L Bay Cafe & Restaurant

About L Bay Cafe & Restaurant

L Bay Cafe & Restaurant is an all-day cafe and restaurant in Lyall Bay, Wellington, serving carefully crafted coffee and food from breakfast through to dinner. The venue has taken over the spot at 144 Onepu Road previously occupied by Elements, and covers a broad menu spanning cooked breakfasts, burgers, salads, pasta, a dedicated dinner menu, and a kids' menu.

The breakfast and all-day menu leans into fresh, local ingredients, with options like a Big Breakfast, veggie breakfast, eggs benedict and smashed avocado on sourdough, alongside burgers, salads and fettuccine dishes served throughout the day. In the evening, the dinner menu steps things up with share plates, a Grilled Sirloin Steak, Zataar Lamb Rump, BBQ Pork Ribs and a rotating Curry of the Week, finishing with desserts like Sticky Date Pudding and Pistachio Tiramisu.

With online table reservations, a kids' menu, and hours that stretch into the evening from Wednesday to Saturday, L Bay Cafe & Restaurant positions itself as a flexible neighbourhood spot for everything from a quick morning coffee to a full dinner out.

L Bay Cafe & Restaurant: All-Day Dining in Lyall Bay, Wellington

At 144 Onepu Road in Lyall Bay, Wellington, L Bay Cafe & Restaurant has taken over the space once occupied by Elements, building an all-day menu that runs from morning coffee through to a full dinner service. The pitch is simple: carefully crafted coffee and delicious meals served throughout the day, aimed at creating a memorable dining experience whatever time you walk in.

Breakfast and Brunch

The breakfast menu covers the full range of cafe brunch staples, done with a few distinctive touches. Alongside straightforward Eggs on Toast and Scramble Eggs, there's an Eggs Benedict with a choice of bacon, smoked salmon or spinach, and a Smash & Savour on Sourdough loaded with homemade guacamole, whipped feta, basil pesto and a poached egg. For bigger appetites, the L Bay Big Breakfast piles sourdough, spinach, balsamic mushroom, sausage, bacon, potato rosti, tomato and poached eggs onto one plate, while the L Bay Veggie Breakfast swaps in grilled halloumi and guacamole for a meat-free version of the same idea. French Toast, finished with berry compote, banana, maple syrup and passionfruit whipped cream, rounds out the sweeter end of the breakfast menu.

All Day, Burgers and Salads

Once the day moves past breakfast, the all-day menu takes over with dishes like Crispy Skin Salmon served with Thai curry potatoes, and both Tandoori Chicken and Garlic Prawn Fettuccine in a creamy garlic sauce. The burger range includes the L Bay Beef Burger — a double-pattied, bacon and double-cheese build with the house L Bay burger sauce — alongside chicken and vegetarian versions built the same way. For something lighter, the Chicken & Halloumi Salad comes with a vegetarian option swapping in cauliflower, and the Chicken Schnitzel arrives with rocket, shaved parmesan and garlic aioli.

Dinner Service

From Wednesday to Saturday, L Bay stays open into the evening with a dedicated dinner menu. To start, there's Fenugreek Chicken Bites, BBQ Glazed Pork Bites, Lemon Pepper Squid, Honey Soy Cauliflower for a vegetarian option, warm Bread & Dips, and Pumpkin & Feta Arancini.

Mains step things up a notch: a Grilled Sirloin Steak with truffle garlic butter, a Zataar Lamb Rump with minted cream and sumac onion, sticky BBQ Pork Ribs with Asian slaw, and a rotating Curry of the Week served with steamed rice — worth asking staff what's on that particular week. A Burrata Fettuccine, tossed in a creamy pesto and sun-dried tomato sauce and finished with fresh burrata, adds a lighter pasta option to the dinner line-up.

Dessert covers Pistachio Tiramisu, a Warm Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream, an Affogato available with or without liqueur, and a Sticky Date Pudding finished with coconut caramel sauce and dried raspberries.

Built for Families and Regulars

A dedicated Kids Menu covers Chicken Tenders, French Toast, a kids' cooked breakfast, and a kids' burger, making L Bay a workable option for family meals across the day. Reviewers describe it as a reliable spot for everything from quick grab-and-go breakfasts on the way to work, to relaxed family dinners where the whole table finds something to eat.

Visiting L Bay

L Bay Cafe & Restaurant is open Monday and Tuesday from 8am to 3pm, Wednesday through Saturday from 8am to 9pm, and Sunday from 8am to 3.30pm. Table reservations can be made online, and the restaurant can also be reached by phone or email for bookings and enquiries.

Signature items

• L Bay Big Breakfast
• Eggs Benedict
• L Bay Beef Burger
• Crispy Skin Salmon
• Zataar Lamb Rump
• Sticky Date Pudding

Menu

Salads

• Chicken & Halloumi Salad — Garden salad, honey mustard dressing, mixed nuts, tzatziki, lemon wedges; vegetarian option replaces chicken with cauliflower.
• Chicken Schnitzel — Dressed rocket and fennel, shaved parmesan, pesto, fries, garlic aioli, lemon wedge, sesame seed.

All Day

• Crispy Skin Salmon — Thai curry potatoes, wilted spinach, parmesan, curry leaf, herb oil.
• Tandoori Chicken Fettuccine — Grilled tandoori chicken, creamy garlic sauce, herbs, parmesan.
• Garlic Prawn Fettuccine — Prawns, creamy garlic sauce, herbs, parmesan.

Burgers

• L Bay Beef Burger — Two beef patties, bacon, double cheese, lettuce, caramelised onion, pickle, tomato, L Bay burger sauce, brioche bun, served with fries and tomato sauce.
• L Bay Chicken Burger — Crumbed chicken, bacon, double cheese, lettuce, caramelised onion, pickle, tomato, L Bay burger sauce, brioche bun, fries and tomato sauce.
• L Bay Vege Burger — Corn fritter, halloumi, caramelised onion, pickle, tomato, L Bay burger sauce, brioche bun, fries, tomato sauce.

Breakfast

• Eggs on Toast — With butter and poached or fried eggs; add bacon.
• Scramble Eggs — Toasted sourdough and herbs; add bacon.
• Eggs Benedict — English muffin and hollandaise, choice of bacon, smoked salmon or spinach.
• Smash & Savour on Sourdough — Homemade guacamole, garden salad, parmesan, whipped feta, basil pesto, poached egg, balsamic reduction.
• L Bay Big Breakfast — Sourdough, spinach, balsamic mushroom, sausage, bacon, potato rosti, tomato, poached eggs, herbs.
• L Bay Veggie Breakfast — Grilled halloumi, guacamole, tomato, spinach, balsamic mushroom, potato rosti, poached eggs, sourdough.
• Balsamic Roasted Mushroom — Garlic sourdough, whipped feta, grilled tomato, dressed rocket and fennel.
• Corn Fritter with Bacon — Dressed rocket and fennel, salsa and sour cream.
• French Toast — Caramelised Weggli toast, berry compote, banana, maple syrup, passionfruit whipped cream, cinnamon icing.

Kids Menu

• Kids Chicken Tender — With fries and tomato sauce.
• Kids French Toast — With chocolate chips or bacon.
• Kids Breakfast — Sourdough, sausage, bacon, one egg.
• Kids Burger — Beef patty, cheese, bun, tomato sauce, fries.

Dinner - Mains

• Grilled Sirloin Steak — Pomme purée, truffle garlic butter, herb oil.
• Zataar Lamb Rump — Minted cream, sumac onion and fennel, pomme purée, hoisin glaze, herb oil.
• BBQ Pork Ribs — Sticky BBQ glaze, Asian slaw, chips.
• Curry of the Week — A chef-crafted curry served with steamed rice, changing weekly.
• Burrata Fettuccine — Fettuccine tossed in creamy pesto and sun-dried tomato sauce, finished with parmesan and fresh burrata.

Something Sweet

• Pistachio Tiramisu — A pistachio take on the classic tiramisu.
• Warm Chocolate Brownie — With vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
• Affogato — Available without or with liqueur.
• Sticky Date Pudding — Coconut caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream, biscuit crumb, dried raspberries.

Dinner - To Start

• Fenugreek Chicken Bites — Crispy chicken infused with fenugreek, served with L Bay signature sauce.
• BBQ Glazed Pork Bites — Slow-cooked pork glazed in smoky BBQ sauce, finished with sesame seeds.
• Lemon Pepper Squid — Crisp-fried squid with house lemon pepper, served with garlic aioli.
• Honey Soy Cauliflower — Crispy cauliflower tossed in honey soy glaze, topped with sesame seeds.
• Bread & Dips — Warm Turkish bread and sourdough served with sun-dried tomato dip and whipped feta.
• Pumpkin & Feta Arancini — Golden arancini, feta, rocket and fennel salad, aioli, grated parmesan.

Frequently asked questions

What are L Bay Cafe & Restaurant's opening hours?

Monday and Tuesday 8am-3pm, Wednesday to Saturday 8am-9pm, and Sunday 8am-3.30pm.

Where is L Bay Cafe & Restaurant located?

144 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay, Wellington — the site previously occupied by Elements.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, including Chicken Tenders, French Toast, a kids' breakfast, and a kids' burger.

Are there gluten-free options?

Yes, several breakfast dishes are marked GF, and a gluten-free bun is available on burgers for an additional charge.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes, including the L Bay Veggie Breakfast, L Bay Vege Burger, Honey Soy Cauliflower, and a cauliflower swap on the Chicken & Halloumi Salad.

Can I book a table?

Yes, table reservations can be made online through the restaurant's booking system.

Does L Bay serve dinner every night?

The extended evening hours run Wednesday through Saturday, from 8am to 9pm.

Tips

• {"body":"Table reservations can be made directly through the website's booking system.","title":"Book ahead online"}
• {"body":"The most substantial cooked breakfast on the menu, for bigger appetites.","title":"Try the L Bay Big Breakfast"}
• {"body":"A rotating chef-crafted curry on the dinner menu, changing week to week.","title":"Ask about the Curry of the Week"}
• {"body":"Extended evening hours run Wednesday to Saturday until 9pm; Monday, Tuesday and Sunday close earlier.","title":"Check dinner hours"}

Good to know

• {"family":"A dedicated kids menu is available","dietary":"Gluten-free (GF) and vegetarian (V) options are marked on the menu, with a GF bun available on burgers for an extra charge"}