Car park says it all. Stopped in at Makotuku just on lunchtime, straight off helping one of my deer farmers with some stock work. Bikes were lined up nose-to-tail out front, and everybody was inside enjoying a beer and a bite of lunch.
The thing about the Black Dog — it's a local country tavern, but it hasn't forgotten its history. The wood burner's burning away in the back room, cowhide rugs underfoot. Lunch was in the crock pots, with the blackboard saying it was Hot Lamb & Gravy, or Roast Pork with apple sauce on a toasted bun — lunch for $12. Or order off the pub menu if you're after something else.
It's an easy ride to Makotuku from either Palmy or Napier, making the Black Dog a great lunch stop whether you're heading home or carrying on. Just plan around it — they're open Friday to Sunday, 12–8:30pm. There's cabins and camping on site, or across the road at Makotuku Domain there's powered sites — plenty of options if you want to make a night of it.
"There's always something going on at the Black Dog — worth keeping an eye on their Facebook page for what's coming up."