Reviews of The Freeport with Cleaver & Co. (Pub) in Mount Maunganui (Bay of Plenty).

The Freeport with Cleaver & Co

851 Reviews

209 Comments

Pub

American restaurant

Barbecue restaurant

Event venue

Family restaurant

Function room facility

Hamburger restaurant

Pizza restaurant

Restaurant

Sports bar

Shop 0704, Bayfair Shopping Centre 19 Girven Road, Mount Maunganui 3116, New Zealand

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Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of The Freeport with Cleaver & Co, Pub in Mount Maunganui (Bay of Plenty)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of The Freeport with Cleaver & Co

Monday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Tuesday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Wednesday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Thursday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Friday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Saturday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Sunday

11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Popular times

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Friday

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Saturday

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Sunday

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Reviews of The Freeport with Cleaver & Co

W. L.

We ordered the Angus Brisket and Fish Burger, both of which was amazing. If you have kids, ask for the Kid's Menu if they do not offer it. The kids enjoyed their meals which also came with ice cream. Nice decor and plenty of tables to enjoy your meal. It might still be a good idea to reserve a table

C. C.

We enjoyed our meal at this pub and restaurant. A comfortable place to eat and relax in the Bayfair shopping centre. There are both inside and outside eating options and a menu with agood selection of pub type eating. A good place for groups to meet.

L. A.

We ordered the carnivore plate and margarita pizza, suggested by an amazing member of staff Jasmine. Would 100% go again.

a. h.

Highly recommend, totally A++ We had our son graduation celebration there, food was sooooo good, service is top notche, 😋 plenty of room inside and outside. Clean and tidy.

Had dinner on 04/01/2025. The food was delicious!! No cap! Portions were generous, and the music was great, perfect for families. The only small issue was the brown rice in the salmon rice bowl, which was a bit undercooked and believe was bit salty. Everything else we ordered was fantastic from calamari, bread with garlic sauce, pork belly bites etc. The service was also great. One suggestion when families with young kids dine, it might be helpful to ask if they’ll like their meals first, as kids can get impatient while adults enjoy starters.

J. S.

Dog friendly. Excellent brisket sandwich. Pizza is awesome. Loaded fries terrific. Exceptional service. Friendly space. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Great vibe. Free parking. Jacqui was super!

K. V.

We had a great dinner here with the kids. They enjoyed their meals. Perhaps don't put parm cheese on the spaghetti.. or maybe my child just isn't into smelly cheese? Haha. The smoked salmon bowl was insane! So delicious! Couldn't get enough! Kids burger was teeny compared to other restaurants but still yummy.

D. J.

These guys are amazing. Called ahead cause my kids have food allergies, actually had options not just one thing. Great atmosphere. Excellent service when we arrived, good space very clean. Really enjoyed our time. the portions are well worth their price.

M. B.

the lamb pizza was something my boyfriend won’t forget. super filling. there was some event happening around the corner from my table so that was a bit loud but the vibes were good with super friendly and welcoming younger staff.

Y. N.

Quick late beers & fries for a long overdue catch-up. Great place as always. Highly recommended. Constructive feedback: Fries weren't as good as I remembered. They were thicker and less crisp.

M. C.

Our first time there and I must say what an awesome experience. The customer service, our dinner were exceptional. We couldn't believe the portion sizes and especially how fast we got our dinner, incredible. Definitely will be back and highly recommend.

R. J.

Love the food here one thing I found odd is they didn't have gravy? For such a meat inspired place you think there would be I order the fried chicken would love me some gravy to be poured over it. Service was fine was seen by 3 different ladys, there shakes are delicious there brisket it's Amazing! I'll definitely be going back.

P. V. R.

What a great place for proper long smoked BBQ. We went for the large platter and the brisket was like butter with a thin, perfect fat cap. Great ribs and smoked chicken. The smoked thin brats were truly tasty. Great Mac and Cheese and loaded fries.

S. Y. L.

saw they having very good review on their Hot Chicken Burger so I decided to have it as my lunch. There are a lot empty seats available during weekday lunch time, so I can anyhow pick the seat I like. the Hot Chicken Burger having super thick chicken inside, and it’s crispy! the burger having some fresh vege, so that you can feel different texture! highly recommend this burger! at first I was like WOW the portion was soooo big and I thought I can’t finish it. End up I finished everything because it’s too good.

N. W.

Relaxed Dining with Great Vibes Had a casual dinner with a friend at Freeport & Cleaver, and the experience was top-notch. We had the Salt & Pepper calamari and brisket—both were delicious. The service stood out, with the staff being humorous and very accommodating. We started at Cleaver, but the team moved us over to join the quiz night at Freeport, which was great fun. The atmosphere inside was relaxed, with a family-friendly vibe. Overall, a fantastic place for a laid-back evening.

B. S.

We combined our group + kids with family visitors + kids from Australia on one of the Leaners just outside. It was very pleasant and with good service. The kids could run around the outside area safely without bothering anyone.

S. M.

The owners, Tim and Aaron, are exemplary in their engagement with the community. They actively participate in hosting the pub quiz, assist with making appointments, take orders, and manage phone inquiries. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, as they frequently take the time to chat with patrons or see them off at the door. The servers, Lani and Dayna (my apologies if I have misspelled your names), embody exceptional hospitality. They are kind, friendly, and relaxed, creating an environment where guests feel welcomed and well cared for.

S. T.

First time there, very busy and popular place. Service was great, meal was great, whole experience was great. Thank you team, job well done!!

A. C.

Excellent food and great service!

G. B.

Entree of raw tuna was superb. Cesar salad was delicious, just missing an anchovies option. Pork belly could have been hotter & crisper but was yum. Beef burger was also a real tasty choice. Would definitely return

G. &. J.

We had a great family meal yesterday ! The service was super good , she took our drink promptly and was lovely and friendly. The food was excellent, great Pizza's and the fish was so fresh and delicious with the Fish &Chips. Highly recommend !

k. !.

We came in just after lunch on a very quiet Wednesday. If you’ve been checking this place out but you’re unsure, I highhhhly recommend! The servers are always really polite and happy to answer any questions you may have. They have a good sense of humour too. Our food was amazing, we ordered SO MUCH lol because I wanted to try everything. My favourite was definitely the Margarita Pizza and Mac n Cheese. Both were so flavourful and seasoned well. Thank you for this experience :)

J. I.

If you're looking for a venue to host your function, this is definitely the best place. Fantastic facilities, friendly staff that waited on us and made sure everything ran smoothly for my daughter's 21st. No hireage fees, which helped us keep costs down and spend it on did and drinks. OMG, THE FOOD! It was so good we asked for another tray. I can't speak highly enough about The Freeport. Everything from the venue to staff and everything in between was perfect. Thank you for making our girls 21st special.

S. N.

Presentation of food and venue was 👌🏽 Food was yummy 👌🏽 As we arrived a sign advised us to wait to be seated. We did so for nearly 5 minutes and nearly left as multiple staff walked by and ignored us, in the end we approached the bar to ask about being seated. This happened to several other groups who arrived after us, im sure asking people to come to bar to be seated would be fine wjth customers. We did however get a table, food and drinks were delivered in good time and staff were lovely. Was super tempted for dessert as they looked amazing but had no room left so will be back again and ma picking we will hit 5 stars if they match the quality of the meal we ate

T. A.

The wait staff here are brilliant, add to this a great atmosphere and the best pizza in town and you can't go wrong. Totally recommend. Great place for drinks, or a meal with friends.

S. B.

Salmon bowl was amazing 😍 as was the pizza. Great atmosphere & lovley server

M. W.

Food was absolutely amazing, loved the vibe of the restaurant, and would definitely recommend. However it was quite noisy, so for someone looking for a quiet mealing experience, it's probably best to look somewhere else, however the food is well priced and overall a good experience overall

S. R.

What a neat wee space! I can't believe we haven't eaten here before. Our group enjoyed a selection of salads which all looked amazing. A friend and I shared the ribs (standard portion is 5 hearty ribs which comes with chips and slaw) and an amazing wee salmon salad between us and it was MORE than enough for two. The blueberry slushy cocktail was delish. Our server was super polite and food was quick out of the kitchen.

D. P.

This is the first time we have seen this end of Bayfair completed and this new eatery area gave us a good vibe with several food and drink options available. We ditched our shopping bags in the car and came back to check out the options for an evening meal. The Freeport drew us in and immediately we were greeted by the very friendly waitress, who recommended the Grilled Zucchini Salad as a delicious and Gluten Free meal, which my wife absolutely loved. My Freeport Burger was also very tasty and a good sized meal. This is a very relaxed place with excellent staff and we will definitely recommend this place and most likely will dine here again (maybe after we try the other eateries first).

S. W.

Really disappointing birthday lunch experience today, mainly due to service. Food is always good, but the service today was shocking. Took forever for anyone to come and take our lunch order, and the attitude of one of the servers left a lot to be desired. My drink (pictured) got almost slammed on the table, in the wrong shaped glass, with a straw I couldnt use. Won’t be back in a hurry

T. S.

Great spot. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed sharing a pizza (lamb) and a beer each. Friendly efficient service, tasty food and reasonably priced. Would recommend.

S. F.

We held our Mums 80th birthday celebration here, highly recommend this place, food was delicious, the service was great with friendly staff that were happy to help with anything. We will be back

F. S.

Tim and the team at Freeport are so good to deal with when it comes to organising and pulling off a good night out. Thanks Freeport for hosting some of the team and clients of our trades business ahead of attending 7 days. It was the perfect place and space for a pre gathering meet n eat. Service, food and bevy’s were top tier. Cheers, Tim and team for being so welcoming and accommodating, we will be back.

n. h.

Food was super delicious!! big portions and the staff were friendly food served promptly highly recommend.

C. T.

With a group for dinner. The setting, decor, ambience, service, and meals were memorable for all the right reasons. It was a wonderful night.

s. s.

Nice food and best service 👍👍👍

O. B.

Cleaver and Co food was really good, nice flavours and massive portions. Better than the usual Kiwi pub fare.

D. M.

Myself and daughter ordered the pork belly bites and theyre to die for. The salad omg im in love. I coudlve just eaten salad on its own. My favourite meat yummy

L. L.

Lovely restaurant. Very busy but staff were friendly and accommodating. Food was delicious. Just thought the lamb pizza should have had more lamb on it than it did.

s. g.

The food was pretty tasty, massive portion size! If you're looking for an affordable place to eat and have a big appetite this is the place to go.

G. L.

Popped in for a quick bite......loaded chips sounded good as previously were outstanding......well they arrived and was a little disappointed, not the mouth watering appearance of last ones I had......taste not bad but when you had an image of what you thought was going to be put in front of you and it's not......mmmmmm! Rest was OK price service and ambiance

O. M.

Good night out for a booking of 14. The slow cooked meat was fantastic. They were running low on some menu items but we did visit at the end of a long weekend and they tried to substitute where they could.

L. G.

It has a way to go to be worth another visit. Staff training must improve. Knowledge was limited Food was just OK. Service was not great. Being asked to sit outside in winter when there were empty tables upstairs was plain stupid.

L. B.

Nice food if I was to point anything out the broccoli was cold and too raw. But that's it.

G. O.

Food has been good everytime, service is always great, staff are very good here.

G. K.

Beautiful food and the atmosphere was amazing. The staff were pleasant and catered to our needs. The wait time was great and we were extremely satisfied with the entire experience that we went back the following day for lunch!

B. B.

Great food i got the 2person platter.was too good and i forgot to get a photo beforehand.shared amongst 4 diners throughly enjoyed.parking and shopping mall close by.great friendly amosphere.

Solid. Just finishing up here now on a Saturday early December at 5pm. 4 of us, 1 child. The service was quick, the food came out quick. The food was great, the kids meal went down a treat.

J. B.

Wow, the food was absolutely amazing, worth going. Every time I have been I've never been disappointed. 10 out of 10

They make you feel welcome, and eventually, they know exactly what you drink or eat when you just walk in. One feels part of their family.

J. C.

Only ok. Had burger there once and it was during a rugby game. Maybe that's why. Anyways we had burgers and the buns where burned so much, that we only taste the burned taste. Asked the service guys but the said it looks how it should look. Don't think that to be honest. Wouldn't go again. Mehh/10

e. r.

Free Port Restaurante is a fantastic dining spot! The food is delicious and well-prepared, with a great variety of options. The new menu was outstanding. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the ambiance is warm and inviting. Highly recommend! Chef Lucas and your team the best ...

S. M.

Great place. Retractable roof so plenty of sun. Good times there. Would do again.

A. T.

Lovely place you visit with plenty of drink, food n parking options. Strongly recommend.

J. B.

Had a great time not knowing what to expect, the fish tacos were amazing! I tried the pizzas and they were the best I've had in a while. The kids ordered dessert and I tried the banofee pie and the apple pie, both delicious! Great place and we will definitely be back.

E. E.

Disappointed that there weren't any vegan options, (no meat and dairy products). There was vegetarian and gluten free options though. Us being vegan, just had a drink.

N. B.

Was abit disappointed they are not doing the Chilli prawn pizza anymore but made it up with the spicy chicken burger so yum. Crispy and just the right amount of heat. Would suggest getting an extra side of mayo.

S. E.

Yum! Had the chicken burger tonight and it was so good! And the jalapeño poppers were awesome. My husband had the mac n cheese (which I stole a fair amount of) and the beef burger, it was all top notch - can’t recommend the food highly enough. The courtyard there is such a nice place to spend the evening :)

M. W.

Awesome staff, great food and nice atmosphere. Always feel welcome.

A. C.

All a bit flat really.Though we haven't been here before it usually seems very busy. The service was fine,quickly seated and orders taken.One of the drinks was wrong but in keeping with the general tone of the evening we didn't complain as it was similar enough to be embibed without too much displeasure. The food arrived promptly,was hot,fresh and incredibly tasteless. Price was around what you would expect. Maybe just an "off" night for all those involved.

P. L.

The food was Devine the service is amazing! And the atmosphere is always on point! My favourite spot in the bay! Huge wide range of food al though I always go for the pork belly bites and cosmo cocktail! Can’t wait to dine again! Waiter was awesome!!

B. N.

5/5 for service, atmosphere,food, and just in general, from the moment we walked in we got seated straight away, we got the menus and then not 5 minutes later the waiter was back asking if we would like to start off with drinks, (we alreafy looked at menu online so we knew what to get) we got the pitmaster platter for 80$ 12 hour smoked brisket was tender and juicy, 6 hour smoked ribs were juicy and fell off the bone, the smoked chicken wings are to die for, and i was even very impressed with the dinner rolls, just amazing food and amazing service never had to wait for service there were always staff asking if we were having a good time and askong if we were enjoying the food, the service was so good we convinced ourselfs, (me and my partner) to get desert, we got a warm chcolate brownie, would highly recommend eating here and will 100% come back for another meal, thanks clever and co for everything ❤

J. M.

my wife and I had dinner here last night and were impressed with the service food and atmosphere. Being so close to christmas it was very busy however the staff were very friendly, accommodating and the food was served in good time, we got the pork belly and a margarita pizza both were yummy, The slushy cocktails were amazing and when the waiter gave me the wrong cocktail due to me being slightly vague in my order he gave me another one for free. We were seated right by the kitchen and all the dishes coming out looked delicious my wife and i were impressed and would definitely recommend freeport

We've been here a number of times though most recently because of the service. Bella on the last 2 occasions has looked after us and we've found her service exceptional. This compliments the food and drinks so much more. Well done Bella.

U. I.

Freeport & Cleaver is the best pub on town. The people are great, the atmosphere is great and the food is great. Great, great and great! Go and visit them!! Thank you Tim, Ruby, Aaron and Chloe and all your amazing staff!! 🤗💖💝

Great service, I ordered the $99 platter for 3. The food is delicious. The brisket and ribs were cooked to perfection. My favourite was the pork bites! Went home with leftovers. Highly recommend The Freeport. Family friendly! Great vibes. Keep up the good work team 👍🏼

M. P.

Kai was perfect, drinks were yum and price not bad

J. C.

Amazing food last night! We got the platter for two and it was bloody delicious. It was the perfect spot to watch the rugby and we will be coming back often. This is defs becoming our local spot to watch the rugby. The server who had her arm in a brace and barb wire tattoo on her arm was honestly amazing. Such a good server and incredibly friendly. Just the perfect person to have on your team. Thanks for a good night!

The restaurants appears to be a conglomeration of 2 to 3 establishments beside each other, so it was a little confusing as to where we had wait to be seated. This turned out to not be the first menu stand out the front, but at the smallest entrance behind that. After the initial confusion, service was prompt and friendly. The pizza was excellent, as was the meat additions to our mac and cheese. They used proper chunks of meat from their BBQ section of the menu (as oppose to small bacon bits at other places) and it was very tasty.

G. C.

Food was amazing, we had a platter for two to share. The smoked brisket was perfect! Bread buns so soft, chicken wings and ribs were banging. The. The side sauces were a perfect compliment to the meat, sweet spicy and a bit of tang. Just all round amazing,..

K. T.

We had a family dinner for 7 of us here on Saturday evening and LOVED our experience. We had the best service by a lovely lady where nothing was a problem. The kids loved their meals of pizza and fried chicken and us adults couldn’t fault our dinner. We had rack of ribs, fish burgers, pork belly and beef brisket. Simply delicious!! We even finished with desserts. Thanks guys for a wonderful evening we will be back. 5🌟

M. O. C.

A good restaurant, the food was delicious and excelent service

j. b.

This place is our go to place if want dinner in bayfair area. Always provided good food except the one time we were served a very dry slow cooked beef which when I mentioned they gave a discount. Never happened again. We always get the slow cooked beef and their pork belly bites which is available for either as a starter or mains. Could get very busy so book in advance or come in early.

K. M.

I recently had my 30th birthday celebrations at Freeport and could not have had a better time! We hired 'the yard' space at their venue and had approx. 50 guests. The staff were very professional and friendly, food and drinks were superb (as usual). Another perk is that this place is kid/baby friendly which is a rare find. Highly recommend Freeport to anyone, as a venue or just as a place to dine! Their Handcrafted Pizza and Pitmaster Platter is worth the trip alone!

A. P.

Food is great with generous servings and arrives quickly. Staff is friendly and make sure everything is fine and we were taken care of. Have dined there before and enjoyed every time. Tried different foods and it did not disappoint, not once.

H. M.

Staff friendly and good service. USA style food was quite nice. Brisket.. pork ribs... Southern Chicken... yum 😋

P. C.

The Brisket Rueben was so good!& the Southern Fried Chicken was cooked tō perfection. Service was very warming,smiles from the get go.Very fast👌

M. W.

Love the vibe to chill and have a beer. Not to mention great food as well.

L. C.

Staff were amazing, food and service was exceptional. All our menu choices were generous portions which came out quickly. We will 100% be returning - Thanks team for a wonderful evening 🤗

B. P.

This place is amazing. I love the food, the vibes, the drinks. Shoutout to Bella who was the friendliest and kindest server to us, on not one but two occasions that we have visited this restaurant. Definitely coming back.

M. H.

Food was delicious, portion sizes were good. Waited for about 50 minutes for our dessert which was quite outrageous.

C. H.

Walked past a few other eateries to get a meal at the Freeport. Stood patiently at the “Wait to be seated” sign. Honestly almost walked away as it took way to long to even be acknowledged. Staff member finally said we could “pick a seat” as there was hardly anyone around. Spotted as we sat down it was a ‘scan and pay’ order system at table. Had a quick skim of menu and then ordered drinks and food. Funnily enough a staff member came over to us 10mins later and asked if we wanted to start with drinks. I informed the staff member that I had ordered and they left. Other than our food being delivered, this was the last time a staff member interacted with us. Meal was a beef burger with fries and seasonal salad. My wife enjoyed her salad but my beef burger was disappointing. Dry meat in burger and poor presentation. Eateries need to get the basics done well and a beef burger is one of the basics. Beer was great. Not sure we’ll go back but maybe the team was having an off day.

Really good food, great for family's and couples. Would definitely recommend this place!

A. C.

Great food at reasonable prices. At the quiz night, I had the seasonal vegetable salad, and the next time we went, the smoked salmon bowl. Was really impressed with both meals, and am looking forward to choosing another!

J. L.

I've taken my family here a few times, never had a problem. Their menu is decent and delicious, their drinks are also delicious and I feel like they have a decent variety of drinks to choose from for all ages, including alcoholic. Staff were pretty lovely as well, our tables were cleared relatively fast. Parking was okay, it's a hit or miss at bayfair sometimes. Overall I'd visit again!

k. b.

Went here for my 2nd time last night for my partners birthday and all i can say is wow!!!! The food ,service, and atmosphere was a 10 out of 10!! I had the pork belly dish and i honestly couldn't fault it !! Great work guys il definitely be back again to try a different dish

C. P.

Great Friday evening atmosphere with chilled music, yum food and very kid-friendly

Honestly it's difficult to review this place as I have many different opinions about certain aspects of the restaurant. The food was average. $35 for a dry beef brisket was definitely not the highlight of my night but the staff there are absolutely awesome. Super friendly and even ran to us to bring back a bag we had forgotten. The staff at the bar were friendly and always had a smile on their face. 2/5 for the food but a definite 5/5 for the staff. I will be coming back again but probably just for a drink.

G. W.

Went to cleaver & co for a dinner with my son on a night they had quiz night but they found us a table no problems service was great and food came out quick and very nice as usual would recommend and go there again

P. O.

My family and I ordered 4x pittlord platters each platter Serves 3.... Weve had other dishes in the past and their food is Absolutely worth it! I've brought my Adult children here from time to time and honestly they're blown away by the standard of the food that is served. I love this place. Thanks Team! Weve become regular customers :) Not sure who the young Maori guy is that works there but his people skills are through the roof! Very happy, makes the customers feel comfortable, created a very welcoming atmosphere with a bit of laughter which we all need from time to time! :) Thank you. And the lady who served us was so kind! Thank you all.. Just a heads up. I come from a family of Head Chefs with over 30 yrs exp. You definetly have our thumbs up! 👍

T. R. B. W.

We visited Freeport on Sunday, 19 November for a birthday celebration. We ordered the combined meats package which cost around $105. Our waitress was fantastic, helpful friendly and even helped us choose. Thank you for the great service.

I. S.

Had dinner before cinema, food was yummy, but the staff were fab, attentive, friendly, super helpful, seems like a tight team with a great culture and that adds to the customer experience 😀

K. W.

I had my surprise 50th birthday arranged here 2 weeks ago. Really well organised, attentive staff, lovely food, friendly good atmosphere. Helped my husband organise whilst hosting another event on the same night. Thanks to Tim and all of his lovely staff. On a different note its a great place to have a social drink and food. I can recommend the pit lord for a sharing meal.

C. G.

Best pizza I’ve had in New Zealand. Oven baked, fresh ingredients. Went back three times. The fresh homemade bread with garlic sauce was delicious. Good ambience, great beers and drinks in general. Will go back when I’m in Mount Maunganui again :)

A. V.

It is my fav place to go from now, immaculate service with the best tasty Chicken Hot burger I've ever had. Congrats to the Chef Lucas and team :).

I. P.

Great place to dine. Highly recommended

A. M.

Really yummy pizzas, we love the vibe and the pizzas are really good, so too are the polenta Chios with truffle sauce and the Tuna tataki with taco Chips. Friendly staff nice ambiance and a fun place to catch up with mates or date night.

G. S.

We had a birthday dinner last night.11 of us inc children.3rd time we have been there.We think the meals are really tasty and a great selection.Try the fish tacos.Hamburgers and pork belly really nice.Good to see happy and obliging staff.We will be back again for sure.Thks Garth.

M. H.

Absolutely phenomenal, we called in asking if they were showing the F1, they weren’t but put it on for us. They accommodated the kids so so well, they were patient, kind and caring. Best hospo service I think we’ve ever had.

P. A.

Awesome place and delicious food. The staff were friendly and very accommodating. We asked to sample the brisket and were given a generous sample which helped us decide what to order. Our meals were amazing! Definitely recommend and can’t wait to eat here again!

S. A.

I highly recommend this place,staff are awesome food is great.

H. W.

We had lunch here on Monday. We chose it because he had a range of things. The portions are well worth what you pay for, and the quality was amazing. The service was great. And the aperol spritz here is done right. Normally, bartenders in NZ don't know how to get the ratio right. Thanks for a lovely dining experience to the entire team.

P. L.

Best burgers I have ever tasted hands down. Spicy double chicken burger, crispy and juicy. Great staff and amazing atmosphere to dine in and eat and plenty of seating for everyone to enjoy. Definitely be going there again for a meal. Thanks team.

P. M.

Scotch Steak a bit tough. Otherwise everything else great

S. V.

Friday night dining, was received at the door and seated. Had 4 different waiters ask us to take our drinks order within 5 minutes, amazing. Burger and pizza was great, the service was really outstanding! Keep this up please!

S. M.

We had to change venues unexpectedly for our already planned engagement party. Tim & team were amazing and very easy going from the get go, we absolutely loved the space, food and vibe of the Clever & Co private venue area. Staff are lovely and really go above and beyond. Was a stress free beautiful arvo, thanks heaps guys. Highly recommend!

A. C.

It was lovely place food was great

J. B.

Good food, nice atmosphere, however lacking availability on the menu. Top two choices for dinner were unavailable- beef burger and the fish n chips. Also choice of beer was also unavailable and they hadn't restocked. Had the brisket, was tasty, could of been smoked for longer however. Chips were good too.

E. S.

Delish burgers, good service and kids were happy!

Very busy place! Managed to get the kids meal out very quickly. The adults food was a bit more of a wait, but they communicated that to use when we arrived. Good food! Has some cheaper wine options.

S. L.

Good food, prompt service, friendly staff. Nice atmosphere. My husband and I ordered - lamb pizza, chicken wings, loaded fries. Delicious. Negative feedback: flies all over, very annoying.

R. E.

5 Star review. Simply put : FOOD TASTE & QUALITY - 4 STARS (Great food. Happy as, no complaints. Thoroughly enjoyed it.) PRICE - 6 STARS. This place is cheap! We took 7 people along, and got dinners and drinks. Total cost was $240 Approx. Just a few weeks earlier, we did the same at the Fat Cow and the bill was over $500!! Good food. Incredible Value for money. Awesome table and building layout, very unique with a dual bar and partnership arrangement with another Restaurant.

As soon as we walked into the door, we were immediately greeted by a pleasant man. We were shown to our table and were handed our menus. He stayed with us and talked us through the options that we found appealing. They were kind enough to cater the order to our request, happily removing anything that wasn't to our taste. 15 minutes later our food had arrived (Very quick for the amount of food we ordered). The food was delectable. I unfortunately cannot go through all the dishes, however here are some highlights. The ribs fell right off the bone and the glaze was sweet to help counteract the spice. The burger wasn't dry, but it was far from greasy; a perfect median between the two. After we'd finished, we said farewell to the friendly staff and were on our way with happy tummies. We will definitely be returning to this fine restaurant. TLDR; The staff are extremely friendly and the food is cooked to perfection.

R. G.

Amazing service, very friendly. Couldn’t explain how amazing the food was; we ordered the fried chicken, loaded fries and pepperoni pizza. The chicken was delicious as were the fries. Pizza was 10/10. Will be going back soon.

J. D.

Surf to turf, award winner great flavor, prawns were shrimp and not obvious. I had to go and get serviettes and cutlery for our group of 7. Beverages great , staff personnel great, and food great

P. S.

Will be back to this place soon!!! Yummy well cooked food that is thought out and very tasty. Served to the table fast and a great range of drinks available both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. A fun and contemporary ambiance with friendly staff. Bookings optional or walk in for a great dinning experience. Pro tip: Order the chicken wings you will not be disappointed!!!

S. L.

If you're looking for a great place to enjoy a family meal, The Freeport is an excellent choice. This restaurant caters to all ages and tastes with its diverse menu, featuring a wide range of family favorites such as ribs, wings, and pizzas. The food can be best described as modern, tasty pub grub, prepared with skill and presented in generous portions. During our visit, our table ordered an assortment of dishes, including Fried Chicken, Burgers, and Brisket. We also couldn't resist trying the Polenta chips, which came with a delightful parmesan, truffle, and mascarpone sauce. Each dish was flavorful and expertly cooked, showcasing the chef's flair for creating satisfying meals. The service at The Freeport was generally satisfactory. However, we experienced a minor delay after our main courses, during which we had the opportunity to order desserts. Unfortunately, since we weren't attended to promptly, we decided to settle the bill instead. It was a missed opportunity as I was really craving an old-school sundae to conclude the meal. The atmosphere of The Freeport is relaxed and laid-back, which was perfect for our visit on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, giving it a cavernous feel. It was evident that the place was popular, as it was bustling with customers during our visit. Overall, everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed their meals at The Freeport. The menu caters to a wide range of tastes, making it an ideal choice for families with diverse preferences. The dishes were not only tasty but also generously portioned, ensuring nobody left the table hungry. Despite the small hiccup in service, the chilled atmosphere and quality of the food make The Freeport a worthwhile dining destination for families looking for a satisfying and enjoyable meal out.

R. H.

Easily one of the best restaurants in Tauranga! Food is always on point, the staff are very friendly and helpful, priced extremely reasonably. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

K. M.

Our office went in for drinks and nibbles last night and It was great, friendly staff, great service and plenty of very nice GF options we could all eat.

T. M.

Excellent service, great food, awesome value. Thanks guys!

Ribs are same as next door. I assume they share kitchen with them. So I recommend full ribs rather than a half ribs. Gin is a bit cheap one. Briskets were not so great. We actually ordered brisket sandwiches but we got just brisket steak. The portion was big, but the taste was just average. Just casually you can visit. The outdoor space is lovely unless it's windy.

J. M.

Not really impressed. I asked for a whiskey sour and was told I couldn't have one because they "had run out" .... run out of what? Then less than ten minutes later they delivered one to another member of our group. I took my second choice cocktail back to the bar hardly touched and asked for it to be swapped out for the whiskey sour they said couldn't be provided and was told I'd need to pay for both. Plus we had a very grumpy looking waitress. Poor customer service if you ask me. Won't be rushing back but the food was good value.

T. G.

The best place to go for a Friday night dinner. We got the meat platter between three of us. Awesome selection of smoked meat and cooked perfectly. Great atmosphere and service.

J. A.

Have eaten here heaps of times and always been good. This time it felt like Freeport has stepped up another level! Food was absolutely awesome, beer was nice and cold and the young dude serving us was on point! Well done Freeport we will be back very soon!

J. M.

We had lunch last Friday. The food was exceptional, the home made burger sauce was excellent and the service was magnificent. This experience was definitely amazing. We would recommend your restaurant to all. You are welcome to use this review in any advertising. We will be back soon.

T. A.

Burger was delicious as was the chicken salad. Pity they got rid of the coffee machine, we had lunch and had to drive a distance afterwards so coffee would be great as an option. Went into muffin break for coffee afterwards

M. B.

Tasty food, fair prices and amazing service. The staff is gentle and kind! For those that have kids, they can paint a draw in the meantime waiting for the food. I recommend the Freeport 100%, definitely I will come back with my family 👏👏👏👏

R. P.

We ordered the pits lord platter to share.. Omg! We are so full, I was tempted to get a wheelchair to get me back to my car. Calm, chill atmosphere, great value for money, the staff are friendly, professional and the icing on the cake was a staff member named Nicola. Shes a true credit to your restaurant. Highly recommend this place to others.. See you again soon. A++

Better than usual pub food

J. B.

Had a really nice evening there. Pub food done well - good selection of beers, reasonable prices and kind and attentive staff. Full marks- will be back

I. A.

Great atmosphere and the staff were excellent. We had a table of 10 and unfortunately we had a pretty lengthy wait. The food was considered fairly disappointing at my end of the table due to presenting/tasting more like bar food which was not expected considering the price. I felt the shrimp pizza could do with some culinary idea's thrown at it, and more cooking as it was bland on dough...sorry Freeport, love your vibe though.

S. R.

Great atmosphere staff very helpful making suggestions of what to have with what. No waiting time after we sat down a great dining experience overall. Meals were hot and sauces complemented the meal. I would recommend this place to anybody.

M. T.

We had the ceviche and chicken burger, both very good. The highlight was the mac n cheese, probably the best we have ever had. We found ourselves loving the atmosphere and shazamming every song.

T. H.

We booked a first table having never tried here before and wow were we impressed ! We ordered almost all of the starters everything was so well presented and delicious - we all loved the polenta fries with the truffle mascarpone - crispy chicken wings so crunchy ! and the calamari all so good - only thing around the table is that needed more seasoning but happy to add that ourselves was all Delish , our mains come out looking fab - tasted next level the smoked steak and the brisket (holy moly the brisket ) were absolutely delicious as was the fried chicken and pickles . Couldn’t believe we managed to squeeze in a banoffee pie but the pastry case was perfect light and crispy with dark caramel and the freshest whipped cream was great to share one between 4 after all that food we had devoured ! We had a wonderful waitress who greeted us sorry can’t remember her name who was so bubbly - attentive and friendly as well as another guy maybe part owner ? He explained all the dishes well and general friendly chatty was great service we felt right at home ! We actually felt bad paying the first table pricing as would happily pay the full amount just really yum tasty food with friendly service , we all would highly recommend and will be back ! Thankyou !

R. H. M.

Asked if they could play the live streaming of the swimming in Germany as our daughter was swimming and it was not a problem. Love ya staff . Cheers

A. J.

Hard review as food we had was ok, especially oven bread with dip. My mojito was truely awful. Like straight lime cordial. They did make me another one and it was a little better but not great. Didnt have the heart to say anything as servers so nice. But not good for cocktails, not mojito anyway. They told me it was pre mixed, not great for $15.

T. M.

Had our engagement party in the private area “the yard”. Food was amazing as always and staff were very accomodating for us! Defs recommend the space for private functions, everyone had an amazing time :)

S. M.

Great food!!! Best juicy chicken burger ever. Four of us went for lunch and we all ordered something different and all rated our food 10 out of 10. Very generous portions! Great atmosphere and nice staff. Price was reasonable too. Will definitely go back :)

Q. V. H.

Aaron and his team ALWAYS make the experience incredible for us. The food is faultless and constantly PERFECT. If you want good service, quality meat and great drinks selection, then Clever & Co is the place you want to give a go.

T. S. (.

Great place to take that special person in your life, wife/husband or boyfriend/girlfriend, food was great, serve was on point and the atmosphere was spot on.(wife was very happy 😊) Highly recommend 👌

S. i.

The food is amazing here every time! After 10+ visits, I absolutely can not fault the food, the service the atmosphere, the price, the whole place! I’m super fussy and Free Port never has disappointed! The meat platter is so succulent , the pizzas from the pizza oven are delicious, the antipasto platter 👌👌 The salads are so tasty 😋 too

J. C.

Great place for a quick beer or family meal. Staff are friendly and quick service.

F. M.

Awesome, took a break here from xmas shopping. Ordered fish tacos hoping they weren't too heavy and was pleasantly surprised. 3 tacos with portion battered fish with a lovely light coleslaw with lemon wrdge on the side...delicimo... Lovely clean bathrooms awesome service from staff and the docile distancing set up just right. Recommend this venue highly.

K. K.

Mind blowing deliciousness! If you're looking to get some true South in your mouth & EXCELLENT value for your hard-earned $, this is the place to go. I spent much of my childhood in Alabama where they're famous for celebrating Summer with the most mouthwatering BBQ & sauces one can dream up. I never thought I'd get to taste the incredible flavour all the way down here 12 years later, so I'm sending a HUGE thank you to the masterful chef who put in the work it takes to grace our Kiwi plates with these savoury delights! Also noteworthy is the staff & service- A+++ as they are timely, friendly & provide a warm, relaxed atmosphere...definitely coming back for more of this drool-worthy kai on the regular. Keep up the great work Cleaver & Co!

Z. H.

Food was really tasty and the overall aesthetics of the restaurant are great. Service was quite slow considering they were really quiet when we visited, had to wait a while to have our order taken. But I will say they were all super friendly and polite.

J. L. (.

As excellent as always. Popped in with Wifey for a cheeky Pit Master Platter and these guys are indeed pit masters. Perfectly cooked smokey ribs, the brisket was tender and juicy and the chicken bites were crispy, juicy, with the perfect hint of smoke. They had to wheel us out, it was that good

J. K.

When I first got to Bayfair, this was where my brother took me the food, and drinks were perfect. The staff were good with making everything. The atmosphere was beautiful, I thoroughly enjoyed it was amazing

M. M.

Everything was amazing. Great service, lots of space. Meat platter is yummy, amazing brisket and ribs.

Great service, the restaurant was super busy but the staff were on to it and our food and drinks came out really quickly! Food was also excellent! Thanks guys, we will definitely be back :)

S. F.

Loved the atmosphere of The Freeport. Great place to take your children. I was able to relax while my two young children enjoyed the play area they both ate all of their meal and loved it. The staff provided amazing service, they were friendly and very accommodating. We will diffently be going back again soon.

V. B.

Pleasant staff and set up. Wait for food was too long for us and it wasn't busy. Red pepper salsa was expected but got diced tomato which I don't like. Other diner was happy so I won't niggle further.

R. P. (.

Good food slow service. Definitely a problem here

G. D.

Had both of the platters. So yummy.& we had leftovers. Service was excellent. Price included drinks.

S. G.

Great venue with an awesome private function room. It is a bit of a goldfish bowl but it has its own access to the bar. The food was exceptional. We had a great night.

T. J.

Quite possibly the BEST calamari I have ever eaten!! Antipasti platter is also to die for. Two people could enjoy this comfortably. Absolutely magnificent!!

G. Y.

Great atmosphere, the food from Freeport with Cleaver & Co is awesome, I recommend if you're in with your crew watching the game or any of the sports that they have on the big screens, grab yourselves a Pitmaster Platter and a side of the Crispy Calamari to go with your beers and you will not be disappointed. The staff were very friendly and helpful, good variety of drinks available, loads of space with some great seating areas inside and out, definitely worth a visit.

B. M. (. B.

Fantastic meal with a few beers

M. C.

Amazing place, low and slow done to perfection. Will definitely be back

B. W.

He mihi nunui ki a Tim raua ko Ruby me a raua tima o te Freeport Bar and Grill. Big thanks to Tim, Ruby and the Freeport team Hosted my 50th (eeek!) in The Yard last night. Tim was a gracious host. Couldn’t have picked a better venue that served such good kai (food) - thanks for the recommendations Tim - Everybody commented on the beautiful presentation, timing and selection of food that came out. Loved that we could utilise your sound system for playlist and the mic for speeches and allowed us to put up simple decorations for the evening. We will be back xx

C. F.

What a fantastic place. Amazing food and the service was fantastic. My two young children were entained by the play area and actually ate all their food they loved it. Will diffently be going again soon. Loved the chilled out atmosphere.

M. P.

Great location for a work doo. Staff very tentative and friendly, food was great!!! We had a bit of everything

B. M.

Food was great, local musician was fantastic, service was pleasant but not very good. Very well priced though and the whole evening was worth the waiting and reordering.

m. r.

Beef Brisket Reuben,delicious! Everyone enjoyed their meals. Great service, kept coming back to check if needed anything.

R. d. P.

Everything was incredibly delicious, from the porkbelly to the pitmasters platter. Faultless! And the chocolate mousse ....would go back for that alone!

C. J.

Had a great selection, fresh seafood & also GF options. Fun atmosphere

P. n.

Kiaora all the way from West Auckland, wanting to Rave about the amazing food and service... but I had lost my receipt needed for my boss, quick call spoke to Tim who was able within barely 5minites, have it found and hastily emailed back to me :) Made my day stress free now I can go along with my business knowing this made my Day. :) Couldn't find a place for this review to add on website ? Will try again this was just in case :)

A. M.

Eating at the Freeport with mates is probably the best thing you could do this spring. Or this summer. Or next fall. Or next winter. Yes, they have a food for every mood. And mad desserts to boot.! With the ability to order from next door(Cleaver & Co) as well, the combinations here are potentially limitless. Good portion sizes. Full flavor. Great service. Would recommend !

Z. ..

Amazing food, chicken burger and ribs were the best we've had, the setup and atmosphere unbeatable,live music was a great too! Thanks cleaver and co we'll be back one day! <3 AA

K. B.

Absolutely lovely night with a great quiz! Our waiter Tommy was marvellous! Highly recommend and Bella was fab as well!!!

M. C.

I think.... It new we went twenty mins drinking water before drinks hit...... Platters need too have minimal of three choices.... Sea food meat dishes or what we had .. artichoke breads olives shaved ham salami..... It was ok.... Rest of menu looked great food next to us looked dam great. ..... Beer was good and wet.. price was fair .... I going back there id like to see this get 5 stars

A. C.

Enjoyed the food very much. It takes a while to arrive but is definitely worth the wait. Thank you chef ✔️

J. G.

Fantastic food and service. The best brisket I've tasted and generous portions. Great to finally find authentic smoked meat in NZ.

j. b.

Super attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere. The musician in The Freeport tonight was spot on, cruisey, and not too loud that you had to shout to be heard

L. M.

Great atmosphere and very attentive staff. Delicious food too. Definitely a place to visit.

H. S.

We only had dessert and coffee, 3 of their deserts were not available and couldn't choose what we liked to have, but we ended up enjoyed what we had. The man who served our table was very helpful and friendly.

K. B.

We had dinner here and it was delicious. Great staff and reasonable prices. Definitely comming back here.

M. U.

Popped in for dinner with the family. Good atmosphere and plenty of choice for meal options. Meals came out quickly and the brisket was delicious!!!

O. G.

Prompt lunch time service ….. couldn’t fault it . Had the award winning Surf, Turf and Smoke, Monsieur….. Spectacular …. Warning though …. Be hungry it’s very filling ….