YORK TCE, Riverhead, Auckland 0820
www.theriverhead.co.nzEmail us
The Riverhead has been a house of refreshment and conviviality for around 150 years. Today, this rich tradition of hospitality continues. The Riverhead has been a house of refreshment and conviviality for around 150 years, on the upper reaches of the W...
Overview
| Price Range | $$ – Reasonable: $8-$10 / $6-$7 |
|---|---|
| Ambience | Family friendly |
| Accepts credit cards | Yes |
| Noise level | Bustling |
| Licence | This venue is licenced |
| Food Options | Gluten free, Vegetarian |
Products and specialities
Restaurant
Indoor Seating
Decking Area
Bookings and Walk-ins
Sports Bar
Weekly Quiz Nights
Pool Tables
Functions Venue
Weekly Live Music
Hours
- Mon -
- Tues -
- Wed -
- Thurs -
- Fri -
- Sat -
- Sun -
- Holidays -
Reviews
Having experienced all four of Auckland's fickle seasons in one day at the Riverhead Tavern, I can attest that you won't need the weather's permission to enjoy yourself. What may have been a derelict gang headquarters only a few years ago has been transformed by new proprietors, Stephen and Paula Pepperell, into a pillar of the local community and a lucrative venue for out-of-towners, city-commuters and local bar-props alike. The Riverhead is an effortless amalgam of its three core 'sites': The Landing, a bistro-style restaurant that boasts a gastro-pub menu Portage: a sports bar with enough room for both local pride and the away-game supporters and The Boat Shed, the perfect venue for a riverside wedding - or some live music on a Sunday afternoon. Not only does it have history and character on its side, but its choice West Auckland location gives it that 'getaway' appeal; make a day of it on a motorbike or take a chartered ferry up the river for only $35. The Riverhead's charm is a universal magnetism that appeals to the masses... we want what they've got: a place to meet, eat and be merry.
Wonderful pub with an interesting history, lovely atmosphere and excellent service. The motorbike sculpture made from old machine parts and the historic newspaper stories of love, murder and mayhem that decorate the walls are worth a visit just to check them out. We went on a Sunday night and it was pleasantly busy, the fire warm (thank goodness – it was cold outside!!) and there seemed a good ratio of staff to patrons. With it being so cold I asked hopefully if they had any mulled wine or hot cider (how super would that have been?!), but settled for a Montieths apple cider which they have on tap. Yum. Mike and I shared the (GF) ribs, which I think might be the best ribs I've had. Tidily presented (!!) with a lovely – possibly plummy? – flavour. They were served with a really delicious spiced plum sauce, a standard potato mash, and a tasty peanutty coleslaw. Overall a lovely night so we will be back, even though it's a bit out of our way. I've got my eye on the grilled vegetable stack with haloumi (and Nana Chapman's bread and butter pudding!).
The building itself and the wonderful views over the river are lovely. We called in just by chance one Sunday. It was very busy so we had a very long wait but to be fair we were warned of this in advance and the lovely environment makes waiting a pleasure! However the food was a bit disappointing. We had to send back the chowder which tasted off and could not be eaten and the remainder of the dishes were fairly average. I think I expected a lot more!
Comment by Paula P.almost 12 years ago
Hi Stephanie,
I am really dissappointed to hear that you had a problem with our chowder and that you where dissapointed with the quality of the food. I have taken a look at the reports for Sunday and can see that we sold 24 chowders on Sunday and yours was the only one sent back. We take this sort of thing seriously and the Chef has been looking into it.
We are a tavern and pride ourselves on the quality and variety of our food options given that we must fit the expectations of a pub and meet the more gourmet minded too. We have been getting really good feedback from our guests and repeat customers and continual comments that the choice is surprisingly wide and extremely good value for money. We now have our new Winter Menu which features even more interesting dishes and is posted on our website www.theriverhead.co.nz should you like to see it. We hope that you will join us again sometime soon....regards Paula
Comment by Stephanie P.almost 12 years ago
Thank you for your reply and feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to do this and also for looking into this. I just wanted to clarify that it was several Sundays ago, I think around mid March, that we visited. I note your good reviews and I would come again when I am out your way and try other items from the menu as I readily accept that there can be an off day with any item/ business even when we try hard for there not to be!
Thanks again for the good customer service and best wishes.
We took the dinghy for a trip up the river and landed at this impressive tavern! Almost 200 years old but the re-vamp is sensational. Massive outdoor setting overlooking the river and the historic pics inside are very cool. The location is MASSIVE and a great function place for parties or weddings. Breaky is reasonably priced too and HUGE portions. Coffee nice and strong (could be hotter tho) mind you it was busy. Things get super busy when the ferry arrives tho! so book a table! Look forward to trying dinner menu!
I've been meaning to give this bar a try for ages and the legend of the ferry that takes you form the city and back again has haunted me since I arrived in NZ. I finally got a chance for a friend's birthday on a Sunday night. So the first tip is BOOK THE FERRY EARLY. We called the Friday before and were told they were booked solid for two weeks. So we drove out there (actually much faster now that the motorway extension is in and sampled the Portage pub and the Landings restaurant next door. The pub is your typical local pub with a sporty focus. Lots of screens, a couple of pool tables dominate and there's a nice outside deck bit. The motorbike made out of rusty bits of farm machinery over the bar is a talking point! The restaurant is a bit nicer and is decorated with historical pics and farming equipment. and they have a couple of function rooms. The menus overlap and have a similar theme- down home pub food, nachos, burgers, pizzas, fish n chips etc.
Why had I not been here before? What a great place, on the river and with something for everyone. The restaurant was humming. The jazz band started at 2pm in the marque. There was good Kiwi food in the outside kitchen for the rest of the masses. A sports bar and a more nautical bar downstairs. People everywhere yet not crowded. Great service with a smile. Good tucker really, burger for me and Mr14, chicken and chips for Miss9 and LoveInterest, with few refreshing drinks from the bar. I'd love to come up here by boat in the evening and do the formal thing. Sitting on the desk overlooking the top end of the river under shady trees was just the ticket this Easter Monday. I'll be back - KEN [sorry no pictures - they would have been quite SENSATIONAL]
