Had a lovely late lunch at Upper Deck, sat outside and enjoyed the view. Our food was simple and tasty, my partner enjoyed to steak sandwich and said it had a lot of flavor. I enjoyed my pawn salad – the pawns were cold and fresh (not fried as many places do) and the mango was fresh and oh so yummy, It was just the light meal I’d wanted on a hot day at the beach.

We visited this restaurant in February this year and was not impressed at all by the food or the service and unfortunately the balcony with it’s glass surround. Okay the glass is great for a continuous view but unfortunately while we were there seagulls flew into the area and one could not get out. We had really only just arrived and it distressed me greatly to see a creature in distress itself while we were eating. Yes the bird is wild but they made no attempt to help it even after I pleaded with them to at least try and help it. They could have put some food on a table so it jumped up there and then it would have been able to fly out from there. The food also was not nice with the fish I ordered tasting completely unfresh and very pappy in texture. Will not return there at all.

My Hubby and I went for brekkie this morning and really enjoyed it. The plates had been heated which we like and the brekkie was hot the way we like it as some places up here the breakfast is just warm and the plates are cold so well done to the staff. Will go back there again and will tell people about it.

Stopped here for lunch yesterday. Friendly staff and very helpful.
My partner had a lamb and kumera pie which hes been boasting about since, he said it was cooked to perfection.
I had a toasted sandwich with chicken bacon and advocado, only thing that would have made it real good is a bit of chutney etc in the sandwich.
Overall its in an excellent location so for a nice scenery whilst enjoying a meal – highly recommended

What a brilliant evening!!!!

we were a party of four meeting at 7pm. when i arrived our friend had already been seated at our table out on the idyllic balcony with a glass wine while she waited. the waitress showed us to the table and offered us drinks. we mentioned our friend was running a little late her reply ” no problem why don’t you ladies nibble on some garlic bread whilst you wait.” brilliant idea.

Bread and dips and a cajun calamari to share between us for entree. What a change to have homemade dips.
For Main
cajun chicken salad
steak chips and salad med-rare
calamari fettucini
cajun calamari- was so impressed with our entrée we got it as a main.
we couldn’t fault any of our meals it was all beautiful.

waitresses were bubbly and attentive. Even with a seagull pooping on our table the ladies were quick to clean it up, put the umbrella up for us, and replaced the drinks.

We were so impressed with our evening we came in for morning tea to find HOMEMADE cakes, scones and muffins. Best carrot cake i’ve had in years. ( Day staff just as pleasant)

We’ll be back!!!!!!!

What a disappointing dining experience from a restaurant with such a great location – that is the only star I can give, for location. We had a similar experience to previous negative reviewers. Veges and pilaf rice were bland & overcooked with no seasoning or flavour. Husband says his steak full of gristle. Going from previous reviews they really need to get a new butcher! Meals arrived cold as this place has the unusual gimmick of serving all meals in cheap aluminium pans which don’t appear to have been heated prior to serving. Aluminium leeches which is a bit of a concern too. This is by no means a cheap restaurant and as this was to have been our only special meal out while on holiday, it was quite upsetting for us and our children that it was so awful. This was the only negative experience of our 3 night stay in Paihia and we learnt a very expensive lesson about dining out – don’t judge a restaurant by it’s location!

What an enjoyable night we had. I had told the waitering staff about a seafood meal I enjoyed in South Africa many years ago. I imagined I would never enjoy a meal like that again. The seafood platter we had at the Upper Deck the other night, did more that match it. It was outstanding!!

I have to say we did not enjoy going to this restaurant at all. The food was less than average and the atmosphere uncomfortable. The steak was tough, not cooked as ordered (on even the second attempt), the vegetables bland and beyond their best. I would also say that the food was over priced based upon what we received. The only saving grace for our visit were the pleasant waiting staff. I would give this restaurant a miss if I were you!

A very nice restaurant relaunched recently. Although the hosts had to re shuffle all the tables from their idyllic outside location into the confines of the inside restaurant due to bad weather. I have nothing but good comments for our experience.
The waiter was great very accommodating and help full not treating us as bearers of vouchers any worse than a top customer.
I would have loved to have tried one of their seafood chowders as they looked great value on a neighbouring table.
My daughter loved her calamari fettuccine and the Scotch fillet surf and turfs could not have been better. Top quality Scotch like I like to BBQ up myself.
Their seasonal cooked vegetables were also very tasty without any sauces that would normally hide any blandness. Very bold.
Additional sumptuous deserts would have encouraged us to stay longer. Say a sticky date or bread and butter pudding.

I looked forward to ending our visit to the Bay of Island with a visit to the Upper Deck. What we got was one of the most unpleasant dining experiences I have ever had. We had not heard anything about the restaurant but entering, thought the place looked modern and clean. We arrived at 5.20 and were told in no uncertain terms by the Chef that he “does not cook until 6″, so waited quite happily with a beer.

I believe the chef assumed that because the restaurant was nearly empty that we nor the other two guests could hear him as he belittled his staff member stating, “oh you obviously don’t understand” as her first language was not English (although it was obvious she spoke the language beautifully and was very polite and added some warmth to the place). You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

This was followed by his announcement that the ‘fish of the day’ was off. “tell the customer that we have had trouble with the suppliers, or else tell them the truth, that the chef can’t be bothered to cook it!” again bellowed at the staff from the kitchen. At this point my husband and I looked at each other awkwardly as we wondered up to the bar to ask if we could order (time; 5.58pm). The poor girl who had been reprimanded earlier enquired in the kitchen to be told “they can order but I’m not ready yet so they will just have to wait”. At which point I said “Well can we order now, we don’t mind waiting but at least we have put the order through”. I ordered the Scotch fillet (medium rare) $32 and my husband ordered the Fish Platter $32.

Some time later our food came out. My husband had no complaints (as in his words he was “starving and could eat anything”). I have to say I was very disappointed. I enquired to one of the staff whether the steak was fillet. I had received a very well done steak which was full of gristle. She didn’t know so went to ask the chef who bellowed from the kitchen, assuming we werMoree tourists “the English always think Scotch fillet is meant to be fillet!” At this point a red faced, angry man launched out of the kitchen and now aimed his tirade at us.

I now understand in no uncertain terms that it is not the same. I was reminded of an angry school dinner lady. I got the impression that I should keep any questions to myself, shut up and eat it. At his point I asked if he had cooked it medium-rare as although I had managed to cut it open, there was no pink in what meat there was and it was as tough as an old dog chew. Cold, anaemic chips and vegetables long past their sell by date. At this point he agreed to cook another steak, grabbed my pan and stomped back into the kitchen. At this point he announced at the top of his lungs “this is not well done, she doesn’t know what she is talking about.”

By this time our dining experience had lost a little of the relaxed ambiance that we were hoping for before retuning to Whangarei. My husband, having finished the edible parts of his meal sat and waited for me. We looked at each other. It started to rain outside. When the steak came back it was worse. If possible, even more cooked than the last and even more gristle. Inedible. I left the food complete. We thanked the waiting staff (who were really very nice), settled up and left. Safe to say we will not be back, I left hungry and I would not recommend this place to anybody!