Ocean
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:34
Chocaholics and fans of seafood should not miss out on this classy establishment, as Nora Lindstrom finds.
Petite and tucked away from the tourist hoards, restaurant Ocean is a favourite among many expats. With a pan-European feel, it combines Nordic minimalism with Mediterranean fare. With the emphasis on seafood, also featuring interesting antipasto as well as home-made pasta dishes.
For starters, the oyster mushrooms with arugula salad (US$4) are an absolute winner. Fried with garlic, spring onion and fresh herbs, the mushrooms have a wonderful crispness about them, their subtle flavour is beautifully complemented by the nutty taste of the arugula. Off the specials menu, the homemade ricotta-spinach gnocchi (US$6) is also worth a try. Complemented by fresh European basil, is a culinary treat to the palate.
What Ocean is most famous for however are its fillets of red snapper (US$10). Lightly fried and served with a choice of mashed or fried potatoes with carrot, as well as eggplant or green beans, this is a highly sought after dish that seldom disappoints. The fresh tuna steak (US$10) is unfortunately another matter. Expectations of a thick, lightly seared chunk of meat are not met when a plate with an overcooked tuna medallion is served. Even allowing for the difficulty of sourcing sashimi quality tuna and hence not serving the tuna seared, the dry bit of fish is disappointing. The potato mash and crisp beans liven up the dish somewhat, but overall it makes you wish you’d gone for the red snapper.
Thankfully the short but well-executed dessert menu restores gastronomic delights onto the palate. The crème caramel (US$3.50) has the lush taste of burnt sugar, while the coconut ice cream with toasted coconut (US$1.50) has diners over the moon. A definite not to miss is the chocolate mousse (US$4), which many claim to be the best in town. Complemented by vanilla sauce and raspberry coulis, chocaholics will not regret the small splurge.
A meal at Ocean is not complete without owner Herbert offering you a digestif on the house. A lovely gesture, the complimentary shot makes it likely you will leave the establishment with not only a full tummy, but also a smile on your face.
Ocean, 11 Street 288, Tel: 017 766 690, Open 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pm
Petite and tucked away from the tourist hoards, restaurant Ocean is a favourite among many expats. With a pan-European feel, it combines Nordic minimalism with Mediterranean fare. With the emphasis on seafood, also featuring interesting antipasto as well as home-made pasta dishes. For starters, the oyster mushrooms with arugula salad (US$4) are an absolute winner. Fried with garlic, spring onion and fresh herbs, the mushrooms have a wonderful crispness about them, their subtle flavour is beautifully complemented by the nutty taste of the arugula. Off the specials menu, the homemade ricotta-spinach gnocchi (US$6) is also worth a try. Complemented by fresh European basil, is a culinary treat to the palate.
What Ocean is most famous for however are its fillets of red snapper (US$10). Lightly fried and served with a choice of mashed or fried potatoes with carrot, as well as eggplant or green beans, this is a highly sought after dish that seldom disappoints. The fresh tuna steak (US$10) is unfortunately another matter. Expectations of a thick, lightly seared chunk of meat are not met when a plate with an overcooked tuna medallion is served. Even allowing for the difficulty of sourcing sashimi quality tuna and hence not serving the tuna seared, the dry bit of fish is disappointing. The potato mash and crisp beans liven up the dish somewhat, but overall it makes you wish you’d gone for the red snapper.
Thankfully the short but well-executed dessert menu restores gastronomic delights onto the palate. The crème caramel (US$3.50) has the lush taste of burnt sugar, while the coconut ice cream with toasted coconut (US$1.50) has diners over the moon. A definite not to miss is the chocolate mousse (US$4), which many claim to be the best in town. Complemented by vanilla sauce and raspberry coulis, chocaholics will not regret the small splurge.
A meal at Ocean is not complete without owner Herbert offering you a digestif on the house. A lovely gesture, the complimentary shot makes it likely you will leave the establishment with not only a full tummy, but also a smile on your face.
Ocean, 11 Street 288, Tel: 017 766 690, Open 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pm
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