The Crooked Elm is a family-owned bar and restaurant on Laings Road in Hutt Central, Lower Hutt, built around a simple invitation: drink, dine and unwind. Inside there's bar seating and large windows; outside, a shaded, umbrella-covered seating area where dogs are welcome. It bills itself as the Hutt's favourite bar and restaurant, and it works hard to earn the title. The all-day menu runs from small plates like pork bao, brisket nachos and salt and pepper squid to burgers, pizzas, a miso-broth pork belly ramen, ribeye steak and a changing market fish. Weekends bring a brunch menu, children 13 and under get a menu of their own, and dietary needs are clearly signposted with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options throughout. There's a story behind the bar as well: the young team behind it loved the place so much they bought it, a journey covered by The Post (the former Dominion Post). They describe their ethos as genuine, joyful hospitality and practice open-book management, sharing the venue's numbers with staff so they learn the business behind the bar. Midweek there's Elm Happy Hour from 5pm, Tuesday to Thursday, plus a weekly quiz night, and the calendar also brings live music, DJs and karaoke. The space is popular for private functions too, from stag dos and girls' nights to birthdays and work dos. Reservations can be made online, and the team welcomes feedback — a Google review if you loved it, or a quiet word or anonymous form if there's something they can do better.
The Crooked Elm sits on Laings Road in the heart of Hutt Central, and its promise to Lower Hutt is a simple one: drink, dine and unwind. Inside it's all large windows, bar seating and easy conversation; outside there's a shaded seating area with umbrellas, where dogs are welcome. It's a place that works just as well for a midweek dinner as it does for a loud Friday night, with the kitchen running an all-day menu from lunch through to the evening.
There's a good story behind the bar, too — so good that The Post (the former Dominion Post) wrote it up under the headline "Three young people walk into a bar and buy it." That is, more or less, exactly what happened: the young team now running The Crooked Elm loved the venue enough to take it over, and it remains family-owned and operated. They describe their approach as genuine, joyful hospitality, and they practice open-book management — sharing the numbers that matter with staff so the people pouring the pints also learn how a successful venue really works.
The all-day menu covers plenty of ground without losing its pub soul. Small plates run from fries and confit garlic bread to salt and pepper squid, steamed mushroom gyoza, three-piece masterstock pork bao and brisket nachos. The burger list is where many regulars land: a classic cheeseburger with housemade burger sauce, a deluxe version stacked with bacon and beetroot relish, a buffalo chicken burger, and a vegetarian haloumi burger — all served with fries, with a fries-and-salad swap on offer.
Mains stretch beyond standard pub fare. There's a pork belly ramen built on miso broth, a 200g ribeye with red wine jus, slow-cooked BBQ brisket with crispy spiced potatoes and corn ribs, roasted ras el hanout cauliflower, bangers and mash, and a market fish that follows the day's catch. Pizzas come in caprese and chorizo-and-potato form. On weekends, brunch takes over — Turkish eggs with warm housemade flatbread, eggs benedict with bacon or portobello mushrooms, or eggs on toast — and children 13 and under have a menu of their own. Desserts run to churros, a gluten-free brownie and apple and blueberry crumble. Dietary needs are clearly marked across the menu, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options, and the team asks you to flag any restrictions.
Midweek gives people plenty of reasons to return. Elm Happy Hour runs from 5pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Thursday, with $10 tap beer, $10 house wine and $10 house spirits — not on public holidays, and not combinable with other promotions. Tuesday nights belong to the Elm Quiz Night, from 6:30pm to 9pm, with prizes on the line; booking is required, and players are expected to make a meal and drink purchase. Live music features from time to time, and the venue happily leans into DJs and karaoke, so evenings can run long.
The space is a flexible one in other ways, too. Private functions are a firm part of the offering — the team is cheerfully upfront about it being a favourite for stag dos and girls' nights — covering everything from birthdays to work dos, all with the same kitchen and bar behind them.
The Crooked Elm is at 25 Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt. It's closed on Mondays, though it can open by request, opens at 3pm on Tuesdays, and runs from midday Wednesday through Sunday, staying open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations can be made through the online booking system, and they're a sensible idea for quiz night and weekend sittings. If you enjoy your visit, the team will gently point you towards their Google review page — and if something isn't right, they'd rather hear about it at the bar or through their anonymous feedback form.
Whether you come in for a ramen and a pint, a long weekend brunch with the kids, or a Tuesday quiz with your sharpest mates, The Crooked Elm does its best to live up to its billing as the Hutt's favourite bar and restaurant.