Cooler, cleaner, better and bigger.

That was largely the unanimous verdict of all first-day patrons of The Deck interviewed by The Observer.

After undergoing a 10-month renovation period, the canteen located at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences reopened on Aug. 13, coinciding with the start of the new academic year.  

“I waited 10 months for my mango milkshake, so it feels good to be back,” said Rita Thia, a fourth-year geography major, who was lunching at The Deck with her friends.

Vivien Loon, a laboratory officer at the Faculty of Science, was one of the patrons who liked The Deck’s new design.

“It is more spacious, definitely cleaner and better ventilated,” she said.

The “new” Deck is now a circular three-tiered complex with an air-conditioned third floor that houses three new additions – fast-food joint Burger King, Thai restaurant Lerk Thai and Olio café.

“I thought it wouldn’t be opened on time,” said Shawn Woo, a fourth-year political science major, who added the presence of Burger King was a “pleasant” surprise.

A quick check of the listed prices of the canteen stalls in the two non air-conditioned tiers revealed no apparent increase in food prices. A cup of home-made iced lemon tea from the drinks stall still cost 50 cents, an eight-piece yong tau hu dish remained at $1.80 and a teriyaki set meal still cost $4.

However, some patrons were disappointed with the non-return of some stalls, such as Olive Cove, which served ready-to-go sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes and crackers.

“I miss Olive Cove. It’s a very good takeaway for classes…and now it’s gone,” said Neo Li Fang, a fourth-year psychology major.

According to its website, the Office of Estate and Development said only 13 of the former17 vendors could be accommodated at the new canteen. The reduction in vendor space is due to a 300-increase in the seating capacity at the popular canteen.

Olive Cove, along with the Muslim noodles stall, the fried kway-teow stall and the chicken rice stall were the four vendors not allocated a space at the new canteen.

However, Olive Cove still operates a café at Block E2A at the Faculty of Engineering. The Muslim noodles stall has been relocated to The Frontier, a canteen at the Faculty of Science, since Dec. 21 last year.

The Deck was closed on Nov. 18 last year for an extensive facelift that involved the demolishing of the old complex, which has previously undergone two major extensions in the last 25 years.

According to the Office of Estate and Development website, massive renovations were required this time round to meet new National Environment Agency guidelines on food outlets.