Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar

About Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar

Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar sits at 720 Pollen Street in the heart of Thames, New Zealand, bringing a vibrant blend of Spanish tapas and Mexican street food to the Coromandel's dining scene. The kitchen's ethos is built around sharing: plates like prawn tostadas, burrata, beef tacos and their much-loved fried chicken are designed to land in the middle of the table, and guests regularly single out the generous portion sizes and the burst of flavour in every bite.

The drinks list is a drawcard in its own right — DVB beers pour on tap, backed by craft beers, ciders, sparkling wines, whites, rosés and reds, plus a solid non-alcoholic line-up from lemon, lime & bitters to Bundaberg ginger beer.

The atmosphere is warm and modern, with friendly staff and inviting decor that works equally well for intimate dinners and lively gatherings. The venue is set up for takeaway, solo dining and quick bites, is good for kids, and is a handy stop for tourists exploring the region.

Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar: Thames' Home of Shared Plates and Big Flavours

On the main street of Thames, Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar has become one of the Coromandel town's most talked-about tables. The idea is simple and sociable: draw on classic Spanish tapas and modern Mexican street food, keep the plates generous, and build a menu made for sharing rather than eating alone. It's a formula that has clearly landed — guests describe it as a "modern addition to the Thames dining scene" and a place good enough to return to the very next week.

A Menu Built for Sharing

Eretas opens the way a good tapas bar should: with snacks that make it hard to stop at one round. The tostadas are the natural starting point — a Raw Fish Tostada for the purists and a Prawn Tostada that guests single out again and again. Around them sit Whipped Feta and Hummus to scoop, creamy Burrata, crusty Sourdough and a dependable bowl of Fries.

The Tapas section is where the kitchen shows its range. Fried Chicken is the plate the bar is best known for, repeatedly named a standout by diners, while Bang Cauli gives vegetarians something genuinely exciting. Bao, Tomato and Potato plates keep things playful, Baby Carrots and Greens round out the garden side of the menu, and Fritters — the zucchini fritters get a special mention in reviews — add golden crunch. For heartier appetites there's Pork + Fennel Pasta and an Eye Fillet that anchors the top of the list.

The Plates Guests Talk About

Ask regulars what to order and the same names come up: the fried chicken, the beef tacos, the prawn tostada. One guest summed up a full evening — fried chicken, fried cauliflower, prawns tostado, beef tacos, zucchini fritters, sticky date pudding and a round of drinks — as "a burst of flavours with every bite." Portion sizes come in for consistent praise too: plates are generous enough that a spread of two or three each easily becomes dinner.

Something Sweet

Dessert is treated as part of the experience rather than an afterthought — the listing itself flags "great dessert" among the reasons to visit. Sticky Date Pudding is the classic done properly, while the cheekily named R18 Ice-Cream is the adults-only finisher. Order both and share; it's that kind of place.

The Drinks List

As a proper bar, Eretas backs up the food with a serious drinks list. DVB beers pour on tap, led by Erota's Lager, with a rotating pour the staff will talk you through. Bottles and cans run from a Coopers Extra Stout and Bach Brewing's All Day to Monteith's ciders and the mainstays, Steinlager and Heineken. Wine spans sparkling — Gancia Prosecco up to champagne — crisp whites including Kim Crawford's Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, two rosés, and a red list stretching from an accessible Luna Pinot Noir to a Maude Pinot Noir for a special occasion. Non-drinkers are well looked after too, with lemon, lime & bitters, Bundaberg ginger beer, raspberry lemonade and the usual soft drinks.

The Room and the Welcome

Guests consistently mention two things beyond the food: the friendly staff and the setting. Eretas balances a casual, modern look with genuinely warm service, and the space works just as well for a solo quick bite as it does for a lively group dinner. Tourists passing through the Coromandel are explicitly catered for, and kids are welcome.

Plan Your Visit

Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar sits at 720 Pollen Street, Thames 3500. Bookings can be made by phone or text on +64 22 011 2633 — one guest reports texting a few hours ahead and being looked after. Takeaway is available if you'd rather take the flavours home. Opening hours aren't published on the listing, so it's worth a quick call before you set out. Come hungry, bring people you like, and order for the table — that's how this menu is meant to be eaten.

Signature items

• Fried Chicken
• Beef Tacos
• Prawn Tostada
• Bang Cauli
• Burrata
• Sticky Date Pudding

Menu

Beer

• DVB On Tap - Erota's Lager — House lager poured on tap.
• DVB On Tap Ask Staff — Rotating tap pour — ask staff what's on.
• DVB Tiny Terror Hazy — Hazy beer from DVB.
• DVB Repeat Offender Pilsner — Crisp pilsner from DVB.
• Coopers Extra Stout — Dark, roasty extra stout.
• Monteith's Apple Cider — Crisp apple cider.
• Monteith's Alcoholic Gingerbear — Alcoholic ginger beer with a kick.
• Monteith's Alcoholic Hazy Lemonade — Alcoholic hazy lemonade.
• Bach Brewing All Day — Easy-drinking all-day beer.
• Steinlager — Classic New Zealand lager.
• Heineken — Familiar, clean lager.

Tapas

• Fried Chicken — The tapas bar's much-loved, mouthwatering fried chicken.
• Bang Cauli — Crisp fried cauliflower with a punchy kick.
• Greens — A simple plate of greens.
• Bao — Soft, playful bao plate.
• Tomato — Tomato-led tapas plate.
• Potato — Potato done tapas-style.
• Fritters — Golden fritters — the zucchini fritters guests rave about.
• Eye Fillet — Tender eye fillet, the premium plate on the list.
• Pork + Fennel Pasta — Hearty pork and fennel pasta.
• Baby Carrots — Sweet baby carrots, garden-style.

Others

• Chicken — Another chicken plate from the kitchen.
• Slo-Pour Pilsner — Slow-poured pilsner.
• All Day Hazy 0 — Zero-alcohol hazy option.

Snacks

• Fries — Golden fried potato chips.
• Sourdough — Crusty sourdough bread for the table.
• Raw Fish Tostada — Crisp tostada topped with fresh raw fish.
• Prawn Tostada — Prawns piled onto a crisp tostada.
• Whipped Feta — Creamy whipped feta for scooping.
• Hummus — Smooth hummus dip.
• Burrata — Creamy fresh burrata.

Dessert

• Sticky Date Pudding — Classic sticky date pudding, a guest favourite.
• R18 Ice-Cream — Cheeky adults-only (R18) ice-cream finisher.

Red Wine

• Luna Pinot Noir — Soft, accessible pinot noir.
• Maude Pinot Noir — Pinot noir from Maude for a special night.
• Tempus Two Merlot — Smooth, easy merlot.
• Tempus Two Shiraz — Bold shiraz.
• Golanera Monastrell Cabernet — Spanish monastrell-cabernet blend.

Rosé Wine

• Listel Rose — Easy-going rosé.
• Main Divide Rose — New Zealand rosé from Main Divide.

White Wine

• Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — Crisp New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
• Kim Crawford Pinot Gris — Aromatic pinot gris.
• Kim Crawford Chardonnay — Smooth chardonnay.
• Sebastiani Chardonnay — Chardonnay from Sebastiani.
• Pazo Cilleiro Albarino — Crisp Spanish albarino.

Non-Alcoholic

• Antipodes Sparkling Water — Premium New Zealand sparkling water.
• Lemon, Lime & Bitters — Refreshing lemon, lime & bitters.
• Juice Apple — Apple juice.
• Almighty Sparkling Water — Chilled sparkling water.
• Bundaberg Ginger Beer — Brewed ginger beer.
• Raspberry Lemonade — Sweet raspberry lemonade.
• Coke — Classic cola.
• Coke Zero — Zero-sugar cola.
• Fanta — Bright orange soft drink.
• L&P — Kiwi lemon-fizz icon.
• Sprite — Lemon-lime soft drink.
• Sprite Zero — Zero-sugar lemon-lime.

Sparkling Wine

• Gancia Prosecco — Light, bubbly prosecco.
• Veuve De Vernay — Bubbly French sparkling wine.
• Tempus Two Prosecco — Prosecco from Tempus Two.
• Champagne — Champagne for a special occasion.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Eretas Tapas and Tacos Bar located?

At 720 Pollen Street, Thames 3500, New Zealand, in the heart of Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula.

What kind of food does Eretas serve?

A blend of Spanish tapas and Mexican street food — small, flavour-packed plates like tostadas, fried chicken, bang cauli and beef tacos, designed for sharing.

Can I book a table?

Yes. Call or text +64 22 011 2633 to reserve — one guest reports texting a few hours ahead and getting a table.

Is takeaway available?

Yes, takeaway is listed among the venue's service options.

Is Eretas suitable for kids and families?

Yes — the listing flags it as good for kids, and the generous shared plates suit a family table.

What are the opening hours?

Hours aren't published on the listing. It's best to phone or text +64 22 011 2633 to confirm before you visit.

What should we drink with dinner?

DVB beers pour on tap (including Erota's Lager), with craft beers, Monteith's ciders, a full wine list from prosecco to pinot noir, and non-alcoholic options like lemon, lime & bitters.

Tips

• {"body":"Call or text +64 22 011 2633 — one guest booked by text a few hours before dinner and was looked after.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"Everything is designed for sharing, so pick widely across snacks, tapas and dessert rather than one plate each.","title":"Order for the table"}
• {"body":"Sticky date pudding and the adults-only R18 ice-cream are the way to finish — the venue itself flags 'great dessert'.","title":"Save room for dessert"}
• {"body":"The DVB tap list includes a rotating pour, so ask the staff what's pouring before you choose.","title":"Ask what's on tap"}
• {"body":"Opening hours aren't published on the listing, so phone ahead to confirm before you set out.","title":"Check hours before travelling"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Good for kids — family friendly.","dietary":"Vegetable-led tapas like hummus, bang cauli and greens sit alongside the meat dishes."}