Black Dog BBQ is an American-style BBQ business based in the greater Wellington region of New Zealand, run by Clint alongside team members including Troy. The business is built around three things: BBQ classes, in-house catering and events, and a range of rubs, seasonings and merchandise sold through its online shop.
Black Dog BBQ's catering covers functions, weddings, events, pop-ups and BBQ packs, with menus designed around each customer's specific requirements. Customer reviews highlight custom wedding menus, on-site setup, and catering that caters well to vegetarian and vegan guests alongside meat eaters.
BBQ classes teach the basics and finer points of cooking smoked meats - covering meat selection, trimming, rubs and sauces, types of fuel, and different styles of BBQs and how to run them - with a BBQ feast served throughout the day. Black Dog BBQ also shares BBQ recipes on its blog and sells its own rubs, including a Beef Rub and a Lamb & Veg Rub.
Black Dog BBQ brings American-style barbecue to the greater Wellington region, built around the work of owner Clint and his team, including Troy. The business runs on three main pillars: teaching people to BBQ through hands-on classes, catering weddings and events with custom menus, and selling its own rubs, seasonings and merchandise.
Black Dog BBQ's classes go beyond a quick demo - they cover meat selection, trimming, rubs and sauces, different types of fuel, and the various styles of BBQs and how to run them. Classes are served with a full BBQ feast throughout the day, so no one goes home hungry. Customer feedback describes the classes as an excellent way to build BBQ knowledge from the ground up, with reviewers noting that the team is generous with advice even after the class ends, whether that's tips on a newly bought smoker or how to get the most out of a new pit.
Catering is where Black Dog BBQ does some of its most personal work, offering Functions & Weddings, Events, Pop Ups, In-house Catering, and BBQ Packs. The team works directly with each customer to design a menu around their specific requirements, rather than offering a fixed package. Reviews from wedding clients describe the whole process - from menu planning through to setup on the day - as smooth and stress-free, with guests still talking about the food weeks later. Notably, reviewers have highlighted that vegetarian and vegan guests were well catered for too, a detail that's often overlooked at BBQ-style events.
Black Dog BBQ's rubs are a core part of its identity. The Beef Rub is described by one customer as having a nice balance of beef, garlic and savoury flavour, and has been used successfully in competition steak cook-offs, including a third-place finish at Melbourne Meatstock. The Lamb & Veg Rub is featured in the brand's own recipes, including a method for turning roast potatoes into something more craveable.
Beyond classes and catering, Black Dog BBQ shares practical, repeatable BBQ recipes on its blog - the same methods used in its own classes and catering, scaled down for home cooks using a BBQ, oven, or slow cooker. Recent recipes have covered crispy roast potatoes using the Lamb & Veg Rub, an easy method for beef cheeks, and a St. Louis-cut rib method for clean slices and consistent results. The online shop also carries branded merchandise, including the Black Dog Trucker cap.
What comes through most clearly in customer feedback is the care Clint puts into the food. Reviewers describe him as friendly, passionate, and genuinely keen to share his love of BBQ with people who are interested - whether that's a class attendee learning the ropes or a couple planning their wedding catering.