The vibrant new Ficks is any holidaymaker’s dream. Set around the scenic 1930s tidal pool, diners are in for a treat with the endless ocean views.

Ficks Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Fast facts

Food type: Pinchos and flammkuchen
Price: R150 average main meal
Parking: Free parking area (also in walking distance from the Hermanus town centre)
Star ratings: Food and drinks: 3; Service: 2; Ambience: 5

Food

The restaurant serves a combination of pinchos and flammkuchen and has a good variety of vegetarian dishes on offer, too. The menu includes sweet and spicy lamb meatballs served with a mint-and-garlic yoghurt, perfectly seared beef fillet with piquillo pepper and shallot jam served on bruschetta, and a classic onion-and-bacon flammkuchen. For the veggie-lovers there’s deep-fried cauliflower with romesco sauce and aïoli.

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These are our specials at Ficks today which will blow you away. Cold avocado & cilantro soup with chili & prawn skewer. Chili poppers with a sweet chili mayo. Hope you all enjoy! #ficks #fickspool #chilipoppers #avosoup #hermanus

A post shared by Ficks (@ficksrestaurant) on Feb 3, 2020 at 2:30am PST

The pinchos portions are quite large – two would be enough to have as a main meal.

Definitely leave space for the tarta de Santiago (a special almond cake). It has the most perfect balance of sweet and nutty, with a hint of orange.

Drinks

The restaurant has a wide variety of wines on offer, with a lot of support for the local Hemel-en-Aarde Valley wineries. There’s also an extensive cocktail menu, which is perfect for the location of the restaurant. Cocktails on offer include the usual suspects as well as some more interestingly named cocktails like the Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry juice). There’s a selection of soft drinks on offer, as well as a few non-alcoholic cocktails.

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The clouds have cleared and it’s time to start your weekend the right way. Cocktails at Ficks! Have a great weekend everyone. #ficks #fickspool #cocktails #summer #tidalpool #hermanus

A post shared by Ficks (@ficksrestaurant) on Mar 6, 2020 at 6:13am PST

Service

Service is slow but, with the gorgeous setting, you won’t mind it so much. The waitrons are friendly and non-intrusive, and the owners are also on hand to check up on guests. It’s worth noting that they don’t take any reservations.

Ambience

It’s a fully outdoor restaurant, but ample umbrellas are provided for the scorching SA sun. It’s built around the tidal pool, which gives almost every table a perfect view of the rolling seas. The tidal pool and rocky surfaces all around are every kid’s dream play area, albeit a bit nerve-wracking for the parents. The pool is public domain and open for anyone (not just restaurant guests) to take a dip.

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here. 

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