Physical Address
Pearly Beach
Western Cape
7220
New restaurants often arrive with plenty of fanfare, but the real test comes once the festive crowds have dispersed and everyday dining resumes. Having opened in Gansbaai during the busy holiday season, Anchor and Ace had been on our list for months before we finally found ourselves there on a recent Sunday afternoon.
The promise was simple: a laid-back meal in a coastal town that increasingly punches above its weight when it comes to food.
A mild autumn day made the decision between indoor and outdoor seating an easy one. We chose a table outside, where the pace felt unhurried and the soundtrack – an easy mix of favourites from the 1970s and 1980s – provided a nostalgic backdrop without overwhelming conversation.
Anchor and Ace’s menu strikes an appealing balance between the familiar and the unexpected. Alongside crowd-pleasing classics sit dishes with more adventurous flavour profiles: pulled pork wontons, for example, and mussels served in a fragrant tom yum broth. It was the kind of menu that encourages curiosity.
In retrospect, we should probably have been a little braver.
The first indication came with the side salad that accompanied one of our dishes. Rather than the token garnish that often appears on restaurant plates, this was a thoughtfully composed mix of raw vegetables – ribbons of carrot, shredded red cabbage, cucumber, peppers and spring onion – tossed in a zesty lemon dressing. Crisp, colourful and full of freshness, it was unexpectedly one of the standout elements of the meal.
The spicy crispy chicken wings were another success. Golden and well-cooked, they delivered the satisfying contrast between crunchy exterior and tender meat within. The spice level offered enough warmth to be interesting without becoming overwhelming, making them the sort of dish that encourages diners to reach for “just one more”.
Those two dishes left us wondering whether the kitchen’s more inventive offerings might have been where the restaurant truly shines.
Instead, we opted for a safer route with one of the burger options, served with a blue cheese sauce. The burger itself was solid: a substantial beef patty housed in a soft bun, supported by fresh accompaniments and the rich tang of the blue cheese. It wasn’t revolutionary, but it was satisfying and generously portioned.
The accompanying chips were particularly good. Crisp and golden on the outside, fluffy within, they had the sort of moreish quality that sees diners continuing to pick at them long after insisting they are full.
One of the pleasures of reviewing restaurants in smaller Overberg towns is discovering places that are becoming woven into local routines. Anchor and Ace already appears to be doing just that. Their Pizza Tuesdays are beginning to develop a reputation of their own, and we found ourselves making mental notes of dishes to return for – including the classic hotdog and a blooming onion that sounded far too intriguing to ignore.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings communities together around television screens and shared experiences, Anchor and Ace also feels like the sort of venue that lends itself to those occasions. Relaxed rather than formal, with familiar food elevated by occasional flashes of creativity, it offers a comfortable setting in which to gather with friends and family.
Anchor and Ace won’t necessarily redefine dining in Gansbaai, but perhaps that’s not its ambition. Instead, it provides something equally valuable: a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant with enough personality to keep people coming back to explore a little more of the menu each time.
And based on our experience, that’s exactly what we’ll be doing.
At a glance
Location
Gansbaai, Overberg
Why go
For a relaxed coastal meal that balances comfort-food favourites with a few more adventurous surprises.
Highlights
The vibrant lemon-dressed raw vegetable salad; spicy crispy chicken wings; crisp, moreish chips that steal the show alongside a solid burger.
