One of the joys of Overstrand in the Western Cape is Harbour Road in Kleinmond.
Kleinmond is a tiny town which supplies the surrounding hamlets with groceries, entertainment, and restaurants. Harbour Road is a tourist trap, no lies, but it is a wonderful jaunt on a summery day.
The Shellfish Bar is right down the end of the road, with succulent oysters and a succinct menu. The views aren’t half-bad either.
I had grown tired of their excellent hake/calamari and chips, and the sushi is pricey (even by Jozi standards), so I took a chance on their boullabaise starter, and ordered a bread platter for the table from the neighbouring Stoep Cafè. Obviously, we shared the bread - we're not shellfish! *baddumtish*
The bread was great, but considering that we were urged to buy it for dipping purposes (essentially, bread’s only purpose), I felt like the accompaniments were wasted. The patè and feta were delicious, but the olives were awful. They should offer a straight-up bread platter for dunking in soups and mussel pots - the cheese roll went really well with the tomatoey boullabaise!
The boullabaise itself was exquisite. Rich, fresh, filled with fish, and with a pleasant spicy zing at the end. Definitely recommended, as are the mussel pots.
I can’t wait for my next visit.