Mo’s on Rex

Delightful restaurant in a forest garden

Mo’s on Rex is in one of the better venues available around the Knysna lagoon. The character of this place is quite different from any of the others. For one thing, Mo’s is a few kilometres from Knysna town central, and about halfway to the famous Knysna heads, the rocky break in the coastline that produces the Knysna lagoon. A place where the forest meets the sea and one is conscious of that at Mo’s. The special feeling of being between the trees and the sea.

Set in a delightful garden at the end of a driveway not far from leisure isle on the landward side of George Rex drive, the lights and candles on the front porch glitter with a welcome light. Smiling and courteous staff greet their guests and seat them either in the pleasant and well lit air outside or in the dining room just inside off the patio. There is a pub too, where live music is a regular feature. Plenty of energy here.

Roast chicken (In a wood fired oven)

I can feel it, sitting on the patio with the buzz of friends chatting all around me and the more excitable sounds coming from behind the closed doors of the pub, this is a really friendly place and it’s wonderful to see that a chef cum maitre’d like Callie and his staff are so enthusiastic about holding their restaurant up to the incredible standard that the new Knysna cuisine culture demands.

It’s not fine dining, just good food with a natural feel and it’s worth it. I tried the wood roasted chicken. I think I may have mentioned elsewhere how chicken done for just the right amount of time is so different from the bland association chicken sometimes has. Delicious plate of woodsy tasting roast with rich fresh vegetables and a sprig of rosemary for extra colour. Served to me by the delightfully smiling Ellen.

Getting the place buzzing at Mo's on Rex

After dinner I wandered into the pub and the local band got my jeans hopping and my endorphins popping, even though I promised myself they wouldn’t and I’d walk back to my accommodation early.

There is so much to say about Mo’s I didn’t even mention the pizza oven (also wood fired) and I feel guilty neglecting the wine list, which has obviously had some attention paid to it. Have a great time, I did.