The Cabbage Tree Restaurant sits in Otatara on the road toward Oreti Beach, combining the functions of a country tavern, family restaurant and event venue. Its main building is faced in Central Otago schist and surrounded by more than 1,300 native plantings, giving the grounds a distinctly Southland sense of place. Lunch begins later in the week, dinner covers Wednesday and Thursday, and table bookings make the out-of-town setting practical for a planned visit.
The menu favours substantial, familiar plates with enough variety for a mixed table. A panko-crumbed chicken burger layers bacon, cheese and salad beside beer-battered fries, while the ribeye steak comes with eggs, onion rings, fries and greens. Slow-roasted pork belly takes the traditional route with creamy mash, steamed vegetables, apple sauce and gravy. Seafood salad and a beef-and-bean nacho plate bring lighter and more casual alternatives to the same menu.
Different dining spaces change how the restaurant can be used. Gidgets and the Beach Bar provide open areas, while the Red Room adds lounge seating and a fireplace. The Sandpit and Corporate Box support smaller private meals or meetings, and the hall can accommodate a much larger gathering. Outside, grass and mature trees create room for ceremonies and summer occasions, so the restaurant can move from ordinary table service to a complete celebration on one site.
That flexibility has grown from the property’s local history. The old Beach Store was largely demolished and rebuilt in 2000, retaining the idea of a community stopping place while developing a much more ambitious dining and function complex. In 2018 the long-serving manager and his wife took over ownership. The result feels rooted in its surroundings: hearty restaurant food, spaces for families and groups, and gardens that make a meal part of a wider Otatara outing.
Address: 379 Dunns Road, Otatara, Invercargill 9879, New Zealand
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The Cabbage Tree Menu
Starters
Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Seafood Chowder
Shrimps, mussels, fish and calamari in a rich creamy base and served with hot bread.
Bread Loaf
Oven baked pull apart loaf with garlic butter and pesto.
Shrimp Cocktail
A generous serving of shrimps on mixed salad greens, drizzled with a seafood dressing. (G)
Steamed Mussels
500g Greenshell mussels in a Thai Green Curry sauce. (G)
Chicken Dipper
Crispy fried battered chicken served on mixed salad greens with chipotle mayo.
Cheese Platter
Brie, creamy blue, gouda and aged cheddar served with sundried tomatoes, olives, gherkins, bread, crackers and hummus. (G)
Chatter Platter
Creamy blue, gouda, aged chedder, brie, house smoked salmon, squid rings, battered onion rings, battered chicken, olives, basil pesto, gherkins, sun dried tomatoes with breads & crackers. Suitable for 4-6 people. (G)
Salads & Wraps
Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Cajun Chicken Salad
Sautéed cajun spiced chicken pieces, garlic, bacon, cashew nuts, mushrooms, julienne vegetables, garlic and aioli dressing over salad greens. (G)
Seafood Salad
Selection of seafood, julienne vegetables, garlic, mushrooms, and a seafood dressing over salad greens. (G)
Chicken Wrap
Chicken pieces in a tortilla wrap with salad greens, hummus, guacamole, with a sweet chilli sauce and mint yoghurt dressing served with fries.
Kids Menu
Chicken Nuggets & fries (5)
Mini Hot Dogs & fries (4)
Mixture (Nuggets & Hot Dogs) & fries
Chicken Pasta
chicken and bacon in a creamy cheese sauce
Pork Sausage
with mashed potato, peas and gravy (G)
Cheese Burger
Beef patty, cheese, tomato sauce & fries
Tavern Selection
Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Nachos
Our own beef nacho mix, kidney beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and corn chips (G)
Steak Burger
Grilled steak with lettuce, bacon, egg, cheese, onion rings, tomato, chipotle mayo & fries
Chicken Burger
Panko crumbed chicken with lettuce, bacon, cheese, tomato, chipotle mayo & fries
Pork Belly & Bacon Burger
Slow cooked pork belly with bacon, coleslaw, tomato and our own BBQ sauce & fries
Vegetarian
Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Vegetable Stack
Roasted vegetables, mushrooms and mashed potato topped with steamed carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, topped with hollandaise sauce & balsamic reduction (G)
Vegetable Curry
A variety of vegetables and mushroom in a green curry sauce with coconut cream and cashew nuts, over jasmine rice with a yoghurt and mint dressing (G)
Vegetable Penne Pasta
A variety of vegetables in a creamy garlic pesto sauce
Chicken Penne Pasta
Chicken, bacon, a variety of vegetables in a creamy garlic pesto sauce
Chicken Schnitzel
Panko crumbed chicken, served with salad & fries with mushroom sauce or rich brown gravy
Beef Schnitzel
Crumbed beef served with salad & fries with mushroom sauce or rich brown gravy
All Day Breakfast
English muffin, hash browns, bacon, fried eggs, pork sausage topped with hollandaise sauce (G)
Chicken Green Curry
Chicken pieces and assorted vegetables, mushrooms and cashew nuts on jasmine rice with mint yoghurt dressing (G)
Main Meals
Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Southern Chicken
Grilled chicken breast, topped with a creamy garlic, bacon & corn white wine sauce. served with mashed potatoes & steamed vegetables
Chicken & Mushroom
Grilled chicken breast, topped with rich mushroom sauce, served with steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes (G)
Battered Blue Cod
Battered blue cod fillets served with tartare sauce, salad and fries (G)
Smoked Salmon
Hot house smoked salmon on salad greens & kumara wedges (G)
BBQ Pork Ribs
Slow cooked pork ribs with our own BBQ sauce served with fries and salad
Pork Belly
Slow roasted pork belly served with roast vegetables on creamy potato mash with a side of apple sauce & gravy (G)
Lamb Shank
Braised Lamb shank served on a creamy potato mash and steamed vegetables and a whiskey & mint gravy (G)
Ribeye Steak
Ribeye steak with fries and salad with your choice of creamy peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce or garlic butter (G)
Kiwi Steak
Ribeye steak served with battered onion rings, fried eggs, fries & salad greens (G)
Surf & Turf
Ribeye steak and hot house smoked salmon, crispy prawn twisters and squid rings with creamy potato mash and steamed vegetables, served with hollandaise sauce (G)
Side Orders
Bowl of Fries
Gluten free
Salad Greens
Wedges with Sour Cream & Chilli Sauce
Beer Battered Onion Rings with BBQ Sauce
Kumara Wedges with Aioli
Desserts
Tiramisu
Lady fingers soaked in coffee layered with sweet mascarpone served with ice cream
Sticky Date Pudding
Sticky Date Pudding topped with a toffee sauce, ice cream and cream
Chocolate Mudcake
Chocolate mudcake served warm with coconut chocolate mousse and sorbet (dairy free)
Cheesecake of the day
See staff for details. Served with vanilla ice cream
Banoffie Pie
A sweet pastry base with caramel and banana filling, served with ice cream
Apple Crumble
Stewed apples sprinkled with spices and covered with a crumble topping and custard. Served warm with ice cream
Pecan Brownie
A rich chocolate fudge brownie, loaded with pecan pieces and served with gluten free vanilla ice cream and cream (gluten free)
Ice Cream Sundaes
Vanilla ice cream with a choice of sauce: Chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon/passionfruit
Kids Desserts
Ice cream Sundaes
Vanilla Ice Cream with a choice of sauce: Chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon/passionfruit (gluten free)
Oreo Cookie
Oreo cookies with Cookies and Cream ice cream
Donuts
A donut filled with Cookies and Cream ice cream topped with a hot fudge sauce
Ice cream Cone
Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies and Cream
Set Menu 1
$44.00 per person. Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Cajun Chicken Salad
Sautéed cajun spiced chicken pieces, garlic, bacon, cashew nuts, mushrooms, julienne vegetables, aioli dressing over salad greens (G)
Chicken Schnitzel
Panko crumbed chicken, served with salad & fries with mushroom sauce or rich brown gravy
Steak Burger
Grilled steak with lettuce, bacon, egg, cheese, onion rings, tomato, chipotle mayo & fries
Pork Belly & Bacon Burger
Slow cooked pork belly with bacon, coleslaw, tomato and our own BBQ sauce & fries
Chicken Burger
Panko crumbed chicken with lettuce, bacon, cheese, tomato, chipotle mayo and fries
Vegetable Curry
A variety of vegetables and mushroom in a green curry sauce with coconut cream amd cashew nuts, over jasmine rice with a yoghurt and mint dressing (G)
Ice Cream Sundaes
Vanilla ice cream with a choice of sauce: Chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon/passionfruit (G)
Pecan Brownie
A rich chocolate fudge brownie, loaded with pecan pieces and served with vanilla ice cream and cream (G)
Cheesecake of the day
See staff for details. Served with vanilla ice cream and cream
Set Menu 2
$54.00 per person. Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Ribeye Steak
Ribeye steak with fries and green salad with your choice of creamy peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce or garlic butter
Smoked Salmon
Hot house smoked salmon on salad greens & kumara wedges (G)
Lamb Shank
Braised Lamb shank served on a creamy potato mash and steamed vegetables and a whiskey & mint gravy (G)
Southern Chicken
Grilled chicken breast, topped with a creamy garlic, bacon & onion white wine sauce. Served with gourmet potatoes & steamed vegetables (G)
Pork Belly
Slow roasted pork belly served with roast vegetables on creamy potato mash with a side of apple sauce & gravy (G)
Vegetable Curry
A variety of vegetables in a green curry sauce with coconut cream amd cashew nuts, over jasmine rice with a yoghurt and mint dressing (G)
Ice Cream Sundaes
Vanilla ice cream with a choice of sauce: Chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon/passionfruit (G)
Pecan Brownie
A rich chocolate fudge brownie, loaded with pecan pieces with vanilla ice cream and cream (G)
Cheesecake of the day
See staff for details. Served with vanilla ice cream and cream
Set Menu 3
$70.00 per person. Any meal with a G beside it can be made Gluten Free. Please advise waiter if required.
Shrimp Cocktail
A generous serving of shrimps on mixed salad greens, drizzled with a seafood dressing. (G)
Steamed Mussels
500g Greenshell mussels in a Thai Green Curry sauce. (G)
Chicken Dipper
Crispy fried battered chicken served on mixed salad greens with chipotle mayo
Ribeye Steak
Ribeye steak with fries and green salad with your choice of creamy peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce or garlic butter
Smoked Salmon
Hot house smoked salmon on salad greens & kumara wedges (G)
Lamb Shank
Braised Lamb shank served on a creamy potato mash and steamed vegetables and a whiskey & mint gravy (G)
Southern Chicken
Grilled chicken breast, topped with a creamy garlic, bacon & onion white wine sauce. Served with gourmet potatoes & steamed vegetables (G)
Pork Belly
Slow roasted pork belly served with roast vegetables on creamy potato mash with a side of apple sauce & gravy (G)
Vegetable Curry
A variety of vegetables in a green curry sauce with coconut cream amd cashew nuts, over jasmine rice with a yoghurt and mint dressing (G)
Ice Cream Sundaes
Vanilla ice cream with a choice of sauce: Chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon/passionfruit (G)
Pecan Brownie
A rich chocolate fudge brownie, loaded with pecan pieces with vanilla ice cream and cream (G)
Cheesecake of the day
See staff for details. Served with vanilla ice cream and cream
On Tap
Boundary Road “The Chosen One” Golden Lager
Boundary Road “Flying Fortress” NZ Pale Ale
Boundary Road “Bouncing Czech” Pilsner
Peroni “Nastro Azzurro” Lager
Somersby Apple Cider
Bottled Beer & Cider
Corona Extra
Heineken
Speights Gold Medal
Steinlager Classic
Light Beer
Heineken Light
Peroni Leggera
Peroni Libera 0%
Cocktails
Redskin
Vodka, Bacardi, Apple and Pineapple Juice, Lime and Raspberry
Candy Apple Martini
Vodka, Apple Sourz, Butterscotch Schnapps and Cranberry Juice
Espresso Martini
Vodka, Kahlua & Espresso Coffee
Chocolate Monkey
Banana Liquer, Dark Créme de Cacao, Icecream, Chocolate Sauce and Banana (Blended)
Bubbles
Jacobs Creek Brut 200ml
Lindauer Fraise 200ml
Brancott Est Cuvee 200ml
Jacobs Creek Sparkling Sauvignon
House Pour – Matua Marlborough
Marlborough Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Shingle Peak Res – Marlborough
Mud House – Marlborough
Squealing Pig – Marlborough
Pinot Noir
Shingle Peak Res – Marlborough
Rabbit Ranch – Central Otago
Fickle Mistress – Central Otago
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- Seafood chowder Typical in Invercargill: $21.95 $19.90
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