Fat Dog Cafe & Bar

About Fat Dog Cafe & Bar

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar is an all-day cafe and bar on Arawa Street in Rotorua, serving breakfast through to dinner with a big, varied menu that covers brekkie plates, burgers, pizzas, salads and a dedicated kids menu.

The kitchen leans into hearty, generous cooking - think loaded breakfast boards, handmade burgers, gourmet pizzas and comfort classics like fish & chips and creamy fettuccine - alongside a solid run of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free marked options throughout the menu.

It's a genuinely family-friendly spot, with a full kids' breakfast, mains and sweet treats menu, and it runs its own PACK loyalty programme with regular meal deals for eat-in or takeaway. Fat Dog is part of the same group as The Fainting Goat Gastrobar.

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar: All-Day Brunch, Burgers and Pizza in Rotorua

On Arawa Street in Rotorua, Fat Dog Cafe & Bar has built a reputation as the kind of place that covers every craving in one menu - big breakfast plates in the morning, then burgers, pizzas, salads and pub classics rolling through to close.

A Menu Built for Grazing

Breakfast at Fat Dog runs from doorstop plates like the Fat Dog Works and The Woofer - loaded with bacon, Kransky sausage, brisket, corned beef, smashed potatoes and eggs cooked any style - through to lighter options like the Grrr Nola Goodness Bowl, Posh Porridge and an Avo & Toast finished with house-made dukkah. There's a Greek Breakfast for something different, and a simple Eggs Your Way for anyone who just wants the classics done well.

Once the kitchen shifts into lunch and dinner mode, the menu opens right up. Big Snax cover fries, wedges, onion rings and a loaded Mucho Nachos platter for the table. The Dog's Classics run from a beer-battered Classic Kiwi Fish & Chips to two different fettuccine dishes, crispy cauliflower wings and a daily vegan soup.

Burgers, Pizza and Salads

The burger and sandwich line-up is built around generous, handmade plates - the Dog's Bollox Burger stacks bacon, salami, caramelised onion, smoked cheddar and battered onion rings onto a beef patty, while the Satay Chicken Burger and the two open sandwiches (vegie and steak) round things out.

Gourmet Pizzas add another string to the bow, from a straightforward Margherita to a loaded Meat Lovers topped with whiskey aioli, BBQ sauce and red pepper sauce, and a Honey Prawn pizza with chorizo and chilli honey.

For something lighter, the Salads & Bowls section includes a Pumpkin Fritte Bowl, a Satay Chicken Salad, a Beef & Kawakawa Salad, and the Dog's own take on a Classic Caesar, finished with a poached egg and anchovies.

Built for Families

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar runs a full kids' menu across breakfast, mains and sweet treats, covering everything from a Hot Pup breakfast to kids' pizzas, chicken nuggets, spaghetti and dessert waffles - making it a straightforward choice for families eating out together.

Across the wider menu, vegetarian (V), vegan (VG) and gluten-free (GF) options are clearly marked, so there's genuine choice beyond the meatier dishes.

Loyalty and Deals

The cafe runs its own PACK loyalty programme, with regular meal deals for eat-in or takeaway available to members. Fat Dog also shares ownership with The Fainting Goat Gastrobar, part of the same Rotorua hospitality group.

Visiting

Fat Dog Cafe & Bar is open early through the afternoon seven days a week, making it a solid option whether you're after a proper cooked breakfast, a casual lunch, or an easy dinner with the kids in tow.

Signature items

• Fat Dog Works
• The Woofer
• Dog's Bollox Burger
• Classic Kiwi Fish & Chips
• Meat Lovers Pizza
• The Dog's Classic Caesar

Menu

Brekkie

• Fat Dog Works — Streaky bacon, Kransky sausage, fried smashed potatoes, homemade baked beans, free range eggs any style & sourdough.
• Corned Beef Hash — Shredded potato, corned beef, garlic, leeks & cabbage panfried, topped with poached eggs, hollandaise & smoked paprika, with sourdough.
• The Woofer — Panfried brisket, corned beef, mushrooms & caramelised onions with bacon, Kransky sausage, smashed potatoes, baked beans, hollandaise, eggs & sourdough.
• The Dog's Eggs Bene — Soft poached eggs on sourdough topped with hollandaise, served with homemade potato hash; vegie, bacon or smoked salmon options.
• Greek Breakfast — Oregano & lemon fried eggs, grilled halloumi, olive tapenade, mushrooms & a marinated capsicum salad with toasted sourdough (V).
• Mushrooms on Toast — Creamy garlic mushrooms finished with parmesan, served with sourdough (V).
• Eggs Your Way — Two free range eggs cooked poached, fried or scrambled, on toasted sourdough (V).
• Avo & Toast — Avocado, basil pesto hummus, feta, dressed spinach, tomato, capsicum & a poached egg, finished with dukkah, on sourdough (V).
• Breakfast Waffles — Served with streaky bacon, banana, maple syrup & whipped cream.
• French Toast — Brioche toast topped with raspberry compote & house chocolate sauce, with whipped cream.
• Grrr Nola Goodness Bowl — House toasted granola with quinoa, seeds, oats, almonds & dried fruit, topped with berry compote and yoghurt & milk (V).
• Posh Porridge — Porridge topped with vanilla bean custard, almond crumble & berry compote, with milk, cream or Greek yoghurt (V).
• Pretzel Rolls — Warmed pretzel roll filled with your choice of meat or veggie filling.
• Toast & Spreads — Two pieces of toasted sourdough with butter and choice of two spreads: peanut butter, honey, Nutella or Vegemite (V).

Big Snax

• Fries — Potato fries with a side of aioli (V).
• Potato Wedges — Seasoned potato wedges with a side of sour cream (V).
• The Dog's Onion Rings — House crispy fried onion rings with aioli (V).
• Mucho Nachos — Choice of vegie or meat topping with melted cheese, corn chips, cowboy caviar, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole & lime (GF).

Kids Brekkie

• The Hot Pup — Toasted Turkish bread, bacon, free range egg & hashbrown.
• Mini French Toast — Brioche French toast with maple syrup & whipped cream on the side.
• Puppy Porridge — Porridge served with cream & brown sugar.

Kids Big Snax

• Kids Fish & Chips — Battered fish & fries.
• Kids Board — Salami, cheese, crackers, carrot, sliced fruit & a fluffy.
• Kids Chicken Nuggets & Fries — Chicken nuggets served with fries.
• Kids Cheeseburger & Fries — Cheeseburger served with fries.
• Spaghetti & Meatballs Kids Style — Kid-sized spaghetti & meatballs.
• Creamy Tomato Fettuccine — Kid-sized creamy tomato fettuccine.
• Kids Gourmet Pizzas — Margherita or Pupperoni (pepperoni) pizza served with fries.

Gourmet Pizzas

• Margherita — Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella & basil (V).
• Buffalo Chicken — Double cooked buffalo chicken, red onion & coriander with buffalo & blue cheese sauce.
• Pepperoni — Homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella & pepperoni.
• Meat Lovers — Slow cooked brisket, cumin beef, Danish salami & streaky bacon with whiskey aioli, BBQ sauce & red pepper sauce.
• Honey Prawn — Roasted garlic base with prawns, chorizo, spring onions & chilli honey.
• Garlic Pizza Bread — Loaded with cheese & garlic (V).

Salads & Bowls

• Pumpkin Fritte Bowl — Crispy pumpkin tempura, truffle honey, seasonal salad, avocado, tomatoes, pickled vegies, edamame & ricotta whip (V).
• Satay Chicken Salad — Satay marinated chicken on seasonal greens with tomato, cucumber, crispy noodles & sweet chilli dressing.
• Beef & Kawakawa Salad — NZ beef, roasted kumara, red onion, red peppers, croutons & tomato on rocket, with a kawakawa dressing.
• The Dog's Classic Caesar — Cos lettuce, croutons & bacon bits with parmesan and Caesar dressing, topped with a poached egg & anchovies.

Kids Sweet Treats

• Kids Dessert Waffles — Banana & vanilla ice cream with choice of maple, chocolate, strawberry or caramel topping.
• Kids Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream with choice of strawberry, chocolate or caramel topping.

The Dog'S Classics

• Classic Kiwi Fish & Chips — Beer battered fish of the day, seasonal salad, potato fries, tartare sauce & lemon wedges.
• Locals Fav Fettuccine — Creamy bacon & mushroom fettuccine, topped with parmesan.
• Vegetarian Fettuccine — Creamy fettuccine with marinated artichoke, capsicum, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms & basil, finished with parmesan & pine nuts (V).
• Cauliflower Wings — Crispy spiced cauliflower florets with seasonal salad and zesty coconut sauce (V).
• Crispy Coated Wings — Chicken wings double coated in lime, chilli & rice flour, with seasonal salad, fries & chipotle mayo.
• Vegan Soup of the Day — Homemade vegan soup served with a side of seedy toast (VG, V).

Sandwiches & Burgers

• Dog's Bollox Burger — Beef pattie, seasonal slaw, streaky bacon, salami, caramelised onion, smoked cheddar & battered onion rings, red pepper aioli, with fries.
• Satay Chicken Burger — Chilli lime marinated grilled chicken, seasonal salad, Thai mayo, streaky bacon & house satay sauce, with fries.
• Open Vegie Sandwich — Grilled halloumi, avocado, seasonal salad, marinated capsicum & chimichurri on toasted sourdough, with fries (V).
• Open Steak Sandwich — Marinated beef striploin with caramelised onions, cheese, battered onion rings & horseradish aioli on sourdough, with fries.

Frequently asked questions

What are Fat Dog Cafe & Bar's opening hours?

Monday to Friday from around 7am to 3pm, and Saturday and Sunday from around 8am to 3pm.

Does Fat Dog Cafe & Bar have a kids menu?

Yes, there's a full kids menu covering breakfast, mains like pizza, burgers and nuggets, and sweet treats.

Are there vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options?

Yes, many dishes are marked V (vegetarian), VG (vegan) or GF (gluten-free) on the menu.

Does Fat Dog Cafe & Bar do takeaway?

Yes, the PACK loyalty meal deals note they're available eat in or as takeaway.

Is Fat Dog Cafe & Bar related to any other restaurants?

It's part of the same group as The Fainting Goat Gastrobar in Rotorua.

Where is Fat Dog Cafe & Bar located?

At 1161 Arawa Street, Rotorua, New Zealand.

How do I contact Fat Dog Cafe & Bar?

By phone on (07) 347 7586 or email at fatdogcafe@fdgroup.nz.

Tips

• {"body":"Sign up to the PACK loyalty programme for meal deals and extras, available eat-in or takeaway.","title":"Join PACK Loyalty"}
• {"body":"The Fat Dog Works and The Woofer are the largest breakfast plates if you're hungry.","title":"Go big for breakfast"}
• {"body":"A dedicated kids menu covers breakfast through to dessert waffles.","title":"Bring the kids"}
• {"body":"Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes are clearly marked across the menu.","title":"Check the dietary marks"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Full kids menu covering breakfast, mains and sweet treats.","dietary":"Many menu items are marked vegetarian (V), vegan (VG) or gluten-free (GF)."}