7 Sale Street,
Freemans Bay
Auckland,


(09) 307 8148 

add to my map

4 out of 5 stars

Recession? What recession? While the rest of Auckland’s hospitality industry battens down the hatches, the new Sale St Brewery is proving to be a success in its huge revamped space on the edge of Victoria Park. On three separate visits since it opened in October, we’ve been surprised at the number of people crowding into Luke Dallow’s new opening. It’s not the first time the Auckland foodie entrepreneur has seemingly got it right. Past successful launches have included Malt in Grey Lynn and Chapel in Ponsonby, and despite Sale St’s massive 1000 square metres of space, the new microbrewery meets restaurant meets live music venue has kicked off with a real buzz.

Previous visits have been after busy, busy, busy work assignations pre-Christmas. Our latest visit was a quieter time on a Saturday afternoon a few days after New Year. Certainly numbers were down – there were almost more wait staff than punters – but still with probably more customers than most other pubs around town.

A daylight visit is actually a good time to experience Sale St’s eclectic décor. Think revamped Kiwi warehouse meets retro 1970s with an industrial tinge. The main action takes place in an open area dotted with leather sofas, with the hijinks flowing onto a deck that sometimes features live bands. Inside, another larger stage is the scene for after dark music. Other areas include a more formal dining area, and tucked behind the microbrewery, a cool little spot dotted with retro armchairs from your Nana’s house, and old school board games – think Risk and Yahtzee – from your bedroom cupboard at your parents’ place.

From a big range of tap beers mainly from the DB stable – Monteith’s, Tiger, Heineken, Erdinger – we sampled a couple of the beers brewed on site. Like our previous visits Sale St’s Ponsonby Gold lager was unavailable, so it was back to the Freeman’s Ale and the Celebration Pale Ale. Unfortunately both inhouse beers are pretty innocuous and boring, and showing too much influence from the big brother brewers at DB. Call me a beer snob, but the hoppier and more diverse brews at places like Hallertau and Galbraith’s are much more interesting. From the bar snacks menu, a few yakitori skewers - tiger prawns ($8) and tofu ($5) – were good value and crammed with zingy fresh flavours, but the Calabrese pizza ($22) was less successful, with the topping of salami, chorizo and olives turning the pizza base soggy.

Sale St does a lot of things really well – great décor, relaxed but prompt service, real diversity in entertainment – but as a microbrewery and eatery, it’s less successful. Look forward to a good night out, but don’t visit expecting really surprising beer or food.