The Fancy Cow

About The Fancy Cow

The Fancy Cow is a restaurant, winery and brewery on Rapaura Road in Marlborough, built around fresh local produce and an Italian-leaning menu. The kitchen sources from local organic orchards, artisan cheesemakers and seafood suppliers, brings in quality imported meats sliced in-house, and makes all bread, dough and pizza by hand daily.

Drinks are as much a part of the story as the food — Ant Moore Wines and the newly released Moore & Moore Wines are crafted on-site, alongside select international wines and wine tastings offered year-round. On tap, The Fancy Cow pours DNA beers brewed on-site and the newly added Hop Federation beers, also brewed on-site, with low-alcohol options and beer tasting trays available.

The Fancy Cow describes itself as one of Marlborough's unique family destinations — a place where children run around on the grass and feed the pet cows, groups gather for celebrations, and local businesses bring their teams. Functions, gift cards and takeaways are all available alongside regular dining.

The Fancy Cow: A Marlborough Restaurant, Winery and Brewery in One

The Fancy Cow sits on Rapaura Road in Marlborough, bringing together a restaurant, an on-site winery, and an on-site brewery under one roof. It's built its name on fresh local produce, an Italian-leaning menu, and a genuinely family-friendly setting that goes beyond the usual restaurant experience.

Fresh, Local, Hand-Made

The kitchen leans on local organic orchards, artisan cheesemakers and seafood suppliers, alongside quality imported meats sliced in-house. Pizzas are hand-rolled, and all bread and dough are made fresh in-house daily — the kind of detail that shows up across a menu running from small plates and antipasti through to full pasta and steak mains.

Small plates cover everything from rosemary garlic bread and marinated olives to an antipasti board for two and sizzling prawns in a chilli garlic and tomato sauce. On the larger plates, standouts include a slow braised lamb ragu with pappardelle, a roast duck and porcini risotto finished with crispy sage, and a hand-picked, 55-day aged ribeye served with hand cut potatoes and rocket salad. A fish of the day and fresh tuna round out the main course options, both dependent on availability.

Wood-Fired Pizza, Front and Centre

Pizza gets its own dedicated section on the menu, running from a classic Margherita and a mushroom-and-truffle Funghi through to more distinctive options like the Salsicce, topped with pork sausage, taleggio and pecorino, and the Prosciutto, finished with rocket and truffle oil. There's also a rotating Pizza Special each month, with $2 from every pizza sold going to a nominated local charity or fundraiser — worth asking the team about on any given visit.

Not Just a Winery and Brewery

The Fancy Cow makes a point of its full bar service, offering cocktails, spirits, non-alcoholic drinks, coffee and tea alongside its own wine and beer. Wine lovers can work through the full range of Ant Moore Wines and the newly released Moore & Moore Wines, both crafted on-site, plus a selection of international wines — with wine tastings available all year round for anyone wanting to explore before committing to a bottle.

On tap, there are 12 beers to choose from, all showcasing DNA beers made on-site, along with the newly added Hop Federation beers, also brewed on-site. Low alcohol options are available, and beer tasting trays can be ordered from the bar year-round.

A Genuine Family Destination

What sets The Fancy Cow apart from a typical restaurant-winery combination is its family focus. Children can run around on the grass and feed the pet cows while the adults relax, making it a spot that works for a family outing as much as a special celebration or a work function. Groups gather here for celebrations, and local businesses bring their teams for a meal together.

Visiting The Fancy Cow

The Fancy Cow is open Wednesday to Saturday from midday to 9pm, and Sunday from midday to 4pm. It's located at 309 Rapaura Road, Blenheim, Marlborough, and can be reached by phone on (03) 242 6260 or by email at [email protected]. Takeaways, gift cards and function bookings are all available for anyone wanting more than a sit-down meal.

Signature items

• Ribeye (280gm)
• Antipasti Board for Two
• Lamb Ragu
• Margherita Pizza
• Roast Duck & Porcini Risotto
• On-Site Wine & Beer

Menu

Pizza

• Margherita — Napoli sauce, basil, buffalo mozzarella (V)
• Funghi — Mushroom, garlic, truffle oil, mozzarella (V)
• Pepperoni — Napoli sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella
• Pollo — Napoli sauce, chicken, pesto, red onion, mozzarella and provolone
• Salsicce — Napoli sauce, pork sausage, red onion, mushroom, mozzarella, taleggio and pecorino
• Napolitana — Napoli sauce, capers, olives, anchovies, oregano, garlic, mozzarella
• Spicy Pork — Napoli sauce, spicy pork, olives, chilli, basil, garlic, red onion, gorgonzola
• Quattro Formaggio — Parmesan, taleggio, mozzarella, gorgonzola (V)
• Pulled Pork — Slow braised pork shoulder, homemade BBQ sauce, jalapeno, provolone, red onion
• Prosciutto — Napoli sauce, prosciutto, rocket, truffle oil, parmesan, mozzarella
• Gamberi — Napoli sauce, garlic, chilli, prawns, fresh chives, mozzarella
• Pizza Special — Rotating monthly special — $2 from every pizza sold goes to a nominated local charity or fundraiser

Dessert

• Tiramisu — Layers of coffee soaked lady fingers and mascarpone cream with cocoa powder
• Affogato — Vanilla ice cream, espresso, served with Frangelico or Baileys
• Trio of Sorbet — Berry, lemon and mango (DF, GF)
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream with choice of chocolate, caramel or berry sauce, whipped cream (GF)
• Apple Pie — Homemade, served warm with whipped cream and caramel sauce
• Trio of Cannoli — Hazelnut, chocolate, lemon ricotta
• Chocolate Lava Cake — Cooked to order, served with berry sorbet (GF)

Beverages

• Ant Moore Wines & Moore & Moore Wines — Wine crafted on-site, plus select international wines
• Wine Tastings — Wine tastings on offer all year round
• DNA Beers & Hop Federation Beers — 12 taps of beer brewed on-site, including low alcohol options
• Beer Tasting Trays — Available all year round from the restaurant bar
• Cocktails & Spirits — Full bar service with cocktails and spirits
• Coffee & Tea — Available alongside non-alcoholic drinks

Large Plates

• Penne Arrabiata — Pomodoro, garlic, chilli, parsley, penne pasta (DF, GFA)
• Lamb Ragu — Slow braised local lamb, parmesan, pappardelle pasta (DFA, GFA)
• Gnocchi Al Forno — Homemade gnocchi, rich meat ragu, oven roasted with mozzarella (DFA)
• Roast Duck & Porcini Risotto — Roast duck, porcini mushrooms, parmesan, crispy sage (GF)
• Fish of the Day — Gratin potatoes, seasonal vegetables, saffron cream sauce, kumara crisps (GFA)
• Fresh Tuna — Lightly seared, served with wasabi, soy sauce, side salad — subject to availability (GF, DF)
• Ribeye (280gm) — Hand picked 55 day aged chargrilled steak, hand cut potatoes, rocket salad, optional sauces (GFA, DFA)

Small Plates

• Rosemary Garlic Bread — Rosemary, garlic, extra virgin olive oil (V)
• Cheesy Garlic Pizza — Garlic, oregano, mozzarella (V)
• Marinated Olives — Garlic, thyme, orange and lemon zest (V)
• Antipasti Board for Two — Cured meat and cheese, pickles, chutney, olives, fresh bread, lavosh (GFA)
• Sizzling Prawns — Chilli garlic, tomato and parsley sauce, served with fresh bread (GFA)
• Calamari — Fried calamari, aioli, served with a side salad (DF)
• Fries — With aioli or tomato sauce (DF)
• Mixed Salad — Pickled onions, radicchio, sundried tomatoes, lettuce, parmesan (GF)
• Prosciutto Croquettes — Prosciutto and bechamel croquettes, pickled capsicum sauce
• Roast Vegetable Salad — Roasted pumpkin, beetroot, pumpkin seeds, spinach, feta (GF, DFA)
• Cheese Board — A selection of cheeses, pickles, lavosh, fruit (GFA)

Frequently asked questions

What are The Fancy Cow's opening hours?

Wednesday to Saturday, midday to 9pm, and Sunday, midday to 4pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

What kind of food does The Fancy Cow serve?

An Italian-leaning menu built on fresh local produce, including antipasti, pasta, wood-fired pizza, steak and seafood mains, and desserts.

Does The Fancy Cow make its own wine and beer?

Yes, Ant Moore Wines and Moore & Moore Wines are crafted on-site, and DNA Beers and Hop Federation Beers are brewed on-site.

Is The Fancy Cow family-friendly?

Yes, it's described as a family destination where children can run on the grass and feed the pet cows.

Does The Fancy Cow cater for functions and celebrations?

Yes, the venue hosts groups for special celebrations and is used by local businesses for their teams.

Does The Fancy Cow offer takeaways?

Yes, a takeaway option is available alongside dine-in service.

Are dietary requirements catered for at The Fancy Cow?

Yes, the menu marks vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options throughout.

Tips

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• {"body":"Wine tastings run all year round, and beer tasting trays are available from the bar.","title":"Try a wine or beer tasting"}
• {"body":"Kids can run on the grass and feed the pet cows while you relax with a meal.","title":"Bring the family"}
• {"body":"The Fancy Cow hosts celebrations and local business functions — enquire ahead for groups.","title":"Book ahead for functions"}

Good to know

• {"family":"A family destination — children can run on the grass and feed the pet cows","dietary":"Vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options marked across the menu"}