Sweet Mother's Kitchen

About Sweet Mother's Kitchen

Sweet Mother's Kitchen brings a slice of New Orleans to Courtenay Place. The kitchen cooks home-style comfort food that's good for your soul, drawing on NOLA influences in the food, the music and the decor — and the look, as they happily admit, is eclectic. That's just the way they like it.

The menu runs from all-day breakfast (beignets, waffles, Pain Perdu French toast and build-your-own eggs) through po' boys, burgers, soft tacos, burritos and nachos, to proper Southern mains like gumbo, jambalaya, Cajun blackened fish and slow-cooked ribs. Save room for the homemade pies — apple, banoffee, key lime, pecan and bourbon among them — which you can also order whole with 24 hours' notice for birthdays, afternoon teas or any party.

Drinks cover everything from coffee and milkshakes to cocktails, wines and beer, with a cocktail list that leans New Orleans: Hurricanes, Margaritas, a Bloody Maria called The Preacher, and boozyshakes for dessert in a glass.

It's a walk-in kind of place, though booking slots are available if you like the security. Takeaway is on offer by phone or via Delivereasy and Ubereats, and the week has a rhythm of its own — Waffle Wednesday, all-you-can-eat wings and fries, Taco Thursdays, Friday Frenzy cocktails and a weekday Social Hour from 3-5pm. Mastercard and Visa are accepted.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen: A Little Bit of New Orleans on Courtenay Place, Wellington

Sweet Mother's Kitchen sits on Courtenay Place with a simple promise: home-style cookin' that's good for your soul. The kitchen draws its influence from New Orleans — the food, the music, even the decor — and the result is one of Wellington's most eclectic dining rooms. Skulls on the walls, colour everywhere, and a menu that runs from beignets at breakfast to jambalaya at dinner. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's exactly the point.

From Beignets to Jambalaya

Breakfast is served all day, every day until 4pm. The beignets — New Orleans donuts, built for dunking in coffee — are the gateway, but the waffle list is where things get interesting. The Waffle Hog stacks pulled pork, a poached egg, pickled onion and hollandaise onto a cheddar and jalapeno cornmeal waffle, while Pain Perdu does the French toast NOLA-style with bacon and maple syrup. There are build-your-own eggs with sides from potato hash to New Orleans red beans, huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, and po' boys stuffed with bacon, egg and SMK's spicy homemade sausage.

From 11.30am the menu widens out. Po' boys on toasted baguette come cornmeal-coated with fish or prawn, pulled pork, or buttermilk fried chicken in the Leghorn. There are burgers like the Big Easy, soft SMK-Mex tacos, burritos, 'Na nachos, and proper Southern mains: gumbo, the all-time-favourite jambalaya, Cajun blackened fish, mad dog ribs, seafood chowder, chicken in a basket and the jerk chicken that dares you to 'send it'. The 'Moose' mac and cheese, with gruyere and a hint of truffle oil, does comfort food duty too.

And then there are the pies. Apple, banoffee, key lime, pecan and bourbon, peanut butter, pumpkin — served by the slice with cream or yoghurt, or order a whole pie with 24 hours' notice for a birthday, an afternoon tea party, or any party at all.

Something In Your Glass

Drinks run the full spectrum: coffee, milkshakes, wines and beers, and a cocktail list with serious New Orleans flavour. Order a Hurricane, a Pimm's Cup or The Preacher — SMK's Bloody Maria with tequila, jalapeños, pickle and hot sauce. The boozyshakes (Kahlua-espresso-chocolate, anyone?) blur the line between drink and dessert, and sangria and margaritas come by the jug.

Deals, Walk-ins and Takeaway

The week has its own rhythm here. Wednesdays are waffle days with all-day deals, plus all-you-can-eat wings and fries for $29. Taco Thursdays bring $5 tacos and $12 margaritas, Friday Frenzy drops a $13 cocktail, and the weekday Social Hour from 3-5pm does $20 tap beer and nachos, $5 Nola bites and curly fries with a milkshake for $14. There's also a weekday combo pairing a $14 po' boy with curly fries and a can drink for $23.

The team generally takes walk-ins, so you can just come on down and they'll find you a seat — but if you like the security of a booking, slots are available online, with phone assistance if you need it. Takeaway is available by phone on (04) 385 4444, or through Delivereasy and Ubereats.

Practicalities are easy: Mastercard and Visa are accepted, with a 15% surcharge on public holidays. The in-house note is worth heeding — the online menu may not always exactly match what's in the restaurant, and specials live on the board, so check it when you sit down. Whatever you order, the brief stays the same: eclectic room, Southern comfort, and food that's good for your soul.

Signature items

• Beignets
• Waffle Hog
• Jambalaya
• Chicken in a Basket
• Leghorn Po' Boy
• Bananas Foster

Menu

Jugs

• Margarita Jug — The house margarita, by the jug.
• Sangria Jug — Red (red wine, brandy, OJ, soda), white (pinot gris, gin, sugar syrup, tonic) or pink (rose, RinQuinQuin, guava, lemon, berries, soda).

Mains

• Gumbo — Traditionally cooked roux with sausage, chicken and rice.
• Cajun Blackened Fish (GF) — Fish of the day with remoulade sauce, bourbon mash and salad greens.
• Sirloin Steak (250g) — With SMK garlic butter, curly fries or bourbon mash plus salad greens.
• Seafood Chowder — Delicate and creamy — scallops, mussels, fish and prawns; add toasted baguette and butter.
• Mad Dog Ribs (GF) — Slow cooked beef short ribs with bourbon mash and salad greens.
• Prawn Monica Pasta — Fusilli, prawns, cream sauce, green capsicum, celery and onion with creole spice and parmesan.
• Chicken in a Basket — Buttermilk fried chicken, curly fries and vinegar slaw, with comeback sauce if you want it.
• Jambalaya — The all-time fav — chicken, prawns, sausage and rice in a tomato-based creole sauce; or the veggie version with artichokes, capsicum and roast eggplant.
• The 'Moose' Mac & Cheese — Spiral pasta with gruyere and a hint of truffle oil; add bacon bits.
• Enchiladas (GF) — Corn tortillas with creamy mushrooms and pumpkin, creole sauce, grilled cheese, brown rice and salad greens.
• RCA Ribs — Smothered in SMK's BBQ sauce with curly fries and creole aioli.
• 'Send It!' Jerk Chicken (GF) — Chicken breast in an 18-spice marinade with a hint of rum, grilled in SMK jerk rub, with salsa, lime, red beans and rice.

Nachos

• Beef + Bean Chili Nachos (GF) — Corn chips with grilled cheese, crema, salsa and beef and bean chilli.
• Black Bean Nachos (GF) — Corn chips with grilled cheese, crema, salsa and black beans.

Salads

• Bambam Bowl (GF) — Brown rice and chickpeas, black beans, greens, pickled carrots, pumpkin seeds, beetroot, crema and green goddess — add chicken, fish, halloumi, tempeh or fried chicken.
• Mother Knows Best Salad (GF) — Salad greens, quinoa, tomato, pumpkin seeds and tortilla strips — add chicken, fish, halloumi, tempeh or fried chicken.

Burgers

• Big Easy Burger — Beef patty, caramelised onions, cheese, fried pickle, BBQ sauce, lettuce and tomato.
• Muffaletta (V*) — Olive and pickled veg salad, grilled artichoke, pepper and eggplant, Swiss, green goddess and chipotle.

Burritos

• Pulled Pork Burrito — Slow-cooked pulled pork wrapped up.
• Grilled Chicken Burrito — Grilled chicken in a tortilla.
• Triple H — Buttermilk fried chicken breast, slaw and Louisiana cocktail sauce.
• The O.G.EEE (VT) — Smokey mushroom and tempeh, salad greens, slaw, crema and salsa.

Cocktails

• Mimosa — Bubbles and orange juice.
• The Preacher (SMK's Bloody Maria) — Tequila, tomato juice, OJ, jalapeños, pickle, Worcestershire, hot sauce and SMK spice — add bacon.
• Ravishing Rick Rouge (Bloody Mary) — Vodka, tomato juice, hot sauce and SMK spice.
• Aperol Spritz — Aperol, bubbles and soda.
• Malonso — Rum, apple juice, mint, lime and soda.
• Pimm's Cup — Gin, fruity bits, mint, lemon and ginger ale.
• Berry Mojito — Tequila, Cointreau, lime and sugar.
• Margarita — Tequila, Cointreau, lime and sugar.
• Hurricane — Rum, OJ, pineapple juice and passionfruit.
• Espresso Martini — Vodka, Kahlua and espresso coffee.
• Pisco Sour — Pisco, egg white, lemon, lime and sugar.
• Kentucky Mule — Bourbon, ginger beer, lime and mint.
• Brandy Crusta — Hennessy, Cointreau, lemon, bitters and mint.

Boozyshakes

• Foxxy Love — Kahlua, espresso and chocolate.
• Mr. Slicey — Vodka, creme de menthe, spearmint and chocolate.
• Gold Member — Bourbon, butterscotch liqueur and maple.

Eggs & More

• Eggs & More — Base egg plate — build it up with sides like the ones below.
• Streaky Bacon — Classic bacon side.
• Potato Hash (GF) — Crispy potato hash side.
• Sausage (GF) — Gluten-free sausage side.
• Hollandaise — Extra hollandaise sauce.
• Chili Beef (GF) — Chilli beef side.
• Grilled Tomato — Halved and grilled.
• New Orleans Style Red Beans (GF) — Slow-cooked red beans.
• Black Beans (GF, V) — Seasoned black beans.
• Creamy Mushroom (VT, GF) — Creamy mushrooms.
• Creamed Spinach (VT, GF) — Creamed spinach side.
• Extra Eggs — One or two extra eggs.
• Flossy's Favourite — Two eggs, potato hash, creamy mushrooms, black beans, hollandaise and sourdough.
• Big J's Breakfast — Two eggs, potato hash, grilled tomato, bacon, sausages, hollandaise and sourdough.

Quick Bites

• U-Egg — One fried, scrambled or poached egg on toast.
• Waffle & Banana — A simple sweet waffle.
• Katey's Combo — Basket of curly fries with battered chicken or fish bites.
• Sarah's Big Hair Nachos (GF) — Corn chips, black beans and cheese.
• Cheese Quesadilla — Flour tortilla and cheese.

Sweet Things

• Bananas Foster — Bananas sauteed in caramel sauce, flambéed with rum and banana liqueur, with vanilla ice cream.
• Beignets — New Orleans style donuts — great dunked in coffee.
• Chocolate Filled Beignets — Donuts with a chocolate filling.
• Bread & Butter Pudding — Old-fashioned goodness with whiskey butterscotch sauce and ice cream.

Homemade Pies

• Apple Pie — Sweet mother goodness — fresh apples with cinnamon spice.
• Banoffee Pie — Caramel, banana and custard with cream on top.
• Key Lime Pie — Cookie crumb base with a sweet lime mousse-like filling.
• Pecan & Bourbon Pie — Scrumptious toffee flavours with toasted pecans.
• Peanut Butter Pie — Chocolate cookie crust with a chilled, whipped peanut butter filling.
• Pumpkin Pie — Delicately spiced, old-fashioned style.
• Macaroon & Chocolate Mousse — Coconut shell with a luscious chocolate filling.

SMK-Mex Tacos

• Fish Tacos — Spiced grilled fish, slaw, chipotle aioli and lime on soft tortillas.
• Chicken Breast Tacos — SMK taco spice, iceberg lettuce, salsa and guacamole.
• Black Bean + Feta Tacos (V*) — Iceberg lettuce, salsa and guacamole.
• Pork Belly Tacos — Cajun spice, slaw, honey mustard and pickled onion.
• Halloumi Tacos (VT) — Guacamole, slaw, cucumber salsa and pickled onion.

Sides & Extras

• Red Beans & Rice — With ham hock.
• Black Beans & Rice — Vegetarian side.
• Creamed Spinach — Rich creamed greens.
• Creamy Spinach (GF) — Creamy spinach side.
• Bourbon Mash — Mash with a bourbon kick.
• Potato Hash — Crispy potato side.
• Creamy Mushrooms (GF) — Creamy mushrooms.
• 3-Piece Buttermilk Fried Chicken — With comeback sauce.
• Sauces & Extras — Creole aioli, comeback sauce, BBQ sauce, salsa, chipotle aioli, remoulade, ranch or crema.

SMK Specialties

• Eggs Herbert — Creamed spinach, artichoke, grilled fish, poached egg and hollandaise on baguette toast.
• Eggs Bomba — Creamed spinach, artichoke, grilled tomato, poached egg and hollandaise on baguette toast.
• Cyco Scramble — Tempeh, mushroom, onion, peppers, artichoke, grilled tomato, black beans and corn tortillas.
• Huevos Rancheros — GF corn tortillas, black beans, grilled cheese, fried eggs, salsa and crema.
• Breakfast Burrito — Tortilla with scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese, salsa and guacamole — add extras.
• Big Bang Bene — Sourdough with potato hash, bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise.

Small Beginnings

• Hush Puppies (VT, GF) — Served with a mix of comeback and cocktail sauce.
• SMK Cornbread (GF) — Cornbread with butter.
• Corn Chips (GF, V) — With salsa and guacamole.
• Curly Fries (V) — The house fry.
• Hastie Hot Wings (GF) — Hot wings with sriracha, ranch and celery.
• Swamp Dip (VT) — Heated spinach, artichoke and cheesy dip with corn chips or toasted baguette.
• Who Dat Bread — Herb, chilli and garlic bread.

Po' Boy Sandwiches

• Dan Boy (V*) — Tempeh, beetroot and chipotle aioli on toasted baguette.
• Prawn Po' Boy — Cornmeal coated prawns.
• Pulled Pork Po' Boy — Honey mustard and slaw.
• BBQ Chicken Po' Boy — Barbecue chicken on toasted baguette.
• Fish Po' Boy — Cornmeal coated fish.
• Cuban — Pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and honey mustard, pressed and toasted.
• Leghorn — Buttermilk fried chicken, Swiss cheese, pickle, slaw, creole and BBQ sauce.

Toast & Breakfast Sandwiches

• Toast — Baguette, sourdough or gluten-free, with butter and marmalade, honey or vegemite.
• Bacon & Egg Po' Boy — Breakfast classic on toasted baguette.
• Egg, Cheese & Tomato Po' Boy — Toasted baguette with egg, cheese and tomato.
• 'All In One' Po' Boy — Egg, bacon, sausage, tomato and hollandaise on toasted baguette.
• Sausage 'n Egg Po' Boy — Made with SMK's spicy homemade sausage on toasted baguette.

Breakfast (All Day Until 4pm)

• Beignets — New Orleans donuts, great for dunking into your coffee.
• Chocolate Filled Beignets — The classic New Orleans donut with a chocolate centre.
• Toasted Muesli — Toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, berry compote, coconut yoghurt, banana and seasonal fruit.
• Waffles — Mixed berry compote, ricotta and maple syrup.
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Syrup Waffles — Waffles with fried chicken and syrup.
• Two Plain Waffles & Syrup — Simple waffles with syrup.
• Two Plain Waffles, Chocolate Syrup & Cream — Waffles with chocolate syrup and cream.
• Waffle Hog (GF) — Cheddar and jalapeno cornmeal waffle with pulled pork, poached egg, pickled onion and hollandaise.
• Pain Perdu — New Orleans style French toast with bacon and maple syrup.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book a table?

They generally take walk-ins, but booking slots are available online if you prefer the security of one. Call 04 385 4444 if you need assistance.

What are the opening hours?

Open Monday to Sunday, roughly 8.30am to 9.00pm ('9.00pm-ish', as they put it).

Is there takeaway or delivery?

Yes — order by phone on (04) 385 4444, or via Delivereasy or Ubereats.

Are there gluten-free and vegan options?

Yes. The menu marks GF, vegan (V) and can-be-made-vegan (V*) dishes, and gluten-free toast is available. Please let them know about any allergies.

Can I order a whole pie?

Yes — get in touch with 24 hours' notice and they'll make whole homemade pies for birthdays, afternoon tea parties or any occasion.

What payments are accepted?

Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted. A 15% surcharge applies on public holidays.

What's on during the week?

Waffle Wednesday with all-day waffle deals, all-you-can-eat wings and fries on Wednesdays, Taco Thursdays with $5 tacos and $12 margaritas, Friday Frenzy $13 cocktails, and a weekday Social Hour 3-5pm with tap beer and nachos, $5 Nola bites and curly fries and milkshake deals.

Tips

• {"body":"Waffle Wednesday deals run all day, Wednesday is also all-you-can-eat wings and fries, Taco Thursdays pair $5 tacos with $12 margaritas, and Friday Frenzy means a $13 cocktail.","title":"Plan around the weekly deals"}
• {"body":"From 3-5pm on weekdays there are deals on tap beer and nachos, $5 Nola bites, and curly fries with a milkshake.","title":"Hit the weekday Social Hour"}
• {"body":"Whole homemade pies are available with 24 hours' notice — ideal for birthdays or afternoon tea. Ask about seasonal pies too.","title":"Order a whole pie ahead"}
• {"body":"They mostly take walk-ins and will find you a seat, but online booking slots exist if you'd rather lock in a table.","title":"Walk in, or book to be safe"}
• {"body":"The online menu may differ slightly from what's in the restaurant, and specials are on the board — glance at it when you sit down.","title":"Check the specials board"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Relaxed and walk-in friendly, with simple little bites like egg on toast, nachos and curly fries.","dietary":"GF, vegan (V) and can-be-vegan (V*) dishes are marked; gluten-free toast available. Notify staff of any allergies.","payments":"Mastercard and Visa accepted; 15% surcharge on public holidays."}