“I WAKE up wanting to kiss you.” This positive, inviting phrase, representing a great start to a great day, appears in white neon lights at the new and improved Double Shot café, Deakin Court.

Double Shot has been given a double shot at life with new owners Omar Muscat and Michael Nager.

The original cafe was sold many moons ago and the place became The Deakin which, sadly, didn’t make the grade. When they took over, Omar and Michael decided to once again use Double Shot.

“It was always strongly associated with Deakin,” says Omar. “We loved the name, loved the vibe and wanted to bring it back.”

The outside area has been extended and made over. Kumquat trees, fresh herbs, rosemary and lavender now stimulate the senses. The feature wall in the main eating area inside was created with stacks of sawn-off wooden logs (glad I don’t have to dust them) and the second eating area, in the courtyard, features twisted ropes, hanging plants and a new mural.

At lunch, soup with sourdough is $12 and bruschetta with prosciutto $17. Salads are $14 without protein and $23 with. You choose from five salads and six proteins, which makes for 30 combinations. Proteins include grilled barramundi, chicken breast, lamb loin, Teriyaki Angus beef, crispy calamari and King salmon gravlax.

I accepted the recommendation to go for barramundi, perched on top of a shredded green papaya salad with a heap of crunchy snake beans and peanuts, fragrant basil, and cucumber dressed in nam jim sauce. The barramundi was cooked “just so”, the salad healthy and the sauce dressed matters up nicely. Next time I’ll try the Kale salad – very much “on trend” – with toasted almonds, veggies, goji berries and chard with a pomegranate molasses dressing.

Pasta starts at $22 for homemade beef lasagne, made by Omar’s mum Maggie ($22), and tops off at $29 for seafood linguine. The Italian I dined with said the lasagne was “soft, buttery and authentic”. Also available is a steak sandwich ($20) and three types of burgers, including a black Angus beef and a Portobello mushroom (around $20).

I could not refuse the opera cake, made by pastry chef Tony Muscat. The slice looks decadent, but is actually light and delicate – almond sponge, coffee liqueur, chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream, all coated with a chocolate glaze and garnished with gold leaf. If you need (or, rather, want) something small, the macaroons are chewy, gooey and yummy.

Double Shot will serve dinner in the first quarter of 2014. It’s byo, with a liquor licence on its way. Shop 7, Deakin Court. Call 6162 2027.

Top image: Double Shot’s Kale salad with barramundi.