Buster Crabb

This Invercargill restaurant has an old school feel seen even in their menu which doubles as a vintage newspaper and a history lesson. Snag a copy of the ‘Scuttlebutt Evening Edition’ to learn more about the story of Buster Crabb while also deciding on your order.

Lionel ‘Buster’ Crabb, was a Royal Navy frogman and MI6 diver who disappeared on a mission around a Soviet cruiser in 1956. He inspired one of the most notorious and widely recognized fictional characters in the world, Ian Fleming’s James Bond.

Pop in for a drink at the expansive bar and choose a beverage from Buster Crabb’s extensive wine, beer and cider lists. If you like drinking the authentic Bavarian way, order a Hofbräu München in a stein. Winos can indulge in any of the locally sourced or imported wines here and the cocktail menu includes quirky and unique pours too.

The Scuttlebutt Evening Edition lists the weather for your convenience and a robust selection of dishes like a seafood tasting tray, charred breads and dips, sticky venison spare ribs and crispy calamari.

This local spot is most well known for their chargrilled steaks which can be ordered to the temperature of your liking. Southland prime Hereford cuts are delicious and perfectly cooked every time. The 500g prime ribeye menu item is not for those with small appetites. Slow cooked for 20 hours, chargrilled just before service and accompanied by two sides and a sauce. Note: there’s a 250g option too, and the burgers and salads are also popular.

With all this delicious meat on the Buster Crabb menu it's easy to assume that vegetarians should stay away. But this is certainly not the case. A separate vegetarian menu includes tasty dishes like a pumpkin and spinach penne with creamy sauce, pine nuts and feta, a mushroom capsicum burger with lettuce, feta, pesto and chips and a saffron risotto for adventurous palettes.

This spot’s dark ambiance, hearty fare, ample drink and dimly lit atmosphere certainly feel like a place that someone with as much mystery and intrigue as Buster might’ve frequented in his day.