Paranga is situated on the popular strip of Camps Bay, summer’s go-to spot. If you can, get a table close to the seafront just before sunset. You will find yourself gazing at the sea and the passing people and within no time you will inevitably have that moment where you think, “I cannot believe the beauty of Cape Town”. Order white wine, have a starter, but don’t expect to be blown away by the food … taste or presentation. Focus on watching the sunset over the incredible ocean panorama. I opted to order seafood because the seafood is showcased widely on the menu. I ordered two small starters and an order of sushi because I wanted to taste a variety of things. The food is forgettable. For the price one would expect more flavor and taste that is complex enough to enjoy each bite of the restaurant’s relatively small portions. I had tempura shrimp, grilled calamari and salmon nigiri. The nigiri was no different than any average nigiri I have eaten for the past 15 years. The calamari was fine, again, forgettable. I specifically ordered it knowing that the calamari is served as an entrée with a side item. The tempura shrimp was light, not overly fried, but not particularly flavorful. I also sampled a bite of the goat cheese starter, which our kind server gave as a gratuitous offering. She explained it was the restaurant’s most popular small bite. Meh. Don’t get me wrong, the food isn’t bad. Just know, if I had a foodie friend in town, I would not take my friend to Paranga, unless to catch the view before we headed elsewhere for a main. My mantra is that disappointment is a function of expectation, so as long as you know what you are in for, it is worth a trip to Paranga to sit in the open-plan, sea-facing and primely-located venue for an hour or so recognize that Cape Town is absolutely fabulous.