Before my midday flight back to Wellington, I met up with a friend for brunch. We decided to try Drexel’s in Riccarton—a well-known institution in Christchurch. My friend hadn’t been in decades, and I had only visited the long-gone Wellington branch over ten years ago, so it felt like a fresh experience for both of us.

Drexel’s is styled like a classic American diner, complete with cozy booths and plenty of staff. The decor has a modern touch, and the place was clearly popular with locals—there was a short wait to be seated. We waited about 15 minutes, and once we were seated, someone came by within five minutes to take our orders.

I went for the Drexel’s Special: two eggs any style, a hash brown, a choice of bacon, ham, sausage, or corned beef hash, plus either two pancakes, one piece of French toast, or half a waffle. I chose poached eggs, corned beef hash, and pancakes, along with a glass of orange juice.

The orange juice came out in a generous glass, and alongside it was a surprise basket of sliced toast—definitely a treat. I couldn’t resist trying a slice with the whipped butter and fruit jam that came with it.

When the main meal arrived, it came on two plates—one just for the pancakes. I was impressed by the generous portion of corned beef hash, which turned out to be delicious. It had a great char on it, and I loved the mix of onion and cabbage it was cooked with. The house-made hash brown were crisp and flavorful, and the poached eggs were perfectly cooked. The pancakes were also a standout—thick, fluffy, and indulgent with whipped butter and a drizzle of classic diner-style syrup.

In the end, I couldn’t quite finish everything. The serving size was very generous, and while everything was delicious, the pancakes and hash brown were the real highlights for me. It’s easy to see why Drexel’s remains so popular—it’s not just the hearty food, but the friendly and efficient service that makes it memorable.

Website: Drexel’s Breakfast Restaurant

Address: Rotherham Street, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041