ABOUT US
Why slow food, served fast?
Our journey to become Wanaka’s favourite cafe for healthy slow-cooked food, served fast began with the vision to bring the food that we love as a family to the heart of Wanaka.
Think of Big Fig as a home kitchen making family-style food - just like we grew up with – to hundreds of people every day.
We’ve mastered the art of combining thoughtful, seasonal, delicious, healthy, ‘modern Middle Eastern’ flavours, with all the efficiency of a fast-food cafe. ‘Slow food, served fast’ really is the best of both worlds.
About Big Fig - slow-cooked healthy food on the Wanaka lakefront.
Two sisters started Big Fig Wanaka in 2016. Shaz and Chrissie Lahood grew up in a food-obsessed Kiwi family of ten kids and named the café for the fig tree that grew in their Taranaki backyard. The food is inspired by their Lebanese heritage.
Since we opened, our eatery has stood apart for its unique ‘slow food, served fast’ concept and distinctive style.
Our commitment to sustainability
We never stop looking for ways to be more sustainable:
We’re 100% single-use cup-free.
We offer three plate sizes to ensure people are getting the quantity of food they need and discourage waste.
We use no plastic in our takeaways and work constantly to reduce plastic in our system.
We offer a $1 discount to people who bring their own takeaway containers.
100% of our food scraps go to feed local pigs.
We offer a $2 discount on all vegetarian and vegan plates on Mondays to encourage plant-based eating.
Wanaka’s best hospitality jobs? Join the Big Fig team.
We employ baristas, servers, runners, chefs, preppers and kitchenhands (a.k.a. dishies).
Because we’re busy, we have lots of staff and positions coming up all the time. We like people who are hard-working and fun.
If that sounds like you, apply now using the button below.
“We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet.
We were one of the first cafes in Wanaka to go SUC-free (Single-Use Cup-free) and we’ve never looked back.”
Hear more about our story below …
