Oyster Box Seafood Bar

A few weeks ago I spent a balmy Spring evening at the new Oyster Box Hotel Oyster, Salmon & Sushi Bar.
This is most definitely a Durban experience you have to try – if not for the sheer decadence of relaxing on the terrace with a killer view of the ocean, bubbles in hand, then for the delicious seafood made by expert sushi chef, Wenxiu Liu.

The beautiful bar area with glass floor which lets you peek down into the Oyster Box Cellar is not new, but the addition of the fresh seafood offering served between noon and 8pm each weekday is. We ordered oysters, salmon gravlax, asian salmon tacos and a variety of sushi to share and each was freshly prepared and served altogether, along with salad leaves and buttered whole-wheat bread.

The oysters are harvested from the hotel’s own oyster farm and they were deliciously plump, served with lemon and tabasco, as well as a vinegary shallot mixture, which gave them a beautifully tart taste. Yes oysters are an acquired taste and if you haven’t acquired the taste – great, more for me!
The asian salmon tacos were served in crisp corn shells, slathered with slaw, japanese mayo and pico de gallo, which is a mix of chopped tomato, onion, coriander, salt and citrus juice – they’re messy to eat, but oh-so-worth-it. There are also tuna tartare and prawn versions of the tacos.

Gravlax is a nordic dish where thinly sliced pieces of raw salmon are cured in salt, sugar & dill and unlike sashimi, the delicate pieces are much easier to eat for those not keen on big pieces of raw fish. It was delicious and the buttered whole-wheat bread was devoured along with it – banting what!?

We were ready to explode after all the sushi as well – all delicious and beautifully made – with precision knife skills and all the same size – unlike the usual conveyor-belt fare we’re subjected to in sushi restaurants.
The best part about this kind of eating though, is that after an hour you don’t feel full anymore – bonus.

The bar was not too full the evening we went, with a few couples and a handful of businessmen – a group which the venue is proving popular for, for an easy business lunch or drink after work.
I’d suggest it for date night, or snacks & drinks before an evening out – the view is out of this world and the food was delicious – a great way to spend a few hours with your other half.
There’s perfect background live music too, so you can get cosy and still chat, without some lame overpowering synthesised vocalist in the corner!

For bookings or information call (031) 514 5000 or email restaurants@oysterbox.co.za.