Clive Square Pub sits on Emerson Street in Napier South, serving the kind of generous, unfussy food a proper pub should — from 12-inch hand-stretched pizzas to slow-braised lamb shoulder and a properly handled scotch fillet. The doors open every day of the week from 11:00am until 10:00pm, covering long lunches, after-work dinners and everything in between.
The menu leans on familiar favourites done with real care. The pizza list is Neapolitan in spirit, with a crisp-based Margherita at the classic end and hearty combinations like Meat Lovers and Cranberry Chicken beyond it, plus a gluten-free base option. The mains range from fall-apart braised lamb and free-range flame-grilled chicken to pasta and salads, backed by proper starters, sides and a short, indulgent dessert list. Younger visitors get their own Little Devils Menu, complete with playful dish names and an optional drink or ice-cream add-on.
Ordering ahead is easy: the full menu is available for online order through Order Meal, tables can be booked via the reservation section of the website, and the pub keeps in touch with regulars on Facebook and Instagram. Whether you're settling in for steak night or just stopping by for loaded wedges and a sundae, Clive Square Pub keeps things warm, welcoming and straightforwardly delicious.
On Emerson Street in Napier South, Clive Square Pub does the things a good neighbourhood pub should: honest portions, a kitchen that ranges from hand-stretched pizza to a properly cooked scotch fillet, and doors that open every day of the week from 11:00am until 10:00pm. Whether you're settling in for a long lunch, grabbing dinner after work or feeding the family, the menu is built around generous, familiar food done with more care than the word "pub" usually implies.
The pizza list leans Neapolitan in spirit. The Classic Margherita keeps things simple and elegant — fresh mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and aromatic basil on a golden, crisp base — while the Meat Lovers stacks salami, bacon and kransky over melted mozzarella for something smokier and heartier. There's a Hawaiian done with flair, a Vege Supreme piled with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs, and a Cranberry Chicken that pairs tender chicken with tangy cranberries on a crisp garlic base. If you'd rather graze, the Garlic Flatbread — slow confit garlic, oregano, chilli flakes and Parmesan — is a savoury little number built for sharing. Coeliacs and the gluten-averse aren't left out either: any pizza can be made on a gluten-free base for a small extra charge.
The mains section is where the kitchen shows its range. The slow-braised lamb shoulder is the sort of dish that anchors a menu: 275 grams of fall-apart lamb with creamy mash, seasonal greens and a fragrant mint jus. The flame-grilled chicken — 380 grams of free-range bird — arrives layered with house spicy sauce, spicy fries, creamy aioli and fresh coleslaw. Steak fans get a full 250g scotch fillet, cooked your way and served with fries and coleslaw, with a choice of bourbon peppercorn or beef red wine jus — and the option to add fried eggs and mushrooms if you're doing it properly.
Lighter appetites are covered too. The fettuccine carbonara comes in a creamy parmesan and white wine sauce, with the option to add chicken or chicken and extra bacon, while the classic Caesar is built properly on cos, garlic croutons, bacon, parmesan, egg and anchovies — chicken optional. Sides of creamy mash, coleslaw or green garden salad round out any plate.
Start the way regulars presumably do: with crispy golden fries and house-made garlic aioli, or loaded wedges buried under bacon, melted cheese, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. The pub's Korean crumbed crispy tenders — juicy, house-crumbed and served with a Korean aioli — bring a bit of character to the starters list.
Save room at the end, too. The dark rum tiramisu is a rich, cocoa-dusted and unapologetically boozy take on the classic, while the ice cream sundae pairs vanilla ice cream with chocolate or strawberry sauce, wafer and sprinkles for those who prefer their sweetness straightforward.
Families are clearly part of the plan. The kids' menu — the Little Devils Menu — leans into pub humour with dishes called "I'm Not Hungry" (crumbed chicken tenders and golden fries) and "Whatever..." (cheesy pizza and chips), each with the option to add a drink or ice-cream. It's a thoughtful touch that makes the pub an easy choice for a family dinner in Napier South.
Clive Square Pub is at 262 Emerson Street, Napier South, Napier 4110, and it opens Monday through Sunday, 11:00am to 10:00pm. Tables can be booked through the reservation section of the website, and if you'd rather eat at home, the full menu is available for online order through Order Meal. You can keep up with what's happening at the pub on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Come hungry. This is a menu that rewards a proper appetite — and a table that's easy to keep coming back to, seven days a week.