Prawn pasta positivity at Sonny and Irene

 15 January 2024

 

SONNY AND IRENE

Station House, 19 Kloof Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

 

We took the in-laws to Sonny and Irene for lunch because the wife craved a repeat of a mind-blowingly good prawn pasta she’d had here late last year and wanted to introduce her mother to it. My previous visit had been for breakfast and I was keen on trying something else on the extensive, quite enticing,  menu.

 

The wife was filled with trepidation that the pasta dish she’d hyped up with such unqualified adoration wouldn’t cut the mustard second time around and that her mother would be sorely disappointed. We don’t want to disappoint our parents, do we?

 

Long story short: the prawn pasta was every bit as supremely delicious as the first time. Perfectly cooked pasta,  sweet, plump prawns and palate pleasing sauces.

The mother-in-law raved about her creamy version of the prawn pasta dish. The wife had fallen in lust with the simpler version with tomato and basil and again almost cried when she had her first mouthful. Her enthralled mother ate at such a slow, deliberate, luxuriating pace to make the most of the luscious dish, I feared we’d be there until midnight. 

 

I had a forkful of each pasta dish and though I preferred the light, zestier tomato based one, I must admit that the depth of flavour of the creamy version was huge.

 

The father-in-law had the hake and chips and was equally impressed with a substantial chunk of crisp-crumbed, well-cooked fish and excellent fries.

 

Ever the contrarian, I ordered the chargrilled cauliflower and goat’s cheese, for which I was mocked, but, if there wasn’t any sign of chargrilling,  it was well cooked, still with a bit of crunch and lovely flavour.

I did feel so much healthier afterwards, that I went for the banana split dessert, something I hadn’t eaten since Rick Astley was a contemporary hit artist. 

 

This version of the dish was a completely reimagined  version of a rather prosaic sweet item, with gloriously caramelised banana and a lovely banana flavoured ice cream, smooth caramel sauce and bits of chocolate brownie for texture. 

 

The in-laws shared a crème brûlée, served as an odd, flattened dish that looked dubious at first but was apparently really good as well.

 

The wife’s parents have high standards when it comes to food, not only because their palates have been honed by the best restaurants but because her father cooks so well, it’s often better than anything any restaurant chef can dish up. It’s not easy to impress them, and they were thoroughly impressed. 

 

The bill (including a bottle of bubbly, a bottle of water and coffees) came to R1830,00 including tip.

 

We like the bright, smart casual, upmarket look of Sonny and Irene, the service is friendly and efficient, the coffee is good and overall, one has a sense of value for money experience even if it’s hardly a budget-friendly eatery. We don’t paying a premium if we leave satisfied and happy.