The most common, frequently asked questions
What's your phone number?
We don't use the phone — we're busy trying to serve the people that come in to The Bach. If you do need to touch base with us, send us a message here. I'm running late!!
We'll hold your table for 15 minutes, so if you're under that, AOK. If you're likely to be later, go back to your confirmation email and hit the "Message" link. That opens up a chat window so you can tell us directly. Worst case, tell us here — we cannot promise to get the message in time though. Can I see the menu?
Are you dog-friendly?
Yes — well-behaved dogs are welcome before 6pm. We have limited dog-friendly seating, so make sure you choose "Dog Friendly / Reduced Mobility" when booking, otherwise you may end up waiting for a suitable table. Please don't let them eat off our plates or get up on the furniture and if they break the four bark rule, they may be asked to wait outside. Of course, if they foul, that's on you.
I think I left something behind
What is a bach anyway?
Pronounced "batch", like a batch of scones, not "bark", like the composer.
Our name comes from a New Zealand term for a humble holiday home — usually near a beach or river, knocked together from corrugated iron, used timber, and whatever was lying around. Handyman chic, kitsch colours, old furniture, fading photos. The kind of place where you'd find a long drop out the back and nobody cared. That's the vibe we're going for — just with better plumbing.
Why are you a New Zealand-themed place?
Well, we're not really "themed". We're quite authentically Kiwi — we're independently owned and run by two Kiwi's, far from the beaten path. We have a team full of Kiwis, a couple of escaped Americans and plenty of haggis hunters too. We make and serve up the stuff we grew up with in Kiwiland, and import Antipodean treats, such as Whittaker's chocolates, Rashuns, Burger Rings and more.
What are your opening hours?
Are you open today?
Look at the top right of this website to see if we are open or when we're next open.
Are you wheelchair accessible?
No, not really. Officially we are "ambulant". We've got a couple of steps up to the door and we don't have an accessible bathroom on the ground floor — we have 8 steps down to our ambulant bathroom. In saying this, we do have people visit us in a wheelchair, but they know our limitations.
Why didn't you respond to my message on social media?
Why didn't you respond to my question?
Probably because the answer is somewhere in this very FAQ — have another squiz.
I need to change or cancel my booking?
Check your email confirmation — it has a couple of links so you can do this yourself. If you've lost the confirmation, or spelt your email wrong, head to our contact page and we can help. Dietary requirements
Do you have gluten-free options?
We do — they're marked as GF on the menu and plenty of dishes can be adjusted too. Got other allergies or intolerances? Our allergens tool lets you filter by what you need to avoid, so you can plan ahead before you visit. Do you cater for vegans?
Yes — we always have vegan options and they're dishes we're genuinely proud of, not afterthoughts. Look for the PB tag on the menu. My friend struggles with allergies — can I see your allergens list?
Gutted for your friend. Our allergens tool lets you filter by what they need to avoid so you can see what's safe before you visit. Above all else, your friend would need to tell us about their allergies and intolerances on the day so we can help take care of them. I have a severe allergy to something where any hint of it is dangerous
Your safety comes first, and we won't take chances with that. We follow solid practices and take allergens seriously — but we handle everything in the same kitchen, so we can't make any guarantees. If that's a risk you can't take, we'd rather be straight with you than have something go wrong.
Can I change or swap things in my dish?
Possibly. However, we design our menus to showcase what we do. We hope you like it too. If you ask us to change this or that, swap this for that, we may not due to the difficulty in doing so, or if we feel it will compromise the standard of what we're trying to do. So, while we respect that you may not like something in a dish, please understand that we're trying to put our best foot forward. We have loads of other options on the menu — we just want to be upfront.