Restaurants

Penda Pendu combines great food, service and location for memorable experiences

Situated in the picturesque seaside suburb of Summerstrand, the elegant 5-Star Isango Gate Boutique Hotel is home to arguably one of the best restaurants in Port Elizabeth.

Open to the public on a reservation basis, the Penda Pendu restaurant offers an expertly prepared and stylishly presented culinary experience.

It is for this reason that my boyfriend and I decided to book a table to celebrate our anniversary. At reception, we were welcomed with a big smile before being led to our table. Pan pipe music filled the air and added to a tranquil atmosphere.

I found the modern architecture of the building perfectly complemented by tasteful finishes and comfortable furnishing, giving it a sophisticated feel.

Attentive, friendly staff added to the welcoming atmosphere.

All these elements combine to build the expectation of a fantastic sitting and the menu adds to the anticipation.

Our waiter, Khulile, served us with complimentary appetisers, which consisted of home-baked seed bread with basil pesto; olives and olive oil vinaigrette – fresh and tasty, the perfect introduction to the evening.

For our starters, we had pan-fried Halloumi served on a bed of fresh herbs; deep fried capers; grilled artichokes and sundried tomatoes, all drizzled with basil pesto – a delicious mix and indication of great things to come.

For my mains, I decided to have the pepper crusted beef fillet served with mash and vegetables. It was divine! My fillet was tender and my vegetables were cooked to perfection.

My partner opted for the Chicken Roulade stuffed with a lemon and herb pork filling and bacon and blue cheese beurre served with mash and vegetables.

It was a stunning presentation with taste to match as it was packed with flavour.

It was a challenge to choose between all their mouth-watering dessert options, which ranged from pancakes and malva pudding to sweet cheese platters and chocolate mousse to name a few. In the end, we enjoyed their smooth Mascarpone Cheesecake topped with mixed berry compote and complemented by the sweet hint of fruit.

If you are looking for a fine dining experience in the heart of Summerstrand, I can recommend the Penda Pendu restaurant at the Isango Gate Boutique Hotel.

It is also ideal for special occasions and functions such as weddings, bridal and baby showers, year-end functions and birthday parties. I look forward to our next dining experience at Penda Pendu.

I can recommend the Penda Pendu restaurant at the Isango Gate Boutique Hotel.

It is also ideal for special occasions and functions such as weddings, bridal and baby showers, year-end functions and birthday parties. I look forward to our next dining experience at Penda Pendu.

To make your booking, contact 041 811 2225 or visit www.isangogate.co.za

For great savings on life’s little pleasures visit Bargain Buys! Know somebody who is getting married, Wedding and Function can assist. Have kids, then you need to visit Kids Connection.

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Actually, Home Food and Travel offers a lot more than just reviews of accommodation, restaurants, spas and adventure activities. We also visit great destinations, receive advice from interior designers and stop to smell the roses and taste the coffee.

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Expensive is not always better. Our team at Home Food and Travel will tell you that they have camped in areas with limited ablutions and had a wonderful holiday. They have also spent a night in a five star hotel only to be disappointed because their expectations exceeded the experience.

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Restaurants with a good mix of service, food and ambiance

To my mind a great restaurant offers three things – excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance. Of these, service is the most important.

No matter that the food is delicious and the setting delightful, poor service can ruin the occasion. However, great service combined with mediocre meal and a plane jane restaurant can still be a pleasant night out.

We’ve eaten in restaurants that are really dirty but with incredible food and couldn’t help but give a rave review. We’ve also hardly noticed what we ate because the setting was just amazing.

However, the best restaurants come with the best of service, food and ambiance.

Spas are the ultimate relaxation aid

How do you know when you have had a great spa experience? The answer, of course, is when you doze off on the treatment table.

Well that’s our theory anyway. It also doesn’t take a grand location with enormous facilities for a spa to be really good

A small, personal spa that is owner run can result in the best massage you have ever experienced. However, the grand spas in five star hotels offer unsurpassed facilities in an environment that just makes the stress in your shoulders and neck melt away before you even finish checking in.

Adventure!

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