Shepherd Restaurant

Shepherd crew, pre final service, 2023.

It’s been an honour, Wellington.

We’ve been so overwhelmed by all of the kind words, cute booking notes and emails we’ve received since our announcement last week.
Thank you to everyone that has come to see us already and made a booking for the next few weeks, you’re definitely going to help keep our step counts up!🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Our Friday and Saturday nights are already looking pretty chokka but fear not, Wednesdays and Thursdays still exist and are very bookable right now! We’ve also opened an extra dinner service on Sunday the 12th.

Plenty of opportunities to get one last bit o Shep! See you soon 👋🏼

Did you know? It’s Old Fashioned Month!

In conjunction with Woodford Reserve and Hancocks, our talented Assistant Manager, Logan has whipped up this take on an Old Fashioned.

The Chocolate Cigar. Woodford Reserve Rye, cacao blanc liqueur, smoked agave, chocolate bitters.

On for the month!

Speaking of ways you’re able to catch us before we close at the end of this month, we’re heading to Toast!

We're thrilled to announce that we'll be joining the team at Palliser for this year's Toast Martinborough, serving up some delicious bites in true Shepherd style!

To celebrate, we'll be giving one lucky person the chance to win a double pass to the festival on Sunday, November 19th! Simply tag who you'd like to take with you, make sure you’re following Toast Martinborough, Palliser Estate Wines and us and you'll automatically be entered into the draw.

See you over the hill!

Over the last seven years we have strived to provide our neighbourhood with a restaurant showcasing all the fantastic produce that Aotearoa has to offer. We have met thousands of wonderful customers, so many passionate producers and suppliers, and collaborated with dozens of highly talented people.

The restaurant world changes continuously. Culinary moods ebb and flow and to remain at the top of one’s game and be consistent and excellent requires enormous effort and passion, without these it becomes very difficult to maintain the high standards one strives for.

Today we announce the closure of our beloved Shepherd Restaurant, a sad but essential end to our story. It’s been a cracker journey for us with so many great memories and achievements and we will never underestimate what this restaurant did and meant for us personally and professionally.

We hope our customers have enjoyed themselves as much as we have and we are eternally grateful to them for their support and adventurous palettes.
To all our staff past and present, you have been the engine room to this culinary machine and have contributed so much to the success of Shepherd. It’s culture was built around you, with you and we are infinitely in your debt, thank you.

The last day of trade will be November 26th, so if you want your last fix of Shepherd please come in and share your memories with us and give us the good vibes!
If you have a booking with us after this date, we will be in touch with you directly in the coming days.

It’s been a blast, thank you everyone!
Shep, Sean & Chelsea.

Whatever you’ve got a hankering for, make Shepherd your brunch destination on the weekend!

Open every Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm. Fresh bottomless filter coffee all day long and a menu you’d be hard-pressed to beat.
Pictured here: our delicious Rice Bowl. Complete with avocado, house-made kimchi, a soy egg, pickled zucchini, seeds and mayo. The perfect dish to add a hash to (but then again, what isn’t!)

Book online via the link in our bio, give us a bell or just stroll on in. See you this weekend!

Wanting to add a little oomph to your long weekend brunch? Add our current cocktail special, the Pompelmo Spritz!

Rum, Cappelletti, lime, grapefruit soda.

Open every Saturday and Sunday for brunch from 10am. See you soon!

Another banger of a special from our talented chef, Zane.

Grilled lamb backstrap, black garlic hummus, chilli, raisin and cucumber salad, peanut nahm jim.

On this week until it’s not. Space available for walk ins tonight and tomorrow, swing on by!

With asparagus season being (too) short and so looked forward to, it only makes sense that we chuck it on the menu for your enjoyment every night.

Asparagus, buffalo curd, endive, harissa, pumpkin seeds. Featuring in our sides section for as long as are growing ‘em.

Tastes as stunning as she looks.

This weather got us feeling like opening all of the windows and doors!

Have you booked your spot with us this week? We’re open from Wednesday!
Book via the link in our bio or kick it old school and just give us a bell ☎️ Walk ins also available

Another stunner from our new Spring menu.

Sour lemon cake, rhubarb, raspberry, mascarpone limoncello parfait.

Light, zingy and a perfect end to your night. Beautifully created and plated by our CDP, Jesse.

Have you tried our new menu dishes yet?

We’ve just added a past favourite, changed up a bit but still just as delicious. Clams are back, baby!

Cloudy Bay Tua Tua clams, pork mince, lao gan ma, octopus, fried bread all in a tasty duck broth.

We’ve been pals with the team at Cloudy Bay for yonks and we are thrilled to have them back on our menu.
Cloudy Bay are a family business, have been operating since 1990 and are certified “Friends of the Sea” which is an international sustainability seal of approval. We think that’s all pretty bloody neat.

Cheers to Cloudy Bay Clams for the beaut Tua Tuas and cheers to you when you come in and eat ‘em 🥂

It’s Spring! And with the change in season, we have a few changes ourselves…

Zoom in, check out our website or simply swing on by to see what’s new, what’s stayed and what we’ve brought back! (Don’t worry, the venison is still a cherished placeholder)

Some space available tonight and a few select spots tomorrow. Give us a bell, we’d love to see ya

Have you tried our WOW cocktail yet? She’s a bit of a looker 👀

Featuring all throughout Wearable Arts season is our vibrant Red Spiral. Named after one of the farthest known galaxies to date, it definitely fits into this years theme of “Beyond”

Haymans Old Tom gin, Campari and crème de mûre. Have it with our WOW pre-show 2 course menu (5:30pm and 5:45pm bookings only) or on its own! Delicious either way.

Available only during WOW so make sure to get it while it’s here!

What a night!

We hope you all had as good a time on Sunday for our Huntress Spring Dinner as we did.

Thanks to everyone that came along! Thanks to Jannine for the amazingly delicious wine and thanks to our talented crew of chefs for the masterful matching. A delicious time had by all!

We’re back on the tools tomorrow from 5:30pm. Come on by!

It’s Saturday, so you know what that means! Our x Shepherd event will be taking place TOMORROW NIGHT!! Representing team Shepherd, we’ll have our incredible chefs , , and . These boys are the best in the biz, so trust that you’ll be treated to true culinary masterpieces! ✨

We only have a few tickets left, so be sure to get in quick so you don’t miss out! Ticket link in our bio 🥂✨

Our brunch service is back on for the weekend! And we do insist you eat your greens… and by greens we mean our witloof salad! Soft boiled eggs, croutons, caesar dressing + parmesan. Option to add bacon or fried chicken 🥬🥓✨

This perfect spring salad is available Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-2pm, as part of our brunch offering. See y’all soon!

To celebrate the 2023 World of WearableArt, we present our WOW set menu and signature cocktail! Available until Wednesday 4 October. ✨✨

We have our set menu (2 courses - entree and main) for $65, and our set menu as above plus our signature WOW cocktail for $80.

Tying into this year’s WOW theme of ‘beyond’, our signature cocktail is called Red Spiral; named after the red spiral galaxy, which is one of the farthest known spiral galaxies. This delicious drink includes Hayman’s Old Tom gin, Campari and creme de mure. The cocktail on its own is $18.

Please note this set menu is only available to bookings pre-show, so at 5:30pm or 5:45pm. So come on down before the show for the ultimate WOW night out 🍹✨

Introducing our incredible line-up of guest chefs for the Huntress x Shepherd event this Sunday (PS. have you got your tickets yet!?)

joins us from , from and from The Development Kitchen. They will each be cooking up a dish to pair with a wine from her 2023 vintage. 🍷✨

Alongside our team at Shepherd, we’ve picked the best of the best for the ultimate spring feast! Get in quick, tickets won’t last long 🥂✨

We are beyond thrilled that the incredible from will be joining us next Sunday for the Huntress x Shepherd event. 🍷

Located in the Wairarapa, Huntress Wines produce thoughtful, expressive and complex wines, which are a direct reflection of the whenua.

A hunter herself, Jannine is passionate about creating a connection between fine wine, wild food and Papatūānuku, our Mother Earth. As she puts it, “it is natural for me to connect closely with the produce sustained by the land I love, have grown or what is collected in my hands… Our mission at Huntress is to share with you thoughtful wines, with strong, enduring, complex, and life-sustaining character. Wines that are a natural extension of who I am and a reflection of who I want to become.”

Tickets available via Eventbrite, or by clicking the link in our bio. Jannine will be showcasing her 2023 vintage (accompanied by delicious dishes), so this event is one not to be missed! 🥂✨

A beaut special on for your weekend from our chef Zane.

Grilled venison back leg, ajo blanco, fermented fig, beetroot, blood orange, marmite burnt apple glaze.

Perfect for two to share and a great match with our famous chargrilled flatbread and cultured butter.

Come on through!

Today, the Shepherd team were treated to a wine tasting by the incredible Jannine Rickards from in advance of our upcoming event next Sunday 24 September. 🥂✨

Tell us more about the event, you ask!? Jannine will be joining us for a spring feast showcasing her 2023 vintage. We’ll have 5 Huntress Wines with 5 delicious dishes created by the best chefs in the city! We’ll have our very own chefs, alongside special guests: from , from , and from .

Will the wines be amazing? Yes! The food? Off the charts delicious. The vibes? Incomparable! Book your spot now - click the link in our bio! ✨✨✨

A feast for your eyes and also a reminder that we are back at it for the week, cooking up the best kai Wellington has to offer until Sunday. Book your spot now, we can’t wait to see you 🍷✨

It’s finally the weekend, which means brunch time at Shepherd! Brunch service is available Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm, so come on down and get your avo toast fix! Or your waffle fix… or your mimosa fix! 🥑✨

Presenting our weekend cocktail and snack special, the Scotch n Sour!🍹🥚✨

This iconic duo includes a New York Sour (Woodford Reserve Bourbon, lemon, simple syrup, egg white, topped with red wine) and an Oxtail Scotch Egg with piccalilli-dressed greens and beetroot horseradish sauce.

Be sure to come down try it - it’ll be the best $28.00 you spend this weekend! 🥂✨

Our next event is already on the cards, you comin?

This time we’re being joined by our friend, Jannine Rickards of Huntress Wine. You may have tasted Jannine’s beautiful wines before, here’s a chance to imbibe her 2023 release and feast on creatively matched springtime dishes from some of Wellingtons finest all in one place.
Joining our chefs for the night are Max Gordy (Graze Wine Bar), Nikita Kuschke (Rita) and Maxime Gnojczak (The Development Kitchen).

Sunday the 24th of September, kicking off at 5:30pm. 5 courses, 5 matched wines, $195 (excluding ticket fees)

Head to the link in our bio for tickets and keep an eye here for more info!

Dinner on your mind? We can take care of that! Booking spots are still available for our dinner service this week, so come on down and treat yourself to some of the best damn kai in Pōneke! 🦪✨

Racking your brain on where to take dad for Father’s Day brunch? Well, look no further! We still have some walk-in spots available for our brunch service, running until 2:00pm today. We even have the meal of all meals for the dad of all dads - the Father’s Day big brekkie! Poached or fried eggs, oxtail croquette, hash brown, bacon, house-made beans, garlic roast mushrooms and greens. Get in quick! 🍳🥓

Cheers to the weekend! Don’t forget our brunch service is available all weekend, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Come and have a mimosa, you deserve it! 🍹🍳✨

This month, we are featuring five wines from the incredible ! 🍷✨ Chateau Garage wines are small-batch, minimal intervention wines meticulously crafted from grapes grown in Hawke’s Bay.

Winemaker Ollie Powrie took on the role of Chief Viticulturalist for Villa Maria Estate in 2007. At the end of each vintage, he would bring home a small parcel of grapes to ferment into wine in his garage. Nowadays, he searches for organic fruit to buy and makes a lot more wine, but still operates out of his garage! Be sure to stop by and try one of these beautiful wines - it’s the weekend after all! 🍷✨