Black Betty BBQ grew into its Hastings restaurant by way of a smoker, a driveway and plenty of road miles. The business began in 2019, adapted to click-and-collect cooking from a Mayfair home during 2020, then worked the Hawke's Bay food-truck circuit before putting down roots on Warren Street in 2021. That history is still legible in the restaurant: the cooking is direct, built for trays and shared tables, and closely tied to the theatre of smoke. Takeaway, dine-in service and catering now sit alongside the mobile operation rather than replacing it.
The smoker is the centre of gravity. Brisket is cooked until it yields easily, pork is pulled and dressed with barbecue sauce, and ribs spend long enough over smoke to become tender without losing their structure. The kitchen describes its approach as Texas-style low and slow, favouring patient cooking and fruitwood smoke over elaborate plating. Burgers connect the restaurant back to its early days, while lamb, ribeye and buffalo wings appear through its catering and event menus. The result is meat-led food with clear technique behind its apparent simplicity.
Sides are treated as part of the barbecue rather than decoration. Sweetcorn mac and cheese gains savoury depth from chorizo crumb, ranch slaw brings cool tang, and sharp pickles cut through the richness of brisket and pork. Fresh jalapeño cornbread is designed to catch sauce and smoke on the plate. These contrasts matter when several meats arrive together: creaminess, acidity, crunch and gentle heat keep a mixed tray interesting from one bite to the next. It is the kind of menu that rewards ordering across categories and passing everything around.
The wider Warren Street venue lets the experience shift without leaving the property. The Olde Saloon builds a darker Western-bar mood around whisky and drinks, while the Peacock Lounge is a self-contained private room with retro styling and space for a small gathering. Black Betty can carry its barbecue into either setting with trays, snacks and cocktails, and the same kitchen also supports off-site functions and food-truck events. That range makes the restaurant useful for a casual smoky lunch, a longer group meal or a celebration with its own room and soundtrack.
Address: 408 Warren Street North, Hastings 4122, New Zealand
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