The Salty Pig Eatery & Bar on Harrison Street in Allenton, Ashburton is two venues in one: a laid-back café by day and an energetic sports bar by night. Mornings bring smooth coffee and classic breakfasts like eggs benedict, with room for a quick bite on the go or a long, lazy brunch with mates; from 3pm the big screens take over, with ice-cold beers, a menu of ten bar meals, TAB and live sport from rugby to UFC.
The name is a nod to what the team loves: 'salty' for the flavour-packed café menu, built on quality ingredients and a sprinkle of attitude, and 'the pig' as a tribute to classic pub grub — crispy bacon at breakfast and juicy, mouth-watering burgers. Owners AJ and Skip (Amanda and Nigel) are known for venues where good food comes with a side of cheeky banter.
The all-day menu covers a lot of ground: share plates like loaded wedges, cheesy garlic bread and bao buns, pizzas (with a gluten free base available), slow cooked pork ribs in house made barbecue sauce, big burgers, schnitzels, roasts and seafood chowder, plus platters that feed four to six, a kids menu and desserts. There's a spacious, dog-friendly outdoor area, live music from local musicians, raffle nights and five big screens for the game.
On Harrison Street in Ashburton's Allenton, The Salty Pig Eatery & Bar works a double shift. In the mornings it's a laid-back café — smooth coffee, a classic eggs benedict, a quick bite on the go or a long, lazy brunch with mates. From 3pm the energy turns up: it becomes a lively sports bar with ice-cold beers, a menu of ten bar meals, live sport on five big screens and TAB for anyone having a flutter.
The name is a fairly good summary of the place. 'Salty' stands for the flavour-packed café menu, built on quality ingredients and, in the owners' words, a sprinkle of attitude. 'The Pig' pays tribute to classic pub grub — salty, crispy bacon at breakfast and the freshest, juiciest burgers around. Owners AJ and Skip (Amanda and Nigel) have a reputation for venues where the food comes with a side of cheeky banter, and that spirit runs through the whole operation.
Mornings and early afternoons belong to the café: eggs benedict with hash browns, the Salty Big Breakfast with eggs your way, bacon, mushrooms and sausage patties, and Pancake Tacos — a trio of pancakes with bacon, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, maple syrup and berries. There's a fresh, tasty lunch crowd too, with seating inside or out in the open air.
At 3pm the venue transforms. Five big screens mean you'll never miss a moment of the rugby, cricket, UFC or any other major sporting event, with a great view from every angle. The bar keeps the kitchen busy as well, offering ten bar meals alongside the all-day menu, and service runs until late, seven days a week.
The kitchen's all-day menu goes well beyond standard pub snacks. Share plates include baskets of fries and onion rings, cheesy garlic bread (loaded, if you like), loaded wedges and schnitzel fries, beer battered fish bites and pork belly bites with sweet n sour sauce. Pizza fans can choose bacon and cheese, Hawaiian, sweet chilli mayo chicken and bacon, or pulled pork BBQ and mayo — and there's a gluten free pizza base available. Bao buns stuffed with BBQ pork, beef burger sliders and pulled pork sliders cover the grazing crowd, while the pork ribs — slow cooked and finished in house made barbecue sauce — come in half-kilo and full-kilo servings.
The mains list leans comfortably into South Island favourites: The Whoppa, a beef burger stacked with double patties, double hash browns, onion rings, pineapple, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg; a pulled pork burger on toasted brioche; crumbed chicken over mash with house made gravy; beef schnitzel with eggs and your choice of sauce; fish n chips; bangers and mash; a large roast of the day; steak, egg and chips; and a generous house made seafood chowder. Everyday meal deals cover the classics, a kids menu keeps the little ones happy, and dessert is an ice cream sundae — or whatever looks good in the cakes and slices cabinet.
Feeding a crowd? The platters are the move. The Salty Platter piles up ribs, burger sliders, beef schnitzel strips, pork bites, fries, garlic bread, onion rings and fish bites for four to six people; the Burger Slider Platter arrives with 21 assorted sliders and fries; and 'From the Fryer' rounds up nuggets, fish bites, pork bites, spring rolls, samosas, sausages and fries.
The spacious outdoor area is a drawcard in its own right — sun, fresh air and a warm welcome for well-behaved dogs, with water bowls on hand and a dog drink menu (featuring a Hot Dogolate and a Puppacino) on the way. Add live music from talented local musicians, planned raffle nights and online reservations, and The Salty Pig makes its pitch clear: you don't have to choose between café comfort and pub energy — here, you get both, seven days a week.