Since its opening last year, Deja View has overseen something of a renaissance of Barr’s Bay Park. Once only a spot to take your packed lunch and hope that there was a bench free, the area is now bustling with lunchtime and dinner diners.

Most of this is thanks to the enormous covered outdoor terrace that provides most of the seating for Deja View.

Unless there’s a tropical storm afoot, or you have an inherent desire to be clandestine, that’s where we would recommend you sit.

A popular lunch and after-work spot, its central location makes it ideal for a quick sit-down lunch or after-work bite for many office workers.

Looking around, you’ll see an eclectic mix of diners, from the hurried colleagues to the relaxed honeymooners enjoying the views over the harbour.

Sadly, things do not always start on the right foot here, with friendly if slightly aimless staff.

One often has to wait a few minutes before being acknowledged by the staff at the entrance and at least twice during recent visits, a dish has been forgotten, despite the order being read back to the table.

This resulted in the item being delivered long after everything else had been consumed. Fortunately, Deja View makes great leftovers.

Another sign which might initially seem foreboding: the menu is six pages long ― before you even get into the specials.

Typically, this would be a red flag for a restaurant, but Deja View largely pulls it off, offering a wide selection of Japanese and Korean inspired dishes along with options for those who haven’t yet been converted to sushi or raw fish.

Note, though, that some sandwiches are served open-faced, which might come as a surprise to the burger traditionalist.

We started with a selection of appetisers ― many are best suited to sharing between two or three people.

The Spicy Korean Fried Tofu comes out piping hot – almost liquid at its centre – and drizzled with teriyaki sauce and a mango salsa.

Even I, a tofu-sceptic, was convinced. The Zucchini Fries aren’t quite what you’d expect from the name ― a recurring theme ― but heartily breaded and fried sticks ideal for dipping into chipotle mayonnaise. Both are junky yet satisfying.

The standout item to try, even if a little out of your usual comfort zone, is the Hamachi Yuzu Tiradito.

Similar to a ceviche, this dish sees melt-your-mouth thinly sliced yellowtail (aka amberjack) in a pleasingly sharp dressing.

Served with avocado and jalapeños, it bursts with flavour, and you’ll struggle to find a more perfect bite in Bermuda.

Word to the wise: eat this fast when it comes or order the dressing on the side if taking away: the fish is so delicate that it effectively cooks if left too long.

With the same team behind it as longtime lunchtime favourites, Misaki, the sushi here is a safe bet and benefits from being freshly made to order.

This is most keenly felt with their selection of prawn tempura rolls. Served within minutes of being made, the tempura shines, crackling and warm at the centre of each bite.

Of note are the Hotate No Ebi Roll, a delightful balance of sweet and savoury, topped with finely sliced torched scallop, and the Chilli Shrimp Roll which became a firm favourite with everyone who tried it.

Topped with chopped fresh tuna, the creamy, crunchy combo is incredibly moreish and will disappear faster than you expect.

Steering away from the tempura rolls, the Lump Crab Roll is surprisingly sweet and briny.

The specials menu bears particular consideration at Deja View. Whether you’re ordering a sushi roll of the day or one of their larger bowls or plates, these boast the freshest fish and are a good indicator of what else to order.

For instance, if local tuna is on the special’s menu, then the Seared Pepper Tuna, deliciously tender with just a little heat, is not to be missed.

During our lunch, one special roll was made with local red hind, salmon, avocado, cucumber and spicy teriyaki ― a satisfyingly crunchy, colourful bite which sang.

On the drinks front, this is a great place to enjoy a cold one from a short but serviceable beer list. Unfortunately, the uninspired cocktail menu slightly lets things down, including the unfavourably named ‘SpongeBob’.

The Cucumber Mint Saketini is promising but would be better served on the rocks so its cooling flavour could be lingered over in the late summer heat

All in all, Deja View serves as a great spot for a midday lunch with friends or co-workers or for a light dinner.

With its fresh local fish and views over the water, it has enough to satisfy sushi afficionados and fussy eaters alike. Psst, if pushed for time, call ahead to order takeout.