Five of Durban's top spots to splurge on spectacular seafood dishes

2. 9TH AVENUE WATERSIDE, DURBAN HARBOUR

Seafood is the focus of this newly-relocated restaurant’s menu and there are several dishes that will pique a seafood aficionado’s interest – think prawn tails with squid ink linguini, crispy fried calamari (one of the best calamari dishes I’ve ever eaten) and soupe du poisson.

Standout dish: The creamy shellfish orzo with BBQ langoustine, baby langoustine tails and lemon foam is a firm favourite for many 9th Ave fans. This dish takes simple ingredients and elevates them to gourmet heights.

3. OYSTER BOX HOTEL, UMHLANGA

Diners at The Oyster Box Hotel are spoilt for choice when it comes to seafood with several excellent dishes on the menus of both the fine-dining Grill Room, and the less formal Terrace. This includes the fragrant, full-bodied chicken and prawn curry from their famous curry buffet, and a seafood tasting plate that shows off the local fruits de mer.

Standout dish: For its sheer decadence and perfect preparation, I have to say that the Grill Room’s baby crayfish with shellfish butter is my favourite. It's savoury, melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the butter brings out the best favours in the flesh of the crayfish. It's a dish you’ll return for.

4. THE CHEF’S TABLE, UMHLANGA

The menu at The Chef’s Table is subject to change as the array of tempting dishes on the menu are designed around seasonal ingredients, however seafood is always represented.

Standout dish: Every dish created by chef Kayla-Ann Osborn is good, but if there's tuna on the menu, you’re in luck: seared until the skin is just crisp, it's full of the flavours of the sea and is served with seasonal sides.

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