John Dorys - Beachfront

Hallo again, John Dorys for lunch. After hinting to go there for more than 2 weeks we eventually got there. Dissapointing! Grinch had catch of the day which was Dorado. To us catch of the day means fresh fish bought in on the day from the harbour, well this appeared to have been frozen. The flesh of the fish itself was dry and a bit hard(like old fish is) It came to the table swimming in lemon butter probably a tactic to make us think it was succulent. The chips were good. I went for the Prawn and Avo salad as the picture looked good, making my mouth water. What a waste of money. The avo was green as in not ready to eat, so green it could not be cut with a kinife and the bowl was so full of lettuce, which is unfortunately the case when one has salad out. The 6 prawns that come with it were good and there certaily was tomato, cucumber and onion with the odd bit or red pepper. If the Avo was ripe and if there was a little less lettuce it would have been good to go. We shared a Mozart dessert which is hazelnut chocholate something or other on what we were told is meranguie ( served with cream or ice cream ). The meranguie appeared to be more of a soft biscuity type thing BUT this pud was delicious, not too sweet and something different, however the portion size for the price was a bit on the lean side, definately meant for one person. To be perfectly honest we've eaten better. The service was attentive but we did request an ashtray from two different waitrons and never ever recieved one, so Grinch flicked the cigerette butts about the place ( LOL ). We hope whoever cleans up puts in a suggestion for the restaurant to spend a bit of cash on ashtray's. The chicken carpetbagger called both our names so in a while we'll go back to suss it out...don't hold your breathe though...

Guido's Walmer

My oh My, I think this place is one of PE's best kept secrets. The roadworks certainly do not help attract patrons. After seeing an amusing write up on their sign board about the roadworks killing them and that you must pop in before their funeral, I decided that our good deed for the month would be supporting this spot. So Grinch and I went for a light bite on sat afternoon. In all honesty, this place is underrated. I had the most delicious, melt in the mouth, crumbed calamari. It gives Rome a run for its money especially as it is a lot cheaper than Rome. The chips were good, now that's a rare compliment from me. Perfect chips. Grinch went for the Spaghetti Bolonaise.He did comment that for once there was plenty of mince, more than the spaghetti but was lacking in juicy sauce, good value for money, he said he would have it again.The alcohol is reasonably priced as well. While chatting we noticed that there are a good deal of evening specials offered at less than daytime prices so we will be back soon to partake in these value for money meals. The service is in need of help, you seem to be forgotten after you've placed your initial order and we had to look for our waitron to place additional drink orders, no offer of desert or coffee and our ashtray was also not cleaned until we requested it, we also had to wait for the bill. A pity really. With a little attention to detail on the service front this place would be a hit as its easy on the pocket and a tasty treat to the tummy. I sincerly hope that they manage to hang in there and are able to make full recovery after the roadworks are completed.

Pescadiya

Hallo again, At long last, computer been down due to virus...Went for a delicious chow at Pescadiya in Stanley Street on Friday night. It's our second visit to this spot and it definately does not dissapoint. Take your own bottle as they are not licensed and believe it or not this adds to the magic of the night with a vibey humm from all the tables, you'r never without a beverage and there's no rush to leave. On both occassions I've partaken of their fish. The first visit I had Kingklip which was not on the the menu but offered as an inticement. I fell right into the SQ trap and enjoyed every delicious mouthful. This time round I went for yellowtail. Woweee...taste of the sea freshness, licking lips need some more of that soon kinda stuff. The mash that was served with the fish is magnificent. Veg were a meddley of stirfried ala dante corn, red and green peppers,onion,carrot etc. Full marks for serving up a novel veg dish. The Grinch went for hake on his first visit which was recommended and he is still raving about it . This time round he went for a fillet which they cut right there in front of you. He was not asked how he would like his steak done so it arrived a bit underdone for his taste and needed to go back for an extra grill. On both visits we were delighted by the freshness of the fish. You really can taste the goodness of the sea. The fish is moist and worth every bit of time you wait (and belive me you do wait). Waiting is good though - you get to enjoy that extra glass of vino... The service can be jacked up just a scratch, for instance no desert offered on the 2nd visit and on the first visit they had run out of desert when we enquired after it. No one came to check up that food was ok, or offer coffe etc. All that being said, this is a wonderful place to pack your booze, grab a friend and visit for the night. Highly recommended!!!


Back to Pescadiya on 27/2/2010 with Grinche's folks and a lovely niece. Personaly I think we went back to soon and have overdone the place, but parent-in laws and Grinch were determined that this was to be the place of a great feast. I was left dissapointed and ready to remove 3 stars from their excellent ratings. Grinch was debating on their behalf to keep the stars he is sooo taken by the spot, so what went wrong with this visit. Lets see...firstly we booked for 5 and all they did was stick an extra chair at the table, no extra cultery, the chairs were also not moved around to accomodate the 5th it was just stuck on as an extra leg - not very welcoming or comfortable until we rearranged things. We had hardly sat down when the waitron come to tell us what was available for starters and waited eagerly for the orders. Grinch asked if we could please have ice buckets and glasses for the vino first and to give us a few minuets....At first none of us were having a starter but minds were changed when our step-fater-in-law wanted to try the prawns. We called the waiter over and ordered 2 prawns each (you pay per prawn) and a side order of veg for my grinch's mom who dosen't do prawns. As the waiter was about to leave it was decided to give him the order for mains similtaneously as the kitchen was very busy. We were told that the starters would come out on one plate not as seperate dishes, we were happy with this idea. After a long wait..Long enough to be on the 2nd bottle of wine and to have sent Grinch to the bottlestore to purchase a 3rd we received our prawns and veg on one main plate for the table together with our main meals. One main meal did not arrrive for another 5min. Now thats not service. We would never have ordered the starter if we knew that it would arrive at the same as the main course. Luckily it gave the person without grub something to munch on so we could all start eating without feeling bad. The prawn were delicious and worth every cent. The mains were not so wonderful. I had Cape Salmon(Geelbek). This was dry, no smack of the sea, no reason to order same again. My niece and my father-in-law who had to wait extra long for his dish both had the cob. My nieces portion was dry, no smack of the sea however, Grinch's pa's portion was tender, succulent and full of the taste of the sea. He was extatic and enuthused about the dish being a great cook himself it says a lot when he goes on about a plate of nosh. Grinch went for Hake, he swears by it saying it was very,very nice.( I think he's being loyal) None of us recall what mom-in-law had, she never commented and she never enthused, and we've all but fogotten.(guess that says enough). Yet again there were no offers of coffee nor deserts - what a pity they lost our on a sale again....

This spot has become popular - best to book if you want a chair. It is a good night out made even better with great company. I do fear however, that it will become a place that once deserved its good name but now lives on the reputation which has no substance to it.

Munkee Bizniz

HI there, Munkee Bizniz is a new spot on the Marine Drive opposite the Willows Resort. This is a RUSTIC spot. Not for the faint hearted. The decor is refreshingly hippie-like, you are transported to a different world with absolutely no frills. The owners are hands on and very welcoming and friendly and by the time you leave you feel as if you've been friends forever. Definately a go back to place unless you'r into manicures and facials, then this spot is not for you. If you'r into backpacking, lazing in the sun and believe its ok to have cellutlite, then this is THE place. Grub is cheap, a boerewors roll is just a boerie in a roll - no frills. You can buy a braai pack from them and have a do it yourself braai as they have a permanent fire going, they feed you coals to the area that you are sitting at. The Grinch and I will go back to sample the fare but I unfortunately got turned off when I ordered a cuppa coffee and the milk was off. Sour milk served to me in a jug, all very different but left the tummy churning. Will post an update as soon as I've plucked up the courage to try the fodder. It's a wonderful place for bare feet and drinking in the sun....

28 March 2010 .... finally plucked up courage for a meal. Today the normal menu was not available, things have changed a bit since we were last there. Oxtail potjie was the fare of the day,priced a bit high for that kinda joint but well worth it. The Grinch and I shared a large plate with pot bread as an added extra . Both are must haves. The potjie was done to perfection and the meat was tender, succulent and you really do get meat on your plate. The veg and gravy of the pot was also devine. The pot bread was soft, better than I have had at my own table. Definately value for money. Service has improved from its lazy hippie style to having the odd person check up on you and deliver drinks to your table. Not quite waiters as they tend the bar, fire and cook grub,it is all hands on deck in this joint, so put on your shorts, kick off the shoes and join me at this possie at your soonest. May it live long in PE and may many more would be hippies open up a shack and give those franchises that are cropping up all over a run for their money.

Bonemia

If you live outside of Sherwood, don't waste your petrol. The place closes on a Friday night at 9. At 9! whose ready to go home at 9? No offer of coffee, no offer of desert. Luckily we were not frog marched out. We consider ourselves fortunate in that we were allowed the luxioury of enjoy the sips of our last beverage. The food is, in my own opinion #@#*%. The Grinch, who always looks for the good in something said it was't the best and that he personally would not be in a hurry to go back. We shared a camembert with rasperry, or was it younberry, syrup starter. This is in fact the worst cambert starter I have had anywhere. The camembert was done perfectly. The raperry sauce is in my humble opinion ..jam heated up to make it runny. Too sweet and not complimentry to the dish. I couldn't make out what it was served with, was it a salty crumpet or was it oily bread....??? Cannot remember what the menu said. Still, being hungry we both gobbled our halves up. For mains, I had the Pork in Litchie and Fig sauce. It sounded exotic. Different. And it was. The pork was tough. The litchie and fig source far, far too sweet. The meal came with rice, no veg, no salad. Belive me you need veg or salad to break the sweetness. I couln't finish it. That after dieting (living on soup for a week) should tell you how "good" it was. The Grinch went for Phyllo Lamb. That came with potato wedges and a green salad. The salad is served seperatly. It consisted of a pile of various leaves, two annerexic carrot twigs another two paper thin halves of cucmber and a wedge of tomato. Now that I wouldn't serve to a dog. According to the Grinch the lamb Phyllo was good but he had had better at the old Zorbas. The service was excellent. If anyone is head hunting waitrons go there. They are top class. You can have a meal here for between R45 to R100 so this place will fit anyones pocket, however my own meal was not worth the R82.00 it cost. So go with care. I doubt I'll be back, not for a good long time any way...