What type of food does The Cabbage Tree serve?

A tavern and restaurant menu covering starters, salads, burgers, schnitzels, seafood, steaks, vegetarian mains and desserts.

Does The Cabbage Tree offer set menus?

Yes, three set menu options at different price points, each including a choice of mains and a shared dessert list.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?

Yes, a dedicated vegetarian section is available, and many dishes are marked gluten free.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, including chicken nuggets, mini hot dogs, chicken pasta, pork sausage, a cheeseburger, and kids desserts.

Does The Cabbage Tree cater for functions and weddings?

Yes, including buffet menus for functions with a minimum of 35 adults, plus weddings, birthdays and corporate meetings.

Is there a Christmas Day Buffet?

Yes, a seasonal Christmas Day Buffet with separate pricing for adults, seniors and children; it's known to book out, so early enquiry is recommended.

The Cabbage Tree Restaurant

Name: The Cabbage Tree Restaurant
Address: 379 Dunns Road, Otatara, Invercargill 9879, Otatara, Otatara, NZ
Telephone: 03-213 1443
Price range: $
Rating: 4.2

restaurant — Otatara · Otatara

About The Cabbage Tree Restaurant

The Cabbage Tree Restaurant is a dining establishment nestled among native attractions in the heart of Otatara, just outside Invercargill. Currently open five days a week, it caters for functions such as weddings, birthdays and corporate meetings, alongside its regular restaurant and tavern menu.

The building sits on the site of the old Beach Store, mostly demolished in 2000 and rebuilt with extensive alterations to create today's style, constructed from Central Otago schist for a stylish vineyard feel. More than thirteen hundred native plants have been planted around the property to recreate the area's original character. In 2018, long-standing manager of ten years Nic took over ownership of The Cabbage Tree with his wife.

The menu spans starters, salads and wraps, tavern classics like burgers and schnitzels, vegetarian mains, and hearty main meals such as steaks, pork belly and lamb shank, alongside a dedicated kids menu and a full dessert menu. The Cabbage Tree also offers set menus for groups, buffet menus for larger functions (minimum 35 adults), and a seasonal Christmas Day Buffet.

The Cabbage Tree Restaurant: Southland Tavern Dining in Otatara

The Cabbage Tree Restaurant sits among native plantings in Otatara, just outside Invercargill, on a site with real local history. The building stands where the old Beach Store once was, mostly demolished in 2000 and rebuilt with extensive alterations to create the style seen today. Constructed from Central Otago schist, the main building gives the property a stylish vineyard feel, and more than thirteen hundred native plants have been placed around the grounds to recreate what the area would once have looked like.

A local story

The Cabbage Tree has been under the same steady hand for years. Nic managed the restaurant for a decade before taking over ownership with his wife in 2018, carrying forward the venue's identity as a local restaurant and tavern.

A menu built for tavern and table

The food menu covers a lot of ground. Starters range from a rich Seafood Chowder to shareable options like the Cheese Platter and the larger Chatter Platter, built for four to six people. The Tavern Selection leans into pub classics — a Steak Burger, a Pork Belly & Bacon Burger, Chicken and Beef Schnitzels, and even an All Day Breakfast — while Main Meals bring more substantial plates like a Kiwi Steak topped with battered onion rings and fried eggs, a Braised Lamb Shank, and a Surf & Turf combining ribeye steak with smoked salmon, prawn twisters and squid rings. A dedicated vegetarian section covers a Vegetable Stack, Vegetable Curry and Vegetable Penne Pasta, and a kids menu keeps younger diners covered with nuggets, mini hot dogs and a cheeseburger.

Homemade favourites

The restaurant highlights a handful of dishes as particular favourites: the Chicken Burger for burger lovers, a refreshing SeaFood Salad, light Brandy Snaps for dessert, a traditional Pork Belly, house-made Nachos, and the Kiwi Steak, described as a locals' favourite. Desserts extend well beyond that shortlist too, with a Tiramisu, Sticky Date Pudding, a dairy-free Chocolate Mudcake, Banoffee Pie, Apple Crumble and a gluten-free Pecan Brownie all on the dedicated dessert menu.

Set menus, buffets and functions

For groups, The Cabbage Tree offers three set menus at different price points, each built around a selection of mains (and, for the higher tiers, starters) plus a shared dessert list. The restaurant also runs buffet menus for larger functions, with a minimum of 35 adults required, and vegetarians can swap in an à la carte vegetarian main for the same price as the buffet. A seasonal Christmas Day Buffet is offered too, with separate pricing for adults, seniors and children, and full payment required in advance — it's known to book out, so early enquiry is recommended.

Visiting The Cabbage Tree

The Cabbage Tree Restaurant is located at 379 Dunns Road, Otatara, Invercargill, and is currently open five days a week: Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm, and Friday through Sunday from 12pm. The restaurant can be reached by phone or email for bookings, and caters for weddings, birthdays and corporate functions in addition to its regular dining service.

Signature items

Chicken Burger
SeaFood Salad
Brandy Snaps
Pork Belly
Nachos
Kiwi Steak

Tiramisu — Lady fingers soaked in coffee, layered with sweet mascarpone, served with ice cream.
Sticky Date Pudding — Topped with a toffee sauce, ice cream and cream.
Chocolate Mudcake — Served warm with coconut chocolate mousse and sorbet (dairy free).
Cheesecake of the Day — See staff for details; served with vanilla ice cream.
Banoffee Pie — A sweet pastry base with caramel and banana filling, served with ice cream.
Apple Crumble — Stewed apples sprinkled with spices, covered with a crumble topping and custard, served warm with ice cream.
Pecan Brownie — A rich chocolate fudge brownie loaded with pecan pieces, served with gluten free vanilla ice cream and cream (GF).
Ice Cream Sundaes — Vanilla ice cream with a choice of chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel or lemon/passionfruit sauce.

Starters

Seafood Chowder — Shrimps, mussels, fish and calamari in a rich creamy base, served with hot bread.
Bread Loaf — Oven baked pull-apart loaf with garlic butter and pesto; gluten free loaf available.
Shrimp Cocktail — A generous serving of shrimps on mixed salad greens, drizzled with a seafood dressing (GF).
Steamed Mussels — 500g greenshell mussels in a Thai green curry sauce (GF).
Chicken Dipper — Crispy fried battered chicken served on mixed salad greens with chipotle mayo.
Cheese Platter — Brie, creamy blue, gouda and aged cheddar with sundried tomatoes, olives, gherkins, bread, crackers and hummus (GF).
Chatter Platter — Creamy blue, gouda, aged cheddar, brie, house smoked salmon, squid rings, battered onion rings, battered chicken, olives, basil pesto, gherkins and sundried tomatoes with breads and crackers, for 4–6 people (GF).

Kids Menu

Chicken Nuggets & Fries — Five chicken nuggets with fries.
Mini Hot Dogs & Fries — Four mini hot dogs with fries.
Mixture (Nuggets & Hot Dogs) & Fries — A mix of chicken nuggets and mini hot dogs with fries.
Chicken Pasta — Chicken and bacon in a creamy cheese sauce.
Pork Sausage — Served with mashed potato, peas and gravy (GF).
Cheese Burger — Beef patty, cheese, tomato sauce and fries.

Set Menus

Set Menu 1 — A starter and main course selection including Cajun Chicken Salad, Chicken Schnitzel, Steak Burger, Pork Belly & Bacon Burger, Chicken Burger or Vegetable Curry, with a dessert selection.
Set Menu 2 — A main course selection including Ribeye Steak, Smoked Salmon, Lamb Shank, Southern Chicken, Pork Belly or Vegetable Curry, with a dessert selection.
Set Menu 3 — A three-course selection including a starter (Shrimp Cocktail, Steamed Mussels or Chicken Dipper), a main (Ribeye Steak, Smoked Salmon, Lamb Shank, Southern Chicken, Pork Belly or Vegetable Curry) and a dessert.

Main Meals

Southern Chicken — Grilled chicken breast topped with a creamy garlic, bacon and corn white wine sauce, served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.
Chicken & Mushroom — Grilled chicken breast topped with a rich mushroom sauce, served with steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes (GF).
Battered Blue Cod — Battered blue cod fillets served with tartare sauce, salad and fries (GF).
Smoked Salmon — Hot house smoked salmon on salad greens with kumara wedges (GF).
BBQ Pork Ribs — Slow cooked pork ribs with house BBQ sauce, served with fries and salad; half or full rack.
Pork Belly — Slow roasted pork belly served with roast vegetables on creamy potato mash, with apple sauce and gravy (GF).
Lamb Shank — Braised lamb shank served on creamy potato mash with steamed vegetables and a whiskey and mint gravy (GF).
Ribeye Steak — Ribeye steak with fries and salad, with a choice of creamy peppercorn sauce, mushroom sauce or garlic butter (GF).
Kiwi Steak — Ribeye steak served with battered onion rings, fried eggs, fries and salad greens (GF).
Surf & Turf — Ribeye steak and hot house smoked salmon, crispy prawn twisters and squid rings with creamy potato mash, steamed vegetables and hollandaise sauce (GF).

Vegetarian

Vegetable Stack — Roasted vegetables, mushrooms and mashed potato topped with steamed carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and green beans, with hollandaise sauce and balsamic reduction (GF).
Vegetable Curry — A variety of vegetables and mushroom in a green curry sauce with coconut cream and cashew nuts, over jasmine rice with a yoghurt and mint dressing (GF).
Vegetable Penne Pasta — A variety of vegetables in a creamy garlic pesto sauce.

Side Orders

Bowl of Fries — A bowl of fries; gluten free available.
Wedges — Served with sour cream and chilli sauce.
Beer Battered Onion Rings — Served with BBQ sauce.
Salad Greens — A side of salad greens.
Kumara Wedges — Served with aioli.

Kids Desserts

Ice Cream Sundaes — Vanilla ice cream with a choice of sauce (GF).
Oreo Cookie — Oreo cookies with cookies and cream ice cream.
Donuts — A donut filled with cookies and cream ice cream, topped with hot fudge sauce.
Ice Cream Cone — Vanilla, chocolate or cookies and cream.

Salads & Wraps

Cajun Chicken Salad — Sautéed cajun spiced chicken, garlic, bacon, cashew nuts, mushrooms, julienne vegetables and garlic aioli dressing over salad greens (GF).
Seafood Salad — A selection of seafood, julienne vegetables, garlic, mushrooms and a seafood dressing over salad greens (GF).
Chicken Wrap — Chicken pieces in a tortilla wrap with salad greens, hummus, guacamole, sweet chilli sauce and mint yoghurt dressing, served with fries.

Tavern Selection

Nachos — House beef nacho mix, kidney beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and corn chips (GF).
Steak Burger — Grilled steak with lettuce, bacon, egg, cheese, onion rings, tomato, chipotle mayo and fries.
Chicken Burger — Panko crumbed chicken with lettuce, bacon, cheese, tomato, chipotle mayo and fries.
Pork Belly & Bacon Burger — Slow cooked pork belly with bacon, coleslaw, tomato and house BBQ sauce, with fries.
Chicken Penne Pasta — Chicken, bacon and a variety of vegetables in a creamy garlic pesto sauce.
Chicken Schnitzel — Panko crumbed chicken served with salad and fries, with mushroom sauce or rich brown gravy.
Beef Schnitzel — Crumbed beef served with salad and fries, with mushroom sauce or rich brown gravy.
All Day Breakfast — English muffin, hash browns, bacon, fried eggs and pork sausage topped with hollandaise sauce (GF).
Chicken Green Curry — Chicken pieces and assorted vegetables, mushrooms and cashew nuts on jasmine rice with mint yoghurt dressing (GF).

Frequently asked questions

What type of food does The Cabbage Tree serve?: A tavern and restaurant menu covering starters, salads, burgers, schnitzels, seafood, steaks, vegetarian mains and desserts.
What are The Cabbage Tree's opening hours?: Currently open five days a week: Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm, and Friday to Sunday from 12pm.
Does The Cabbage Tree offer set menus?: Yes, three set menu options at different price points, each including a choice of mains and a shared dessert list.
Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?: Yes, a dedicated vegetarian section is available, and many dishes are marked gluten free.
Is there a kids menu?: Yes, including chicken nuggets, mini hot dogs, chicken pasta, pork sausage, a cheeseburger, and kids desserts.
Does The Cabbage Tree cater for functions and weddings?: Yes, including buffet menus for functions with a minimum of 35 adults, plus weddings, birthdays and corporate meetings.
Is there a Christmas Day Buffet?: Yes, a seasonal Christmas Day Buffet with separate pricing for adults, seniors and children; it's known to book out, so early enquiry is recommended.

Tips

{"body":"The Chicken Burger, Pork Belly and Kiwi Steak are all called out as particular favourites.","title":"Try one of the restaurant's favourites"}
{"body":"Buffet functions require a minimum of 35 adults — contact the function manager to discuss options.","title":"Book early for functions"}
{"body":"Vegetarians can swap in an à la carte main for the same price as the chosen buffet.","title":"Ask about vegetarian buffet swaps"}
{"body":"It's a popular seasonal event that has been known to book out in advance.","title":"Enquire early for the Christmas Day Buffet"}

Good to know

{"family":"A kids menu and kids desserts are available.","dietary":"Many dishes are marked gluten free, a dedicated vegetarian section is available, and the chocolate mudcake dessert is dairy free."}