Meadow Restaurant

About Meadow Restaurant

Meadow is a neighbourhood bistro and casual dining spot situated in Meadowbank, Auckland. Set up with both an airy courtyard terrace and a cosy indoor dining room anchored by an open fireplace, the restaurant offers an easy transition from sunlit brunches to intimate evening dinners.

The kitchen leans into classic bistro comforts, highlighted by fresh seasonal ingredients, housemade pastas, wood-fired style pizzas, and casual small plates. Alongside weekend morning favourites, the bar pours signature cocktails, spritzes, draught beers, and a broad cellar of New Zealand and international wines.

Designed as an easygoing local gathering place, Meadow welcomes diners for quick bites, long lunches, and evening celebrations alike, with dog-friendly seating throughout the outdoor terrace.

Meadow Restaurant: Meadowbank's Garden Bistro for Seasonal Plates and Long Lunches

Tucked along Saint Johns Road on the edge of Meadowbank, Meadow has carved out a steadfast reputation as an eastern suburbs gathering point. Designed to suit casual drop-ins and planned celebrations alike, the venue pairs a breezy, greenery-trimmed garden bar with a sheltered indoor dining space complete with an open fireplace for cooler evenings. It operates comfortably as both a relaxed daytime brunch spot and a lively evening bistro where sharing plates and drinks take centre stage.

Seasonal Cooking and Handmade Pastas

The kitchen at Meadow focuses on approachable, flavour-first dishes that draw on seasonal produce. Hand-rolled and fresh pastas anchor the lunch and dinner services, featuring staples like pan-fried potato gnocchi served in a rich leek and blue cheese cream with hazelnut crumb, alongside comforting bowls of slow-cooked lamb ragu pappardelle brightened with salsa verde.

Beyond pasta, the menu caters to communal dining with stonebaked pizzas, seafood small plates, and substantial mains. Diners regularly look to options such as the crispy squid with preserved lemon aioli, Sicilian tuna crudo, or the standout Snapper in a Bag—cooked en papillote alongside mussels, baby potatoes, and a delicate saffron aioli broth. For casual weeknight diners, dedicated offerings like Tuesday pasta nights add a dependable local ritual to the weekly calendar.

Weekend Mornings and Garden Drinks

From Friday through Sunday, Meadow starts early with a distinct brunch menu. Alongside morning classics like eggs on sourdough, the kitchen serves inventive variations such as Drunken Eggs—featuring fragrant pho broth, fermented chili, and herbs paired with crusty baguette—as well as sweet ricotta pancakes topped with strawberry-rhubarb compote and pistachio cream.

The outdoor terrace functions as an inner-city oasis during daylight hours, welcoming canine companions alongside their owners. The drinks list is thoroughly assembled, spanning signature cocktails like the Scapegrace-based Honey Bunny Sour, multiple margarita twists, local draught beers, and a diverse selection of local and international wines designed to accompany long, leisurely meals.

Signature items

• Panfried Potato Gnocchi
• Slow-roasted Lamb Ragu Pappardelle
• Snapper in a Bag
• Tartufo Pizza
• Honey Bunny Sour
• Ploughman's Plate

Menu

Kids

• Kids Breakfast Pancakes — Fluffy pancakes for morning dining
• Kids Breakfast Eggs and Bacon — Eggs prepared to order with bacon
• Kids Burger and Fries — Bite-sized burger served with hot chips
• Kids Chicken and Chips — Crispy chicken tenders with hot chips
• Kids Panfried Fish and Chips — Freshly pan-fried fish fillet with chips
• Kids Pasta and Red Sauce — Simple pasta tossed in tomato sauce
• Kids Ice Cream Sundae — Classic scoop sundae
• Kids Ice Cream Spider — Ice cream fizz beverage

Pasta

• Panfried potato gnocchi — Creamed leek, mushroom, blue cheese, and hazelnut crumb
• Prawn and mussel linguine — Cherry tomato with seafood bisque
• Slow-roasted lamb ragu pappardelle — Tender lamb ragu finished with salsa verde

Pizza

• Prosciutto pizza — Mushrooms, rocket, mozzarella, and parmesan
• Caprese pizza — Tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil
• Diavola pizza — Spicy salami, mozzarella, and roasted peppers
• Tartufo pizza — Parma ham, truffle sauce, mushroom, and mozzarella
• Gambero pizza — Prawn, capers, rocket, mozzarella, cherry tomato, and chilli

Sides

• Seasonal veg — Tossed with lemon and almonds
• Fries — Served with garlic aioli, optional truffle and parmesan
• Cos salad — Walnuts and drunken sultanas

Sweet

• Affogato — Espresso poured over vanilla bean ice cream
• Stout toffee pudding — Warm pudding with vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate mousse — Finished with olive oil and salt

Brunch

• Eggs your way — Served on sourdough with house-made chutney
• Daily pastries — Fresh selection of morning pastries
• 5 Grain porridge — Spiced apple, almonds, and cream
• Ploughman's plate — Smoked fish rillette, soft-boiled egg, pickle, cheese, and baguette
• Drunken eggs — Pho broth, fried shallots, fresh herbs, fermented chili, and baguette
• Ricotta pancakes — Strawberry rhubarb compote and pistachio cream
• Meadow benedict — Poached eggs on sourdough with wilted spinach, charred leek hollandaise, choice of bacon or mushroom
• Meadow Grill — Merguez sausage, bacon, garlic and herb rosti, mushroom, grilled tomato, and sourdough

To Start

• Baked brie — Served with hot honey, roasted grapes, almonds, and crostini
• Sourdough — With Meadow butter, optional prosciutto and cornichons

Large Plates

• Snapper in a bag — Mussels, tomato broth, baby potatoes, and saffron aioli
• Beef burger — Raclette cheese, bacon, soubise, and french dip fries
• Lemon thyme chicken risotto — Arborio rice with mushrooms and parmesan
• 300g Sirloin — Served with jus, fries, and café de Paris butter

Small Plates

• Burrata — Beetroot, orange, sumac, and candied walnuts
• Crispy squid — Served with preserved lemon aioli
• Fried chicken — Tossed in hot clementine caramel butter with labneh
• Whole prawns — Prepared with nduja and cherry tomato
• Sicilian tuna crudo — Fresh tuna with capers, olives, and red peppers
• Antipasto board — Cured meats, beetroot hummus, falafel, pickles, olives, and sourdough

Salad And Bowl

• Baby cos salad — Prosciutto, anchovies, croutons, soft-boiled egg, and parmesan
• Mezza Bowl — Beetroot hummus, quinoa, greens, feta, avocado, and vinaigrette

Signature Cocktails

• Honey Bunny Sour — Scapegrace Black Gin, honey, lavender, egg white, and lemon
• Space Gin Smash — Hendrick's, elderflower, apple juice, grapes, and mint
• Crimson Tiki — Havana Club, Chambord, Disaronno, pineapple, and lime
• Salted Caramel Espresso Martini — Vodka, coffee liqueur, Baileys, salted caramel, and espresso
• Negroni de Tigre — Ojo de Tigre Mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, and orange
• Vanilla Fig Old Fashioned — Woodford Reserve Bourbon, crème de figue, and vanilla bitters

Frequently asked questions

Where is Meadow located?

Meadow is located at 20 Saint Johns Road, St. Johns / Meadowbank, Auckland.

Are dogs allowed at the restaurant?

Yes, dogs are welcome outside in the garden bar terrace area.

Does Meadow offer brunch?

Yes, brunch is served Friday to Sunday between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

Do they have special dining nights or Happy Hour?

Yes, Meadow hosts a Tuesday Pasta Night and runs a daily Happy Hour from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Can I book a table in advance?

Yes, table reservations can be made online via their website or by calling +64 9 521 1462.

Is there parking available on site?

Parking spaces are available directly outside for shorter visits, with additional free street parking found along Temple Street and Meadowbank Road.

Tips

• {"body":"If visiting during the colder months, book a table inside near the roaring open fireplace for a cosy bistro setting.","title":"Sit by the Fireplace in Winter"}
• {"body":"The outdoor garden terrace is fully dog-friendly, making it an ideal weekend brunch or sunny afternoon stop.","title":"Bring Your Dog to the Garden"}
• {"body":"Plan a midweek visit on Tuesday evening to take advantage of their weekly pasta night special.","title":"Visit on Tuesday for Pasta Night"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated kids menu with breakfast plates, mains, and ice cream treats.","dietary":"Vegetarian, seafood, and lighter salad bowls available across lunch and dinner.","parking":"Dedicated short-stay bays right outside, plus free parking on Temple Street and Meadowbank Road."}