Well since moving to the area I’ve certainly changed my opinion on The Deck! Admittedly it’s been nearly five years between visits (and it’s clearly withstood the test of time in a competitive hospitality market that has endured multiple years of Melbourne lockdown). I had my baby shower in the Ivy function room and was thrilled with the accomodating service.

Staff were flexible in allowing me to shuffle numbers all the way until the day before the event and reallocate funds into the drinks tab as I lost attendees due to illness. They even decorated the tables which I hadn’t expected (as we arrived toting our own flowers!) and thoughtfully saved me some cake for a takeaway box.

They almost forget the fruit platters I had ordered but when reminded they came out relatively swiftly. Food wise I thoroughly enjoyed the ricotta lamb shoulder gnocchi and would definitely order that should I return the restaurant. Definitely recommend the venue in terms of a function space other than a few minor things, firstly the lighting isn’t amazing for photos given there are no windows and secondly I would have expected that when we chose five entree items those with dietary requirements would have been given alternates for the ones they couldn’t eat. Other than that a really perfect event

Original cafe A filler cafe in my opinion. Food meh, interior meh, service meh nothing that would draw me back especially given the half an hour drive. The lack of wow factor may be more palatable to locals but I just found it lacking in flavour overall.

I enjoyed the refresher juice with yummy watermelon and pineapple and I do appreciate the availability of healthy choices on the menu (clearly catering to the Brighton set) but at $8.50 for the juice and $25 for a paleo breakfast you'd be paying $67 for breakfast for two and that's without a coffee. Maybe that's acceptable bayside but it's not to the rest of the Melbourne population