The Cook

About The Cook

The Cook has been Hamilton East's local since 1874, when the building began life as an Odd Fellows society hall in the late 1800s — heritage the team credits for their love of all things different. Today it is a warm, modernised-vintage bar and eatery serving tasty, quality food with good wine and beer for every occasion, whether that's a drink with friends or a meal with the family.

The kitchen covers serious ground: pizzas, burgers, rolls, snacks, salads and share platters, plus constantly changing blackboard specials that have included pasta, curry, soup, a homestead meal, pie and a Sunday roast. Gluten-free and dairy-free options are available on request, and there's a proper kids' menu headed up by a bento box. The bar pours a deep Good George line-up — Amber Ale, hazy pale ales, IPAs, cider taps and a rotating specialty tap — alongside cocktails, Marlborough wine, Guinness, Waikato Draught and zero-percent options.

The calendar keeps locals coming back: quiz night every Monday from 7pm, live music with Dan McIntyre on Thursdays, comedy nights, and functions of every size from work dos to 21sts. The team also works to minimise its environmental impact by reducing plastic, reusing glass bottles and embracing recyclable cans. Note that The Cook is a licensed venue — under-18s need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and everyone else is welcome to pull up a seat.

The Cook, Hamilton East: Your Local Since 1874 for Pizza, Pints and Quiz Nights

Some places feel like they've always been part of the neighbourhood — The Cook genuinely has. Trading as your local since 1874, this Hamilton East institution began life as an Odd Fellows society hall in the late 1800s, and the team credits that heritage for their love of all things different. Walk through the doors today and you'll find a soothing modernised vintage vibe: a room steeped in more than a century of community gatherings, now filled with the hum of friends catching up over pizza and pints.

The kitchen keeps proper pub hours and a proper pub appetite. Pizza is a house obsession — the 3 Little Pigs loads a BBQ base with bacon, pork belly bits and chorizo mince, while the Herbie takes the vegetarian route with mushroom, rocket, feta and a balsamic glaze. Burgers hold their own: the Beef & Bacon comes with housemade burger sauce and beetroot, the Cook Chooky stacks buttermilk chicken tenders with spicy buffalo sauce, and the Gretta gives the vege fritter a starring role. Around them sit a snack list of gouda sticks and hopcorn cauliflower, loaded fries, rolls like the New York Reuben, big sharing platters for the table, and desserts from loaded waffles to a chocolate fondue called Dip Happens. Families are looked after too — the kids' bento box arrives with fries, seasonal fruit, vege sticks and a chocolate brownie.

The blackboard and the taps

One of the best reasons to keep coming back is the blackboard. Specials change constantly — pasta, curry, soup, a homestead meal, a pie and a Sunday roast all make appearances, and the winter menu leans hearty. On the drinks side, The Cook is closely tied to Good George, with a wall of taps pouring Amber Ale, Deckchair Hazy Pale Ale, Fog City Hazy IPA, Frankton IPA, a low carb lager and Riwaka Pilsner, plus cider taps like Doris Plum and Old School Lemonade and a rotating specialty tap. If choosing feels impossible, the Cook's Tasting Rack lets you sample any five. Guinness and Waikato Draught cover the traditionalists, zero-percent Virtual Reality IPAs look after non-drinkers, and the cocktail list runs from an espresso martini made with Raglan roast cold brew to a fresh cocktail of the week.

A busy week at the local

The calendar is a big part of the appeal. Quiz night runs every Monday from 7pm, and Thursday nights bring live music with Dan McIntyre from 7pm, with comedy nights and other events popping up throughout the year. The old hall's community roots show here as well — The Cook caters for gatherings of all sizes and styles, from work dos and fundraiser nights to birthdays, prize-givings and engagement parties, putting together packages to match. One parent, reviewing a 21st held there, called it the best of four they had hosted, praising the facility, food, staff and pricing in equal measure.

The team also keeps an eye on its footprint, reducing plastic use, reusing glass bottles and championing recyclable cans. Dietary needs are taken seriously: gluten-free and dairy-free options are available on request, and staff ask guests to flag any allergies or special requirements when ordering. Do note it's a fully licensed venue, so anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Hours run from 11am until late Monday to Friday and from 10am until late on weekends, though the venue closes on statutory holidays over the festive season. Tables can be booked online, gift vouchers are on offer if you're stuck for a present, and between the blackboard, the taps and the trivia, it's easy to see why The Cook has stayed Hamilton East's local for a century and a half.

Signature items

• 3 Little Pigs Pizza
• Social Sharing Platter
• Cook's Tasting Rack
• Cook Chooky Burger
• Dip Happens Fondue
• New York Reuben

Menu

Kids

• Bento Box — Served with fries, seasonal fruit, vege sticks, chocolate brownie & tomato sauce.
• Kids' Choice Plate — Your pick of chicken tenders or nuggets, meatballs, vege fritters or fish bites.

Wine

• Petal & Stem Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough sauvignon blanc, by the glass or bottle.
• Starborough Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough sauvignon blanc, by the glass.

Pizza

• 3 Little Pigs — BBQ base, cheese, red onion, bacon, pork belly bits & chorizo mince.
• Herbie — Marinara base, cheese, red pepper, mushroom, rocket, red onion, feta & balsamic glaze drizzle.
• Chicken Little — BBQ base, cheese, buttermilk chicken, bacon, red onion & ranch drizzle.
• Cheesy Does It — Marinara base with mozzarella, bocconcini & parmesan.

Rolls

• New York Reuben — Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese & Russian dressing.
• Vegetarian Philly — Mushroom, onion, capsicum, Swiss cheese & a jus dipping sauce.
• American Hot Dog — Fresh onion, tomato sauce & mustard.
• Roast Pork Roll — Roast pork with gravy & crackling.

Lights

• Buttermilk Chicken Tenders — Crispy buttermilk chicken tenders.
• Pork Belly Bites — Asian inspired sauce, spring onion, chilli & sesame seed.
• Vegetarian Fritters — Housemade vege fritters on a bed of rocket with relish & beetroot hummus.
• Arancini — Mushroom arancini with marinara sauce & parmesan.
• Mushroom Risotto — Mushroom risotto topped with parmesan.

Snacks

• Sure Crisp Fries — The house crispy fries.
• Potato Wedges — Classic pub-style wedges.
• Kūmara Fries — Sweet kūmara fries.
• Load 'Em Up Toppings — Add cheesy chicken with buffalo & ranch, bacon with sour cream, sweet chilli & cheese, or beef brisket with gravy & cheese.
• Gouda Sticks — Crispy fried gouda cheese sticks.
• Hopcorn Cauliflower — Cauliflower in a crunchy, hop-seasoned coating.
• Cheesy Garlic Bread — Garlic bread loaded with cheese.

Burgers

• Beef & Bacon — Housemade burger sauce, iceberg lettuce, Swiss cheese & beetroot.
• Cook Chooky — Buttermilk chicken tenders, iceberg lettuce, Swiss cheese, pickles & spicy buffalo sauce.
• Gretta — Housemade vege fritters, coleslaw, Swiss cheese, pickles & aioli.

Dessert

• Loaded Waffles — Brulee banana, ice cream, whipped cream & chocolate drizzle.
• Housemade Crumble — Custard, seasonal fruit & ice cream.
• Chocolate Lava Cake — Housemade lava cake with ice cream & whipped cream.
• Dip Happens (Fondue) — Rotating seasonal fruits & bite-sized sweet treats with a chocolate dip for two.

Cocktails

• Cocktail of the Week — A fresh rotating creation from the bar.
• GG Passionfruit Martini — Vodka, passionfruit juice & vanilla.
• GG Espresso Martini — Vodka, Raglan roast cold brew & coffee liqueur.
• Tom Collins — Gin, lemon juice, sugar & soda.
• Margarita — Tequila, Cointreau & lime.
• Mojito — Bacardi, lime, mint & soda.
• Happy Ending — Caramel whisky liqueur, poured in a 30ml or 60ml serve.
• Vodka Redbull — With Original, sugarfree or flavoured Redbull.

Beer & Cider

• Good George Amber Ale — 3.7% amber ale on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Deckchair Hazy Pale Ale — 5.2% hazy pale ale on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Fog City Hazy IPA — 5.8% hazy IPA on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Frankton IPA — 5.8% IPA on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Cheeky Low Carb Lager — 4.2% low carb lager on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Riwaka Pilsner — 4.8% pilsner on tap, by the glass or handle.
• Extra Dry Apple Cider — 4% cider tap from Gisborne, by the glass or handle.
• Doris Plum Cider — 4% plum cider tap from Marlborough, by the glass or handle.
• Old School Lemonade Cider — 4% lemonade cider tap from Marlborough, by the glass or handle.
• Good George Specialty Tap — A rotating specialty pour — ask what's tapped today.
• Cook's Tasting Rack — Sample any five of the beers and ciders on tap.
• Guinness — The classic stout, by the glass or handle.
• Waikato Draught — Local draught favourite by the glass or handle, also in a 750ml bottle.
• Speight Summit Ultra — 750ml bottled beer.
• Speight Mid Ale — 2.5% mid-strength bottled ale.
• Virtual Reality Hazy IPA — Zero-percent hazy IPA, 330ml.
• Virtual Reality Pale Ale — Zero-percent pale ale, 330ml.

Sharing Plates

• Mini Humble Platter — Curly fries, cross cut fries, wedges, sure crisp fries, kūmara fries, hash nuggets, aioli, tomato sauce & sweet chilli.
• Social Sharing — Cheese & bacon croquettes, gouda sticks, onion rings, wedges, mushroom arancini, chicken tenders, sweet chilli & ranch.
• Vegetarian Platter — Mini housemade vege fritters, hopcorn cauliflower, spring rolls, mushroom arancini, kūmara fries, aioli & beetroot hummus.
• Meaty Platter — Chicken tenders, meatballs, lamb bites, steak bites, deep fried pork belly bites, crackling, garlic butter & BBQ sauce.

Sides & Add Ons

• Chicken Nibbles — A side of chicken nibbles.
• Potato Brisket Croquettes — Croquettes made with potato and brisket.
• Charred Broccolini — Charred broccolini side.
• Steamed Vege — A simple steamed vegetable side.
• Mash Potato — A side of mash potato.

Blackboard Specials

• Rotating Blackboard Specials — Constantly changing lineup — think pasta, curry, soup, a homestead meal, pie and the Sunday roast.

Frequently asked questions

What are The Cook's opening hours?

Monday to Friday from 11am until late, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am until late. Over the festive season The Cook closes on statutory holidays but opens as usual on every other day.

Do I need to book a table?

You can book a table online through the booking widget on The Cook's website, and gift vouchers are also available to purchase online.

Is The Cook family friendly?

Yes — there's a kids' menu featuring a bento box and a choice of mains. As a licensed venue, under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Can dietary requirements be catered for?

Yes. The Cook has gluten-free and dairy-free options available on request. Let the team know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when ordering — there may be a small price adjustment for alternatives.

What's on during the week?

Quiz night runs every Monday from 7pm, and Thursdays bring live music with Dan McIntyre from 7pm. Comedy nights and other events also feature through the year.

Can I host a function at The Cook?

Yes — they cater for all sizes and styles of gatherings, including work dos, fundraiser nights, birthdays, prize-givings and engagement parties. Get in touch and they'll put together a package to suit.

What beers are on tap?

A full Good George line-up including Amber Ale, Deckchair Hazy Pale Ale, Fog City Hazy IPA, Frankton IPA, low carb lager and Riwaka Pilsner, plus cider taps, a rotating specialty tap, Guinness and Waikato Draught. The Cook's Tasting Rack lets you sample any five.

Tips

• {"body":"Quiz kicks off at 7pm every Monday — round up a team and settle in early for a good table.","title":"Monday quiz night"}
• {"body":"Dan McIntyre plays from 7pm every Thursday, and comedy nights appear regularly too.","title":"Live music Thursdays"}
• {"body":"The Cook's Tasting Rack lets you sample any five beers and ciders — a great way to explore the Good George taps.","title":"Try a tasting rack"}
• {"body":"Specials change constantly — pasta, curry, soup, pie, homestead meals and a Sunday roast all feature.","title":"Watch the blackboard"}
• {"body":"The Cook closes on statutory holidays over the festive season; every other day runs as usual, from 11am on weekdays and 10am on weekends.","title":"Mind the stat days"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' menu with a bento box; under-18s welcome with a parent or legal guardian (licensed venue).","dietary":"Gluten-free and dairy-free options on request; flag any allergies or special requirements when ordering.","parking":"Check The Cook's carpark note on their website or Facebook for current parking arrangements."}