Dutton's Cove Restaurant, Herold's Bay

 4 May 2024

 

DUTTON’S COVE RESTAURANT

Herold’s Bay, Southern Cape

 

Once again the truism, don’t order sushi at a steakhouse,  came back to smack me in the schnozz because I didn’t want anything from the grill and allowed my optimism to overrule my cynicism.  

 

I know, right; who am I even?

 

To put it bluntly, the “Hokkaido” sushi platter (R125 for 10 pieces) at Dutton’s Cove didn’t blow me away, I didn’t go “Wow!” and my expectations weren’t exceeded.

The wife, her parents and I had lunch at Dutton’s Cove restaurant at the end of a short getaway to Herold’s Bay.  The restaurant, situated in what I saw as referred to as  Herold’s Bay Extensions 1 and 2, is normally easily accessible from Herold’s Bay proper, along a road across the hill that separates the two parts of the town but that road is currently closed for repairs and maintenance and one must drive back almost to the N2 before turning back to Dutton’s Cove.

It's a rustic, wooden building that smacks of rural British pub, for better or worse, and one has views over the ocean from the interior and sections of the exterior.  We had three dogs with us and were pointed to the bench table seating on the lowest level, amongst the smokers, and yet, later, saw new arrivals with canines being seated outside on the upper level.

 

I really don’t understand why smoking isn’t banned on all sections of any restaurant; it’s highly irritating when cigarette smoke wafts one’s way in the great outdoors when one should be breathing in fresh ocean air.

 

The wife had a scrumptious chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce (R115) which she thoroughly enjoyed and finished with gusto, the father-in-law had supremely tasty snoek and sweet potato spring rolls (R49 for two) and my mom-in-law was happy with some sweet potato fries with a chilli sauce (R29). The in-laws weren’t as peckish as the wife and I and ate something light to keep us company.

 

For some unfathomable reason, they failed to invest a few seconds  in photographing their meals.

 

I’d also ordered, or so I thought, those spring rolls, but they weren’t served until I pointed out this failure to the server. I ate them as an afterthought to my meal and their deliciousness was consolation for the sub-par sushi.

 

My guess is that Dutton’s Cove doesn’t have an in-house sushi specialist and buys in their sushi, as the rice was dry, suggesting a material lack of freshness. It wasn’t inedible, and I ate it all, liberally lubricated with soy sauce (oh, the wasabi didn’t have any amusing little kick either), and aided the food on its way down the gullet with deep swallows of beer.

 

The total bill, including tip, came to R620,00.

 

The setting of the joint, especially on the upper level (inside or out) with the best views,  is marvellous, the service was okay and three of the four patrons at our table were well happy with their respective choices of meal and their coffees. If you go, order something from the  grill and avoid the sushi.