Big Lizard

A compact and colourful takeaway shop that is dedicated to sandwiches and pastries – I ask you, what more could you want for? Popping out from Dunedin's Vogel Street with a fluorescent lime-green entranceway reminiscent of its reptilian moniker, Big Lizard is the epitome of carb heaven.

Now, without being overly dramatic, when Side On announced its closure at the end of 2023 due to a mandatory infrastructure upgrade, Dunedin locals were grief-stricken. However, their days of mourning quickly came to an end when owners Renee Hope and Alan Baxter, together with business partner Charlotte Harraway, announced the arrival of Big Lizard – and it’s become an instant icon in the city. Inside, the fitout is clean and simple, with the exception of a green-toned checkerboard floor that may induce a quick boogie. As a new day dawns, sunlight floods the space and causes each layer of laminated pastry to glisten in the cabinet. A romantic sight, indeed.

Big Lizard is a simplified version of its predecessor, sharing a similar food concept albeit with a takeaway-only menu. From 8am-10am (or sold out), the team roll out a breakfast line-up of croissants, seasonal fruit tarts and basque cheesecake, potato and rosemary focaccia, potato rolls filled with a legendary hashbrown, egg and cheese combo, and much more to be desired. The brews are great too – the only place in Dunedin to use Grey Roasting Co – so remember to BYO reusable cup.

From 10am it’s all about heavenly ingredients layered between two slices of delicious bread baked onsite – be it focaccia, baguette or sourdough. Fillings are fun but never overcomplicated, with timeless classics like ham, butter, pickles and mustard, next to the more adventurous cauliflower pakora with a coconut raita, cucumber and masala crisps. And while this is an environment governed by gluten, Big Lizard understands that not all stomachs are made equal and offers the option to swap focaccia for herbed brown rice on a couple of the sandwiches.

Lunchtime is unsurprisingly busy, so if you don’t have time to wait in line, there’s the option to order online and zip to the front of the queue, quicker than a lizard catching a fly.