Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar

About Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar

Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar sits at the heart of The Square in Palmerston North, offering modern French-inspired European dining built on classic culinary techniques and seasonal produce.

The menu showcases the best of the season, from a signature Fillet Mignon to a delicate Poisson Meunière, alongside soups, entrées, hearty mains and a full dessert list. Steak dishes come with a choice of sauce, sides and cooking preference, giving diners plenty of room to tailor their meal.

Dejeuner has drawn praise for its atmosphere and food, with quotes attributed to the Good Food Guide, Cuisine Magazine, TripAdvisor and local reviewers describing the food, service and attention to detail.

Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar: Modern French Dining in Palmerston North

At the heart of The Square in Palmerston North, Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar offers a refined escape into classic and modern French-inspired European cuisine.

Excellence in Every Ingredient

Dejeuner's menu is crafted to showcase the best of seasonal produce alongside time-honoured French techniques. From the signature Fillet Mignon to the delicate Poisson Meunière, the kitchen aims to turn every dish into something worth savouring.

From Soups to Steaks

The menu opens with soups like a Classic French Onion Soup and a Seafood Chowder, both served with garlic butter bread, alongside a bread selection including French Pizza Bread and a Bread & Dips platter with beetroot and cashew hummus. Entrées range from Garlic Tiger Prawns to Scallops & Cauliflower and a Caesar Salad with a choice of chicken or prawns.

Main courses are where Dejeuner leans fully into its steakhouse side, with Sirloin, Scotch and Fillet Mignon or Rib Eye cuts, each cooked to preference and served with a choice of sauce - Pinot Noir jus, mushroom sauce, bearnaise or homemade pepper hollandaise - plus a choice of Paris mash or fries. Beyond steak, the Lamb Rack, Ferme Venaison (venison), Poisson Meunière, slow-cooked Porc, Chicken Kiev and a vegetarian Gnocchi round out the main course selection, each built around its own combination of seasonal sides and sauces.

Sides and Sweet Endings

Sides include Duck Fat Potatoes, Cajun Spiced Onion Rings and Steam-Buttered Seasonal Vegetables, ideal for sharing across the table. Dessert brings a rotating Cake of the Week alongside fixtures like a Mango & Vanilla Panna Cotta, a Lemon Curd Tart, a Dark Chocolate Fondant, and an Affogato that can be finished with a liqueur or whisky. A kids' meal is available on request, with staff able to talk through the day's options.

A Well-Regarded Dining Room

Dejeuner has attracted attention from reviewers and publications, with the Good Food Guide describing it as redefining the standard and a masterclass in atmosphere and taste, Cuisine Magazine praising the attention to detail in every dish and cocktail, and TripAdvisor reviewers calling out the exceptional service paired with an exquisite menu.

Visiting

Dejeuner Restaurant & Bar is located at 44 The Square, Palmerston North, with tables bookable online through the restaurant's reservation system. It's a fitting destination for anyone after a proper French-inspired dining experience in the city.

Signature items

• Fillet Mignon
• Poisson Meunière
• Lamb Rack
• Chicken Kiev
• Garlic Tiger Prawns
• Mango & Vanilla Panna Cotta

Menu

Sides

• Duck Fat Potatoes
• Cajun Spiced Onion Rings
• Steam-Buttered Seasonal Vegetables
• Fresh Green Salad
• Hot Pot Mushrooms — Creamy mushroom option available.
• Fries

Soups

• French Onion Soup — Classic French onion soup served with croutons, cheese & fresh parsley.
• Classic Tomato Soup — Classic tomato soup served with fresh parsley (V/GF).
• Creamy Chicken Soup — Cubed seasonal vegetables cooked with chicken tenderloins, house seasoning & infused oil.
• Seafood Chowder — Mixed seafood and fresh fish cooked with creamy stock, herbs & infused oil.

Breads

• Garlic Bread Loaf
• Bruschetta — Roasted French stick bread with garlic butter, tomato, basil & parmesan (4 pieces).
• French Pizza Bread — Ciabatta with marinara sauce, pepperoni slices & shrimps, topped with mozzarella (4 pieces).
• Bread & Dips — Ciabatta with beetroot & cashew hummus, garlic butter & basil pesto (4 pieces, contains nuts).

Desserts

• Cake of the Week — Check with front of house staff for today's selection.
• Mango & Vanilla Panna Cotta — Served with macarons, crumble and mango ice cream.
• Lemon Curd Tart — Savoury tart with lemon curd, citrus gel, meringue & lemon sorbet.
• Dark Chocolate Fondant — Served with maple & walnut ice cream.
• Rose Water Berry — Deep-fried milk balls soaked in rose-flavoured sugar syrup & vanilla ice cream.
• Ice Cream Sundae — A trio of ice cream with choice of strawberry, caramel or chocolate sauce.
• Affogato — Vanilla bean ice cream with an espresso shot; liqueur or whisky add-on available.

EntréEs

• Garlic Tiger Prawns — Marinated in garlic & herbs, served with fresh cucumber, aioli & parsley butter (GF).
• Goat Cheese & Beetroot — Baked goat cheese, beetroot, rocket, walnut, balsamic & crostini (V, contains nuts).
• Steamed Garlic Mussels — Steamed mussels cooked in parsley-brown butter (GF).
• Caesar Salad — Romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, croutons, aged parmesan, crispy bacon and a free-range egg; choice of chicken or prawns (GF/V).
• Scallops & Cauliflower — Roasted scallops with cauliflower cream, parsley brown butter and a side salad (GF).

Kids' Meal

• Kids' Meal — Available on request; speak to staff for today's selection.

Main Courses

• Sirloin 300gm — Premium cut seasoned with sea salt and cracked pepper, grilled to perfection (GF); served with choice of sauce, sides and vegetables.
• Scotch 300gm — Highly marbled for full flavour and exceptional tenderness (GF); served with choice of sauce, sides and vegetables.
• Fillet Mignon / Rib Eye 275gm — The most tender cut, lean yet succulent (GF); extras available such as garlic butter, bacon or a fried egg.
• Lamb Rack — Grass-fed, slow cooked with herbs, garlic & spices, served with mash potatoes, fresh greens & juniper berry jus (GF).
• Ferme Venaison — Venison rump rubbed in herbs, served with pumpkin mash, seasonal vegetables, carrots & juniper berry jus (GF).
• Poisson Meunière — Fresh market fish pan-fried, served with peas, round beans & broccoli, basil pesto & capers with lemon (DF).
• Porc (Pork) — Slow-cooked pork belly, braised red cabbage, kumara rosti, honey-glazed carrot, croquette & apple puree.
• Chicken Kiev — Cage-free chicken breast filled with herbs & garlic butter, puy lentil ragout, Brussels sprouts & potato gratin, with chicken gravy.
• Gnocchi — Homemade gnocchi with garden mushrooms, pumpkin, baby spinach, aged parmesan & truffle oil (GF/V).

Frequently asked questions

What style of cuisine does Dejeuner serve?

Modern French-inspired European dining, blending classic techniques with seasonal produce.

What are Dejeuner's signature dishes?

The Fillet Mignon and the Poisson Meunière are highlighted as signature dishes.

Can I book a table?

Yes, tables can be reserved online through the restaurant's booking system.

Is there a kids' meal?

Yes, available on request - speak to staff for the day's selection.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?

Yes, dishes are marked (V), (GF) or (DF) where applicable, including the Gnocchi and Classic Tomato Soup.

Where is Dejeuner located?

At 44 The Square, Palmerston North 4410.

How can I contact Dejeuner?

By phone on 06 952 5581 or email at [email protected].

Tips

• {"body":"Reservations can be made online through the restaurant's booking system.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"The Fillet Mignon and Poisson Meunière are highlighted as house specialities.","title":"Try the signature dishes"}
• {"body":"The dessert changes regularly - check with front of house staff.","title":"Ask about the Cake of the Week"}
• {"body":"Some entrées and breads, like the Goat Cheese & Beetroot and Bread & Dips, contain nuts.","title":"Check for nut-containing dishes"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian (V), gluten-free (GF) and dairy-free (DF) options marked on the menu; some dishes contain nuts."}