Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Palmerston North

Disclaimer: my party of 3 dined here at half price via First Table on the 21st of January.

It is with great sadness that I have to report that the food at Dejeuner was quite the disappointment.

Let's start with the positives. Firstly, our server was absolutely amazing. She was attentive to our needs, asking if we needed any extra dishes or cutlery throughout the meal. She also made sure to check in on us to ask how our dining experience was. When we brought up any issues, she said that she would inform the chef. This was easily the best part of our time there.

For starters, our group got the French onion soup, seafood chowder and chicken Caesar salad to share. This was a fantastic way to start our dinner, as everything was flavourful and well presented. Following this were our mains of venison, lamb and fish. The venison and lamb were cooked to a perfect temperature, being very tender and juicy. For dessert, the ice cream components of our panna cotta, chocolate fondant and sundae were the best parts.

Unfortunately, this where I have to move on to the rather disheartening aspects of the meal, beginning with the serving sizes. I was under no impression that the dishes here would be large by any means, but the mere slivers of venison on the plate was borderline insulting, not to mention the sad smear of mash. The lamb rack was also on the small side. The market fish would have been great, if not for the burnt skin leaving a bitter aftertaste throughout. None of those would qualify the nearly $40 price tags.

Our desserts ranged from being acceptable to painfully mediocre, the worst of which was the panna cotta. It came coated with a mango sauce, which was thankfully able to cover up the strangely bitter pudding.

In the end, I cannot recommend Dejeuner in good faith. For every good flavour it offers, there is a disappointment that follows. The price point would not even be an issue if everything were to be held to a high standard. To end on a high note, I want to emphasize the fantastic service again. Whoever was serving on this Sunday, give...

My recent dining experience at Dejeuner was profoundly disappointing, primarily due to an unacceptable wait time and significant inconsistencies in food and beverage quality. From the moment we placed our order, we endured a wait of well over 70 minutes before our meals arrived. This extended delay created a frustrating and unpleasant atmosphere, overshadowing any potential enjoyment of the evening.

The food, when it finally arrived, presented a mixed bag of results. The pork belly was a disappointment, rendered overcooked and dry, further exacerbated by an excessive and overwhelming amount of gravy. The fish dish was, frankly, inedible. The fish itself possessed an unpleasant, off-putting taste, and the unexpected addition of a pepper gravy, not listed on the menu, only compounded the issue. In stark contrast, the lamb rack was the only redeeming dish, proving to be beautifully prepared.

Adding to the disappointment, the wine we ordered exhibited a distinct vinegarish taste, indicating that it was likely past its prime. This lack of attention to beverage quality further detracted from the overall experience.

While the restaurant's quiet atmosphere is conducive to conversation, the uneven flooring presents a significant accessibility challenge for individuals with disabilities. This oversight demonstrates a lack of consideration for all patrons.

In summary, Dejeuner failed to deliver a satisfactory dining experience. The combination of an excessive wait time, inconsistent and subpar food quality, a poorly aged wine, and accessibility concerns renders it impossible for me to recommend this establishment. I will not...

The meal itself was delicious. A beautifully cooked steak that was advised by the waiteras needing sides but it didn't. My partner had the chicken which was a generous portion but also didn't really need any side dishes. Main meal prices without sides were very reasonable. However our whole experience here was marred by the inflexible and unwelcoming front of house staff. We had booked a table for two but we were in

shown to a booth table set for three. When we queried this and asked if the other reserved booth table for two was ours we were told no all tables were pre booked and we were sat at another table near to a rather noisy bigger group. We were provided only with the dinner menu. When we queried if we could look at the All Day menu which we had seen on Facebook. That menu contained a wider range of food we would normally choose. However we were told the All Day menu wasn't available. Fortunately we both found dishes on the dinner menu. We did not choose an entree but we were suddenly offered garlic bread which was not on the menu. My partner commented on the above issues as we paid the bill. The person taking our money made no comment apart from saying it us hard to...