Elmo's is an Italian-inspired restaurant and pizza bar with a colourful, energetic presence on Ponsonby Road. The kitchen follows the seasons rather than holding every idea permanently, and frames the food as something to share. Weekends begin with an Italian-style brunch, while Friday and Saturday evenings develop into a late-night cocktail-bar session from 9pm. That range gives the venue several distinct moods: leisurely daytime dining, a full pizza-and-pasta dinner, or drinks that continue after the tables become livelier.
A meal can start with rosemary-and-fennel focaccia or a thyme flatbread, perhaps followed by burrata dressed simply with olive oil or paired with pesto, candied wood-fired tomatoes and pine nuts. The cheese and charcuterie board layers aged prosciutto, salami and mortadella with pickles and quince. Smaller plates then turn more adventurous through kiwifruit-marinated calamari, market-fish crudo, liver parfait, mushroom truffle arancini, venison carpaccio and short rib served with salsa verde and red-wine reduction. Each can contribute to a progressive shared meal.
The wood-fired pizzas favour expressive combinations. A classic tomato, mozzarella and basil pie sits beside four cheeses with almonds, spiced honey and sage. Anchovies, capers and burrata sharpen the Mediterranean Heart, whereas Truffle Shuffle combines mushrooms, pancetta and black-truffle cream on a white base. Other toppings run from chorizo with 'nduja honey to vegan mushrooms, lamb shoulder with pomegranate, pineapple and coppa, or prosciutto with taleggio, stracciatella and truffle oil. A gluten-free base is available, although the kitchen is not certified gluten-free.
Handmade pasta provides a second centrepiece. Cacio e pepe keeps its focus on black pepper and aged cheese; spicy rigatoni folds chilli and vodka into a tomato vegetable ragù. Pappardelle carries slowly braised lamb shoulder, while spaghetti alle vongole combines Cloudy Bay clams, 'nduja and sauvignon blanc. Dessert can be classic or weekly tiramisu, or an extra-large hazelnut-chocolate calzone for sharing. Italian and New Zealand wines, spritzes, cocktails, beer and thoughtfully composed mocktails keep the bar closely connected to the food.
Address: 151 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Elmos Menu
Breads
Focaccia with rosemary and fennel sea salt
Garlic butter thyme flat bread
Burrata Bar
125g Massimo Burrata | Burrata is a fresh Italian cow’s milk cheese. The outer shell is a soft mozzarella, while the inside contains stracciatella and cream. We recommend a flat bread to pair with your burrata.
Elmo’s Burrata
Served perfect with a drizzle of special olive oil (NGA)
Signature Burrata
With pesto, candied wood-fired tomatoes, toasted pinenuts (NGA)
Cheese and Charcuterie Board
Chef’s selection of cheeses
24-month aged prosciutto, Milano salami, Italian mortadella, pickles, quince, flat bread
Shared Plates
Green olives
Garlic confit, citrus, chilli, herbs (NGA)
Calamari
Marinated in kiwifruit, squid ink aioli, ’nduja oil, lemon (NGA)
Line caught market fish crudo
Kaffir lime, leche de tigre, fresh new season fruit, fresh jalapeños, nasturtium leaf (NGA)
Liver parfait
Duck and chicken liver, champagne onion jam, beetroot dust, served on rosemary and fennel focaccia
Truffle arancini balls (3pcs)
Artisan mushroom medley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, arborio rice, lime and porcini creme (V)
Venison carpaccio
Wild New Zealand venison, champagne onion jam, beets, pecorino, rocket (NGA)
NZ beef short rib 250gram
Italian salsa verde, red wine reduction, served on a bed of flaming aromatic hay (NGA)
Rocket
Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamic, lemon olive oil * (v)
Heirloom tomato salad
Beetroot, citrus fruits (vegan)
Crunchy Fries
Served with aioli
Wood-Fired Pizza
Gluten free bases available +4
Mamma-gherita *
Tomato, mozzarella, basil, pecorino (V)
Discovery of honey *
(Four cheese) mozzarella, taleggio, gruyère, gorgonzola, almonds, spiced honey, crispy sage (v)
Mediterranean heart *
Slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, anchovies, popping capers, charred onions, burrata cheese
Truffle shuffle * a must try!
White base, taleggio béchamel, mozzarella, wild mushrooms, crispy pork pancetta, black truffle cream, chive
Hot to Trot!
Tomato, mozzarella, chorizo, salami, pepperoni, spiced ’nduja honey, whipped ricotta
Living on the vege
Tomato base, wild mushrooms, charred onion, black truffle, chive (vegan)
Mary had a little
Tomato, mozzarella, braised Te Mana lamb shoulder, pomegranate, whipped feta, chives
Hawaii not
Tomato, mozzarella, crispy coppa, wood-fired pineapple, chive
Insta-ham a must try!
White base, taleggio, béchamel, mozzarella, prosciutto, stracciatella, rocket and truffle oil
Not one to fig-et (Seasonal)
White base, taleggio, gruyère, gorgonzola, mozzarella, crispy coppa, seasonal figs, hot honey
Fresh Handmade Pasta
Spaghetti cacio e pepe
Black pepper, pecorino, Parmigiano-Reggiano, creamy sauce (V)
Spicy rigatoni
Alla vodka tomato vegetable ragù, red chilli, vodka, Parmigiano-Reggiano, cream (V)
Pappardelle al ragù di agnello
Slowly braised Te Mana lamb shoulder, herbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano
Spaghetti alle vongole
Cloudy Bay diamond clams, ’nduja, sauvignon blanc, chilli herb butter, pangrattato, parsley (contains gluten)
Dessert Menu
Tiramisu of the week
Weekly special please check with your server
Classic tiramisu
An original Italian dessert
XL sharing hazelnut chocolate calzone
Nutella, pistachio, citrus zest, ricotta, mascarpone
Italian Brunch
Bottomless brunch is $79 per person. Pick one brunch item and enjoy two hours of drinks.
Bruschetta
Toasted sourdough with creamy stracciatella, basil pesto, and candy-sweet wood-fired tomatoes – finished with toasted pine nuts. (V, GFI option available)
Prosciutto meets luxury
toasted sourdough with silky stracciatella, rocket and a drizzle of truffle oil. (GFI option available)
Pizza Fritta
Golden fried base brushed with garlic butter, topped with soft scrambled eggs, candied tomatoes and prosciutto.
La Dolce Vita
Mortadella, taleggio, pistachio pesto, mascarpone, sundried tomato, oregano, mozzarella.
Discovery of Honey (v)
Four-cheese fantasy: taleggio, gruyère, gorgonzola, mozzarella – kissed with warm honey, toasted almonds and crispy sage.
In Truffle We Trust (v)
Creamy béchamel, wild mushrooms, black truffle, chives, mozzarella and egg yolk.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Crispy guanciale tangled in silky yolk and Parmigiano sauce, cracked pepper bringing the attitude.
Green Day Rigatoni (v)
Brown butter, cavolo nero, kale, peas and a pop of red chilli – creamy and vibrant.
Aperitivo Hour
Happy Hour 4.30pm – 6.00pm daily and all day Sunday.
Green olives al forno
Focaccia *
Rosemary, fennel, sea salt and guanciale carbonara butter
Burrata and olive oil
Crunchy Fries *
Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, crunchy sage and onion dip (v)
Arancini Balls (3pcs)
Mushroom, black truffle, parmesan, pecorino, arborio rice, lime and porcini mayonnaise (v)
Calamari
Marinated in kiwifruit, squid ink aioli, ‘nduja oil, lemon (gf)
Cheese and Charcuterie Board
Chefs’ selection of cheeses, 24-month aged prosciutto, Milano salami, Italian mortadella, pickles, quince, flatbread
Prosecco & Champagne
GLS / BTL
Paradise Prosecco
Glass or 750ml bottle
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut
Glass or 375ml bottle
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
Glass or 750ml bottle
Whites
Ziobaffa Organic Pinot Grigio
Sicily, Italy – Apple, pear, ginger, floral, dry
Steve Bird Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, NZ – Citrus, passionfruit, rich, acidic, dry
Steve Bird Pinot Gris
Gisborne, NZ – Spiced pear, apple, honeysuckle, smooth
Cantina di Monteforte Soave Classico Clivus
Venice, Italy – Hawthorn, violet, almond, creamy, dry
Reds
GLS / BTL
Contesa Vigna Corvino Montepulciano
Abruzzo, Italy – Cherry, violet, elegant, harmonious
Notti di Sicania Syrah
Sicily, Italy – Plum, blackberry, spicy, rich, full-bodied
NACA Organic Primitivo Puglia
San Marzano, Italy – Cherry, plum, peppery, full-bodied
Spencer Block Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina – Black plum, blueberry, rich, velvety
Cocktails
Coconut Margarita
Coconut tequila, lime, sugar syrup, orange
Lychee-ing You
Gin, lemon juice, lychee liqueur, sugar syrup, lychees, mint
Mon Chéri Martini
Vanilla vodka, cherry brandy, pineapple, cranberry, lemon, hibiscus, rhubarb bitters, egg white
Cucumber Whisky Sour
Whisky, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white, cucumber
On Tap
Stella Artois
5.2%
Kirin Hyoketsu Vodka Soda Lemon RTD
6.0%
Gordon’s Pink Gin
4.0%
ELMO’S Low Carb Lager
4.2%
Bottles & Cans
Epic Armageddon IPA
6.66%
Sawmill Hazy IPA
6.0%
Mcleod’s Paradise Pale Ale
5.5%
Sawmill Pilsner
4.8%
Non-Alcoholic
Soft Drinks
Coke, Coke Zero, Lemonade, Ginger Ale
Juices
Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Cranberry, Tomato
Antipodes Still or Sparkling
1 litre
Nobel & Sunday Teas
English Breakfast, Jade Sencha, Hibiscus Blossom
Italian Brunch – Something From The Bar
Add on to the bottomless brunch.
Espresso Martini
Vodka, espresso, Quick Brown Fox coffee liqueur, Amaretto coconut cream
Hendricks Gin and Tonic
Veuve Clicquot
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Elmo's? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Auckland
- Tiramisu Typical in Auckland: $16.75 $20.00
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Elmo's
More Italian nearby
Within 10 km
