Pepper Tree Restaurant and Bar

About Pepper Tree Restaurant and Bar

Majestically situated in the heart of Coromandel Township, the Pepper Tree Restaurant and Bar offers a distinctive dining experience grounded in local history. Housed in the original 1928 Denize family homestead, the restaurant showcases historic character alongside sun-soaked courtyards and shaded verandas during the summer months, and cosy indoor dining beside an open fire in winter.

Helmed by hosts Mike and Karen Huitema, the establishment specialises in fresh regional seafood—including renowned Coromandel green-lipped mussels and fresh oysters—alongside award-winning modern New Zealand cuisine. From hearty lunches to relaxed evening dining and family meals, the venue blends heritage architecture with genuine coastal hospitality.

Heritage Dining in the Heart of Coromandel: The Pepper Tree Restaurant and Bar

Standing prominently along Kapanga Road, the Pepper Tree Restaurant and Bar is an enduring landmark of Coromandel Township. Centred around a majestic pepper tree that has stood for over a century, the dining venue offers a distinct combination of rich local history, warm hospitality, and a menu driven by regional produce and fresh catches.

The restaurant itself occupies a piece of historic architecture: the original home of the Denize family, constructed in 1928 and celebrated for its authentic native kauri wood floors. In 1994, the historic homestead was moved forward to its present street frontage, when the bar, commercial kitchen, and wide wraparound verandas were added to create the full restaurant footprint seen today. Run by hosts Mike and Karen Huitema, the establishment maintains a welcoming atmosphere that balances heritage preservation with contemporary dining.

Courtyard Days and Fireplace Evenings

The venue adapts seamlessly across the seasons. During warm Coromandel summers, guests congregate under shaded verandas or out in the sun-soaked garden courtyard beneath the historic canopy of the pepper tree. In the cooler months, the interior dining rooms take centre stage, offering comfortable, cosy seating beside an open fireplace. Being fully licensed and open seven days a week, it operates as a versatile gathering place for town locals, holidaymakers, and families travelling through the peninsula.

Coast-to-Table Seafood and Modern NZ Plates

At the core of the kitchen's culinary focus is fresh regional seafood. The Coromandel is famous for aquaculture, and the menu highlights this with local green-lipped mussels steamed in garlic, white wine, and cream, served with crusty ciabatta. Fresh Coromandel oysters are served either freshly battered with house-made tartare and lemon or natural on salt ice with shallots and chardonnay vinegar. Rich, creamy seafood chowder packed with mussels and prawns remains a consistent favourite throughout lunch and dinner services.

Beyond ocean fare, the kitchen delivers an extensive selection of modern New Zealand dishes and gourmet pizzas named after familiar local landmarks like Wharf Road, Manaia Straight, and New Chums beach. Generous dinner mains include 250-gram sirloin steak and slow-roasted beef cheeks served alongside parsnip puree, caramelised beets, and savoury horseradish butter. Diners will also find slow-cooked BBQ pork spare ribs, seasonal vegetable salads, and house-made pasta dishes featuring slowly braised lamb shoulder.

Functions, Families, and Casual Gatherings

With flexible dining spaces encompassing verandas, formal restaurant seating, a dedicated bar, and outdoor grounds, the Pepper Tree frequently accommodates private functions and casual get-togethers alike. A dedicated children's menu featuring pizzas, battered fish, and ribs makes family outings straightforward, while an extensive wine and beer selection complements both relaxed afternoon drinks and multi-course evening meals.

Signature items

• Coromandel Mussels
• Coromandel Oysters
• Seafood Chowder
• Slow Roasted Beef Cheek
• New Chums Pizza
• Lamb Ragu Pasta

Menu

Lunch

• Coromandel Oysters — Battered with house tartare and fresh lemon, or natural on salt ice with radish shallots and chardonnay wine vinegar
• Garlic Bread — Freshly baked with garlic butter
• Paté & Bread — Chicken paté, beetroot relish, warm bread, olive oil and sea salt
• Seafood Chowder — Rich and creamy with mussels, prawns, warm bread and butter
• Coromandel Mussels — Green lipped mussels steamed with white wine, cream and garlic, fresh lemon, served with warm ciabatta
• Calamari — Fried calamari, lemon aioli, seasoned with furikake, fresh lemon and pickled vegetables
• Crispy Chicken and Bean Taquitos — Chicken, beans, and cheese wrapped in a crispy tortilla, topped with buffalo sauce, lime cos and fresh tomato
• Waffles — Sweet waffles served with bacon, banana, maple syrup and cream, or summer fruit crumble, caramel, apple syrup and cream
• Brunch Burger — Soft bun with bacon, hash brown, baby spinach, fresh tomato, fried egg, aioli and Castle Rock chilli peach chutney
• Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish battered with house cut chips, fresh tartare and lemon
• BBQ Pork Ribs — Slow cooked ribs with sweet smokey BBQ sauce, house cut chips and aioli
• Thai Chicken Curry — Mild rich coconut green curry, jasmine rice, fresh lime and coriander
• Warm Autumn Salad — Roast pumpkin, beets, shallots, carrots, spinach, quinoa, parsnip puree, pickled red onion and toasted pumpkin seeds
• Lamb Pasta — Slowly braised lamb shoulder, cherry tomatoes, roast pumpkin, olives, shaved parmesan with pappardelle pasta

Sides

• Bowl of Fries — Served with tomato and aioli sauce
• House Hand Cut Fries — House cut fries served with tomato and aioli sauce
• Greens, Red Onion, Radish Salad — Fresh garden greens with red onion and radish
• Garlic Butter Grilled Prawns on Skewer — Grilled prawn skewer brushed with garlic butter
• Extra Bread & Butter — Warm bread portion served with butter
• Fresh Greens & Buttered Carrots — Steamed seasonal greens paired with buttered carrots

Pizzas

• Wharf Road — Fresh tomatoes, basil, buffalo mozzarella, sea salt, olive oil and cracked pepper
• Manaia Straight Pizza — Beef brisket, smoked bacon, cheese, red onion, mushrooms, chipotle aioli
• New Chums — Cajun chicken, red onion, cashew nuts, mango peach chutney, banana and natural yogurt
• Salmon, Prawn & Brie Pizza — Baby spinach, red onion and mozzarella
• Pepperoni Pizza — Pepperoni and mozzarella cheese

Dessert

• Vanilla Sago — Served with mango puree, roasted coconut and seasonal fruit salad
• Fruit Crumble — Peaches, apples, raspberries with a citrus biscuit, caramelized white chocolate topping and vanilla bean ice cream
• Vanilla Brulee — Creme brulee with crisp caramel sugar top, raspberry compote and dried raspberries
• Coffee Chocolate Layered Cake — Served with chocolate mousse, crisp raspberries and a bronze crumb chocolate soil

Kids Menu

• Hawaiian Pizza — Ham, pineapple and mozzarella
• Pepperoni Pizza — Pepperoni and mozzarella
• Pork Spare Ribs — Ribs served with BBQ sauce and fries
• Fish & Chips — Lightly battered fish with fries and tomato sauce
• Chicken Nuggets — Eight nuggets served with fries and tomato sauce
• Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae — Served with strawberry or chocolate sauce, cream and sprinkles

Dinner Mains

• Lamb Ragu Pasta — Slow braised lamb shoulder, cherry tomatoes, roast pumpkin, olives, shaved parmesan with pappardelle pasta
• Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish battered with house cut chips, fresh tartare and lemon
• Sirloin Steak — 250g sirloin cooked to order with roasted carrots, shallots, caramelized beets, broccolini, parsnip puree, beetroot-cranberry jelly and horseradish butter
• Slow Roasted Beef Cheek — Served with roasted carrots, shallots, caramelized beets, fresh broccolini, parsnip puree, beetroot-cranberry jelly and horseradish butter
• BBQ Pork Spare Ribs — 500g slow cooked ribs with sweet smokey BBQ sauce, house cut chips and aioli
• Manaia Straight Pizza — Beef brisket, smoked bacon, cheese, red onion, mushrooms, chipotle aioli
• Wharf Road Pizza — Fresh tomatoes, basil, buffalo mozzarella, sea salt, olive oil and cracked pepper
• Salmon, Prawn & Brie Pizza — Baby spinach, red onion and mozzarella

Dinner Entrees

• Garlic Bread — Freshly baked with garlic butter
• Paté & Bread — Chicken paté, warm bread with olive oil, sea salt, beetroot relish
• Coromandel Oysters — Battered with house tartare and fresh lemon, or natural on salt ice with radish shallots and chardonnay wine vinegar
• Seafood Chowder — Rich and creamy with mussels, prawns, warm bread and butter
• Mushroom Arancini — Four mushroom risotto balls, fresh parmesan, truffle oil and garlic aioli
• Warm Autumn Salad — Roast pumpkin, beets, shallots, carrots, spinach, quinoa, parsnip puree, pickled onions and toasted pumpkin seeds
• Calamari — Fried calamari, lemon aioli, seasoned with furikake, fresh lemon and pickled vegetables
• Coromandel Mussels — Coromandel green lipped mussels steamed with white wine, cream and garlic, fresh lemon, served with warm ciabatta

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Pepper Tree Restaurant located?

The restaurant is located at 31 Kapanga Road in the heart of Coromandel Town.

What days is the restaurant open?

The restaurant is open 7 days a week.

What style of food does the restaurant serve?

The menu focuses on fresh local seafood, modern New Zealand cuisine, gourmet pizzas, and hearty mains.

Are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options available?

Yes, the menu includes options marked as gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian by request, including gluten-free pizza bases and dairy-free cheese.

Is there a kids menu available?

Yes, there is a dedicated children's menu featuring items such as pizza, ribs, chicken nuggets, and fish and chips.

What is the history behind the building?

The dining room is housed within the original 1928 Denize family home, featuring original kauri floorboards and named after a neighbouring landmark pepper tree over 100 years old.

Tips

• {"body":"If visiting during cooler months, request an indoor table near the open fire for a cosy dining experience.","title":"Sit by the fire in winter"}
• {"body":"The sun-drenched garden courtyard and shaded verandas provide ideal outdoor seating on warm days.","title":"Relax in the courtyard during summer"}
• {"body":"Order the steamed green-lipped mussels or fresh Coromandel oysters to sample regional aquaculture highlights.","title":"Try the local Coromandel seafood"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated kids menu with mains and sundaes.","dietary":"Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options available by request; gluten-free bases and dairy-free cheese available for pizzas.","payments":"Fully licensed venue."}