Struisbaai Sea Shack in Struisbaai, Western Cape (original) (raw)

There are few places as romantically enticing as the western coastline of South Africa. Charming little fishing villages lie sleepily on white sands, while some of the best seafood in the world is brought in on rustic fishing vessels by the locals.

This is the lifestyle that is celebrated at the Sea Shack Restaurant in Struisbaai. Set right on the sandy shores of Main Beach, diners are invited to relax, toes in the sand, and savour delectable seafood, excellent South African wines, and cheeky cocktails while giving yourself over to the surrounding beauty.

There is an a-la-carte menu that showcases local fare to perfection, as well as an eight-course buffet (bookings essential, this buffet will only be done when there are at least 30 diners booked). The menu includes hake, line fish, calamari, mussels, prawns and pork ribs. There is also a kiddies� menu for children with smaller appetites. They can choose between hake, calamari or pork ribs, all served with chips.

The famous three-hour buffet is a real treat. The courses are:
� Freshly baked breads and vetkoek (a rich deep-friend dough)
� Jams, snoek pat� and curried fish (best enjoyed on the vetkoek)
� Calamari
� Mussel pot
� Smoked and braaied (barbecued) fish
� Soet patats (sweet potatoes, similar to yams) and green salad
� Lamb potjie (South African stew) and rice
� Coffee and koeksisters (deep-fried plaited dough drenched in syrup)

This restaurant can accommodate up to 350 diners and is also a popular venue for special celebrations. Because of the outdoor conditions, the Sea Shack will only be open when the weather permits. Fortunately, along this stretch of the coast, that is almost all year round.

Struisbaai is part of the Overberg region, about 200 kilometres from Cape Town and four kilometres from the southernmost tip of the African continent, Cape Agulhas. Struisbaai is an excellent destination for fishing and is home to a quaint working harbour.