1841 Bar and Restaurant

About 1841 Bar and Restaurant

1841 Bar & Restaurant sits in Johnsonville, on Wellington's northern edge, taking its name from the year the community was settled by Frank Johnson. Run by Jono and the team, it's built around good old-fashioned Kiwi hospitality — a hearty menu, a solid range of beverages, weekly entertainment, live sport, and gaming, aimed at everyone from family groups to the hardened sports fan.

Having been raised and schooled in the northern suburbs themselves, the team frames 1841 as very much a neighbourhood spot, focused on good value without compromising on quality. The all-day menu spans starters, brunch, mains, a kids menu, and desserts, with a mix of pub classics (wings, nachos, burgers) and heartier dishes like slow-cooked pork ribs, lamb shank pie, and char-grilled sirloin.

Beyond the everyday menu, 1841 runs a full week of daily deals, hosts regular live music, and offers free venue hire for functions of all sizes, including a private upstairs space with its own bar and sound system. The venue is also known locally for its fundraiser quiz nights, which have helped raise over $1.41 million for local schools, sports groups, and community organisations over the years.

1841 Bar & Restaurant: Johnsonville's Home for Kiwi Hospitality, Daily Deals and Live Music

Named after the year Frank Johnson settled the local community, 1841 Bar & Restaurant has made itself the northern suburbs' go-to spot for good old-fashioned Kiwi hospitality. Run by Jono and the team — people who were themselves raised and schooled in these northern suburbs — the venue is built around one simple aim: a good value offering without cutting corners on quality, delivered with warm, professional service from the moment you arrive.

A Menu for Everyone

1841's kitchen runs an all-day menu covering starters, brunch (available until 3pm), mains, a dedicated kids menu, and desserts. It's the kind of lineup designed to please a family group one table over from the hardened sports fan at the bar — think Westpark Wings and Cajun Calamari to start, Eggs Benedict or a Steak Sammie for brunch, and heartier mains like Railway Ribs (a full kilogram of pork ribs slow-cooked in-house), Petherick Pork belly, and the Frank Shank Pie. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are clearly marked throughout, and the team is happy to cater to food allergies and dietary requirements on request.

Daily Deals Worth Planning Around

What sets 1841 apart is a genuinely packed week of daily deals. Monday brings Two For One Mains from 5pm — buy one main, get a second of equal or lesser value free. Tuesday is Steakout night: a 400g Ironside sirloin plus any tap beer for $35. Wednesday is Quiz Night, with free entry, food and beverage vouchers up for grabs, and a pre-quiz dinner and drinks option from 7:30pm. Thursday is Tightarse Thursday, with $29 main meals from 5pm alongside live music from 7pm to 9pm. Friday brings Mates Rates from 3-5pm (up to 25% off tap beer and wine by the glass) plus more live music in the evening. And from Friday through Sunday, a Weekend Roast is available for just $27.50 from 5pm until sold out. Deals aren't available on public holidays, but there's no public holiday surcharge either.

Live Music and a Social Calendar

Beyond the food, 1841 keeps a regular live music schedule on Thursday and Friday nights from 7-9pm, featuring local performers. It's part of the wider entertainment mix that also includes live sport and gaming, keeping the venue lively well beyond mealtimes.

Functions, Big or Small

For anyone planning an event, 1841 offers free venue hire for functions of any size — birthdays, Christmas parties, engagements, corporate events, or meetings. There's a fully private space upstairs with its own bar, toilet facilities, sound system, and microphone, catering for up to 100 seated or 130 standing guests. If that space is already booked, functions can be hosted in the downstairs restaurant area instead. Options include a private bar (with bar tab, subsidised drinks, or guests paying their own way), a large furniture selection to configure the space, big screen TVs for slideshows, an extensive platter menu for groups, and a 3-course set menu for 20-80 people.

A Community-Minded Local

1841 has built a reputation locally for its fundraiser quiz nights, offered free of charge — including venue hire, a quiz package, and a quiz master — to local schools and community organisations. Over time, these evenings have helped raise more than $1.41 million for local schools, sports groups, and community organisations, with the venue also able to help arrange extras like raffles and auctions.

Visiting 1841

1841 is open from 10am daily — Monday to Thursday and Sunday until 10pm, Friday and Saturday until late. It's located at 1 Disraeli St, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037, and takes bookings by phone on (04) 477 4057. Selected menu items are also available as takeaway, with a 15% discount off the full price, though some dishes (particularly ones needing to be eaten fresh, like the chowder or garlic loaf) are marked as dine-in only.

Signature items

• Railway Ribs
• The Triple Double Burger
• Petherick Pork
• Frank Shank Pie
• Weekend Roast
• Westpark Wings

Menu

Mains

• Link Road Lasagne (v) — Vegetarian lasagne, fresh rocket, house-made Napoli sauce, parmesan
• Roast Vegetable Salad (v,gf,df,vg) — Rustic roast vegetables, Chef's salad mix, pumpkin seeds, nuts, kumara shavings, balsamic
• The Old Coach Burger (v) — Crispy plant-based chicken and vegetarian patties, cheese, salad greens, chipotle aioli, fries
• The Triple Double Burger — Smashed double beef patties, double bacon, double cheese, onion rings, salad greens, pickle, rib sauce, chips
• Fraser Ave Fettuccine — Chicken, bacon, mushrooms, parmesan
• Hawtrey Farm Filo — Chicken, spinach & cream cheese filo, baby potatoes, 1841 slaw, house-made tomato relish
• Burma Breast (gf) — 350g skin-on chicken breast oven roasted, grilled to finish, baby potatoes, 1841 slaw, creamy cajun sauce
• Bangers & Mash (gf) — Pork sausages, mash, peas, caramelised onions, egg, gravy
• Petherick Pork (gf) — 300g crispy pork belly, mash, 1841 slaw, gravy, apple sauce
• Railway Ribs — World Famous in J Vegas - 1kg pork ribs slow cooked in house BBQ sauce, chips, 1841 slaw, sesame seeds
• Frank Shank Pie — Slow cooked lamb shank, carrot, beans, kumara, onion, mint sauce, 1841 slaw, chips (N/A takeaway)
• Frankmoore Fish — Beer battered fresh fish, 1841 slaw, rustic cut chips (N/A takeaway)
• Fish of the Day (gf) — 200g fresh fish of the day, baby potatoes, greens, chimichurri
• Kau Kau Salmon (gf) — 180g portion, mash, water cress, pesto, hollandaise
• The Broadmeadow Beef Salad — 200g seared beef, Chef's salad mix, fried shallots, garlic, chilli & lime dressing, crispy noodles
• The Ironside — Char-grilled sirloin, rustic cut chips, 1841 slaw, garlic butter, fried egg (200g/400g)

Brunch

• 1841 Brekkie — Poached eggs, bacon, pork sausage, tomato, hash browns, ciabatta
• The Works — Double poached eggs, double bacon, double pork sausage, double tomato, mushrooms, chilli beans, rustic cut chips, ciabatta
• Veg Brekkie (v) — Poached eggs, mushrooms, tomato, hash browns, chilli beans, spinach, ciabatta
• Creamy Mushrooms (v) — Mushroom medley, garlic toast, parmesan (N/A takeaway)
• Bubble n' Squeak (gf) — Pan fried veggies, bacon, poached egg, potato rosti, hollandaise
• Eggs Benedict — Poached eggs, bacon, spinach, potato rosti, hollandaise
• Caesar — The 1841 way - chicken, bacon, poached egg, croutons, parmesan, house-made aioli
• Filo Parcel — Chicken, spinach & cream cheese, salad garnish, house-made tomato relish
• Steak Sammie — Char-grilled sirloin steak, medium-rare, salad greens, caramelised onions, bearnaise, fries
• Fish — Beer battered fresh fish, salad garnish, fries (N/A takeaway)

Desserts

• Ice Cream Sundae (gf) — Hokey Pokey ice cream, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, wafer - choice of topping (N/A takeaway)
• Double Chocolate Brownie (gf) — Vanilla ice cream, served warm
• Lemon Meringue Tart — House-made, vanilla ice cream, berry coulis
• Apple & Blueberry Pie — Vanilla ice cream, served warm
• Cheesecake — House-made, vanilla ice cream, berry coulis
• Sticky Date Pudding — Salted butterscotch sauce, vanilla ice cream, served warm

Starters

• Rustic Cut Chips — Cooked in beef fat, house-made aioli
• Fries (v,df) — House-made aioli
• Corn Chips (v,vg,gf,df) — House-made salsa (N/A takeaway)
• Garlic Loaf (v) — Lashings of garlic butter (N/A takeaway)
• Westpark Wings (gf) — Spicy Buffalo wings, house-made blue cheese sauce
• Wedges — Cheese, bacon, sweet chilli, sour cream
• Cheerios (df,gf) — A Kiwi classic served with tomato sauce
• Prawn Twisters (df) — Half a dozen, house-made chipotle aioli
• Glenside Chowder — Prawns, mussels, fish, squid, garlic toast (N/A takeaway)
• Cajun Calamari — House-made aioli
• Nachos (v,gf) — Pulled pork or spiced jackfruit, house-made salsa, chilli beans, cheese, jalapenos, sweet chilli, sour cream
• Local Platter — Mini spring rolls, samosas, cheerios, chicken tenders, battered fish, prawn twisters, fries, wedges, dipping sauces. Serves 4-6 (N/A takeaway)

Kids Menu

• Pulled Pork Nachos (gf) — Cheese & sour cream. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Battered Fish Tacos — 2 tacos, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayo. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Cheerios (kids) — 3 Cheerios & fries. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Creamy Pasta — Cheese & bacon. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack
• Chicken Nuggets — 3 nuggets & fries. Comes with drink, dessert and kids pack

Frequently asked questions

What are 1841's opening hours?

Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 10am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10am until late.

What daily deals does 1841 run?

Monday has two-for-one mains, Tuesday is Steakout ($35 sirloin and a tap beer), Wednesday is Quiz Night, Thursday is Tightarse Thursday ($29 mains with live music), Friday has Mates Rates on tap beer and wine, and a $27.50 Weekend Roast runs Friday to Sunday from 5pm until sold out.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, kids meals are $15 and include a main, drink, dessert, and a kids pack.

Can 1841 host functions or events?

Yes, they offer free venue hire, a private upstairs space for up to 100 seated or 130 standing, a private bar, and a 3-course set menu for 20-80 people.

Does 1841 cater to dietary requirements?

Yes, many menu items are marked vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free, and the team can accommodate food allergies and other requirements on request.

Is takeaway available?

Yes, selected menu items are available for takeaway with a 15% discount off the full price, though some dishes are dine-in only.

Does 1841 support local fundraising?

Yes, they run free fundraiser quiz nights (including venue hire, quiz package and quiz master) for local schools and community organisations, having helped raise over $1.41 million to date.

Tips

• {"body":"Tightarse Thursday ($29 mains) and the $27.50 Weekend Roast (Fri-Sun from 5pm) are worth planning a visit around.","title":"Time your visit around the daily deals"}
• {"body":"Bookings are advised generally, and recommended specifically for Wednesday Quiz Night.","title":"Book ahead for quiz night or weekends"}
• {"body":"Selected menu items get a 15% discount for takeaway, though some dishes are dine-in only.","title":"Ask about takeaway discount"}
• {"body":"Free venue hire and a private upstairs bar make it worth enquiring about for birthdays, corporate events or fundraisers.","title":"Consider it for a function"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Welcomes family groups alongside sports fans; kids menu available with meal, drink, dessert and pack","dietary":"Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options marked on the menu; team can cater to allergies on request"}