Rumour has it that Die Walskipper in Jeffreys Bay is THE place to go to celebrate a special occasion. Any day that we can spend together without working or doing homework qualifies as a special occasion for us, so during the holidays we decided to head out to J-Bay to stock up on board shorts and hoodies at the Billabong factory shop, and to experience for ourselves the infamous Walskipper restaurant.
We had tried to visit Die Walskipper once before, but it was closed that day. As we are more spur-of-the-moment types, we thought we would take another chance, rock up and hopefully be in luck this time. The mercury was hovering in the late thirties as we pulled into the beach parking lot, and after being thrilled to see that it was open, we were alarmed to see guests being turned away at the entrance.
Apparently all the outside (and more breezy) tables had been booked and although there was space inside, we were warned that it was uncomfortably hot. Pah! Is there such a thing as too hot? No way were we going to be deterred from our quest by El Nino.
So we kicked off our shoes and followed our waitress to our table next to the grill. Die Walskipper is a delightful beach restaurant. Its floors are sea sand, seating consists of wooden picnic tables and benches, and there are shells hanging everywhere. Half of the dining area is open to the most magnificent beach vista, and there is a vibey buzz of chatter and laughter, along with crackling and hissing of seafood being grilled on the open flames.
We were a little alarmed at the prices at first, it was clear to see why Walskipper is recommended for a special occasion rather than an every day lunch. While we were humming and haahing what to order, our friendly waitress showed us a shellfish platter fresh from the grill, in transit to a lucky group nearby. Well that was that – we had to have it!
Lovers of seafood – listen up! You have not lived until you have had one of Die Walskipper’s Shellfish Pans. Talk about fit for a king! This beauty is a mountain of heavenly harvest from the sea. Crayfish, crab, langoustines, prawns, mussels, abalone, scallops, oysters, calamari … you name it – if it lives in the ocean, it was on our plate. All cooked to absolute perfection and artistically arranged in a towering sculpture of colour and aroma.
Our tower of seafood delight
As we wilted in the forty-something degree heat on our grill-side table, we tucked into our seafood feast with gusto. Add a couple of palm trees and we could have been on any of the tropical beaches of Mozambique or Mauritius. Hard to believe we were sitting in our humble Eastern Cape.
The platter for two fed all four of us (we added one piece of fish to bulk it up a bit), and we realised that what looked like a huge price tag at first glance, was actually fantastic value for money for a world-class treat and a taste of perfectly cooked unique and special items.
So, if you have a special occasion coming up, you know where to go – global warming and all.
Pre-book a breezy outside table in the summer
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