Exciting changes are taking place at Mark’s Restaurant on George Rex. Besides a new menu they are changing their name, no doubt in part due to the fact that Mark has just opened the Prime Cut Grill where Casa da Gahlina used to be. I was also intrigued to read that you can enjoy Mark’s famous piri-piri chicken at the Old Watermill where Mark (who is Mark?) is supposedly busy grilling his legendary steaks. Opportunistic, mischievous banter or just plain old fashioned bad taste?

Whatever your preferences may be, there is every indication that Knysna has already opened that one eye, that the knives are sharp and that the locals are hungry. Barut has taken over from Zest, Red Square is in mothballs and Subs long gone. Monks (from Wilderness) have opened a courtyard pub at the Ou Fabriek.  Coffee Connection has had a make over as has Gino’s, now Chaplins, and both are looking good. Lazy Bean has become Deenie’s (good for chicken soup in winter) and L’Opera’s new owners have added to and updated their menu. Thesen’s see’s more menu changes at Lunar Cafe as well as the demise of Blue Marina and the Oyster Company, which has moved to the Oyster Catcher. There were problems with the sale of Del Gusto and I am not sure what’s happened in the interim. Nauticus in Brenton has closed, Darling of the Cape appears to be sitting things out, possibly waiting for better times and Limani Blue has changed both it’s name and its menu. It is now mostly Italian with a dash here and there of  Greek and other Mediterranean dishes. Finally we have a new deli on the Island and Suikerbossie offering everything from home made bread to frozen convenience foods.