The grand old character building housing Dejeuner restaurant was originally built by and belonged to one of the founding fathers of the city, a distinguished doctor by trade. The doctor's surgery once at the front of the residence now functions as the dining room of the restaurant.

In 1984, Dejeuner was opened by its current owner as a lunchtime café. It is located on a site which was once occupied by Patrick's, one of Palmerston North's very few top restaurants of its time. After Patrick's relocated, Matthew McAlpine, who was working as maitre'd at the time, took over the lease. And Dejeuner was born.

Despite its name meaning "lunch" in French, Dejeuner had, within two years of opening, foregone the lunchtime café trade and become an exclusively evening restaurant.

These days, Dejeuner is open five nights Tuesday to Saturday and by private arrangement for breakfast and lunch. The venue can also be reserved for special occassions, seminars, or catered workshops. Perhaps of note is the fact that for over two decades, this multi-award-winning restaurant remains the longest-running "same owner operated" restaurant in the Manawatu.