The Anchor Restaurant and Bar occupies a waterside position beside Nelson Yacht Marina, where the movement of boats gives lunch or dinner a natural focal point. Its scale suits both an intimate table and a sizeable gathering, with substantial indoor seating and an outdoor area that makes the most of the marina outlook. The atmosphere is intentionally friendly rather than formal, so the venue can cover a family meal, a relaxed snack and drink, or a longer dinner without losing its connection to Port Nelson.
Seafood is the menu's clearest expression of place. Tuna ika mata combines citrus-marinated fish with coconut cream and fresh vegetables, while the house chowder brings fish, scallops, mussels and bacon into a chardonnay base. Salt and pepper squid provides a crisp start, and green-lipped mussels can arrive in white wine and garlic, miso broth or Thai curry. For a more complete survey, the Fisherman's Plate gathers fish, squid, prawns and mussels, while squid-ink risotto takes the seafood in a richer direction.
The grill gives non-seafood diners an equally substantial choice. The Anchor Steak pairs scotch fillet with mushrooms, onions, fries and salad, while surf and turf adds mussels and prawns to the beef. Slow-cooked short rib, crisp-skinned pork belly and lamb shoulder bring different textures and cooking styles to the mains. Burgers cover beef, chicken, fish and grilled halloumi, making the selection broad enough for a mixed group without weakening the restaurant's central emphasis on steak and the local catch.
Vegetarian diners have several complete dinner choices, including eggplant and tomato shakshuka, smoked mushroom risotto and honeyed halloumi. Gluten-free and lactose-free needs are also represented, and a dedicated children's menu makes family dining more straightforward. The wine list draws attention to Nelson producers alongside other New Zealand and Australian bottles, while set menus and function planning extend the venue to celebrations. Together, those details make the Anchor as useful for groups as it is for a marina-side meal for two.
Address: 62 Vickerman Street, Port Nelson, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Anchor Bar & Grill Menu
Lunch Menu
Served at lunch. V – Vegetarian. VE – Vegan. DF – Dairy Free. GF – Gluten Free.
Anchor Bread & Dips
Toasted ciabatta with two seasonal dips, marinated olives, feta cheese and cheese sauce. (V)
Garlic Ciabatta
Grilled ciabatta with garlic herb butter. (V)
Seafood Plate
A selection of green-lipped mussels, Tiger Prawns and Cutlets, served on a bed of mesclun, fresh lemon and house-made tartare sauce.
Market Fish & Chips (Anchor Classic)
Fresh market fish battered & fried, served with fries, salad, tartare & lemon.
Tuna Ika Mata
Fresh raw tuna marinated in lime & lemon juice, tossed with cucumber, spring onion & fresh herbs in coconut cream. Served chilled with toasted ciabatta. (DF, GF option)
The Anchor Chowder
Creamy seafood chowder with fish, scallops, mussels & bacon in a rich chardonnay base, served with toasted ciabatta.
Salt and Pepper Squid
Crispy fried squid with citrus aioli & fresh lemon. (DF, GF option)
Chili & Garlic Prawns
Sautéed prawn cutlets in chili-garlic oil, served with toasted ciabatta. (DF, GF option)
Green Lipped Mussels
Fresh green lipped mussels steamed to order, served with toasted ciabatta. Choose your style: White Wine & Garlic | Thai Green Coconut Curry. (GF)
Grilled Lamb Ciabatta Stack
Slow-cooked lamb layered over toasted ciabatta with caramelised onion & rocket, finished with feta-pesto whip and golden fries.
Harbourside Steak
200g sirloin steak, served with fries and a garden salad. With your choice of sauce: red-wine jus | mushroom. Add Surf and Turf $7: 2 tiger prawns, 2 mussels, 2 prawn cutlets.
Anchor All day Breakfast
Sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomato, streaky bacon, breakfast steak, mini sausages, crispy hash bites & eggs your way with toasted ciabatta.
Steak Sandwich
Grilled sirloin steak, mesclun, tomato, sauteed mushrooms, caramelised onions with aioli served with fries.
Catch of the Day
Price: Market Price
Chef’s Seasonal Pasta
Price: Market Price
Anchor Beef Burger
180g beef patty with cheddar, bacon, onion rings, BBQ sauce & aioli.
Anchor Chicken Burger
Grilled chicken thigh with creamy mushroom sauce, bacon, mesclun & aioli.
Anchor Fish Burger
Lemon- pepper pan fried fish fillet with lettuce, tomato & tartare sauce.
Anchor Vege Burger
Grilled halloumi with pesto, lettuce, tomato & aioli. (V)
Sailor’s Risotto
Squid-ink risotto with fish, prawns, Tiger Prawns, mussels & clams.
Fisherman’s Plate
Deep fried fillet of fresh fish, squid, with a tiger prawn, prawn cutlets and green lipped mussels, served with fries, fresh seasonal garden salad and dipping sauces.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Mesclun tossed in Caesar dressing with crispy bacon, grilled chicken, parmesan and cherry tomatoes, topped with crunchy croutons.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Roasted pumpkin served on mediterranean salad with feta cheese, red onion, cherry tomatoes and balsamic dressing.
Mushroom Risotto
Creamy arborio rice with sauteed mushrooms finished with truffle oil, microgreens and parmesan. (V GF)
Grilled Halloumi Salad
Goldern grilled halloumi served on fresh salad with cucumber, roasted capsicum, cherry tomatoes finished with a pesto honey dressing. (V)
Lunch Sides
Wedges
Fries
Roasted Potatoes with Herbed Sea Salt
Mushroom/Jus Sauce
Seasonal Vegetables
Egg
Fish fillet
Dinner Menu
Served at dinner. V – Vegetarian. VE – Vegan. DF – Dairy Free. GF – Gluten Free.
Anchor Bread & Dips
Toasted ciabatta with two seasonal dips, marinated olives, artichokes & cheese sauce. (V)
Garlic Ciabatta
Grilled ciabatta with garlic herb butter. (V)
Seafood Plate
A selection of green-lipped mussels, Tiger Prawns and Cutlets, Served on a bed of mesclun, fresh lemon and house-made tartare sauce.
Tuna Ika Mata
Fresh raw tuna marinated in lime & lemon juice, tossed with cucumber, spring onion & fresh herbs in coconut cream. Served chilled with toasted ciabatta. (DF, GF option)
The Anchor Chowder
Creamy seafood chowder with fish, scallops, mussels & bacon in a rich chardonnay base, served with toasted ciabatta.
Salt and Pepper Squid
Crispy fried squid with citrus aioli & fresh lemon. (DF, GF option)
Chili & Garlic Prawns
Sautéed prawn cutlets in chili-garlic oil, served with toasted ciabatta. (DF, GF option)
Green Lipped Mussels
Fresh green lipped mussels steamed to order, served with toasted ciabatta. Choose your style: White Wine & Garlic | Thai Green Coconut Curry. (GF)
Grilled Lamb
Slow-cooked lamb shoulder served over a feta and pesto whip accompanied by roasted garlic buttered potatoes and finished with a red wine jus.
Anchor Steak (Anchor Classic)
200g scotch fillet topped with sautéed mushrooms, bacon & onions, served with fries, garden salad & red wine jus.
Surf & Turf
Chargrilled 200g scotch fillet, fresh green lipped mussels, prawn cutlets and tiger prawns, served with fries, garden salad & jus.
Crispy Pork Belly
Crispy-skinned pork belly with roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables & red-wine jus.
Sailor’s Risotto
Squid-ink risotto with fish, prawns, Tiger Prawns, mussels & clams.
Gourmet Fish & Chips (Anchor Classic)
Fresh market fish battered & fried, served with fries, salad, tartare & lemon.
Fisherman’s Plate
Deep fried fillet of fresh fish, squid, with a tiger prawn, prawn cutlets and fresh green lipped mussels steamed in a garlic herb butter, served with golden fries, a fresh seasonal garden salad and dipping sauces.
Catch of the Day
Price: Market Price
Chef’s Seasonal Pasta
Price: Market Price
Mushroom Risotto
Creamy arborio rice with sauteed mushrooms finished with truffle oil, microgreens and Parmesan. (V, GF)
Chicken Caesar Salad
Mesclun tossed in Caesar dressing with crispy bacon, grilled chicken, parmesan and cherry tomatoes, topped with crunchy croutons.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Roasted pumpkin served on mediterranean salad with feta cheese, red onion, cherry tomatoes and balsamic dressing.
Grilled Halloumi Salad
Golden grilled halloumi served on fresh salad with cucumber, roasted capsicum, cherry tomatoes finished with a pesto honey dressing. (V)
Anchor Beef Burger
180g beef patty with cheddar, bacon, onion rings, BBQ sauce & aioli.
Anchor Chicken Burger
Grilled chicken thigh with creamy mushroom sauce, bacon, mesclun & aioli.
Anchor Fish Burger
Lemon pepper pan fried fish fillet with lettuce, tomato & tartare sauce.
Anchor Vege Burger
Grilled halloumi with pesto, lettuce, tomato & aioli. (V)
Kids Menu
For our Little Sailors. $17 – Includes a drink, a kids’ sundae & activity pack. Available for children under 12 only. Add a small salad +$3. Drinks – choose one: Apple | Orange | Raspberry lemonade | Soft drink | Milk | Flavoured water. D – Dairy. G – Gluten. E – Eggs. SF – Shellfish.
Kids Fish & Chips
Crispy battered fish fillet with fries, lemon & tartare sauce. Allergens: G, D, E, SF
Mini Anchor Beef Burger
Mini beef patty, cheddar, tomato sauce & fries. Allergens: G, D, E
Mini Grilled Chicken Burger
Mini Grilled chicken thigh, cheddar, tomato sauce & fries. Allergens: G, D, E
Mini Anchor Fish Burger
Crispy fish fillet, lettuce & tartare sauce on a soft bun, served with fries. Allergens: G, D, E, SF
Eggs on Toast (Scrambled)
Scrambled eggs on toasted ciabatta with a side of fries or salad. Allergens: G, D, E
Crispy Potato Wedges
Seasoned potato wedges served with tomato sauce or aioli. Allergens: E (in aioli)
Kids Sundae
Vanilla ice cream with chocolate, caramel or berry sauce, whipped cream & sprinkles. Allergens: D, E
Beers
Asahi Premium Lager 5%
Tap
Boundary Road Hazy Pale Ale 5%
Tap
Balter XPA 5%
Tap
Carlsburg Pilsner 5%
Tap
Anchor Ale 4%
Tap
Champagne & Sparkling
Deutz Brut
Henkell Rose 200ml
Prosecco Canti 200ml
Lindauer Fraise 200m
Lindauer Sauvignon 200ml
Wine – White
Anchorage – Nelson – House
Sauvignon Blanc
Jules Taylor – Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Allan Scott – Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc
Sheild – Nelson
Sauvignon Blanc
Anchorage – Nelson – House
Pinot Gris
Wine – Red
Anchorage – Nelson – House
Pinot Noir
Neudorf – Nelson
Pinot Noir
Fickle Mistress – Otago
Pinot Noir
Lake Chalice – Marlborough
Merlot
Allan Scott – Marlborough
Merlot
Non Alcoholic – Juice
Orange
Apple
Pineapple
Tomato
Cranberry
Non Alcoholic – Fizzy
Coke
Lemonade
L&P
Coke No Sugar
Sprite Zero
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