Mar 23 Ballito Umhl

ith vintage surfboards and old-school
surfing memorabilia adorning the walls, longtime
Durban chef Brendon Newport seems
perfectly suited to the beautiful space that is
Sunsets & Mermaids.
Together with businessman, new owner (and
passionate Italian foodie) Biaggo Pelliccia, Brendon has
carefully curated the layout of the restaurant as well as the
extensive and diverse menu, to create a unique offering
within the heart of Umhlanga village.
With years of restaurant consulting and cheffing under his
belt, Brendon prides himself on creating spaces that are
warm and welcoming and have their own unique food
identity and heart.
Biaggo, who also owns the much-loved Amici restaurant
at La Lucia Mall, recently took over ownership of Sunsets &
Mermaids (previously known as The Beach House) and is a
determined businessman and strong leader. Together, the
duo have committed to creating a dining destination unlike
any other on the North Coast.
“Sunsets & Mermaids is all about local culture. The surf
décor and memorabilia on the walls tell the story of a
young boy growing up and living the Durban surf lifestyle,”
says Brendon, “and the menu and food tie in with this
theme perfectly.”
With a strong focus on 'coastal cooking with an Italian
flair', Sunsets & Mermaids is about staying true to the local
Durban identity while introducing some exciting new
flavours and concepts.
Biaggo, a former professional rugby player who comes from
a food-loving Italian family, says he is determined to grow
the restaurant, and continue to improve and update.
In fact, he and Brendon will be spending a month in Italy
and New York later this year to draw inspiration and ideas
from international trends, tastes and concepts.
When it comes to their food offering, their menu is as
diverse as Durban's cultural melting pot, with a wonderful
combination of the old-school meals everyone loves and
funky, new flavours and ideas.
Drawing his inspiration from the Pacific Rim Asian island
flavours, both the food and cocktail menus
have been curated to suit just about every
taste – from the open-minded and daring to
those who prefer to stick to the golden-oldie
classics, such as a burger and beer.
“We are also open to making something up
for clients,” says Brendon. “I am happy to come
out and chat to the table and find out what
clients are about and what they're looking for.”
The sushi is, without a doubt, one of the most
exciting items on the Sunsets & Mermaids
menu. Yes, there are the old-school classics
such as California rolls, fashion sandwiches and
salmon roses, but the exciting mythical sushi
offering is definitely worth a try, with options
like spicy Tuna Tacos and Ariel's Poke Bowl, to
the Fiery Ferrari (prawn, tuna and avo with a
crunch tempura finish ... torched at the table!).
If you enjoy sharing smaller meals, then the popular Tapas
Plates are definitely going to be your vibe. There are three
sections to choose from - Onshore (chicken and beef ), Earth
(vegetarian dishes) and Offshore (which contains all the
seafood). Some of the standout tapas dishes are the Tuna
Ceviche (with flavours of lemon, soy and hoisin topped with
furakake seasoning and Japanese mayo), the Prawn Wanton
Dumplings (served with sesame, chilli and teriyaki dressing)
and the popular Beef Tataki Bao Buns (a type of Japanese
burger filled with seared beef fillet in a steamed bun with
wasabi, ginger, sesame soy and cucumber salad).
If you're looking for a bigger meal, there is also a full main
course menu that is diverse and full of flavour, featuring
everything from a delectable Surf and Turf (a beef fillet
topped with baby langoustines), to classic Durban lamb or
prawn curries, a wide selection of both classic and unusual
pizzas and pastas, as well as a variety of delicious seafood
and burger offerings.
“We're all about embracing everyone and it shows in the
diverse crowd that we have in the restaurant every day
and night of the week,” says Biaggo. “We are excited to be
launching a breakfast menu this month as well. We will open
at 7am and our customers can enjoy a delicious Acai bowl
or classic breakfast with fresh pressed juices outside under
the trees.”
Details: Sunsets & Mermaids, 3 Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga
Rocks, www.sunmer.co.za, @sunsets_mermaids
The duo behind Sunsets & Mermaids,
Biaggo Pelliccia and Brendon Newport.
All of the seafood on the menu is outstanding.
March 2023 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga 23