Lord Prawn

Lord Prawn is one of the longest-running seafood restaurants in the Durban area. It opened on the city's beachfront in May 1975 with the aim of serving good seafood at fair prices, and about twenty years later it moved north to its current home in Umhlanga Plaza on Lagoon Drive in Umhlanga Rocks. Unusually for a restaurant of its age, it has remained under the same ownership, and some of the original staff are still part of the team.

The menu celebrates classic seafood cooking rather than modern experimentation. Starters include lobster bisque, prawn cocktail, smoked salmon, oysters served natural or as oyster shots, and a retro Avocado Ritz, alongside non-fish choices such as deep-fried camembert, crumbed mushrooms and chicken livers. Mains run from seafood St Jacques, sole with grilled prawns and prawns creole to kingklip, seafood paella, seafood pasta and battered hake and chips. The seafood boil, with kingklip, prawns, clams, mussels, chorizo and corn cooked together in a bag, is a house signature, with a larger version that adds crayfish, and prawn lovers can order a kilogram of prawns. Desserts are old favourites, including tiramisu, cassata, malva pudding and apple crumble.

The restaurant suits families, groups and couples who want a generous, unpretentious seafood dinner, and it is a good choice for anyone staying in Umhlanga who wants a relaxed meal within a short walk or drive of their hotel. Prices are in the mid-to-upper range, with the platters and boils designed for sharing. Simpler dishes such as battered hake and chips work well for children or less adventurous eaters, while the oysters and the crayfish boil suit a celebration.

Lord Prawn is open every day from midday, closing a little earlier on Sundays than on other days. Book for weekend evenings and holiday periods, when Umhlanga is busy with visitors, and ask about daily specials and the catch of the day.

Umhlanga Plaza is in Umhlanga village, close to the beach, the lighthouse and the promenade, so you can combine dinner with an early-evening stroll along the seafront. The bars of Umhlanga village and the Oyster Box hotel's Lighthouse Bar are nearby for a nightcap.