Number 8 Wire Cafe & Restaurant builds its Rotorua identity around the resourcefulness associated with its distinctly New Zealand name. The Tutanekai Street dining room combines native timber and art in a rustic contemporary setting, while indoor and outdoor tables give diners a choice of atmosphere. Service runs from breakfast and lunch into dinner, and reservations make the venue practical for families and groups as well as couples. Local ingredients and flavours drawn from sea, farm and bush give that welcoming format a clear sense of place.
The starter list introduces the kitchen's range without settling into one predictable pattern. Bread and dips offer a simple shared beginning, while pork belly brings a richer option. Venison carpaccio gives game a prominent early appearance, complemented by seafood choices such as chilli and garlic prawns or scallops. These plates suit a table that wants to explore several flavours before choosing a main, and they establish the restaurant's interest in both familiar produce and ingredients closely associated with New Zealand dining.
Grill cooking is the menu's most substantial centre. Chicken and prawns sit beside several steak cuts, while Hawke's Bay lamb rump and game venison sharpen the regional focus. Eye fillet and rack of lamb provide individual choices, and the tomahawk and meat board extend the format to diners who prefer to share. The variety allows the grill to work for a straightforward steak dinner or a broader tasting of meats, with sides available to shape the meal around the table's appetite.
Diners who look beyond the grill still have a wide field to explore. Butter chicken, beef stroganoff and goat curry bring slow-cooked comfort, while pork belly, mushroom risotto and pasta broaden the choice further. Fish, ribs and mussels continue the mixture of land and sea. A wine selection can carry the meal into dessert, where pavlova and steamed pudding provide recognisably New Zealand finishes and cheese offers a savoury alternative. Together, those options make the restaurant flexible without losing the local thread running through its menu.
Address: 1139 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Number 8 Wire Menu
Breakfast
Breakfast is Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 12:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday till 4:00 pm.
Farmhouse Omelette
Fluffy three-egg omelette with fresh herbs and melted cheese, served with toasted sourdough and hash browns.
Fields & Coop Morning Feast
Free-range eggs your way served with crispy bacon, golden hash browns, and toasted bread.
Sweet Harmony Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes with raspberry compote, whipped cream, maple syrup, and white chocolate crumble, served with crispy bacon.
Farmer’s Stack
Potato rosti layered with chutney relish, avocado smash, poached egg, and lemon hollandaise.
Avocado Smash Delight
Toasted sourdough topped with basil pesto, pistachio dukkah, bacon, poached eggs, and hash browns.
Eggs Benedict Supreme
English muffins topped with spinach, poached eggs, bacon, hollandaise and hash browns.
Kids Breakfast
Kids Farmhouse Omelette
Cheese omelette served with toasted sourdough and a hash brown.
Kids Bacon & Eggs
Free-range egg, crispy bacon, toasted bread, and a hash brown.
Kids Avocado Smash
Toasted sourdough with avocado smash, bacon, and a hash brown.
Kids Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes served with maple syrup, whipped cream and bacon.
Lunch
7:30 am till 4:00 pm.
Greek Falafel Salad
Crispy falafel, cucumber chunks, cherry tomato, feta cheese and carrot with buttermilk dressing. (V)
Free-Range Crispy Chicken Bao Buns
Soft steamed buns filled with crunchy chicken, cabbage slaw, spicy mayo and served with fries.
Creamy Farmhouse Fettuccine
Fresh homemade fettuccine, garlic cream sauce with parmesan. (add chicken for $7)
Mushroom Risotto
Forest mushrooms, arborio rice, parmesan, and herb oil. (V) (add chicken for $7)
Fish Tacos
Flour tortillas filled with fresh fish, chipotle mayo, coleslaw & jalapeño.
Thai Red Chicken Curry
Coconut curry with vegetables and fragrant herbs, served with rice.
Beef Burger
Grass-fed beef patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and house sauce, served with fries.
Crispy Chicken Burger
Free-range chicken, slaw, cheese, and spicy mayo, served with fries.
Sweet Beef Chilli Salad
Seared beef strips, seasonal leaves, crunchy noodles, sweet chilli glaze.
Country Lamb Stew
Slow-braised lamb with root vegetables in rich gravy, served with mash.
Beer Battered Fish & Chips
Golden battered market fish, fries, garden salad, and tartare sauce.
Grass-fed Sirloin Steak & Chips
Served with mushroom sauce.
Scotch Steak Sandwich
Grilled steak, onion relish, gherkin pickle, and aioli on toasted bread, served with fries.
NZ Green-Lipped Mussels
Fettuccine with white wine sauce, served with warm bread.
Lunch Sides
Steam Vegetables
Roasted Root Veg
Garden Salad
Potato Gratin
Potato Mash
Straight Cut Fries
Steamed Rice
Fried Eggs
Kids Menu
Chicken Nuggets
Served with fries
Grilled Fish
Served with fries
Chicken Tenders
Served with fries
Butter Chicken
Served with rice
Creamy Fettuccine
Fettuccine with bacon
Grilled Chicken
Served with mash & mushroom sauce
Desserts
Sticky Date pudding
Served with vanila bean ice cream
Panna cotta
Served with mango and passion fruit compote.
Pavlova
With whipped cream raspberry coulis
Cream Brulle
Homemade served with berry compote. (Gf)
Vanila Ice Cream
Kapiti ice cream
Dinner Starters
Bread & Dip Delights
Warm house-made ciabatta served with dukkah, balsamic reduction, and hummus. (V)
Steak Bites
Seared steak bites served with fresh garden salad and light dressing. (GF)
Pork Belly
Slow-cooked pork belly served with mash and red wine sauce. (GF)
Venison Carpaccio
Thinly sliced venison with wasabi mayo, fresh greens, and light dressing. (GF)
Chilli Garlic Prawns
Prawns sautéed with garlic and chilli, served with toasted house bread. (DF)
Scallops
Pan-seared scallops served with cauliflower purée. (GF)
From The Grill
Locally sourced premium meat cuts. Most of our grill dishes can be prepared gluten free and dairy free on request. Please advise staff.
Waitoa Grilled Chicken Breast
Served with mash and mushroom sauce.
Grilled Tiger Prawns
Char-grilled tiger prawns served with roasted vegetables and creamy garlic sauce.
Takapoto Sirloin (220g)
Handpicked sirloin served with mash and mushroom sauce.
Hawkes Bay Lamb Rump (250g)
Tender lamb rump served with roasted vegetables and includes your choice of sauce.
Premium Game Venison (220g)
Denverleg venison served with roasted vegetables and includes your choice of sauce.
Scotch Fillet (250g)
Juicy scotch fillet served with fries and mushroom sauce.
Elegant Eye Fillet (200g)
Served with potato gratin and includes your choice of sauce.
Coastal Hawkes Bay Rack of Lamb (250g)
Served with roast vegetable and includes your choice of sauce.
Tomahawk (500g)
Premium 500g Tomahawk steak served with garden salad and one complimentary sauce. Sides available to order separately. (GF, DF)
Chef's Selection Meat Board for Two
Choice of two meats (Sirloin, Lamb Rump or Venison), two sides and two sauces.
Not From The Grill
Kiwi Style Butter Chicken
Creamy butter chicken served with steamed rice. (GF)
Beef Stroganoff
Classic creamy beef stroganoff served with rice
Goat Curry
Slow-cooked goat curry in a creamy sauce, served with steamed rice. (GF)
Slow-Cooked Pork Belly
Tender pork belly served with mash and red wine sauce. (GF)
Mushroom Risotto
Creamy arborio rice with mushrooms and parmesan. (V, GF)
Creamy Fettuccine
Creamy fettuccine with bacon, Spinach and parmesan cheese.
Lamb Stew
Slow-cooked lamb stew with vegetables, served with mash and bread.
Fish of the Day
Pan-fried market fish served with potato gratin and white wine sauce.
Pork Ribs
House-made pork ribs served with roasted vegetables. (GF)
Green-Lipped Mussels
Mussels served with creamy fettuccine and rustic bread.
Dinner Sides
Garden Salad
Mesclun salad with pickled capsicum, onions, carrots, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds with parmesan cheese.
Seasonal Vegetables
Steamed broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower, finished with butter. (V, GF)
Roast Vegetables
Potatoes and carrots with herbs and olive oil. (V, GF, DF)
Agria Potato Mash
Creamy mashed agria potatoes. (V, GF)
Fries
Crispy golden fries with seasoning.
Steamed Rice
Fried Eggs
Dinner Kids Menu
Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Nuggets and Chips
Grilled Fish
Grilled Fish and Chips
Chicken Tenders
Chicken Tenders with Chips
Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken Kids with Rice (GF)
Creamy Fettuccine
Fettuccine with bacon
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Chicken with mash & mushroom sauce
Dinner Desserts
Sticky Date pudding
Traditional sticky date pudding, served with vanila bean ice cream
Panna cotta
Complemented by a delightful mango and passionfruit compote. (Gf)
Pavlova
With whipped cream raspberry coulis. (Gf)
Cream Brulle
Homemade served with berry compote. (Gf)
Vanila Bean Ice Cream
2 large scoop of vanila bean ice cream.
Beers
Croucher Golden Lager
Tap Beer
Croucher Pilsner
Tap Beer
Tui
Local Beer
Speight’s Gold
Local Beer
Export Gold
Local Beer
Corona
International Beer
Heineken
International Beer
Cocktails
Espresso Martini
Rich coffee, smooth and creamy.
Pineapple Chilli Margarita
Sweet pineapple with a spicy kick.
Gin Sour
Crisp citrus, smooth finish.
Passionfruit Martini
Sweet, tangy and refreshing.
Classic Margarita
Zesty lime, clean and crisp.
Wines
Kopiko Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, NZ • Dry, crisp with citrus and tropical fruit.
Katahi Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, NZ • Dry, vibrant with herbaceous notes.
Volcanic Hills Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand • Fresh tropical flavours with citrus finish.
Kopiko Bay Pinot Gris
Marlborough, NZ • Off-dry with pear and spice.
Katahi Pinot Gris
Marlborough, NZ • Medium-dry with ripe stone fruit.
Volcanic Hills Pinot Gris
New Zealand • Crisp, fresh and lightly fruity.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Juices
Apple | Orange | Pineapple | Cranberry | Apple Blackcurrant | Tropical
Soft Drinks
Coke | Coke Zero | Sprite | Ginger Ale | Ginger Beer | Soda Water | Tonic Water
Smoothies
Detox | Energizer | Reboot
Antipodes Sparkling Water (500ml)
L & P
Lemon Lime Bitters
Spirits
Add mixer 2.50.
Absolut (House)
Vodka
Smirnoff Red
Vodka
Grey Goose
Vodka
Gordon’s London Dry (House)
Gin
Bombay Sapphire
Gin
Tanqueray
Gin
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Number 8 Wire Cafe & Restaurant? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Rotorua
- Fish and chips Typical in Rotorua: $28.95 $28.90
- Beef burger Typical in Rotorua: $26.50 $24.90
- Chicken burger Typical in Rotorua: $26.75 $24.90
- Sticky date pudding Typical in Rotorua: $16.40 $16.90
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Number 8 Wire Cafe & Restaurant
-
Grill N Roll
Rotorua · 10 m ·$
Asian
-
The Thai Restaurant Rotorua
Rotorua · 10 m ·$$
Asian · Thai
- Asian W White Tiger Rotorua Rotorua · 30 m Asian
- Spanish P Poco Tapas & Wine Rotorua · 40 m ·$ Spanish · Tapas & Small Plates
- New Zealand T The Fainting Goat Rotorua · 40 m ·$$ New Zealand · Pizza
-
Lovely India Tandoori Restaurant
Rotorua · 50 m ·$
Indian