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.