Full of bustle, the seasonal Oppikaai restaurant prides itself on serving “seafood with a story, not a qualification”. As owners Charl and Melody van Rensburg explain, “Here, you’re taking a trip into our Weskus culture, eating freshly-made meals straight from our grandmothers’ kitchens.”
Their tuna salad laughs in the face of other tuna salads. Not a shred of canned tuna in sight here. Instead, pan-seared tuna cuts surf a wave of cucumber noodles and avocado slices spiked with kewpi sauce. Each satisfying mouthful has just the right combo of fish, acidity, crunch and spice.
Behold: a soothing bowl of red Thai seafood curry bobbing with crayfish, calamari, SUV-sized mussels and prawn meat. Then there’s a full frontal assault by the perfectly grilled West Coast crayfish brushed with garlic butter and a savoury rice escort.
You can also make friends with a seafood basket, Valoute mussels, grilled prawns, hake and a truly creamy seafood pasta. End sweetly with a euphoric Turkish Delight milkshake.
Set smack-bang on St Helena Bay harbour, Oppikaai – which means ‘quayside’ by the way – isn’t licenced. So, BOB. With all manner of stupendous sea views accompanying the food, having a great time is a given. It also helps that you’re served by staff who actually care.
But hang on. Fun awaits for afters. Hire a trike for R100 and cruise the harbour for an hour. Talk of good times!
Re-opening 1 September: Fri & Sat 11 – 9 & Sun 11 – 6. Phone 081 0499538.
