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

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The Zookeeper's Son Menu Menu updated on 17 Sep 2026

Pub Snacks

Pull-Apart Garlic Loaf

$14

garlic butter

Korean-Fried Cauliflower

$20

Korean BBQ sauce, pickles

Salt & Pepper Squid

$22.50

garlic aioli, fresh lemon

Sticky Pork Belly Bites

$24

Gochujang BBQ glaze, chilli, sesame seeds

Loaded Fries

$25.50

BBQ brisket, cheesy sauce, chipotle mayo, pickles, green onion

Garlic Chilli Prawns

$26

blistered cherry tomatoes, green onion, chilli aioli on garlic butter pizza bread

Glazed Pork & Wagyu Brisket Meatballs

$24.50

smoky herb butter jus, mustard cream, cheddar dust

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

$24.50

honey sriracha, ranch, garden pickles

Onion Rings

$14.50

chipotle mayo

Fries

$13

confit garlic aioli

Tools Down Platter

$69

sticky pork belly bites, buttermilk fried chicken, Korean fried cauliflower, salt & pepper squid, pork & wagyu brisket meatballs, grilled focaccia

Pub Mains

Chicken Schnitty

$32.50

crumbed chicken breast, green herb slaw, gravy; choose fries or mash

Fish & Chips

$29.50

beer-battered daily catch, house fries, green herb slaw, tartare sauce

Potato Gnocchi

$29.50

leek & peas, Italian tomato sauce, lemon ricotta verde, crispy kale

Twice Cooked Pork Belly

$38

potato gratin, winter greens, pear & fig relish, jus

Fettuccine Carbonara

$29.50

creamy carbonara sauce, chicken, bacon, Grana Padano

Classic Caesar

$24

cos lettuce, bacon, herbed croutons, anchovy dressing, soft-boiled egg, parmesan snow; ADD grilled chicken +8.0

Green Tahini Bowl

$22

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

$42

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

$28

cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil

BBQ

$32

brisket, pork belly, pepperoni, mozzarella, smoky IPA BBQ sauce

Bianca

$29

mushrooms, white sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, kale, parmesan

Chicken & Chorizo

$30

red onion, fire-roasted peppers, jalapeños

Desserts

American Chocolate Brownie Sundae

$16

chocolate peanut butter granola, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce

Baked Cheesecake Pop

$14

chocolate crackle, raspberry gel, sherbert

Sticky Date Pudding

$15

butterscotch sauce, vanilla bean ice cream

Burgers

No gluten added bun +2.5 or lettuce bun available

Cheeseburger

$27

150g brisket patty, American cheese, special sauce, ketchup, sweet & spicy pickles, milk bun, fries

The Cluckerson

$29.50

crispy-fried chicken, American cheese, chipotle mayo, ranch, sweet & spicy pickles, lettuce, milk bun, fries

The Hallouminati

$29.50

grilled halloumi, house-made vegan patty, American cheese, special sauce, sweet & spicy pickles, ranch, red onion, milk bun, fries

Sides

Cos Lettuce

$12

pumpkin seed crunch, house dressing

Charred Winter Greens

$14

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

$15.50

beef patty, cheese, ketchup, toasted bun, fries

Chook & Chips

$15.50

crumbed chicken bites, fries, tomato sauce

Lil’ Fish & Flicks

$15.50

crispy fish bites, fries, tartare sauce

Meatballs

$15.50

Italian tomato sauce, fettuccine, cheese

Grilled Chicken & Mash

$15.50

gravy, greens | NGA

Fettuccine

$15.50

Italian tomato sauce, mozzarella | V

Cheesy Mini Pizza

$15.50

mozzarella, pizza sauce | V; ADD bacon | pineapple | chicken

Cheese & Bacon Loaded Fries

$15.50

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

$20

Korean BBQ sauce, pickles

Salt & Pepper Squid

$22.50

garlic aioli, fresh lemon

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

$24.50

honey sriracha, ranch, garden pickles

Onion Rings

$14.50

chipotle mayo

Fries

$13

confit garlic aioli

Margherita Pizza

$28

cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil

BBQ Pizza

$32

brisket, pork belly, pepperoni, mozzarella, smoky IPA BBQ sauce

Cocktails

Tommy’s Margarita

$18

El Jimador reposado Tequila, agave nectar, lime juice

Passionfruit Daiquiri

$19

Flor de Caña Seco Rum, passionfruit purée, lime juice

Cosmopolitan

$18

Finlandia vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice

Pink Gin Martini

$20

Beefeater pink gin, lime juice, strawberry purée, soda water, mint leaves

Bitter Sweet Spritz

$18

Prosecco, lime juice, triple sec, cranberry juice, watermelon purée

Coconut Crush

$19

Finlandia vodka, triple sec, pineapple juice, coconut syrup, soda water, lime juice

Espresso Martini

$19

Finlandia vodka, Kahlúa, sugar syrup, espresso

Watermelon Sugar

$19

Absolut watermelon vodka, El Jimador blanco Tequila, watermelon purée, soda water, lemon juice

Strawberry Hill

$19

Absolut vanilla vodka, strawberry, passionfruit purée, lemon juice, apple juice

Zero Alcohol Cocktails

Lynchburg Lemonade 0%

$19

Lyre’s spiced non-alcoholic spirit, Lyre’s orangesec, lemonade, lime juice

Porn Star Martini 0%

$19

Lyre’s pink London spirit, Lyre’s Classico sparkling wine, vanilla syrup, passionfruit purée, lime juice

Cosmopolitan 0%

$18

Lyre’s orange sec, cranberry juice, strawberry syrup, lime juice, lemon twist

Pineapple Margarita 0%

$16

Lyre’s agave blanco spirit, pineapple juice, orange juice, agave syrup, salted & spiced rim

Tommy’s Margarita 0%

$18

Lyre’s agave blanco spirit, agave syrup, lime juice, pinch of salt

Refreshments

Coca-Cola

$6 / $7.50

Coca-Cola zero sugar

Fanta

Schweppes

$6 / $7.50

Red Bull

Energy Drink | Sugarfree | Coconut Edition Sugarfree

Keri Juice

$6.50

Apple | Pineapple | Orange | Cranberry

Milkshakes

$8.50

Pink Panther

Lemonade, cream, raspberry cordial, whipped cream

Spider

Coca-Cola, ice cream

Blueberry Floss

Lemonade, blueberry purée

Voyage Water 500ml / 1L

500ml $7 / 1L $11.50

Sparkling | Still

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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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The Zookeeper’s Son Menu

The Zookeeper's Son Menu Menu updated on 17 Sep 2026

Pub Snacks

Pub Mains

Butcher’s Cut Steak

Pizza

Desserts

Burgers

Sides

Kids

Late Night

Cocktails

Zero Alcohol Cocktails

Refreshments

From Happy Menu members

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