Frank's Café is a Linwood institution, tucked inside Eastgate Mall in Christchurch and going strong for more than fifteen years. The team serves classic Kiwi fare made fresh on site every day, from a famous all-day brunch menu to quality cabinet food and tasty burgers — all at prices regulars describe as exceptionally good value.
Breakfast is the heart of it: all-day eggs Benedict with hash brown, the Mega Breakfast for those with a serious gap to fill, and fruit pancakes among the tried-and-true classics. You can mix and match from a range of sides to build your own plate, and no request is too large for the Frank's team. The coffee is high quality, freshly roasted specialty roast, and reviewers say it is worth driving across town for.
Beyond breakfast there are burgers, bagels and filled omelettes, plus photogenic desserts such as chocolate mousse and vanilla cream served in a glass. Goodie bags of baked goods make easy gifts, and sunny outdoor seating welcomes the whole family — dogs included.
Frank's Café, tucked inside Eastgate Mall in Linwood, Christchurch, has spent more than fifteen years doing one thing exceptionally well: classic Kiwi café food, made fresh on site every day, served with a personal touch that has earned it a fanbase of loyal customers — some of whom have been coming for over a decade. Reviews read like love letters: one Google reviewer called it the best breakfast they'd had anywhere in New Zealand, another praised the polite, helpful staff, and a regular noted the prices are the best around.
Breakfast is the heart of Frank's, and it is served all day, not just through the morning rush. The signature plate is the Eggs Benedict with Hash Brown — a tried-and-true classic that one reviewer describes as “to die for”. For serious appetites there is the Mega Breakfast, the massive loaded plate one Google reviewer crowned the best breakfast they had had anywhere in New Zealand, alongside its slightly smaller sibling, the Big Breakfast.
If you would rather build your own, the team will happily mix and match from a range of sides — no request is too large. The Fruit Pancakes are among the beautifully presented house classics, and Bacon Pancakes cover the sweet-and-savoury crossover. Everything comes off a kitchen that makes its food fresh on site, and it shows on the plate.
Frank's is not only a breakfast spot. The burger list runs from an Angus Beef Burger and Grilled Chicken Burger to a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burger and a dedicated Breakfast Burger, with a Vegetarian Burger (V) for non-meat eaters. Bagels come lightly toasted or fully loaded — BLT, Salmon, or a Cranberry Chicken Brie Bagel — and there is a Filled Omelette for the egg purists.
Alongside the printed menu, the cabinet is stocked daily with food made fresh on site: the quality grab-and-go staples regulars swing by for between errands around the mall.
“Good to the Last Drop” is the café's own motto, and the coffee backs it up: high quality, freshly roasted specialty coffee, shared every day. One reviewer's partner happily drives twenty minutes just for a cup. Order it alongside the eggs benedict and you have the classic Frank's experience.
Save room, or come back later. Frank's offers incredibly photogenic desserts such as Chocolate Mousse and Vanilla Cream, both served in a glass. Goodie bags of baked goods are available for gifts, covering Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, or simply treating yourself.
The vibe is casual and family-friendly, with sunny outdoor seating for a lazy morning watching the world go by — and dogs are welcome, so the whole family really can come along. Hours run 7am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, with a later close of 8pm on Thursdays, and a 7:30am start on Sundays through to 5pm. If you cannot make it in, you can order online for delivery through Uber Eats via the café's website.
Whether it is a leisurely weekend brunch, a quick cabinet-food lunch or a coffee run, Frank's delivers delicious food at exceptionally good value — which is exactly why Linwood has kept it busy for fifteen years.