Are dogs allowed at The Citadel Cafe?

Yes, dogs are welcome to accompany visitors at the cafe.

What vegetarian or plant-based options are on the menu?

The menu features several plant-based and vegetarian dishes, including the Baby Dahl, Shroom Burger, Tofu Burger, Crispy Potato Taco, and Hey Dahl.

Are gluten-free choices available?

Yes, the kitchen offers dishes made with ingredients not containing gluten (GF) as well as items with gluten-free options on request (GFO), including gluten-free buns for burgers.

Until what time is breakfast served?

The Brekkie menu items are available until 2:00 pm.

Does the cafe stay open for dinner?

Yes, dinner service runs until 8:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

Can I order takeaway online?

Yes, online ordering is available for pickup via OrderMeal.

The Citadel Cafe

cafe — Hunterville · Hunterville

About The Citadel Cafe

The Citadel Cafe is a vibrant beachside eatery situated along Castlecliff Beach in Whanganui. Known for its relaxed seaside atmosphere, friendly hospitality, and dog-friendly setting, the cafe welcomes locals and beachgoers kicking back with quality espresso or sitting down for hearty meals.

From early morning breakfast favourites to an extensive burger bar, loaded fries, tacos, and evening mains, the kitchen crafts a wide-ranging menu packed with fresh flavours. With ample gluten-free and plant-based selections alongside satisfying comfort staples, The Citadel provides a welcoming community gathering spot by the sea.

Sun, Sand, and Burgers by the Sea at The Citadel Cafe

Stepping into The Citadel Cafe means embracing the unhurried rhythm of coastal life. Nestled right against the seaside in Castlecliff, the cafe has established itself as an inviting community hub where beachgoers, locals, and visitors gather over steaming coffees, cold drinks, and an expansive menu crafted for relaxed seaside dining.

Beachside Dining and Community Spirit

The Citadel captures the essence of coastal dining with an easygoing, sunny vibe. Whether pulling up a chair after a morning stroll along the sand or popping in for a midweek meal, visitors are met by a welcoming crew and a lively space designed to unwind in. Furry family members are warmly embraced too, with dogs welcome to join their owners for the outing.

Carefully pulled espresso drinks provide a boost for early starters, but the kitchen quickly kicks into high gear across all times of day. Brekkie classics run through the morning until the afternoon, featuring generous platters like The Citadel Big Breakfast alongside breakfast burgers, loaded benedicts, and smashed avocado on toasted ciabatta.

Burgers, Tacos, and Loaded Hand Cut Fries

At lunchtime and into the evening dinner service later in the week, The Citadel's kitchen showcases its popular Burger Bar and snack line-up. Standouts include the Chico Burger—featuring buttermilk-soaked fried chicken in the cafe's signature crumb—and the seafood-focused Buoy Oh Buoy made with battered Tarakihi fish. Vegetarian and plant-based diners are well accommodated with choices such as oven-baked portobello mushrooms and battered tofu burgers with kimchi.

For casual snacking, the cafe turns out corn chip nachos, tacos stuffed with slow-cooked pulled pork or battered fish, and loaded hand cut fries. Creations like Kimchi Fries topped with sriracha mayo or Fiery Frida fries smothered in cheese, sour cream, and jalapenos bring bold flavours to the table.

Hearty Mains and Coastal Comfort

Those settling in for evening dining can explore the Chef's Picks, ranging from comforting green Thai curry and aromatic butter chicken with garlic paratha to classic battered Tarakihi fish and chips paired with locally grown hand cut fries. Sourdough toasties, vibrant fresh salads, and comforting desserts like warm sticky date pudding and chocolate brownie round out an extensive offering tailored to casual seaside dining.

Signature items

Baby Dahl
Chico Burger
Buoy Oh Buoy Burger
Fish and Chips
Kimchi Fries
Mama's Fry Chicken

Plain Hand Cut Chunky Fries — Locally grown hand cut chunky fries
Kimchi Fries — Fries with house made kimchi, sriracha mayo, sesame seeds & spring onion
Fiery Frida — Fries with melted cheese, lashings of sour cream, salsa, jalapenos, and sweet chili sauce
Kevin Bacon — Fries with Cajun seasoning aioli & chopped streaky bacon
Gravy Baby — Fries with chicken salt, melted cheese & gravy

Tacos

Fish Taco — Battered Tarakihi fish, tartare, slaw, salsa, cured onion, sesame seeds
Fried Chicken Taco — Fried chicken with slaw, chipotle mayo, peanuts
Pulled Pork Taco — Slow cooked pork with aioli, slaw, pineapple salsa, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds
Crispy Potato Taco — Cajun spiced potato, sesame aioli, onions, salsa

Snacks

Baby Dahl — Yellow split pea dahl with curried peanuts, coconut cream, kaffir lime & spring onion with warm bread
That's Amore — Salt & pepper calamari served with greens, pickled onion, house tartare & lemon
Mama's Fry Chicken — Buttermilk marinated chicken pieces coated in Citadel's original crumb, served with aioli
Garlic Butter Bread — Toasted ciabatta with garlic and mixed herb butter and balsamic glaze
Arancini Balls — Italian rice balls with mozzarella cheese, basil pesto and garlic aioli
Pulled Pork Nachos — Corn chips with pulled pork, cured onions, salsa, sour cream and guacamole

Add-Ons

Hand Cut Chips — Side add-on of hand cut chips
Gluten Free Bun — Gluten free bun upgrade for burgers

Brekkie

The Citadel Big Breakfast — Two fried eggs, bacon, hash brown, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, relish & ciabatta toast
Eggs Bene Bacon — Poached eggs, streaky bacon, baby spinach, hollandaise on toasted ciabatta
Shroom Eggs Bene — Poached eggs, portobello mushrooms, baby spinach, hollandaise on toasted ciabatta
Breaky Burger — Streaky bacon, hash brown, fried egg, hollandaise & tomato relish on a toasted ciabatta burger bun
Citadel Smash — Smashed avocado on ciabatta toast with tomato, feta, mixed seeds & poached eggs
Belgian Waffles — Waffles with maple syrup, berry compote, bacon & mascarpone

Desserts

Sticky Date Pudding — Served with caramel sauce and choice of cream, yogurt, or ice cream
Chocolate Brownie — Melted ganache and choice of yogurt, ice cream, or cream
Ice Cream Sundae — Sundae served with choice of chocolate or caramel
Affogato — Vanilla ice cream served with espresso
Port — Glass of port

Chef'S Picks

Butter Chicken — Unauthentic butter chicken served with rice and garlic paratha
Pasta — Creamy chicken and mushroom pasta with basil pesto
Thai Curry — Green chicken or tofu curry, rice, fried curry leaves, paratha
Fish and Chips — Locally grown hand cut chips, battered Tarakihi fish fillet, salad greens, lemon, and house tartare sauce
Hey Dahl — Yellow split pea dahl with peanuts, coconut cream, kaffir lime and spring onions

The Salad Bar

Garden of Eden — Toasted maple walnuts, poached pears through mesclun with grilled chicken, chopped streaky bacon, and feta cheese
Seedy Shroom Salad — Mesclun with oven baked portobello mushrooms, feta, beetroot relish, red onion, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, balsamic dressing, and basil pesto
Kahlo Salad — Buttermilk fried chicken thigh in Citadel original crumb, served with mesclun slaw mix, charred corn salsa, chipotle mayo & jalapenos

The Burger Bar

Pulled Beef Burger — Pulled beef, onion rings, aioli, slaw and pineapple
Classic Burger — 180gm beef patty, cheese, citadel burger sauce, pickle, red onion, lettuce, tomato
Chico Burger — Chicken soaked in buttermilk, coated in Citadel's original crumb, served with house slaw, chipotle mayo, tomato & jalapenos
Shroom Burger — Oven baked portobello balsamic mushrooms with mesclun, beetroot relish, red onion, feta and basil pesto
Buoy Oh Buoy Burger — Battered Tarakihi fish, tartare, lettuce, red onion, tomato & lemon
Tofu Burger — Battered tofu with beetroot relish, kimchi, lettuce, sesame aioli

Sourdough Toasties

Hot Hammy — Ham, cheese, and tomato
The Cornie — Creamy corn with cheese
The Oozy Onion — Classic cheese and onion
The K-Melt — Kimchi and sesame with cheese

Frequently asked questions

Are dogs allowed at The Citadel Cafe?: Yes, dogs are welcome to accompany visitors at the cafe.
What vegetarian or plant-based options are on the menu?: The menu features several plant-based and vegetarian dishes, including the Baby Dahl, Shroom Burger, Tofu Burger, Crispy Potato Taco, and Hey Dahl.
Are gluten-free choices available?: Yes, the kitchen offers dishes made with ingredients not containing gluten (GF) as well as items with gluten-free options on request (GFO), including gluten-free buns for burgers.
Until what time is breakfast served?: The Brekkie menu items are available until 2:00 pm.
Does the cafe stay open for dinner?: Yes, dinner service runs until 8:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.
Can I order takeaway online?: Yes, online ordering is available for pickup via OrderMeal.

Tips

{"body":"Visit between Thursday and Saturday when the kitchen remains open until 8:30 pm for evening burgers, tacos, and dinner mains.","title":"Catch the Sunset on Late Nights"}
{"body":"The Baby Dahl made with yellow split peas, coconut cream, and curried peanuts is one of the cafe's standout signature dishes.","title":"Try the House Dahl"}
{"body":"The cafe is dog-friendly, making it an easy pit stop before or after a stroll on Castlecliff Beach.","title":"Bring Your Four-Legged Friends"}
{"body":"If you are after waffles, eggs benedict, or the big breakfast, make sure to place your order before the 2:00 pm brekkie cut-off.","title":"Arrive Before 2 PM for Breakfast"}

Good to know

{"pets":"Dogs are welcome to accompany visitors.","family":"Friendly seaside setting with diverse menu choices and sweet treats.","dietary":"Extensive GF, GFO, PB (plant-based), DF, and vegan options available upon request."}