The Deck, Penarth: Float, Float On…

It’s been a while since we have visited The Deck at Penarth Marina restaurant, so I was intrigued when I found out that the unique floating Jetty Bar had reopened, this time with a Mediterranean twist.

We’ve always had a really good experience when dining at The Deck, in its many reincarnations, this restaurant has never failed to impress.

The décor is superb, the bar impressive and the dining area beautifully decorated with sumptuous seat coverings in nautical shades.

But it was the floating Jetty Bar that I and Anne of Anne Morgan Jewellery, Penarth, were booked in for the evening and, after being greeted by one of the members of staff, she escorted me to the bar. I was a tad early, but Anne followed not long after.

Luckily for us and everyone concerned, it was a lovely summer’s evening so the vista from the Jetty Bar was calm. If you love messing about on the water and looking at boats, the Jetty Bar and The Deck will tick all your boxes.

I said hello to Claire, Business Development Manager at The Deck, and we had a quick catch up as she showed me to our table and left me with the menu. As I have dietary preferences, was chatted through the menu and she expertly suggested dishes that would suit me.

Anne arrived and we quickly got chatting about life, family, current affairs, and business. We got on like a house on fire.

Anne and I both started off the evening with a special blend gin from the Mermaid Gin team from the Isle of Wight distillery. I’m normally more of a Vodka kind a gal, but I have to say the gin was a very pleasant change and, couple with the food, views, entertainment and company, it went down very easily (we both had two each!).

Speaking of the entertainment, the singer had a great voice (if a little loud if you wanted to chat as we did) but, nevertheless, if you were there to just enjoy the entertainment, that wouldn’t have been an issue. Next time, we’ll have a pre-meet catch up coffee!

The olives came first, which were plump and juicy and then the food which was a revamped menu curated by the chefs. These were small tapas-style plates made with the best locally sourced ingredients and presented with a Mediterranean twist, created a dining experience distinct from the main restaurant.

Given my dietary preferences, I’ll let Anne speak for the food that’s normally served. I thoroughly enjoyed my two fish dishes, simply cooked in butter. Succulent and tasty. All I could ask for.

FOOD GALLERY

That was my take on the evening so now it’s over to Anne to comment on hers.

“The Jetty bar is a lovely addition to the Deck. It’s informal, and on a sunny evening like we had, it’s a great place to watch the sun go down across the marina.

“The small plates served to us included the tomato bruschetta and patatas bravas, although nice dishes they really lacked garlic in the bruschetta and spice in the patatas bravas sauce, they were a little too bland.

“The goat’s cheese and lemon curd was generous and the lemon curd was a great accompaniment to the cheese. This was my favourite tasting dish.

“The sea bream was well presented and really tasty and the mackerel pate was also lovely, although I would have preferred either toast or the focaccia rather than the French bread it was served with.

“There was music throughout our evening which although great was a little too loud for the small space. I struggled to hear our conversations at times.

“The service was great, and the Mermaid Gin was very tasty. Claire is always very welcoming and friendly, and the staff have lovely welcoming smiles .

There’s more on the menu…
Also on the menu were patatas bravas served with chive and lime yogurt, and diver caught scallop with hot honey chorizo and corn puree. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available.

The Jetty Bar
The Jetty Bar, with its panoramic views of the marina offers the perfect setting for everything from casual get-togethers to special celebrations.

You can stay over!
I know this review isn’t about the accommodation at The Deck, but if you are looking to stay over and enjoy a unique experience on the water, then take a look at the Floatels. We had the opportunity of a tour of them a while ago and were very impressed. I could imagine sitting on the verandas with a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and enjoying marina life.

Opening times
Opening hours for summer 2024 will be Friday 4 pm to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 10 pm. Booking is suggested to avoid disappointment.