plastic wrapped mass-produced pies to shame. if you have trouble finding their kitchen off hardy you can find my pie at the nelson saturday market where they run a cart. $5.
Sticky Fingerz
135 bridge st opens late after ~10pm and stays open until the bars close. they offer fried chicken and chips and the hamburgers that are worth the price. $5-10.