Make the most of favourite spot for seafood in last bit of summer

Brett Adkins

NEWS Alert: Summer is vanishing fast and you‘ve only got a limited number of days to catch those fading sun rays.

It‘s remarkable how the first hint of winter arrives out of the blue – it happened this week when the City Slukker woke up and realised that he was actually snuggling tightly under his duvet and not at all lus to get up (something which he hadn‘t experienced since last September).

But mid-April is usually a stunning time in the Bay – after all, the Easter weekend is often around now (instead of a super-early March 21) and the Splash Festival has, in the past, enjoyed glorious weather.

What has all this got to do with slukking and munching, you may ask? And well you might. CS recently found himself basking in aforementioned fading rays out at The Island Seafood Grill and Bar off Marine Drive near Cape Recife for lunch and there can‘t be many spots where a deck is so well-positioned to give you a sense of being on a remote coastal stretch when in fact you‘re four minutes to a bustling suburban shopping complex.

Seafood lovers are obviously well catered for at this establishment with a wide variety of starters and mains – from oysters, calamari and prawns to crayfish, sole, kingklip and salmon (all prepared in enticing methods), the list is extensive.

There are also steaks, lamb dishes, poultry, pasta and salads and it takes you a good 10 minutes, at least, to whip through the menu (and that excludes the exotic desserts).

The wine list is also chock-a-block – with the price range mostly in an affordable R40 to R100 bracket.

Keeping it simple, CS opted for the linefish item “Deli” (R54) which on this day was butterfish – lightly pan-fried and served with lemon, herb or garlic butter, and chips.

The fish was a very generous portion indeed with a fresh, subtle flavour enhanced by the lemon butter, and quite firm in texture. Despite its size, CS felt as though he had enjoyed a reasonably light lunch which is always a good thing.

Service by Wendy (and others) was most attentive.

The slukker‘s 330ml Castle cost R10,50 and filled CS‘s strict chill factor requirements. A big plus point – it‘s also a long time since a barman, on noticing a glass‘s low beer level, has taken the time to come to CS‘s pub lunch table to ask if he would like another.

While there is a separate restaurant dining area, the bar section is a cosy, jovial affair with fishing nets, floats, a big TV and even a surfboard to headline the pub itself. And, of course, there are the outside decks.

Pretty much living up to its name considering its island-looking surrounds, this is a great lunch (or dinner) time venue which makes you feel like you‘ve actually been out of town for a while.