What an indulgence! Dinner at The Thistle is such a treat, and I always look forward to my visits to Port Alfred. The Thursday evening Food and Wine Pairings are exquisite, with my favourite being the Mississippi Mud Pie served with banana marshmallow as part of the Mediterranean Fusion menu. Being a pescatarian, I appreciate the menu options that include vegetarian and vegan. Love the ambience, love the team that makes this fine dining experience so special - love dressing up for dinner.

Reminds me of some of my favourite restaurants in London - a true culinary experience extraordinaire and Debbie and her team go to every effort to ensure guests are delighted. From her choice of ingredients to the combination of flavours and presentation. The service was excellent and I enjoyed the fact that the staff really know their wines. This is a restaurant worth driving miles for. Put it on your must do list if you are in the area - it will be well worth it.

The beautifully balanced flavours and exquisite plating at The Thistle are something that no “foodie” should miss out on whether you’re passing through Port Alfred, or staying over. We enjoyed a specially designed four-course meal paired with local wines. Our mouth-watering fusion menu included: Lourenco Marques prawn on a papaya & coriander tian paired with a Kleine Zalze brut rosé; curried butternut soup with apple chutney and crème fraiche paired with a Darling chenin blanc; kingklip with saffron fondant, tomato sabayon and tempura onion paired with a Melissat white pinotage; and all topped off with a decadent dark chocolate mousse and almond tart paired with Klipdrift’s new Black Gold “coffee & chocolate” brandy. It was a truly fantastic meal, and the overall experience is definitely one for the memory books. The setting at the Royal St Andrew’s Hotel is also spectacular and lends itself to the overall experience.