The Zookeeper's Son is Royal Oak's local pub, occupying a substantial Mount Albert Road site with on-site parking and room for both everyday visits and organised celebrations. The venue continued under new ownership in 2026, retaining its established name and same Royal Oak premises. Its scale lets it cover several moods at once: a casual drink, a family meal, a table watching sport, or a larger function can all fit without asking the pub to become a formal restaurant.
Food is substantial enough to make the venue a dining destination rather than a drinks-only bar. Garlic loaf, squid and fried chicken sit alongside pork belly, loaded fries and Korean-style cauliflower among the smaller plates, while a larger sharing platter suits a group that wants to sample several flavours. Those dishes bring spice, crunch and slow-cooked richness to the table before the mains, and they also make it possible to build a flexible shared meal instead of ordering a conventional course for every person.
Main dishes move through recognisable pub favourites and more contemporary alternatives. Chicken schnitzel, fish and chips, pork belly and carbonara sit alongside gnocchi, Caesar salad and a tahini bowl. Burgers and pizzas cover the most casual end of the menu, while steak supplies a more traditional centrepiece. The breadth is useful for mixed groups because it spans meat, seafood and plant-led choices without making the menu feel disconnected from the pub setting. Desserts let the meal continue at the same relaxed pace.
A children's menu reinforces the venue's family-friendly side, while cocktails and the wider bar selection keep it equally relevant for an evening with friends. Regular events and flexible function spaces make use of the building beyond ordinary table service, and the dedicated parking removes one practical complication for Royal Oak gatherings. Despite the recent ownership change, the current venue remains recognisably The Zookeeper's Son: a broad, social pub built around food, drinks and occasions rather than a narrow speciality.
Address: 715 Mount Albert Road, Royal Oak, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
The Zookeeper's Son Menu
Pub Snacks
Pull-Apart Garlic Loaf
garlic butter
Korean-Fried Cauliflower
Korean BBQ sauce, pickles
Salt & Pepper Squid
garlic aioli, fresh lemon
Sticky Pork Belly Bites
Gochujang BBQ glaze, chilli, sesame seeds
Loaded Fries
BBQ brisket, cheesy sauce, chipotle mayo, pickles, green onion
Garlic Chilli Prawns
blistered cherry tomatoes, green onion, chilli aioli on garlic butter pizza bread
Glazed Pork & Wagyu Brisket Meatballs
smoky herb butter jus, mustard cream, cheddar dust
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
honey sriracha, ranch, garden pickles
Onion Rings
chipotle mayo
Fries
confit garlic aioli
Tools Down Platter
sticky pork belly bites, buttermilk fried chicken, Korean fried cauliflower, salt & pepper squid, pork & wagyu brisket meatballs, grilled focaccia
Pub Mains
Chicken Schnitty
crumbed chicken breast, green herb slaw, gravy; choose fries or mash
Fish & Chips
beer-battered daily catch, house fries, green herb slaw, tartare sauce
Potato Gnocchi
leek & peas, Italian tomato sauce, lemon ricotta verde, crispy kale
Twice Cooked Pork Belly
potato gratin, winter greens, pear & fig relish, jus
Fettuccine Carbonara
creamy carbonara sauce, chicken, bacon, Grana Padano
Classic Caesar
cos lettuce, bacon, herbed croutons, anchovy dressing, soft-boiled egg, parmesan snow; ADD grilled chicken +8.0
Green Tahini Bowl
roast carrots, lemon ricotta verde, winter leaves, toasted buckwheat, pumpkin seed crunch; ADD grilled chicken +8.0
Butcher’s Cut Steak
Rotating cut of premium NZ beef, fries, café de Paris butter, red wine jus, charred winter greens
Butcher’s Cut Steak
Rotating cut of premium NZ beef, fries, café de Paris butter, red wine jus, charred winter greens
Pizza
No gluten added base +2.5 | Dairy free mozzarella available
Margherita
cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil
BBQ
brisket, pork belly, pepperoni, mozzarella, smoky IPA BBQ sauce
Bianca
mushrooms, white sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, kale, parmesan
Chicken & Chorizo
red onion, fire-roasted peppers, jalapeños
Desserts
American Chocolate Brownie Sundae
chocolate peanut butter granola, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce
Baked Cheesecake Pop
chocolate crackle, raspberry gel, sherbert
Sticky Date Pudding
butterscotch sauce, vanilla bean ice cream
Burgers
No gluten added bun +2.5 or lettuce bun available
Cheeseburger
150g brisket patty, American cheese, special sauce, ketchup, sweet & spicy pickles, milk bun, fries
The Cluckerson
crispy-fried chicken, American cheese, chipotle mayo, ranch, sweet & spicy pickles, lettuce, milk bun, fries
The Hallouminati
grilled halloumi, house-made vegan patty, American cheese, special sauce, sweet & spicy pickles, ranch, red onion, milk bun, fries
Sides
Cos Lettuce
pumpkin seed crunch, house dressing
Charred Winter Greens
garlic butter
Kids
15.5 Ea. All served with kids’ sundae. Available to kids 12 years and under. (V) vegetarian | (VO) vegetarian option | (NGA) no gluten added. We try our absolute best but our kitchen is not a gluten-free zone, so please chat to our team if you have any questions. +2.5% surcharge on credit card payments.
Mini Beast Burger
beef patty, cheese, ketchup, toasted bun, fries
Chook & Chips
crumbed chicken bites, fries, tomato sauce
Lil’ Fish & Flicks
crispy fish bites, fries, tartare sauce
Meatballs
Italian tomato sauce, fettuccine, cheese
Grilled Chicken & Mash
gravy, greens | NGA
Fettuccine
Italian tomato sauce, mozzarella | V
Cheesy Mini Pizza
mozzarella, pizza sauce | V; ADD bacon | pineapple | chicken
Cheese & Bacon Loaded Fries
cheese sauce, mozzarella, gravy | V\O
Kids’ Sundae
100s & 1000s, chocolate OR caramel OR strawberry sauce • FREE WITH ANY KIDS MEAL •
Late Night
(V) vegetarian | (NGO) no gluten option. We try our absolute best but our kitchen is not a gluten-free zone, so please chat to our team if you have any questions. +2.5% surcharge on credit card payments.
Korean-Fried Cauliflower
Korean BBQ sauce, pickles
Salt & Pepper Squid
garlic aioli, fresh lemon
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
honey sriracha, ranch, garden pickles
Onion Rings
chipotle mayo
Fries
confit garlic aioli
Margherita Pizza
cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil
BBQ Pizza
brisket, pork belly, pepperoni, mozzarella, smoky IPA BBQ sauce
Cocktails
Tommy’s Margarita
El Jimador reposado Tequila, agave nectar, lime juice
Passionfruit Daiquiri
Flor de Caña Seco Rum, passionfruit purée, lime juice
Cosmopolitan
Finlandia vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice
Pink Gin Martini
Beefeater pink gin, lime juice, strawberry purée, soda water, mint leaves
Bitter Sweet Spritz
Prosecco, lime juice, triple sec, cranberry juice, watermelon purée
Coconut Crush
Finlandia vodka, triple sec, pineapple juice, coconut syrup, soda water, lime juice
Espresso Martini
Finlandia vodka, Kahlúa, sugar syrup, espresso
Watermelon Sugar
Absolut watermelon vodka, El Jimador blanco Tequila, watermelon purée, soda water, lemon juice
Strawberry Hill
Absolut vanilla vodka, strawberry, passionfruit purée, lemon juice, apple juice
Zero Alcohol Cocktails
Lynchburg Lemonade 0%
Lyre’s spiced non-alcoholic spirit, Lyre’s orangesec, lemonade, lime juice
Porn Star Martini 0%
Lyre’s pink London spirit, Lyre’s Classico sparkling wine, vanilla syrup, passionfruit purée, lime juice
Cosmopolitan 0%
Lyre’s orange sec, cranberry juice, strawberry syrup, lime juice, lemon twist
Pineapple Margarita 0%
Lyre’s agave blanco spirit, pineapple juice, orange juice, agave syrup, salted & spiced rim
Tommy’s Margarita 0%
Lyre’s agave blanco spirit, agave syrup, lime juice, pinch of salt
Refreshments
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola zero sugar
Fanta
Schweppes
Ginger Ale | Lemon, Lime & Bitters | Dry Lemonade | Tonic | Soda | Ginger Beer
Red Bull
Energy Drink | Sugarfree | Coconut Edition Sugarfree
Keri Juice
Apple | Pineapple | Orange | Cranberry
Milkshakes
Chocolate | Banana | Caramel | Strawberry | Vanilla | Lime
Pink Panther
Lemonade, cream, raspberry cordial, whipped cream
Spider
Coca-Cola, ice cream
Blueberry Floss
Lemonade, blueberry purée
Voyage Water 500ml / 1L
Sparkling | Still
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Auckland
- Fish and chips Typical in Auckland: $28.45 $29.50
- Margherita pizza Typical in Auckland: $26.00 $28.00
- Caesar salad Typical in Auckland: $24.50 $24.00
- Carbonara Typical in Auckland: $29.50 $29.50
- Cheeseburger Typical in Auckland: $17.00 $27.00
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