My husband and I stopped here for lunch on our drive from Auckland to Wellington. I must say, parking in this area is not easy to find at lunchtime! We had to park about 3 blocks away and walk. This is located close to the lake, and had some beautiful views. If it were cold and rainy, we would've opted to sit on their patio. The service as quick and the food was delicious! I had a pie and my husband, I cannot remember what he had but he loved it. If we weren't driving, we would've had some drinks. A nice selection on the menu of food and drinks and everything was delicious. I would definitely go back! read more

Food was Good! Location Great! Nice Patio with Lake/park views! Very walkable area! Parking was easy!

Fantastic food, fantastic ambience and background music, and fantastic service. Our server, Adam, was first class! Loved every minute we were there! read more

Waited at the entrance to be seated and didn't get noticed for about 5 minutes. The place was not busy. Got seated finally and the first thing our waitress says is she has to warn us, they close at 2200 (2 hours from then) then disappears for 10 minutes. Plenty of workers wiping off tables getting ready for closing time I guess. Waited another 5 minutes then left. We should've taken the hint about closing, probably would have been waiting till then read more

Had dinner here the other night. What a pleasant surprise. Atmosphere is like modern European cafe mixed with a road stop diner. Food is very good. My wife had a burger which was solid I had the tempura prawns. Outstanding! Lightly battered on top of an Asian salad. Large selection of drinks and food ------ Had breakfast this morning. Excellent. The kiwi breakfast was outstanding. read more

Dixie Browns - Tempura prawns - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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we ordered a pizza (take away) the person was very rude and very unhappy seeing us, is it because we are Asian? 2 people came in (american ) and he was very friendly. We deserved to be treated the same way as the other customer because we are a paying customer.When he took our order he was very impatient and rude when he answered our question. I hope that you will teach him a good manners and right conduct, this is not good for business. Asian should be given same respect as other nationality. if i can give him a negative star I will. He doesnt have a name tag so i cannot tell you who is this person. read more

Gem of a restaurant with an incredible menu and amazing baked goods at the ready. Excellent service. Food was delicious. I had catch of the day and the hubby had their Ruben. We both really enjoyed our meals with fresh ingredients. I had a local cider that was wonderful. Lovely location with epic views and comfortable surroundings. Highly recommended. Terrific value. read more

Dixie Browns - Local hard cider. Delicious! - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

3.5 stars for above average diner food, quick and attentive service, and 1 hour free wifi. They had a small but pretty good selection of wines and they also serve beer. Do: * Get dessert. Looks awesome. * Get the pork hock. Fatty deliciousness. * Get the Cajun salad. Really flavoring and mostly chicken Skip the rump steak and ribs which taste very mediocre. read more

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We were in Taupo overnight, and looking for breakfast. There was a row of places along the lake, and we started at one end, and worked our way down, looking at the menus. As were looking at Dixie Brown's menu, a couple was just leaving. The man stopped and leaned over to us, and said, "this place is really good." He was right. My wife had the the Truck stop Pancake Stack, and I had the Eggs Benedict. Both were prepared perfectly. The hollandaise on the Benedict was especially good. And our waiter even understood when I asked for iced tea, which is a rarity outside of the U.S. I forgot to mention the Wifi until I read an older review. It's still free, and you don't even have to ask. And the speed is excellent, as well. read more

Awsome place to go if you don't know what to have.So many options and portions are generous

Hands-down the BEST vanilla milkshake I've ever had! The cottage pie and seafood chowder were very tasty. Servers are very friendly and the kitchen was happy to accommodate dairy free requests. read more

Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was delicious! My partner had the same and loved it and service was 10/10

Good for brunch. Staff were super friendly, and food was reasonably fast despite there being lots of people. It was exactly what we were looking for in a breakfast place. read more

Dixie Browns - Kiwi Farmhouse Breakfast. What a spread - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

Wasn't very impressed. Staff were quite rude, when my partner asked if the sausage had beef they just said "I don't know" I asked for my toast to be swapped for a bagel and the staff told me multiple times that I would be charged extra - which I was happy with! I could hardly eat my eggs :( but my partner enjoyed his omelette! I also didn't enjoy the coffee but the real let down was the staff. read more

Dixie Browns - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

This restaurant was recommended by the Hilton Hotel staff. It is located across the lake. We ordered a Dixie Burger and pepperoni pizza. Both are excellent. The burger came with a mushroom which is out of the world. But the only complaint about it is that the burger itself is like a meatloaf. Pizza was delicious and large enough to share. Wait staff was great! Across the board a very good experience. If the burger itself is like a burger instead of meatloaf would make this a 5. The desserts here looks fabulous but I have no room for it. read more

Dixie Browns - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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Ordered the Belgian waffle breakfast. It was good but didn't particularly stand out... the apples and bacon were prepared nicely and were pretty tasty when served together. The plating was good too, but I didn't find the plate to be worth the price. It didn't end up being as filling as it sounded or looked... I've had better elsewhere for cheaper. Their desserts look amazing in person! Definitely some unique takes on different types of cakes. Also their service is excellent! Nice waiters and waitresses that don't take long to get your orders nor are they rushing. read more

Dixie Browns - The Belgian waffle - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

This place has it all! Excellent food, hospitable service, free wifi and an amazing view. I highly recommend giving Dixie Browns a try. You will not be disappointed. read more

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We ate lunch here and the food was really good. I ordered the chicken wrap and my husband ordered the prom belly. We wound up coming back later that night for a milkshake - vanilla and coconut - and it was delicious! read more

Dixie Browns - Chicken wrap - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

We stopped in on Friday night after a long drive from Wellington. Table was available and had the best service so far in NZ. Garlic bread, salad and split the filet and veggies. Good food and great service with a stunning view of Lake Taupo and the sunset. read more

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Went here for dinner during our stay in Taupo. Service was okay. Ordered the four seasons pizza but altered it to be veggie. Taste was good but found them to be very stingy on toppings! :( $28 is not justified for handful of veggies! Very very disappointed. read more

Dixie Browns - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

My wife and I ate here twice in one day! The food is AMAZING! Best Garlic Bread I've ever had! Hands down! The lamb shank is so smooth it melts in your mouth. The rosemary feta bread is almost as good as the garlic bread. The pork belly is robust, and juicy. The prices are more than reasonable. They could easily charge more. This place is a great find. I'd add an extra star if I could. read more

Dixie Brown's has a great view of lake taupo. I came for breakfast and had the eggs Benedict. Their eggs Benedict was a nice portion with toasted ciabatta bread, arugula, crispy bacon, poached eggs, and a lot of hollandaise. The Hollandaise was excellent and really brought everything together. The eggs were also cooked perfectly with the yolks running. Come here if you're looking for some quality Eggs Benedict! read more

Dixie Browns - Eggs Benedict - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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Nice place in the heart of the Taupo waterfront (well almost waterfront). Nice big menu with many choices. I have eaten there several times and have found the food pretty good, but not create. Quick comments on a few items: Pizza - overall good flavor, but soggy crust Dixie Burger: Nice offering, pepper sauce great Scotch Fillet: Good flavor, cooked right, good mushroom sauce Lemon Meringue pie: Good flavor, ice cream and cream a nice touch Lamb shank: Over cooked to a point it was "crusty". Sauce was good as were potatoes Good place with nice variety. read more

Great service, fresh food. Fantastic desserts. Sit up front and enjoy the view of the lake.

Great friendly staff. Very attentive even though the place was full. One of the staff saw me on my phone and offered the free wifi, great customer service. Food was a little overpriced I think but was very tasty. Short of it is, next time in Taupō I'll definitely be going back. Hopefully make it there in time for brunch next time. read more

Dixie Browns - Ribs were $22.50. - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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TLDR: Great option for breakfast and brunch right by the lake, especially the Kiwi Farmhouse Breakfast. Dixie Browns is one of the many different restaurants in the area that is right by the lake and is open for most of the day from 6 am to 10 pm. I can't speak on the lunch or dinner options here, but I definitely would recommend coming here at least for breakfast or brunch. Dixie Browns has a pretty spacious set up with indoor and outdoor seating that does allow a view of Lake Taupo, depending on where you sit. There's also a pastry display case by the entrance in case you want to grab a bite for takeaway. When it comes to breakfast, there are a variety of options here with some combination of eggs, protein, bread (toast or bagel), fruit, and veggies. We were told that Dixie Brown Omelette and the Kiwi Farmhouse Breakfast were two of the more popular options and decided to go with those entrees. Priced at 19.50 and 23.50, respectively, the dishes are a bit higher on the price points compared other restaurants nearby. Overall, we felt like the Dixie Brown Omelette was just okay. Don't get me wrong, it tasted good, but not too sure about describing itself as "famous". However, I would highly recommend the Kiwi Farmhouse Breakfast. The kransky sausage and mushrooms were cooked very well, and the grilled tomato is a nice touch to round out the flavors. I would definitely order the Kiwi Farmhouse Breakfast again. Also of note, I felt like the coffee was really good as well - I enjoyed the hazelnut latte and had no complaints about it. Service was just fine here and food came out reasonably fast. In case you decide to sit outside, it seems like the place is dog friendly as several customers had their dogs with them during breakfast. Overall, a good place for breakfast and one of the better options around Lake Taupo. read more

While very eclectic in choice, what we tried was excellent. The shrimp tempura were superb and the chicken on Chinese noddles hit the spot

Walked into this place to have lunch..,my fiend found it on yelp. It is nice because this restaurant has a lake view from the front windows. It is not directly on the lake but set back many yards from the lake. Quick and nice service as soon as we sit down. Very wide selection on the menu. Anything from hamburgers to seafood to salads to other various types of food. I got the seafood chowder with garlic bread and a salad. All very good. My roommate got the salmon wrap. We very much enjoyed our meal. They also have a great selection of Champagne! When it came to desserts...oh my gosh! There was a huge selection and they all looked amazing! I ended up ordering the cookies and cream cheese cake. Such a party in my mouth. My friend got the lemon meringue pie which she says was really good as well. Then we both got coffee... very nice end to the meal! read more

A really pleasant surprise! We arrived at Dixie Browns on a dark and rainy night after a long drive from Wellington and we were desperate for food. We originally pulled over for the McD's but boy were we happy to see an alternative. The atmosphere in the restaurant was cozy and warm but light. We were welcomed warmly and given a primo table by the fireplace, perhaps because we looked like drowned rats?? Service was good and prompt. Food fantastic! read more

Would just like to thank the genius who came up with Tequila Lime Chicken recipe -- A gift from God truly. My only fault is the garlic bread/pizza was suuuuper oily. Staff were friendly and helpful, food was served quickly and pricing was reasonable. Right across from the lake as well, stunning views on a good day. read more

Dixie Browns - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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A good meal that hit the spot and a great view to boot. Food was very good and the menu had variety. The chicken burger was huge and the pizza was substantial for one person. The place was busy, which possibly accounted for a little bit of a gap between drink orders, delivery and check-ups on refills, but still a friendly team of servers. The burger, pizza and sodas came to $53NZ, which is about on par for a sit down place for us so far. The pizza was the most expensive on the tab at about 22. Great place and happy to post a review for them. read more

Had the lamb liver & a lemon tart both were delicious the liver was moist and tender

From the moment we entered Dixie Browns, we were treated like royalty! As we were walking from our motel room, a couple told us that they would recommend Dixie Browns, however, it's very difficult to get a table without a reservation. When we arrived and asked for a table, the manager told us that it would be a close to a half an hour, but if we didn't mind he would find a couple of chairs for us to wait, YEAH! Really didn't want to stand around waiting for a table. We were asked what we wanted to drink and the drinks arrived w/in minutes. After getting our table next to a window looking out on Lake Taupo, our friend The Manager, made sure that we had everything and even told us a few places to visit prior to leaving Taupo. The food and service was EXCELLENT. As we were leaving I asked if there was a restaurant that served EARLY breakfasts, and was told that DIXIE BROWNS opened ready for breakfast at 0600. Guess where we had breakfast........ of course .... DIXIE BROWNS! read more

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I wanted to really like the place but it was underwhelming. The view of lake Taupo is terrific, but the food is mediocre. My order of braised beef check was stiff and dry, and its side of mashed potatoes flavorless. It was a chore only moderately improved by weak NZ beer. I should have gotten the pork hock, the photos are mesmerizing. Great on the staff for accommodating me at the bar during a busy night. In fact, they are the highlight- attentive and friendly. I'm willing to give it another shot, I'm hoping it was just a fluke. read more

Dixie Browns is located on the main road in Taupo with a great view overlooking the lake. They also have locations in Devonport and Mt. Maunganui. They open at 6am for breakfast and serve lunch and dinner as well. They have a very extensive menu and the food and the service is top notch! They also have a full bar with some exotic drinks along with all of the regular wine, beer, and cocktails. Everything is tasty including all of their wonderful desserts! They have a large assortment of pizzas with all fresh ingredients even the dough. We had a fabulous dinner and can't wait to come back for breakfast. I definitely rate this 5 stars. read more

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Great place for breakfast with views of Lake Taupo and if its a clear day, Tongariro Park. Food was great. I got the oatmeal which is something I will definitely make when I return home to the states. Boyfriend had the special: sausage, egg, bacon, hash and toast which was pretty good for the price. Service was also great. Highly recommend for breakfast. read more

Go somewhere else where they appreciate customers. Staff is incredibly rude. We asked for a table for 6. They were busy and sad we could sit outside. After checking out the table outside we realized it would be too cold for our kids to sit at. I went back inside to enquire about how long it would be for an inside table and as I was speaking to the host another party of 8 came in and asked to sit inside. He told them he could work something out for them. I asked if they would be sat before us and he said yes because he told us we could sit outside. Wtf? I was literally talking to them about sitting inside as the other party was walking in. Needless to say we left. The food might be good but the hosts are jerks. read more

Long wait as we didn't know we needed reservations. Garlic bread was actually flatbread or naan. Waited and waited for our food, then waitress said she was waiting for us to finish the garlic bread before putting in our order to the kitchen. HUH? We only ordered the garlic bread to tide us over until the food came as we were starving after a 25 minute wait. I never heard of that policy. Then we waited more than 25 minutes for our food. Large groups of people including lots of kids. Families were in town for a rugby tournament and I understand the kids were excited but they were shouting very loudly throughout our meal, one kid even standing on his chair to shout to his friends. The parents were all at another table and paid no attention. The restaurant just got louder and louder and then we left, partly because of the noise level. The grilled shrimp was difficult to eat as heads, legs and shells were still on and it was very greasy to deal with. It was not too tasty and I ate less than half of it. My husband's chicken was not very good and we left much of the food behind. No thanks! read more

Just a great lunch! Sat outside and people-watched. Delicious food. I had the cottage pie, but hubby had the lamb liver and onions. Oh I wish I'd had that! The sauce was fantastic. Service was very friendly, nice atmosphere inside and out. read more

Dixie Browns - Lamb liver and bacon/mushrooms - New Zealand Near Me - Taupo, WKO

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Great waiting staff and food was ok. Dog friendly which was great. The only thing that marred our visit was a surly gentleman who disputed our free beverage offer. Although we had been told that our wine and beer was included in the offer and there was no t&c on the card to make us believe otherwise. He would not honour our card. As a business owner I would have honoured it for the goodwill aspect,he may have lost a couple of bucks but he has earned a bad review and lost 2 customers who will never recommend this restaurant. Worth it? read more