Curries have been lovingly prepared and served at this family-run restaurant for over two decades. Eat Out critic Tracy Gielink visits Impulse by the Sea in Durban.

Food

Unlike other restaurants of this genre, the menu is succinct, as the focus falls on the local Holy Grail of Indian food – the KwaZulu-Natal curry. Starters are best kept to samoosas accompanied with a homemade chilli dip; rather concentrate on the generous main courses. The signature dish is plump, sizeable prawns prepared in a thick, intricately spiced, tomato-based gravy with just the right amount of bite. The chicken and prawn version has a coconut sauce and the lamb is also noteworthy. More specialised dishes are the crab and fish roe versions, while vegetarians can choose from dhal, bean, paneer or chickpea curries.

A photo posted by Impulse by the Sea Restaurant (@impulse_by_the_sea_restaurant) on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:28am PST

Drinks

The wine list centres on budget-friendly bottles of the quaffing variety, although there is a house selection that offers some more thought-provoking options. Ciders, beers and a good selection of spirits abound.

A photo posted by Impulse by the Sea Restaurant (@impulse_by_the_sea_restaurant) on Dec 26, 2015 at 4:47am PST

Service

Old-school waiters, dressed in black pants and white shirts, present themselves promptly. They scurry about performing duties efficiently and take great care in explaining the intricacies of the different curries. As the food is cooked from scratch, don’t be surprised if the wait is longer than anticipated.

A photo posted by Impulse by the Sea Restaurant (@impulse_by_the_sea_restaurant) on Dec 12, 2015 at 4:24am PST

Ambience

A flight of stairs delivers you to the entrance and then it’s past the bar and slot machines. Tables are covered in red tablecloths and carefully folded linen serviettes, with the red colour scheme continued with an assortment of chairs. The deck provides a relaxed alfresco experience: from here, as well as at window tables, you can sneak peeks at the nearby sea.

A photo posted by Impulse by the Sea Restaurant (@impulse_by_the_sea_restaurant) on Dec 5, 2015 at 6:02am PST

And…

Book ahead on weekends.

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

Have you sampled the signature prawn or crab curry at Impulse by the Sea in Durbs? Let us know what you thought of it in a review and we will pledge a meal to a hungry child through Stop Hunger Now SA.