The smell of smoke along Putiki Road is the first sign you've found this Ostend takeaway, and it's worth following if you're after proper low and slow barbecue on Waiheke Island without any fuss. You order at the counter, wait a short while, then either sit down at the outdoor tables while everything is hot or take the food with you to eat somewhere else. It's a casual setup, with the smoker doing the work and the owners on hand to talk you through what's good that day.
Ribs are what you come for, and the St Louis and spare ribs are tender enough to come away from the bone, with the Angus beef brisket running close thanks to that soft, fatty end. Add a pulled pork burger in a brioche bun and some loaded fries or well-seasoned wedges, and you've got a feed that tastes properly smoked without being overpowered by sauce. Portions are generous and the prices are low, which makes it an easy call for a family dinner.
The little outdoor area is a relaxed spot to sit and chat with the owners while the kids work through their burgers, and the whole thing is quick enough to fit in before you head for the ferry. Casual, generous and friendly, and for plenty of people on the island that's the whole point.
Written from 27 Google reviews, every one we could get, on 12 November 2026. Rated 4.8 from 27 Google reviews.
You'll leave convinced this is some of the best barbecue on the island, because the meat is tender and smoky, the service is quick and the prices are low. It's a small takeaway operation rather than a sit-down restaurant, so the appeal is the food and the welcome rather than anything fancy.
Start with the ribs, because the St Louis and spare ribs come away from the bone with barely any resistance and the smoke is there without being heavy. The Angus beef brisket is just as good, especially the soft fatty end, and the pulled pork burger in a brioche bun is juicy enough that you'll be reaching for napkins, with loaded fries or well-seasoned wedges alongside.
The service is quick and genuinely warm, with the owners checking on you while you wait and happy to chat about what to order. Food arrives faster than you'd expect for something smoked low and slow, and nothing feels like too much trouble.
The setting is casual and relaxed, a little spot just off the road with an outdoor area where you can sit and eat while your food is still hot. There's music on, smoke in the air and room for the kids to eat and play while you talk.
Value is a big part of the appeal, with generous portions of properly cooked meat at prices that feel low for what you get. It's easy to feed a family here without doing the maths, and you come away feeling you got more than you paid for.
It's best for takeaways, family dinners and anyone after a good feed in Ostend, whether that's before the ferry or at the end of a day on the island. Kids eat happily, and a group is well served by ordering ribs, brisket and burgers to share.
It helps to know this is a takeaway first, so you order and wait, then eat at the outdoor tables or take the food with you, which isn't the same as a full sit-down dinner. Get in reasonably early if you've got your heart set on ribs, since a small smoker only turns out so much in a day.
Every fact on this page was checked on 8 November 2026 against Google and 27 of its Google reviews. The photo is from the eatout library, not taken here, and no venue pays to be listed or ranked. Something out of date? Tell us
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