Our Deck Down Under

Our Deck Down Under earns its name honestly. The restaurant sits literally beneath the Dunlawton Avenue bridge in Port Orange, where the Intracoastal Waterway opens up and the shade of the bridge overhead keeps the outdoor deck comfortable even on hot Florida afternoons. It is one of the more unusual dining settings in the area, a low key waterfront tavern built around the idea that good seafood does not need a fancy dining room, just a cold drink, a breeze off the water, and a view worth sticking around for.

The menu covers familiar Florida coastal ground: peel and eat shrimp, fried grouper, oysters, baby back ribs, burgers, and a rotating list of house specialties built around whatever is fresh. Portions are described by regulars as generous rather than dainty, and the kitchen keeps things simple, favoring straightforward preparations over elaborate plating. This is food meant to be eaten with your fingers while watching manatees or dolphins move through the water just a few feet from the deck rail.

There is no dress code, and the atmosphere reflects that. Boaters tie up at the dock and walk straight in from the water, cyclists and walkers off the nearby riverfront trail stop for a drink, and locals treat it as a regular after work hangout. The bar does steady business on its own, pouring a solid rotation of beer and frozen drinks that pair well with the humid Florida evenings. Live music is a regular feature on the deck, and the schedule tends to fill up on weekends when the crowd spills from the tables to the rail along the water.

What makes the location special is the unobstructed view of the Intracoastal right at the base of the bridge, a vantage point most restaurants in the area cannot match. Sunset here draws a crowd, with the sky over the water turning orange and pink as the bridge traffic rumbles quietly overhead. It is a spot built for lingering rather than rushing through a meal, and the staff generally let tables sit as long as they like once the food is cleared.

Our Deck Down Under has built its reputation over many years as an independent, locally run waterfront bar and grill, distinct from the more polished chain restaurants along Dunlawton Avenue closer to the mainland side of Port Orange. For visitors looking for a genuinely local hangout with water access and a laid back attitude, this bridge side deck remains one of the most distinctive dining spots the city has to offer. Parking can be tight on busy weekend nights, so arriving early for a table with the best water view is worth the effort.