The Flaming Rabbit

About The Flaming Rabbit

The Flaming Rabbit is a bar and restaurant at 3 Vernon Drive in Lincoln, named after a real piece of local history. On a hot, dry Wednesday in February 1932, a fire broke out near Rolleston and, fanned by a strong nor'wester and fleeing 'burning rabbits', raced across the parched Canterbury Plains toward Springston and Lincoln. Locals from the sale yards, threshing mills, Lincoln College, farms and town rallied with wet sacks, shovels and pine branches to fight it back, saving all but one farmhouse. When the fire was finally beaten, it was said 'never had a cold beer tasted so good' — the spirit The Flaming Rabbit takes its name from.

Today the kitchen serves hearty pub fare built around starters, mains, burgers, and a Butchers Block of steaks with a choice of sides and sauces, alongside a dedicated dessert menu and a $15 kids menu that includes a drink and ice cream sundae. Dietary needs including gluten free, dairy free and vegan are catered for on request.

Open seven days a week, The Flaming Rabbit also offers gift cards and hosts functions, carrying the same community spirit that helped locals beat the fire nearly a century ago.

The Flaming Rabbit: A Lincoln Pub Named for a 1932 Firefight

At 3 Vernon Drive in Lincoln, The Flaming Rabbit carries a name rooted in genuine local history. On a hot Wednesday morning in February 1932 — 11.39am, to be exact — a fire got going beside the Main South Road at Rolleston. Fanned by a strong nor'wester and, as the story goes, 'burning rabbits' fleeing the blaze, the fire raced three miles across parched grassland toward Springston and Lincoln in no time at all.

A Community That Fought Back

When the smoke was spotted, the call went out, and locals piled in by the score — from the sale yards at Addington, threshing mills, Lincoln College, farms, villages and town — armed with little more than wet sacks, shovels and torn pine branches. The fight was desperate and drawn-out, with the fire jumping roads and breaks. Staff and students from Lincoln College saved the Skellerup Plantation, and all but one farmhouse was kept safe, though the damage was still tremendous: pasture, a pine plantation, fences, crops, farmers' huts, orchards, sheep, and even an abandoned Chevrolet car were lost. A lull and change in wind direction helped late in the day, but it was grit and hard work that ultimately won the fight. Afterwards, it was said that 'never had a cold beer tasted so good' — the phrase that gives The Flaming Rabbit its whole spirit.

Hearty Pub Fare

The menu reflects that community, pub-focused history. Starters range from a classic pork terrine and a Marlborough seafood chowder to Rabbit Fried Chicken (RFC) and a shareable TFR Platter combining fried chicken, pork belly bites, dumplings, terrine and loaded fries. Main Fare covers a 200g rump steak, slow roasted pork shoulder with crackling, a chili prawn fettuccini, dry rubbed and smoked St Louis ribs, and a full kilo of Marlborough mussels steamed in a spicy red Thai coconut broth.

Burgers and the Butchers Block

The burger menu leans into house classics like the TFR Burger with double beef patties and beetroot, a 180g dry aged beef burger, and a Korean fried chicken burger. For those after something more substantial, the Butchers Block offers a choice of sirloin, scotch fillet, eye fillet or a rotating dry-aged steak, each served with two sides and a sauce chosen from options like beef tallow and smoked sea salt potatoes, roasted carrots with harissa and feta, or a red wine jus.

Dessert and Family Dining

To finish, there's a caramel panna cotta, a gluten free chocolate cake, a changing Pie of the Moment, and an affogato with a choice of liqueur. Families are catered for with a $15 kids menu that includes a small drink and an ice cream sundae alongside a choice of roast pork, fish and chips, a burger, or fried chicken. Gluten free, dairy free and vegan options are available across the menu — guests are asked to flag any allergies with their server.

Visiting The Flaming Rabbit

The Flaming Rabbit is open seven days a week from 11am until late. Gift cards are available for purchase, and the venue also hosts functions. Menu items may vary with seasonal availability, and prices are subject to change without notice — worth checking in store for the latest details. Whether it's the seafood chowder, a Butchers Block steak, or simply a cold beer at the end of the day, The Flaming Rabbit keeps a genuine piece of Lincoln's history alive in every visit.

Signature items

• Seafood Chowder
• Rabbit Fried Chicken (RFC)
• TFR Burger
• St Louis Ribs
• Butchers Block Steaks
• Mussels

Menu

Burgers

• TFR Burger — Double beef patties, bacon, greens, beetroot, American cheese, dill pickles, TFR sauce and fries
• Dry Aged Beef Burger — 180g dry aged beef patty, lettuce, tomato, smoked cheddar, onions, TFR sauce and fries
• Big Bacon Cheeseburger — Double beef patties, double bacon, American cheese, dill pickles, onion marmalade, TFR sauce and fries
• Korean Fried Chicken Burger — RFC breast fillet, Korean BBQ sauce, creamy coleslaw, mozzarella and fries
• Chicken, Bacon & Hot Honey Burger — RFC breast fillet, bacon, hot honey drizzle, mozzarella, greens, dill pickles, TFR sauce and fries
• Steak Sandwich — Grilled rump steak, mixed greens, onion marmalade, tomato, aioli, sunny side up egg on ciabatta and fries

Desserts

• Caramel Panna Cotta — With shortbread and honeycomb
• Chocolate Cake — Chocolate fudge sauce, sour cherry compote and vanilla ice cream, GF
• Pie Of The Moment — Changing flavours, ask your server, served with vanilla ice cream
• Peanut Butter & Salted Caramel Cheesecake — With peanut butter chocolate fudge and ice cream
• Ice Cream Sundae — Choice of chocolate fudge, caramel or mixed berry
• Affogato — Ice cream, biscotti, coffee, choice of liqueur (30ml)

Starters

• Garlic Bread — Four pieces of ciabatta smothered in garlic and herb butter
• Pork Terrine — Classic pork and vegetable terrine, crusty ciabatta and house made piccalilli
• Seafood Chowder — Creamy, thick and full of Marlborough mussels, prawns and salmon, served with garlic ciabatta
• Rabbit Fried Chicken (RFC) — Marinated fried chicken breast, mesclun and TFR sauce
• TFR Platter — Fried chicken, pork belly bites, pan fried dumplings, pork terrine and loaded fries
• Pan Fried Dumplings (8) — Steamed and pan fried pork and chive dumplings with a ginger and soy dipping sauce
• Pork Belly Bites — Crispy skinned pork tossed in Korean BBQ sauce, garnished with mesclun and sesame seeds
• Fried Chicken Sliders (3) — Three pitas filled with fried chicken, greens, corn and tomato salsa, topped with avocado crema
• Loaded Fries — Golden agria fries topped with bacon, sweet chilli, mozzarella and sour cream

Kids Menu

• Roast Pork (Kids) — Slow roasted pork shoulder, roast potatoes, pumpkin, parsnip, carrots and peas with apple sauce and crackling
• Fish and Chips (Kids) — Battered market fish, golden fries and sauce
• Burger & Chips (Kids) — Beef patty, cheese, lettuce and aioli
• Fried Chicken & Chips (Kids) — Marinated fried chicken, fries and sauce

Main Fare

• Rump Steak 200g — Served with salad, fries and choice of red wine jus, pepper sauce, mushroom sauce or smoked garlic and thyme butter
• Asian Beef Salad — Marinated rump steak, mixed greens, cucumber, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, carrots, spice roasted cashews and crispy noodles with ginger and soy dressing
• Warm Roasted Vegetable Salad — Roasted seasonal vegetables, feta and edamame beans finished with a walnut and lemon dressing
• Roast Pork — Slow roasted pork shoulder, beef tallow potatoes, pumpkin, parsnip, carrots and peas, served with apple sauce and crackling
• Fish of the Day — Ask your server for today's creation
• Chili Prawn Fettuccini — Chili butter prawns sautéed with tomatoes, capers, onion, lemon and olive oil
• St Louis Ribs — Dry rubbed and smoked, finished with house orange soda BBQ sauce, served with fries and coleslaw; available half or full rack
• Chicken Breast — Sliced chicken breast in a creamy sundried tomato mustard sauce with steamed broccoli, beef tallow and smoked sea salt potatoes
• Fish & Chips — Beer battered market fish served with house made salad, tartare sauce, tomato sauce and fries
• Mussels — 1kg of Marlborough mussels steamed in a spicy red Thai coconut broth, served with crusty ciabatta
• Lambs Fry & Bacon — Seared lambs liver on creamy mash with bacon, onion marmalade and mushroom gravy

Butchers Block

• Sirloin 350g — Choice of steak with 2 sides plus a sauce
• Scotch Fillet 350g — Choice of steak with 2 sides plus a sauce
• Eye Fillet 200g — Choice of steak with 2 sides plus a sauce
• Dry-Aged Steak — Ask staff for today's selection

Sides & Sauces

• Beef Tallow & Smoked Sea Salt Potatoes — Side
• Fries — Side
• Mash Potato — Side
• Green Salad — Side
• 2 Fried Eggs — Side
• Coleslaw — Side
• Roasted Carrots with Harissa & Feta — Side
• Broccoli, Parmesan & Bacon — Side
• Side Salad — Side
• Red Wine Jus — Sauce
• Mushroom Sauce — Sauce
• Pepper Sauce — Sauce
• Smoked Garlic & Thyme Butter — Sauce

Frequently asked questions

What are The Flaming Rabbit's opening hours?

Open Monday to Sunday from 11am until late.

Why is it called The Flaming Rabbit?

It's named after a 1932 fire that swept from Rolleston toward Lincoln, fought off by locals from the sale yards, college, farms and town.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, a $15 kids menu that includes a small drink and an ice cream sundae.

Does The Flaming Rabbit cater to dietary requirements?

Yes, gluten free, dairy free and vegan options are available — let your server know of any allergies.

Can I book a function here?

Yes, The Flaming Rabbit hosts functions.

Are gift cards available?

Yes, gift cards can be purchased through the website.

Does the menu change with the seasons?

Yes, menu items may differ depending on seasonal availability, and prices are subject to change without notice.

Tips

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• {"body":"Choose your steak, two sides and a sauce.","title":"Order from the Butchers Block"}
• {"body":"Combines fried chicken, pork belly bites, dumplings, terrine and loaded fries.","title":"Share the TFR Platter"}
• {"body":"The $15 kids menu includes a drink and an ice cream sundae.","title":"Bring the kids"}

Good to know

• {"family":"$15 kids menu includes a small drink and an ice cream sundae","dietary":"Gluten free, dairy free and vegan options available; let your server know of any allergies"}