I recently had dinner at the Firefly Eating House in Knysna. But before I got there, I did some research on the place to see what it’s like.
Firstly, the website is very misleading. The images in their gallery are mostly semi-abstract close-ups that make the place look very uptight and failry formal. So naturally, I thought I’d need to dress up. Then I read some reviews of the place and saw that it got quite a few mentions as one of the top 10 this, and top 100 that. So I really needed to whip out the high heels and evening wear.
Luckily, I was running very late, didn’t have time to change (into something fancy) and arrived at the Firefly in just smart casual attire. Whew! It’s not that it’s not a fancy, upmarket place but the look and feel is more laidback-bohemian, but classy. So my outfit didn’t seem out of place after all.
The decor (mostly red) is elegant yet simple and there’s a little garden for outside dining overlooking a small lake. It’s not a huge boutique restaurant (as I expected) at all. It’s cosy and quirky, yet the element of luxury is still there. When you arrive, you’re welcomed with a warm, scented cloth to clean up and our little nibble in the meantime was paaper and a mushroom paste.
For starters, we tried the cheese and mielie spring roll and fish roll. Both delicious and accompanied by yummy dipping sauces. I was very cynical because this place was getting so much praise I was just out to find something wrong. So far, nothing.
The menu is not huge but the selection ranges from chicken curries, meat and vegetarian dishes to seafood. I ordered the prawn curry (with cashews and ginger). I’d have to say it was definitely the best prawn curry I’ve ever tasted. The prawns were large and the portions were generous. It came with rice and a chutney (that wasn’t even needed but was good anyway) and the presentation made the meal even more delicious. I enjoyed the flavour so much that I regretted ordering a drink. I didn’t want to mess up the taste.
We were stuffed by the end of that, but couldn’t pass up on the hot chocolate offer. You get a cup of hot milk and you choose a flavour chocolate you’d like. This is in the form of an ice lolly (I had white chocolate) that you dip into the hot milk and keep stirring till you’re left with a thick, creamy, tasty chocolate drink. This is served on a tray with a sugar cube and some cream.
This three-course meal (starter spring rolls, prawn curry and hot chocolate) came to R210 a person (including a coke and mango lassi).
The praises are definitely deserved and I will go back there any day. It’s at 152a Old Cape Road (but the signage says Ou Kaapse Weg) in Knysna. They’re open from 18h00 from Tuesday to Sunday and don’t accept credit cards.
Contact Firefly Eating House
Tel +27-44-382-1490, www.fireflyeatinghouse.co.za
