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Generally speaking, the restaurants of the Eastern Cape are good but not great. Of course there are always a few exceptions to every rule, and in the Eastern Cape the number of these exceptions is always increasing. But for really good food, choose a great hotel or guesthouse, some of which are noted for their cuisine. Not surprisingly, most restaurants are reasonably casual, and there are none where men would be expected to wear a tie.
Former hotel chefs, Allan and Simone Bezuidenhout have brought a touch of true class to Gqeberha's traditionally mediocre dining scene with this intimate, handsome, dark-hued restaurant adorned with leather seats and Allan's own artwork. The menu focuses on imaginative versions of classic dishes like a traditional lamb rump with dry ice infused with fynbos to bring the scent of the Karoo (where the lamb comes from) onto the plate, as well as beautiful pizzas, aromatic curries, light meals, and pastas. The imaginative menu changes a couple of times a year so the chef can work with seasonal ingredients, but one constant is the caramel fondant with ganache and popcorn which is worth a taste.
Laurent Chauvet and his partner Angus Park created one of the village's finest eateries (It's BYOB) as an extension of their home. Always authentic and always executed with great care, Laurent's impeccable cooking features the best possible ingredients to create an amazing internationally-inspired meal from the delicious soup course right through to the homemade ice creams and slightly legendary baked Alaska. This is a culinary experience you won't soon forget. Cooking classes are available upon request.
An East London institution, Buccaneers has been open since 1992, and not a lot has changed here in the last 20 years or so. There's hearty, unpretentious pub fare and atmosphere, lots of seafood, sports, draft beer aplenty, live music, raucous student nights, and spectacular sea views from the big sun-soaked wooden deck. The food and service aren't great, and neither is the decor inside, but there's usually plenty of atmosphere and on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon it's an absolute must, at least for a drink or two, especially if you're staying at Sugarshack Backpackers next door. It's also a favorite with families and it has a kids menu.
Apart from the fabulous breakfast spread that's laid out for guests staying at The Drostdy, the hotel's restaurant is also the best lunch and dinner venue in town, catering to a range of tastes and dietary preferences, not to mention offering cool dishes (like gazpacho) when it's hot under the Karoo sun, and offer lots of nourishment and warming comfort food when winter bares its teeth. From pizzas and burgers made with ground venison, to Karoo lamb curry and tasty venison loin, you can expect plenty of rewarding flavors. Seating is either outside under umbrellas on the terrace at the edge of a lawn garden, or inside, where there's an old-school clubby atmosphere and the walls are decorated with a prized collection of original bird illustrations. Servers are generally part of the town's hospitality training program which the hotel has a huge stake in, so while always extremely friendly and well-meaning, it's not necessarily always the sharpest.
Constantly busy and bustling thanks to its simple formula of good, well-presented gourmet burgers and thin-crust pizzas topped with only the freshest ingredients, combined with sharp but always friendly service. The decor and layout of the place are equally simple and effective, with heavy wooden tables and exposed brick walls and pillars, and lots of air and light, despite the tightness of the space. If the weather suits (which it generally does in these parts), you can eat outside in the courtyard. There's a good selection of South African craft beers as well as a decent wine list. The one drawback, though, is the location on a very busy road that can feel quite intense, almost industrial.
The creators of what was East London's first discernibly "trendy" eating spot (Sanook Cafe), have added a few new venues to their small empire including Sanook Eatery. Situated a way out of the maelstrom of the city, you can breathe a bit easier while you tuck into the usual selection of excellent pizzas, gourmet burgers, and Buddha bowls, or summon something more sophisticated such as dukkah-crusted fillet, a stack of ostrich, or a marvelous sirloin steak rubbed with traditional biltong spice. While this venue is good for a night out, the light-filled venue is also wonderful for any of their scrumptious breakfasts.
Accessed by the back entrance of Port Elizabeth's oldest hotel, the Stage Door is one of the city's best-kept secrets and has long been a favorite with locals in the know for its cheap and cheerful menu, good range of beers, and an eccentric and old-fashioned pub feel. Although it can get very busy here, the service remains excellent, as do the steaks. The menu offers advice such as "Want great service—we suggest you try somewhere else," and the walls are adorned with an eclectic mix of retro bric-a-brac. The hotel bar just across the hall from the restaurant is equally interesting, as much for the characters it attracts as for the original, dark-wood furnishings.
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