Drive By Shootings On Sunday Drives

Butch hadn’t had such a good day on Saturday. His Springboks lost to the All Blacks. The result was expected, but the shock still hit the solar plexus, didn’t it? What a shame. Sadly for them, Saturday was the last straw and their last chance to impress. They’ve lost an ardent fan. To regain his confidence, miracles will have to happen. When he suggested we go on a quick road trip on Sunday morning, I agreed most enthusiastically. We set out in search of whales.

There's never really any time to take a slow cruise; we're always in a bit of a rush. Our routes turn out to be rather ambitious. To take most of the landscape photos, I have become quite a good "drive-by shooter," aiming and shooting on the hoof, so to speak. We meandered to the New Harbour in Hermanus, then along the coast to Franschhoek, inland to Baardskeerdersbos, and on to the quaint Moravian Mission station at Elim. We kept going and stopped for lunch at The Black Oystercatcher near Bredasdorp.

According to TripAdvisor, this restaurant is No. 1 in the Bredasdorp area, known for its cosy, welcoming vibe and friendly staff. Cars were lined up in the car bays; we took a chance and turned around. The very friendly server looked doubtful but asked whether we’d made a reservation.

We hadn’t. She couldn’t turn us away, of course; Butch’s charm and smile make it nearly impossible. In no time, she’d organised drinks for us (an excellent start), rolled out a bar table, and got us seated in the shade of an umbrella. She said she would do everything in her power to keep us there, and she did.

Sadly, a table of 12 cancelled at the last minute. Fortunately for us, we could stay, and so could 8 other “drive-by” diners. We all sat at the long table, chatted, and had ourselves a lovely afternoon.

The menu is small, but the attractions are plentiful. We would’ve liked three courses, but the kitchen was under pressure, and diners are permitted only two (a main and a dessert). To keep it simple, we shared the Black Mussels in a creamy wine-and-Parmesan sauce with Parmesan toasts—perfection on a plate. We then had the grilled steak in a creamy black pepper sauce, finished off with a generous splash of Sherry. Delicious. Both “courses” were sublime, and we couldn’t have been happier. Now we know why it’s no. 1 and why it’s so busy out there in the sticks. For dessert, I had the perfectly smooth, dreamy baked cheesecake—a winner. Butch had the homemade ice cream with caramel and chocolate sauce. He didn’t complain.

Compliments must go to the chef for the plates he sent out. But I must also compliment our waitress, Carli; she’s every restaurateur's dream. This girl knows how to impress, seduce and please the diners. She's a keeper, a charmer, and a professional. All the wine on offer is produced on the farm. Butch really enjoyed his bottle of Triton red. I like the way the craft beer was packaged; I thought it was original and funky.

The untimely cancellation of a table for 12 is most frustrating for restaurateurs, and as a result, patrons are often required to pay a deposit to secure a reservation. I can't blame them. It's our duty to let them know when our plans change, not theirs to phone us, as happened on Sunday. Just bad manners, too. The Black Oystercatcher is a destination farm, offering all kinds of treats; it's a wedding venue and a weekend getaway spot. I've heard rumours they have Buffalo and, wait for it... Hippos in the dam. Do check out the website for details.

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The Black Oyster Catcher Restaurant and Cellar