Seelan Restaurant and Bar: V&A Waterfront

Stunning autumn days in Cape Town beckon us to stroll down to the V&A Waterfront for lunch; it's always surprising how busy restaurants in this neck of the woods are, almost European busy. We stumbled upon Seelan tucked away below "decks" on Quay 5, a new establishment, hardly 2 weeks old. Beautiful white table linens and professional staff soon settled us. With a bottle of bubbly, it was such a bubbly day, and we found the menu appealing.

There's a formal menu, a chalkboard with specials, and the delightful waiter had a few suggestions, too, so there's no reason to make a quick decision. We only had mains, and I opted for the grilled prawns, and my husband had the grilled Cape Salmon. We declined the rice and chips but asked for a salad instead, which shows some flexibility. The Tiger Prawns turned out to be Queen prawns, but they were well prepared and delicious, as was the Cape Salmon. However, it would be helpful to know if vegetarian or other dietary options are available for future visits.

Later that evening, when my husband cleaned out his trouser pockets, we had another look at the receipt, R275 for 6 Queen Prawns, which felt steep compared to grocery store prices. I could've bought a kg or more at the supermarket. But what really niggles is the fact that we were charged for the salad! Surely that could've been our "chips portion"? Everyone else gladly substitutes. I realize we pay for the venue and other expenses, but this bill made us question the value of the meal. Despite this, I'd probably return, as I really enjoyed my time there.