Boat Shed Cafe

restaurant — Stepneyville · Nelson

About Boat Shed Cafe

Boat Shed Cafe sits on the Nelson waterfront at 350 Wakefield Quay, built around a seasonally driven menu that celebrates exceptional New Zealand produce. The kitchen combines classic and modern techniques, treating quality ingredients with respect, and the menu reflects the diverse backgrounds of the culinary team.

The restaurant runs weekend breakfast, lunch and dinner services, with a strong focus on local seafood — shucked-to-order oysters, Mills Bay mussels, market fish, whitebait and sea-run salmon all feature — alongside beef, lamb and vegetarian dishes drawing on the same seasonal approach. Both lunch and dinner also offer a 'Trust The Chef' tasting menu designed to be enjoyed by the whole table.

Boat Shed Cafe is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday from 11:30am, and from 9am on Saturdays and Sundays including weekend breakfast, with public holiday hours posted on Instagram. Gift vouchers and function bookings are also available.

Boat Shed Cafe: Seasonal New Zealand Dining on the Nelson Waterfront

On the Nelson waterfront at 350 Wakefield Quay, Boat Shed Cafe builds its entire approach around a seasonally driven menu that celebrates exceptional New Zealand produce. The kitchen's stated aim is straightforward: showcase local ingredients, prepared with a combination of classic and modern technique, treated with respect, and served in a relaxed waterfront setting.

A Menu Built Around the Season

Boat Shed's food reflects the diverse backgrounds of its culinary team, and it shows across the menu — French technique sits alongside dishes built on Sichuan chilli oil, dukkah, zaatar and kimchi mayo, all applied to New Zealand ingredients. Seafood is a clear strength: shucked-to-order oysters served natural with green apple mignonette, Mills Bay mussels baked with lemongrass and ginger mayonnaise, market fish ceviche, and fried West Coast whitebait with sourdough and sea salt butter all appear across the lunch and dinner menus.

Weekend Mornings

On Saturdays and Sundays, the cafe opens for breakfast, with dishes like the Boat Shed Big Breakfast — handmade apple-fennel pork sausage, streaky bacon, avocado, hashbrown potatoes, sourdough and eggs any way — alongside Eggs Royale with seared Regal salmon, a Turkish Breakfast with poached eggs and chilli garlic oil, and smoked fish and potato hash cakes. A full range of sides, from seared Marlborough sea run salmon to shoestring fries with roasted garlic mayonnaise, rounds things out.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch and dinner menus share a similar structure, moving from bites and starters through entrees to mains. Standouts include a seafood chowder built with mussels, potato, fennel and cream; braised beef short ribs with parsnip puree and green apple remoulade; and a pan roasted market fish served with alusia beans, nduja and gremolata. The dinner menu adds a few heavier options, including Angus Pure sirloin with horseradish cream, a goat cheese and roasted garlic soufflé, and braised lamb shoulder with whipped feta and dukkah.

Trust The Chef

For guests happy to hand over the decision-making, Boat Shed offers a 'Trust The Chef' tasting menu at both lunch and dinner, designed to be enjoyed by the entire table — four courses at lunch, five at dinner. It's built to showcase the kitchen's range in one sitting, drawing on whatever's best from the day's produce.

Cheese, Dessert, and the Details

To finish, there's a small cheese selection featuring Saint Agur and Délices de Bourgogne from France, served with house-baked bread, fruit and nuts, alongside desserts including a dark chocolate marquise with roasted cherries, warm gingerbread with apple caramel, and butterscotch pots de crème. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated on request — guests are asked to flag these at the time of booking or with their server on arrival.

Boat Shed Cafe is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday from 11:30am, and from 9am on Saturdays and Sundays for breakfast through to dinner. Public holiday hours are posted on the cafe's Instagram, and gift vouchers and function bookings are available for those wanting to plan ahead.

Signature items

  • Boat Shed Big Breakfast
  • Shucked to Order Oysters
  • Seafood Chowder
  • Braised Beef Short Ribs
  • Trust The Chef
  • Fried West Coast Whitebait

Menu

Cheese

  • Saint Agur (France) — Blue cheese, served with house-baked bread, fruit and nuts
  • Délices de Bourgogne (France) — Triple cream cheese, served with house-baked bread, fruit and nuts

Dessert

  • Dark Chocolate Marquise — Roasted cherries, olive oil, whipped cream, GF
  • Warm Gingerbread — Apple caramel, vanilla ice cream, DF option available
  • Butterscotch Pots de Crème — Bourbon caramel, pecan shortbread, mascarpone cream, GF option available

Lunch - Mains

  • Seafood Chowder — Mussels, potato, fennel, celery, parsley, garlic butter, cream, fresh sourdough, butter
  • Risotto — Streaky bacon, roast chicken, white beans, grilled bread, rocket, parmesan
  • Braised Beef Short Ribs — Parsnip puree, kohlrabi, fennel, green apple remoulade, jus, GF
  • Pan Roasted Market Fish — Alusia beans, nduja, gremolata, cress, GF

Lunch - Sides

  • Shoestring Fries — Roasted garlic mayonnaise, DF
  • Chopped Cos Lettuce — Buttermilk dressing, radish, zaatar, GF
  • Roasted Baby Carrots — Whipped feta, mint, almonds, Baharat spice, GF

Dinner - Bites

  • Shucked to Order Oyster — Served natural with green apple mignonette, GF, DF
  • Half Dozen Oysters — Served natural with green apple mignonette, GF, DF
  • Southern Fried Oyster — Served with sauce gribiche
  • Grilled Sourdough — Whipped roe, capers, parsley, lemon
  • Salmon Tartare Dashi Crisp — Pickled shallots, fresh apple, burnt onion oil, GF, DF
  • Goat Cheese Gougères — Raisin, pine nuts, black pepper, thyme infused honey

Dinner - Mains

  • Angus Pure Sirloin — Roasted beetroot salad, horseradish cream, beef jus, GF
  • Goat Cheese & Roasted Garlic Soufflé — Roasted beetroot, grilled artichoke, honey walnuts
  • Pan Roasted Market Fish — Alusia beans, nduja, gremolata, cress, GF
  • Braised Lamb Shoulder — Baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, whipped feta, mint, dukkah, GF
  • Braised Beef Short Rib — Parsnip puree, kohlrabi, fennel, green apple remoulade, jus, GF
  • Truffle Mushroom Duxelles Risotto — Seared scallops, parmesan, truffle, GF

Dinner - Sides

  • Baked Potato Gratin — Brie cheese, chives, GF
  • Roasted Baby Carrots — Whipped feta, mint, almonds, Baharat spice, GF
  • Brussels Sprouts — Paprika, kimchi mayo, garlic butter, parmesan, almonds
  • Chopped Cos Lettuce — Buttermilk dressing, radish, zaatar, GF

Trust The Chef

  • Trust The Chef (Lunch) — A 4-course chef's tasting menu designed to be enjoyed by the whole table
  • Trust The Chef (Dinner) — A 5-course chef's tasting menu designed to be enjoyed by the whole table

Breakfast Sides

  • Streaky Bacon — Side of streaky bacon
  • Roasted Mushrooms — Side of roasted mushrooms
  • Hashbrown Potatoes — Side of hashbrown potatoes
  • Seared Marlborough Sea Run Salmon — Side of seared sea run salmon
  • Shoestring Fries — With roasted garlic mayonnaise
  • Grilled Avocado — Side of grilled avocado
  • Handmade Apple-Fennel Pork Sausage — Two handmade pork sausages

Lunch - Entrees

  • Market Fish Ceviche — Guacamole, radish, crispy shallots, soy and sesame dressing, GF, DF
  • Beef Tartare — Parmesan, chives, anchovy dressing, sourdough crumbs, endive, rocket
  • Buffalo Stracciatella — Fennel, orange, pistachio, chilli, grilled sourdough
  • Cured Akaroa Sea Run Salmon — Pickled cucumber, dill crème fraiche, grilled toasts
  • Roast Beetroot Salad — Honey, candied walnuts, soft goat cheese, croutons, soft herbs, sherry vinegar dressing
  • Caesar Salad — Cos romaine, croutons, Cantabrian anchovies, Grana Padano, anchovy dressing; roast chicken can be added
  • Fried West Coast Whitebait — Sourdough, sea salt butter, lemon

Dinner - Entrees

  • Market Fish Ceviche — Guacamole, radish, crispy shallots, soy and sesame dressing, GF, DF
  • Baked Mills Bay Mussels — Lemongrass and ginger mayonnaise, Sichuan chilli oil, coriander, GF, DF
  • Beef Tartare — Parmesan, chives, anchovy dressing, sourdough crumbs, endive, rocket
  • Buffalo Stracciatella — Fennel, orange, pistachio, chilli, grilled sourdough
  • Seared Scallops — Butternut, capers, bacon, parsley, GF
  • Cured Akaroa Sea Run Salmon — Pickled cucumber, dill crème fraiche, grilled toasts

Weekend Breakfast

  • Boat Shed Big Breakfast — Handmade apple-fennel pork sausage, streaky bacon, avocado, hashbrown potatoes, sourdough, eggs any way, jus
  • Smoked Fish & Potato Hash Cakes — Poached eggs, hollandaise, shaved fennel, cress
  • Pumpkin & Potato Rosti — Poached eggs, avocado, red onion, feta, parsley salad
  • Eggs Benedict — Hot muffin, streaky bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise
  • Eggs Royale — Hot muffin, seared Regal salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise
  • Eggs Any Way — Grilled sourdough, tomato and red pepper chutney, streaky bacon or Regal salmon
  • French Toast — Caramelized banana, streaky bacon, maple mascarpone
  • Turkish Breakfast — Poached eggs, roast mushrooms, sourdough, yoghurt, chilli garlic oil

Lunch - To Start / Share

  • Shucked to Order Oysters — Served natural with green apple mignonette, GF, DF
  • Southern Fried Oyster — Served with sauce gribiche
  • Grilled Sourdough — Whipped roe, capers, parsley, lemon
  • Salmon Tartare — Dashi crisp, pickled shallots, fresh apple, burnt onion oil, GF, DF
  • Baked Mills Bay Mussels — Lemongrass and ginger mayonnaise, Sichuan chilli oil, coriander, GF, DF
  • Goat Cheese Gougères — Raisin, pine nuts, honey, thyme, black pepper

Frequently asked questions

What are Boat Shed Cafe's opening hours?
Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday from 11:30am, and from 9am on Saturday and Sunday.
Does Boat Shed Cafe serve breakfast?
Yes, breakfast is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes, dishes can be adjusted or limited to suit dietary restrictions — please advise at booking or with your server on arrival.
What is 'Trust The Chef'?
A multi-course tasting menu designed to be enjoyed by the whole table — four courses at lunch and five at dinner.
Are Boat Shed's hours different on public holidays?
Yes, public holiday hours are posted on the cafe's Instagram.
Does Boat Shed Cafe offer gift vouchers?
Yes, gift vouchers are available.
Can I book a function at Boat Shed Cafe?
Yes, function bookings can be made through the website.

Tips

  • {"body":"Reserve a table online, especially for weekend breakfast or dinner service.","title":"Book ahead"}
  • {"body":"A multi-course tasting menu for the whole table, available at both lunch and dinner.","title":"Try Trust The Chef"}
  • {"body":"Let the team know dietary requirements at the time of booking so dishes can be adjusted.","title":"Flag dietary needs early"}
  • {"body":"Public holiday opening hours differ and are posted on the cafe's Instagram.","title":"Check Instagram for holiday hours"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"Dietary restrictions can be accommodated — advise at booking or with your server"}