The Crooked Elm combines a neighbourhood bar and a full restaurant in central Lower Hutt, with indoor tables opening onto a deck and lawn. Weekday dinners stretch into long Friday and Saturday evenings, while weekend service begins earlier. The mix of outdoor space, Tuesday quiz nights, cocktails and casual food gives the venue enough range for a quiet meal or a larger social gathering.
Snacks cover more ground than a standard bowl of chips. Crisp cauliflower bites and mushroom dumplings provide meat-free options, while popcorn chicken and salt-and-pepper squid bring fried, savoury crunch. Garlic-chilli prawns arrive with sweet-and-sour heat and fresh salad, creating a lighter counterpoint and giving a group several contrasting plates to share before choosing something larger.
The burger list moves from a classic beef and bacon build to the Angry Bird, which layers fried chicken with salad, salsa and sriracha mayonnaise. A falafel burger adds chimichurri and pickled onion for a vegetarian route. Beyond the buns, diners can choose fried chicken with waffles and maple syrup, sirloin steak with potato gratin or chicken breast filled with herbed feta.
Coffee and lunch fit naturally into the earlier part of the day, while beer, cocktails, music and late closing keep the bar side active after dinner. House-made tiramisu or chocolate brownie gives the menu a simple finish. With the deck, lawn and regular entertainment alongside a substantial kitchen, The Crooked Elm works equally well for an unplanned drink, a full meal or a group event.
Address: 25 Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
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