You can’t beat Welly on a food day, let alone month, with variety being the spice of life this August at Wellington’s most loved spots.
The conical bra was a 50s flash in the pan but it’s time to hark back to the times of sideburns and soda fountains as St John’s Bar & Eatery transforms into Johnny’s Diner this Friday for a month, fit for Elvis on the jukebox and morsels of gastronomical proportions.
Setting the cuisine-scene with black and white lino flooring, neon lights and checkered tablecloths, treat yourself to some fine diner-ing including hotdogs, fried chicken and St. John’s almighty offering for Welly on a Plate, The Big John burger, encompassing double beef patties, cheddar cheese, pickles, onions and lettuce with all the trimmings. Wash it down with a Coconut Cream Pie cocktail – a twist on the classic pina colada alongside other delicious boozy milkshakes. 
Get ready for some sock hopping in your poodle skirts and letter sweaters on St John’s Homecoming Night. Don your best 50s glam, grab your greaser gang and book your tickets to secure the homecoming king and queen crown on Friday 20th August.
Of course, burger wars are on. You’ll find plenty of food for thought with The Old Bailey serving up crispy chicken thighs in a Zaida’s coffee bun dubbed The Sunset, while there’s no question you’ll be deer-vouring The Cambridge’s Venison’s deer isn’t it? version. Head to Jack Hackett’s if you’re after The Real Dill with a beef and chorizo patty, aged cheddar and smoked thick-cut bacon or be the real king of the castle with The Realm’s Surf & Turf offering marinated scotch, crumbed calamari and grilled prawns.
Concrete Bar’s Get-in-do-mie Belly burger will spice things up with soy-braised chicken, sesame slaw, fried shallots and a fried egg, while you’ll get hooked on Dirty Little Secret’s Catch of the Day filled with fish, rocket, salmon, caviar, shrimp and crab sticks. For those a little further afield, totally worth a whirl is the Mousetrap at Tote Bar with crumbed camembert, prosciutto, spicy plum sauce and lettuce between a marmite bun.
To finish the food odyssey, have your cake and eat it too with a range of cocktails on offer including going Out with the Old, in with the U at Concrete Bar, or get Lionel twitchy if you don’t try the Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? at Dirty Little Secret, with local Imagination triple distilled gin, house-made spiced apple syrup, egg whites, lemon juice and tapioca pearls.
Wellington on a Plate is on throughout August and will be well worth its salt!
