Seven shirtless men made coffee, operated the cash register and greeted customers at the Post Office Cafe from 3pm to 5pm, with customers donating generously to Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Wai Dining Group co-owner-director Jan Rae said the promotion was part of the "Chefs love Breasts" campaign led by the New Zealand Chefs Association to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The men, staff across Wai Dining Group's four eateries or friends of staff, needed little persuading to lose their shirts despite the cold, Ms Rae said.
She was certain customers, had been donating more because of the lack of shirts and said she had to bring some of the men off the street-side.
"There was a little bit of a traffic jam out there at one stage.
"[People had] their horns tooting."
Other restaurants in New Zealand had held "pink dinners", Ms Rae said, but she believed the shirtless working promotion was unique within the Chefs Love Breasts campaign.
Wai would match money raised dollar for dollar.
