There’s scarcely a better way to end a long, taxing work day than with a top-notch glass of wine and good-quality food overlooking a serene sea as the sun dips below the horizon. The Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge in Clifton, formerly La Med, is a relatively new feature on the Atlantic Seaboard with all this and a little more: expansive decks set practically on the beach, friendly and attentive staff, a supremely chilled atmosphere, a creative cocktail menu, and a smorgasbord of food offerings.
While this isn’t the spot for fine dining or budget family meals, there’s something to appeal to almost everyone’s tastes (there were very few vegetarian options) from fresh seafood to man-sized burgers. Add on a pretty comprehensive wine list, and you have a great spot for an evening of relaxed indulgence.
We tried the calamari and prawn cocktail starters – yummy and well-presented – and rounded off the meal with a monstrous portion of pudding (try the vanilla yogurt panna cotta with mango sorbet – it’s heaven on a plate).
But the highlights of the evening were the mains: my fiancé had the Norwegian salmon with rosemary salt (which was truly melt-in-your-mouth goodness) and I had the tagliata; super-tender steak drizzled in balsamic reduction and accompanied by rocket, baby tomato and parmesan shavings.
The food may not be winning any awards in the creative stakes, but fresh ingredients, healthy portions and simple flavours make The Bungalow’s dishes. As if we’d need another excuse to enjoy an outing in such gorgeous surroundings.
There’s just one thing to keep in mind: parking, while not necessarily hard to come by, is pricy. Expect to pay R25 to park alongside the restaurant. If you’re not willing to dig deep for that, find a spot on Victoria Road and walk down.
Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge info
Address: Glen Country Club, 3 Victoria Road, Clifton – where the trendy La Med used to be.
Tel: 021-438-2018
Costs: Starters from R60 to R120, mains from R80 to around R160 and desserts are about R50. They also serve sushi.
Kids are welcome.
