On Fire Waiheke
Surfdale · $$
★ 4.1 from 21 Google reviews
Smoke and open flame are the whole idea at this Surfdale steakhouse, where the meat is cooked over a wood fire and arrives at your table simple and full of flavour.
- Dog-friendly
- Kid-friendly
The Middle Restaurant and Bar Waiheke Island
from 290 Google reviews
About The Middle Restaurant and Bar Waiheke Island
This family-run spot on Hamilton Road in Surfdale does thin-crust pizzas and slow-cooked curries, and that combo is exactly why you'll want to stop in on your way through. You can build your own pizza from a long list of toppings, or settle in with the wild goat curry, Malaysian beef curry, chicken tikka or halloumi and lentil kofta, with garlic naan on the side, while the baby back ribs, lamb shank, Scotch fillet and burgers keep the meat eaters at the table happy.
The room has a cosy, rustic feel and a bar for cold beer and wine, and the garden out back is where you'll want to sit on a sunny evening, especially if you've got kids who need room to run around. It works for a casual family dinner, a big table of friends or a takeaway pizza on the way home, and the prices are gentle by Waiheke standards. Book ahead if you're bringing a group, and make sure the curly fries and garlic bread make it onto your order.
- Vegan options
- Gluten-free options
- Kid-friendly
- Takes bookings
- Outdoor seating
What diners say
Written from 290 Google reviews, every one we could get, on 12 November 2026. Rated 4.3 from 290 Google reviews.
Overall verdict
The Middle is a relaxed, family-run local that sends you home full without Waiheke prices, and it's worth a stop if you're in Surfdale. You get thin-crust pizzas and slow-cooked curries under one roof, so a group with different tastes is well covered.
Dishes people recommend
The wild goat curry is the dish to order, and the Malaysian beef curry, chicken tikka and halloumi and lentil kofta all earn repeat visits. Go thin crust on the build-your-own pizza, add the baby back ribs with curly fries, and start with garlic bread or pesto cheese bread.
Service
Service is warm and family-run, with staff who are patient with kids and big groups. Most nights the food comes out quickly, though the pace can slow when the room fills or the team is stretched.
Atmosphere and setting
The room is cosy and rustic, with a bar and a garden out back that's the place to be on a sunny evening. It can feel very quiet on a winter weeknight, but that suits a relaxed dinner where you actually want to hear each other.
Value for money
Prices are gentle by Waiheke standards, and the portions are big enough that you'll often take leftovers home. Pizzas are loaded, curries come with rice and naan, and the kids' menu keeps a family dinner affordable.
Best for
It's best for families, big groups and a casual dinner when you can't be bothered cooking. The big tables, broad menu and garden space make it easy for birthdays, staff meetings or a mixed table of curry and pizza people.
Common complaints
The kitchen can have an off night, with pizzas that have turned up burnt or bland and curries that have been too salty. Service can drag when it's quiet or short-staffed, and takeaway orders are worth checking before you leave because items have gone missing.
How we checked this
Every fact on this page was checked on 8 November 2026 against Google, The Middle Restaurant and Bar Waiheke Island's own website and 290 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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